| Author |
Message |
   
Dawn Emmerson
| | Posted on Monday, 18 June, 2007 - 2:02 pm: | |
Thanks Emma Yes I should have been clearer in my first thread but I also stand by that people should have asked me the facts before making rash judgements. I was in a lot of pain when writng the post and basically fumbled my words and I can see how people can be made to think the wrong thing entirely. The people that originaly broke my pony to drive I also take that back, I was in an emtional state when I wrote it and should have waited till my mind was clearer. It is easy to blame others when your not thinking clearly. No one even bothered to ask me anything, just got on their soap boxes and probably by the sounds of it, bitched about me and didn't think... When I read a post that sounds daunting I tend to use tact and ask them to be more specific etc before throwing my mouth around. What I felt postive about your post Emma was that you give good criticism and made your point without any rudeness. Thanks again |
   
Emma Burton
| | Posted on Monday, 18 June, 2007 - 11:49 am: | |
Dawn, if, as you have said, that you believe the pony wasn't broken properly and as requested at the time of purchase, then I would go back to them and see what went wrong. A lot would depend on what stage he was at when returned to you. I am a newcomer to driving, but in any area concerning horses it is always best to 'rebreak' after a long period of rest. Your message did imply you didn't do as you have since stated before putting to, so I don't think it's fair to attack those who were concerned. Good luck with the retraining, although, again from other 'horsey' experiences, I know a bad incident can sometimes ruin the future of a nice horse. Its good that you have had help offered. I have to say though, that I take the driving as the easy option, and don't get half as puffed out while doing it as I do when long lining!! Perhaps i'm doing it wrong.... ;o) |
   
Dawn Emmerson
| | Posted on Monday, 18 June, 2007 - 9:58 am: | |
Quote by Pete Balnchard... Carriage driving accidents of any kind are bad news but the circumstances leading up to this one beggar belief ~~~~~~~ Get your facts right before making ludicrous comments, did you even bother to ask me what I meant. I worded things wrong thouugh I was in a lot of pain when writing my message and not thinking straight.. Ignorance such as yours....beggers belief.... |
   
Dawn Emmerson
| | Posted on Monday, 18 June, 2007 - 9:50 am: | |
I feel like your attacking me here and I hope the closing statement in brackets below was not malicious. (I hope that he wasn't injured too severely in the accident and has not been ruined for driving.) To say no one could reply in a kind manner is disgusting. I can assure you ALL was done correctly and my pony was not just left for 10 weeks then threw into the carriage. Maybe I didn't explain myself properly but he was long reined in the field on several occasions used the same harness, the field was not a huge field and all precautions were taken. He was going nicely in the harness and when ridden and when put to the carrige he was calmm and walked off great. We drove several times before my collasped lung and even when recovering and I couldn't drive I did long line. On this particular day, my partner was at my ponies head so he wasn't just left out there on his own and we choose a day when all was quiet with no distractions. The field was big enough to drive round but not too big. To get to the field is a short walk about 20-30 meters (just a guess as I'm usless at guessing distances) anyway it was going up to the field that I noticed he started looking a bit concerened. We decided to bring him straight back. However to do that we had to go into the field to turn around. My pony was walking fine and then suddenly he got a bit more upset and it went from there. As people reading this were not there to see prior preperation leading up to this day nor seen what happened on the day it is wrong to assume. To give helpful advice is fine but (maybe I'm wrong here) you sounded like you were talking to some silly person that just grabbed the pony, threw it into the carriage and Whey Hey!! off we go.. That was NOT the case. I am not the kind of person who thinks I know it all, I always ask advice and I have always put my pony first. I know you have all thought on what I first wrote but as I said you don't know the full situation so it is wrong of anyone to assume and think negatively. Before saying hurtful things such as "Could not reply kindly" think...... Anyway I was taken to see my lad yesterday and all injuries are superficial and he is okay. I am now making arrangements with people who haven't judged me and are offering kind help. Oh and yes I am okay.. |
   
Guest
| | Posted on Monday, 18 June, 2007 - 8:39 am: | |
Karen, thank you so much for replying to Dawns message. A group of 9 people discussed her message at an event yesterday, we concluded that none of us could reply in a kindly manner, but you have. We do hope that the original trainer of this pony is able to reply,he/she has our sympathy. Carriage driving accidents of any kind are bad news but the circumstances leading up to this one beggar belief. The BDS mention in their handbook the "duty of care" required of carriage drivers.Are there any insurance experts out there that could advise us on the validity of an insurance claim in any accident similar to this one? Pete Blanchard |
   
Karen Blair-Imrie
| | Posted on Monday, 18 June, 2007 - 8:08 am: | |
Dawn, I must say how horrified I was by your message. Having had 2 Hackneys (horses, not ponies), I would never have even considered taking a new pony straight out for a drive in a field when he'd (1) only just been broken, and (2) hadn't been driven for 10 weeks subsequently. Even with my 16 year old mare, Bella, who has competed now for about 9 years in driving trials without incident, I always do the following every year in January: Long-rein in a safe, enclosed space without harness until Bella seems settled; this can take more than 3 days some years Long-rein in harness until Bella seems settled; this usually only takes 1 day Long-rein in the fenced field I will later be driving in; this can take up to 3 days. Hackneys in my limited experience are very alert and aware of every sound and movement! Put-to in the small enclosed space with someone at Bella's head and drive for about 10 mins there; this has always been fine and only takes 1 day. Put-to as above the next day, drive for 10 mins, then go out into a fenced field, where I only drive for another 10 mins. After that, I can dispense with the small enclosed space, and go straight to the field or out on the road. Just because your pony has been broken once to harness doesn't mean he is bombproof. You didn't break him yourself. Perhaps his experience wasn't all that positive. Did you drive him with the trainer before bringing him home so that you could assess his progress? Are you using the same harness and vehicle (or type of harness and vehicle) that he was trained in? I mean, there are so many variables here, Dawn. I hope that he wasn't injured too severely in the accident and has not been ruined for driving. |
   
Dawn Emmerson
| | Posted on Friday, 15 June, 2007 - 11:10 pm: | |
I bought a pony and paid extra for him to be broken to harness and the carriage. However when he arrived at my yard he was totally stressed and had lost a lot of weight and from the vets mouth, contributed to him catching a chest infection. I then took ill with a collapsed lung and in all this time (approx 10wks) my pony only went out once in the carriage. On Monday 11th we decided to hitch him up and take him into the field so see how he is going. 10 min later I was on the deck, thrown from the carriage and through a strong fence. I have been in Hospital for 5 days and now home on crutches. My idea now is to send my pony to be reschooled. I have contacted one person but she is too busy to take any horses in at the moment. Does anyone know who could take my pony on. He needs his confidence built back up, and brought on correctly for the carriage as I don't think he was broken properly first time around. He has some minor injuries at the moment so will be waiting until they are healed before sending him anywhere but in the meantime I can start making arrangements. I don't want to give up on the lad, he has just turned 4 years old and is a Hackney. Do contact me if you can help or know someone who can. Cheers Dawn |
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