GOBB! HUGE FLYING MONSTER!

[Prieta]

Yes, a huge flying monster lurking out in the back field out to scare my neurotic Arab.

Yesterday, I went out for a conditioning ride out on the property- first we warmed out in the arena and then went for an easy walk on the perimeter of our property before we went into the back field by going through the 20 acres of forest. When my Arab first saw this huge snake lying motionless on the ground, I convinced her that it was just a fallen log. After several tries, she went over without any problems. I was grateful that she did not run away nor did she rear at the sight of this tree. Finally, we reached the back field full of tall grass not yet mowed by me. I not Abby, the Arab saw a fox running away silently. We started to walk faster on the perimeter of the 10 acres of rectangular sized field which was surrounded by forest.

Lo and behold! We came upon this HUGE FLYING MONSTER which just screamed and spread its wings about five feet wide. The wings spread under Abby. :eek: Poor Abby just reared and jumped mighty big side ways several times. Of course, I fell down but came away unscathed. I went up to Abby and got on her so that I could go over to the same area. That stupid flying monster did not move - Abby went bonkers again.:eek: There I went flying again. Abby's eyes were very wide and did not want to go back to the same area again. Again with my persistence, we went back there to show Abby that the FLYING MONSTER is the one who should be afraid of us not the other way around. Abby went back with my gentle urgings - she did....We remained in the area until she calmed down before we went back home.

I took my Ranger and drove over to the same spot to see what monster it was and found it to be turkey hen just happening to be moving very slowly.:rolleyes:

Have you ever had this kind of experience? What can I use for bomb proof clinic? Is there such mechanical bird that will scream and spread its wings that I can put under my horse????:eek:

[jazzrider]

Well geez. I'm not sure any bomb proofing could make a horse calm for a massive bird spreading her wings under your horse and screaming. I mean really. :eek: Poor thing. And what are the odds of that happening again? :lol: :lol:

Sounds like you did the right thing afterwards. Good for you for making her stick it out and calm down in the area. If it were me I'd tke her to the same spot today, just to reinforce that it's not a scary place.

I once had a rabbit jump up and hit my OTTB in the stomach. We jumped three feet off the ground -- straight up. :eek: But somehow that just doesn't sound as bad as your little adventure. Glad to hear you both survived it well.

[ChocoMare]

EEK! :eek: That'd freak any horse.

Not on horseback, but my mom and I were hiking through some woods behind our vacation property. Came up to a large mugu pine and FLAPPITY, FLAPPITY, FLAPPITY...out flew a huge grouse! We both jumped about 15 feet and came down shaking. That bird didn't move until we were, literally, about to step on it. And it was so well camouflaged against the brush, we never saw it.

I think our heart rates returned to normal about an hour later. :lol:

[BigHorseLittleHorse]

BigHorse is about as bombproof as they come, but one day a wild turkey flew up out of the brush straight at his head. He wasn't able to walk quietly past that spot for months.

Personally, I think if it startles me, it's not unreasonable for the horse to be startled too :)

[allpurpose]

Oh dear, glad you're OK and the "snake" didn't get your mare on the way home!

I was with a friend in an unmowed field many years ago when a whole covey (?) of grouse went up under her mare. She and the mare flew straight up along with them, coming down all together in the same spot. They kept hopping, spooking, flying and collecting together, horse, human and birds it seemed like for 10 minutes (longer, my friend sez). Finally, birds had enough sense to stay put, let the crazy horse go on her bucking-merry way, friend flopping around in the saddle like a stuffed scarecrow.

I, rather unkindly, almost peed my pants I was laughing so hard. :lol::lol:

Funny, friend and mare never wanted to go through that field again, at least not through the middle of it, ever again! I wonder why...:D

[spurgirl]

Three of us were out riding a few weeks ago,and talking about the black bear that had been seen within a mile of our riding trails...when suddenly the lead gelding started to spook,we could see nothing,no deer,no bunnies-when suddenly whump,whump,whump!Three or four turkeys had been roosting in the large pines we were currently under,and swooped off DIRECTLY over our heads and out into the sunlit field.My QH,a bit of a trail greenie,did a beautiful 360 degree turn,and looked back at me as if to say "WTF"?Bless his heart his "whoa" command stuck,we continued to ride for another hour.Love those trail suprises:eek:

[AtomicTop]

I haven't laughed this hard in ages. When you actually picture all the stories you guys have told it's hilarious. Glad to hear no one got seriously hurt. ROTFL

[Prieta]

All stories are very hilarious! :lol::lol: I'd pee in my pants, too if I am there to see someone else trying to stay on. Geez! My neurotic Arab jumped really big that I did not see how I could stay on her at all! :eek:

I am SORE all over and am grateful that it is once in a lifetime incident.

[wateryglen]

:eek: Yup- turkey win IMHO! Followed closely by quail (bob-whites!) but this time of year you need to be watching in front of the horse when crossing deep grass because the deer lay up in the grass AND frequently fawns are left alone for the day in the deep grass so you don't want to step on them!!! Nope!! Don't wanna do that!!! And the deer round here are so danged tame they don't even bother to get up sometimes so you're riding by them 20 ft away and hoping like hell they don't decide to get up and run off or YOU will be running off too!!! :lol:

But hasn't anyone seen Sasquatch-The Size 12 Footed Squirrel yet this year?!!! :winkgrin:

[wendy]

You just need to catch a whole bunch of pheasants and release them into your horse's pasture. They hide in the grass and wait for your horse to practically step on them before they go shooting up all around said horse with a huge clattering noise. Your horse will get used to them.. well, never.

[paohatch]

We have noisy blue heron or something like that and when they startle, they squawk like a prehistoric teradactyle or something and it freaks out every horse on the trail ride, old or new, experienced or green.

[Prieta]

:lol::lol::lol:

Get those birds out! We need them!!!! Perhaps, I ought to get peacocks just so that my Arab would get used to them.

[SarahR]

We had a bunch of baby turkeys break cover as we stepped over them in a meadow. Didn't bother the horses, maybe because they just quietly stood up and ambled off with no wing flapping.