We DO love our haffies as much as you love yours. And, we each know what we wouldn't do. We take the calculated risks we feel up to and we just don't worry as much as you. I wouldn't even own a horse if I sat down and added up all the risks. I wouldn't even drive a car for that matter.
Good grief! A light-hearted 20 minute trot around the field, while not something I would do at nine months pregnant, would not hurt the haffie. In addition, the mother definitely was hoping to "abort" (deliver) that baby. It's time had come.
And, remember -- Christopher Reeve was wearing a helmet. His wife never smoked. We have no guarentee that having all our ducks in a line won't keep the fox from taking one.
The cause of sway back is undetermined and may be hereditary. My vet recommended I take advantage of Toby's teachable age rather than wait for him to stop growing. There are so many benefits to taking this youngster out for walks down the street or on the trails. He loves it! There are so many things for him to see and learn about. He's bright and curious and I won't stifle his intelligence by keeping him on-property until he's "old enough" to ride. .
So, there you have it. I'm a bit of a risk taker, you see. I'm willing to accept responsibility for the outcome.
Marilyn
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I may very well get in trouble for saying this, but I do not think a 13 hand horse should be carrying a 240 - 290 pound woman. I found the photos and the story quite disturbing, and not funny at all. There are so many dangerous things going on in those photos that it is disturbing. To me, riding is about being responsible and looking after the well being of both the rider and the horse.
Maybe I am just a kill joy... but mostly I am a person who puts safety above carefree fun. There is nothing fun about an accident that results in an aborted baby, or a mother who is brain dead from not wearing a helmet, or in having a broken foot from wearing flip flops around horses. There is nothing fun about caring for a young horse for the rest of it's life who has sustained physical damage from carrying too much weight at too fast of a gait. Resulting in lameness - due to stress fractures, bucked shins, OCD and a zillion other things. A swayed back. Permanant back damage due to compressed disks, misalignment, muscle atrophy... The list goes on and on...
I would ask of all of you out there who profess to love their Haflingers: Please do take safety precautions. Think it out!! Take it slow, no matter what. Do things with thoughtfullness and caring. Always consider the horse first. They aren't going to tell us that they cannot do it - especially the really good ones out there who will give thier all, no matter what (which is what I think Rosie is).
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