Worst phone call I've recieved in awhile...

[Kayla]

I got terrible news today that my best friend was in a terrible accident last night. She is in Calgary doing an apprenticeship under a really good horse trainer and last night while working with her new horse who has known human aggression issues everything went wrong. She took on the horse because he was on his way to the meat factory and wanted to try and help the poor fellow out. After working with him on a lunge line on the ground for a few days and making tons of success she got on him for the first time yesterday. About 10 miniutes into the ride however she said he just snapped. She's worked with horses for close to 10 years and she's not the type to catigorize an animal as snapping without warning as she has great respect for body langauge and so on. He reared straight up and fell backwards ontop of her. She was rushed to the ER and the doctors are amazed she has no broken bones and is alive. Everything else however is severely bruised.

I talked to her today after she was out of the hospital and it was the most heart breaking conversation of my life, and she is so upset as she learned that the horse involved was sent off to the meat factory.

I'm flying out on Wensday to help her pack her things as she lost her apprenticeship which I think is bull but I'm not going to get into it.

Kayla

 

[Lantus]

So sorry to hear this I hope she makes a full recovery soon. Too bad she got the sack that is a bit sucky. Good luck with everything.

 

[mrose_s]

Not nice
I supppose it could have been tonnes worse though.

 

[Dekka]

She lost her apprenticeship over it?!? That is just stoooopid in the extreme!

I am glad she is alright, I know how dangerous horses can be. I have been lucky but have lost some friends over the years who have not.

(oh and depending on what kind of riding she does I know of some AMAZING people here in ont to apprentice with)

 

[BostonBanker]

I'm glad to hear your friend wasn't hurt worse. I can't believe she lost the apprenticeship over this; did the horse come from the trainer she was working with, or did she bring the horse in on her own?

What a shame someone wasn't willing to just euthanize the horse instead of sending him off to slaughter.

 

[corgipower]

I hope she makes a speedy recovery. Sounds like a crappy situation. When I was apprenticing, we had a horse with a mean streak and human aggression. When the horse broke my finger, the woman I worked for shipped the horse out the next day. She said I was much more important than the horse.

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

wow--what a sad situation--I hope your friend will be ok.

 

[a.baker]

Oh she is very lucky that didn't kill her! Thats not fair she has to be punished for trying to do good Well thats what it would feel like I think anyways.

 

[Renee750il]

I'm glad to hear your friend wasn't hurt worse. I can't believe she lost the apprenticeship over this; did the horse come from the trainer she was working with, or did she bring the horse in on her own?

What a shame someone wasn't willing to just euthanize the horse instead of sending him off to slaughter.

Believe it, BB. That's a first step for the trainer she had an apprenticeship with to take to absolve him/herself of liability

I hope your friend recovers well and can put this behind her and go back to doing what she loves. And that the trainer doesn't try to ruin her reputation.

Like BB says, it's a shame that euthanization wasn't used rather than the slaughterhouse. That right there tells you something about the people she was apprenticed with.

 

[bubbatd]

Boy she was lucky she wasn't hurt worse !!!! It scared me to death when the girl's horses reared like that . Poor gal !

 

[Buddy'sParents]

I am so very sorry about your friend. It's good to know that her physical injuries are not extensive. And it's just crappy that she got booted...I'm sure she'll find somewhere else just as great to apprentice at, though. Good luck to her!

 

[dr2little]

I got terrible news today that my best friend was in a terrible accident last night. She is in Calgary doing an apprenticeship under a really good horse trainer and last night while working with her new horse who has known human aggression issues everything went wrong. She took on the horse because he was on his way to the meat factory and wanted to try and help the poor fellow out. After working with him on a lunge line on the ground for a few days and making tons of success she got on him for the first time yesterday. About 10 miniutes into the ride however she said he just snapped. She's worked with horses for close to 10 years and she's not the type to catigorize an animal as snapping without warning as she has great respect for body langauge and so on. He reared straight up and fell backwards ontop of her. She was rushed to the ER and the doctors are amazed she has no broken bones and is alive. Everything else however is severely bruised.

I talked to her today after she was out of the hospital and it was the most heart breaking conversation of my life, and she is so upset as she learned that the horse involved was sent off to the meat factory.

I'm flying out on Wensday to help her pack her things as she lost her apprenticeship which I think is bull but I'm not going to get into it.

Kayla

Do you know which trainer she was working with. That doesn't sound even remotely reasonable.
I'm in Calgary if you need anything. I'm glad that your friends OK physically, terrible about the emotional circumstances though..

 

[Zoom]

I hope your friend makes a full recovery soon and can find a better apprenticeship to get on with!

 

[adojrts]

I am glad she is ok, but something isn't right here. First things first, with a KNOWN problem horse spending a few days with it on a lunge then backing it is foolish. Putting in a conditioned response on the horse and on the ground first would have saved her butt. Also finding out what triggered the horse would have been smart along with a full vet check and chiropractic exam to rule a back problem etc. All that can't be done within a few days.
With just bruises she got off lucky, hopefully she takes a good long hard look at what she could/should have done differently.

 

[Kayla]

I am glad she is ok, but something isn't right here. First things first, with a KNOWN problem horse spending a few days with it on a lunge then backing it is foolish. Putting in a conditioned response on the horse and on the ground first would have saved her butt. Also finding out what triggered the horse would have been smart along with a full vet check and chiropractic exam to rule a back problem etc. All that can't be done within a few days.
With just bruises she got off lucky, hopefully she takes a good long hard look at what she could/should have done differently.

I do agree but what's done is done I'm just glad she got out of it alive and yes I'm pretty sure there is alot of knowledge to take away from such a situation. It was the time factor I believe that was affecting her judgement. The horse was on it's way to the meat factory, she put what little money she had to board him at a barn up the road and to rent him from the previous owner who had bought him for competition but was not impressed with his habits but was willing to let her have some time with him to try and make progress.

I don't deny that it wasn't foolish but I also cannot blame her for trying with him as she has worked with many types of horses with issues in the past, but I suppose as you pointed out this one was a bit over her head and I'm glad it didn't cost her more.

I'm not sure about all of the details surrounding the specifics as to losing the apprenticeship as we only talked on the phone for about an hour and she was really drugged up on painkillers and out of it.

Thanks for the support
Kayla

 

[adojrts]

Kayla,
It's a hard lesson learned but one of the first rules of working with problem horses is no time lines. We have all learned that one the hard way. And we also have to learn not to let our hearts and good intentions get in the way of common sense (although that can be a hard one).
I just glad she is ok.

 

[xpaeanx]

I'm sorry she got hurt... at least she didn't break anything! That's amazing by itself especially if the horse fell ON her! someone upstairs was obviously looking out for her.

Too bad she has to go home... If it is only because of this accident... that's a load of rubbish!

 

[bubbatd]

Yes , she was very lucky ! It happened to a friend of mine last year . It broke her ribs and they puntured her lungs . They didn't think she'd make it .