Hunting season safety ?

[meggie]

Hi everyone , I know I don't chime in too often , but I do read everyone's good advise almost everyday. I bought a wonderful little 4 year old paint mare. She is was sold to me as a green broke trail horse , and she is. She and I are working everyday that the weather allows. Not to get started on how proud of her I am but she is a very willing and bright young horse . Anyway..the question I have is riding safety during hunting season. Besides the orange ribbon on my helmet and my safety vest are there any other things I ought to be doing ? We are no longer riding cross-country instead sticking to gravel roads. I really don't want to stop till the end of season in February

[bergere]

Hunting never ends up here and I refuse to stop riding...so...
I normally also use a bright orange helmet cover too. I also ride with Bear Bells, which also work for hunters.
What you don't see in this shot is her bright Orange Breast collar.

At some point I am going to add bright orange rein covers.

What I have on Stjarna's backside is a Parson's rump. You can either buy one from this lady or try to make your own.
http://www.parsonsrump.co.uk/home

And here is another good place, I have bought stuff from them before.
http://www.dontshootme.ca/

[lamoncha lover]

I really like that set up bergere. Since i plan on riding all this winter I may need to check into something like that.
meggie I love paints. Got pics?

[Pony]

This isn't for riding, but when the animals are in the field.

A couple or three years back, we saw a horse and donkey standing in a paddock.

The horse wore a big blaze orange blanket, emblazoned with the words, "I AM NOT A DEER."

The donkey was similarly attired. His blanket read, "ME NEITHER."

[Donna1982]

Originally Posted by Pony

This isn't for riding, but when the animals are in the field.

A couple or three years back, we saw a horse and donkey standing in a paddock.

The horse wore a big blaze orange blanket, emblazoned with the words, "I AM NOT A DEER."

The donkey was similarly attired. His blanket read, "ME NEITHER."

Oh that is great!!! I never thought about hunters and horse back riders. bergere that is really cool.

[malinda]

Besides all the blaze orange, when riding you can talk or sing. If you see a hunter wave and yell hello so they know without a doubt you are not a deer.

[tinknal]

Hunter is standing there ready to gut out his elk. guy says, hey, you shot my horse. hunter says no, it is an elk........ They go back and forth several times. Finally the guy says "fine! it is an elk. Can I at least take my saddle and bridle off before you field dress it?"

[beccachow]

I might also suggest, if she can mentally handle it at this point without freaking out, some sort of jingle bells attached to the saddle or bridle. I say "if she can handle it" because I know for a fact my old Arab would have been spinning in circles saying, "What was that?? What was that??"

[pookshollow]

Originally Posted by beccachow

I might also suggest, if she can mentally handle it at this point without freaking out, some sort of jingle bells attached to the saddle or bridle. I say "if she can handle it" because I know for a fact my old Arab would have been spinning in circles saying, "What was that?? What was that??"

She has a paint. Their usual attitude is "oh! ok . . ." But try them out at home, first, juuuust in case.

[meggie]

Thanks so much for the tips and the funnies...The bells sound like a very good idea I'll see how she takes to them ,she seems to take new and freaky stuff in stride. I've been flapping tarps and slickers and all she does is turn to face the "scary" and check it out. The only thing I've found that she jumped sideways at was the air horn and that was only the first time now she just walks right on by. Whomever started her did it right.
I will try to get some pics downloaded. She may not be flashy but she has a solid brain and is sweet to boot. Oh, her name is Bella.

[brody]

Bella sounds fabulous

as do you

great ideas - I even worry about our large dogs on our own property at this time of year

[goodhors]

Practice with bells IN YOUR HAND, while standing on the ground, letting the horse hear the ringing. Do NOT attach the bells to horse, in case of a bad reaction, you can stop the ringing by dropping the bells.

Have to say that I have seen a number of older, well trained horses act VERY stupid the first couple times they heard bells. Someone would have been hurt badly, if bells had been attached to the horse, to "chase" him along when he jumped. A lot of folks lunge the horse while ringing the bells, so they can stop when horse gets nervous. A helper to walk beside horse ringing bell, stopping ring when you say, helps get them used to the sound. Maybe feeding while ringing, would reward the tolerating sound.

Take your time to get horse used to the bell noise so he can eventually wear it when you go out during hunting season.

You want a good sized bell, that has a big ring to it so the sound will travel. I suggest buying something in good brass, with a nice tone. Ugly ring will give you a headache! Harness shops often sell sleigh bells, which come in various shapes and sizes. I have old bell shaped sleigh bells (shaft or pole bells) I put on the lambs and calves, to know where they are. Bells are about 3" tall, have a nice ring that carries well from the field.

I don't get much noise from the round bells of a string of bells. Animal has to be moving along, to get those round bells to ring much.

So a search for sleigh bells, old or new, could help you find a source.

[Rogo]

My critters wear Christmas bells on their front feet for Christmas parades. Don't think I could take the bells for hours of riding!! *I'd* be a ding-a-ling!

I have a police whistle tied to the front of the saddle for easy grabbing. If you've ever heard them, they're shrill, and loud. When I hear shots, I blow it a few times.

Because I always pack, I've been asked why I don't just shoot off a few shots. Obviously, these aren't gun folks! You don't just shoot if you don't know where the bullets are going and hunters will just think there's other hunters in the area.

[bergere]

The bells I use are soft, they don't have to be loud to carry a long distance in the woods and for Bears or hunters to hear.
Have been using them for nearly 30 years.
I bought some nice old fashioned small sleigh bells.

Lets just say, I do talk when riding at times and more than likely if there is anyone around they would run away from the crazy lady. LOL

Glad to help and offer ideas. VBG

[chewie]

Originally Posted by Pony

This isn't for riding, but when the animals are in the field.

A couple or three years back, we saw a horse and donkey standing in a paddock.

The horse wore a big blaze orange blanket, emblazoned with the words, "I AM NOT A DEER."

The donkey was similarly attired. His blanket read, "ME NEITHER."

HAHAHAHHA, that's a good one


and flashy has nothing whatsoever to do with whether she is a good horse or not! my current ride is a plain sorrel gelding. he's stout and very well built, but just.a.sorrel. (i love paints, apps, COLORED!!) but at this point, aint' no way would I trade him, I trust him, know his quirks, and can count on him most of the time. THAT'S what counts.

[hiddensprings]

When my friend and I ride during hunting season, we do the normal orange vest and caps and when we enter the woods, we start talking loudly or singing. Hard to mistake us for deer.

[beccachow]

Originally Posted by hiddensprings

When my friend and I ride during hunting season, we do the normal orange vest and caps and when we enter the woods, we start talking loudly or singing. Hard to mistake us for deer.

You've never seen Rudolph??