Didn't mean to hurt you

This past weekend I washed tails on my gray mares. I decided it's just too cold for a full body wash, unfortunately. On recommendation from A horse crazy American in Germany I bought the purple stuff- Quic Silver. It does work! I took "before" photos but I want to get them a little cleaner for the "after" shots. So I will post them eventually.

I had a very bad time with Annie however. I wrapped her lead over the cross tie post rather than tying it because she has a terrible habit of sitting back and getting hurt. True to form, she did not disappoint. She pulled back and the rope snugged up rather than falling free. It was terrifying! I was so afraid the post would snap in half. It happened once before when she was cross tied and she got all cut up with the post dangling between her legs.

I tried to calm her and release the rope. I don't know whether she or I was more terrified at this point. Then she settled down and I loosened the rope and rubbed her neck and face, calming her. I then reset the rope against the tie ring, not even wrapped and she pulled back again! Again, the rope somehow got "fixed" and she panicked. Pulling back and plunging forward and sitting back again. I again calmed her down and loosened the rope. I don't even know how it got tight this time. I couldn't find any damage although I was sure she hit the post at least once.

I gave up and took her in the barn to finish the job. In the barn I just lay the rope over the stall door and she stood really well. I brushed her down, put hoof conditioner on her feet, fed her cookies and put her away.



I get so tired of her manic panic attacks. She has been hurt so many times because of them. Last year, my horseshoer came early one day and decided to start on the horses before I arrived. I have always held them in hand when he trims. They are very good for him but I enjoy spending a little one on one with them and seeing how their feet are. Anyway, he tied Annie to pipe rails in the corner of her stall paddock. She panicked and pulled back.

My neighbor saw all the commotion from her upstairs window and called me. She couldn't tell what was happening exactly. I felt so helpless as I was driving home from work. It sounded like the horseshoer was killing my horse! She said he was beating her and she was rearing. When I did get there everything was already settled down. The horseshoer met me and said everything was okay and that all three horses had been trimmed. I paid him and went to see the horses and assess the damages.

Annie had battle scars! Her face was scraped in several places from the halter.

Doesn't she look defeated in those photos? Poor baby!


She even had a cut at her throatlatch.


Her knee had a nasty laceration on the side.


The fence had even lost it's weld and the rail fell shortly after! Although I don't know how this rail fell because she was tied in the corner according to the farrier.

I was stunned!! He was wrong to be there without me. However, I never told him about Annie's tying issues. She was always very good for him in the past because I held her. I think he was still in shock when I talked to him afterwards. He could have killed my horse or been killed himself!

I debated whether to cancel his services and even sue him. But Annie did heal and although she has a scar on her leg, she is completely sound. It's so hard to find, and keep, good farriers. He is fast and the horses seem to like him. He is always on time too. Was it my fault too, for not telling him she wouldn't tie? In the end, I decided it was a horrific accident and not really his fault. Now he waits for me to be there.


What would you have done?
And, how can I train her to tie??



Didn't mean to hurt you - song: Sorry, artist: Tin Machine, album: Tin Machine II