Making a...

...break for freedom.

Not sure that was the best way to restrain a mini, but it did sort of work.

This is...

...why you be aware of when the horse can see you. Right at the end.

(Also, a good barrel run for her first time and thank you for the helmet, parents).

Not Using Something Very Important...

...Rein stops.

The martingale should have prevented the horse from being caught in the reins...

THUD...

...happens to the best of us.

Even...

...little Shetland ponies can act like they're huge.

Hey there, Cowgirl

This is about what it looks like, apparently. Horse is all "Wait, why can't I GO yet...why can't I RUN" at the start there.

Oh dear...

...but well handled.

If you can't clearly see, the pole that the two wheeler horses are secured to broke completely - maybe somebody should have inspected their cart better? This, needless to say, upset the horses, but they calmed down quickly.

Oh boy...

He's trying to do his demo, and "What are they doing out there" is about right. Beautiful Percherons.

I don't...

...normally post blooper reels, but the music. The silent era movie music just...

Don't Run...

Oh dear.

This is what happens when you don't tighten your racehorse's girth properly...

This...

...is why people who do chuck wagon racing should wear helmets.

I Haven't...

...seen this anti-kicking technique before. I think I could see it working.

Doing It Wrong

...and the horse was like "Nooooope."

Let's...

...hit the horse until she bucks then get mad at her for bucking. Why not.

I'm Out Of Here

Thud...and then yup, off for the horizon.

Got To..

...love how calm the instructor is. I ride a horse that pulls that sort of thing too ;)

They...

...think the sand pit on landing helps the horses. It actually makes landing harder work. Sigh.

Ride em...

...STOP.

I know you can't have a little kid break a pony in, but this "cowboy" is far too large, the pony is no more than two years old...and...yeah. You can find somebody smaller, surely.

This...

...is why you always have somebody holding your horses!

(Nobody was hurt)

I've had...

...days like this.

Sometimes on days like that you just want to get off and give up.

Hee...

...love the captions.

(Although why is somebody jumping a cob with a roached mane without a chicken strap or neck strap? That's really not safe).

Bad fall...

...and worried horse. The rider is okay.

Feathers Flying!

Look at that big thing go!

Well, horses need hay, right?

Stuck!

Good job these horses are calm!

Aww...

...you know, you're supposed to just trot around nicely with mom.

Bounce, bounce, bounce!

So elegant...

...and it takes so long to teach them to do this too. It's not easy!

Can horses...

levitate? Apparently!

Uh...

...maybe she should just have bailed?

I mean, that's not really the requisite way to ride a horse!

This is...

...such a fun competition. These kids and their ponies get to ride in relay with adult international show jumpers.

It's called the mini majors, and those are small ponies...max height 12.2.

I'm not...

...a driver, but I could see this one coming!

Not only was the driver having discussions about which way to go, but the pair were arguing with each other and THUD.

Poor kid...

I've been there with a pony being just that difficult. He was totally determined to get her off.

(Do I have to get ON that thing?)

Ow...

...what an embarrassing fall.

I'm done and going home...

I've seen stuff like this happen.

Yup, right back to his temporary stable.

Sigh...

First girl on the bay pony, nice round.

Girl on the white, well...let's just say she asked for that stop by hanging on his mouth and then hit him for stopping.

Also, she's jumping in a tie down, making it unnecessarily hard for her horse.

This...

...is why you rake the floor between carriage rounds. Sheesh.

It's amazing how tight these guys can turn a four-in-hand, though.

(They still won because the crash was after the final scoring line).

Sigh...

The kid is probably not too big for the pony. The saddle, however, certainly is.

Because the saddle is too big...well, this is what happens when your back cinch turns into a bucking strap.

Graceful...

...pony.

Horses are so, you know, agile and surefooted.

The sad...

...part about this was that if they'd assumed the horse had a good reason for freaking out the first time he passed the pole...

One Big Horse

19 hands of Shire. I don't know how big the rider is, but that's a lot of horse right there...but look how light he is on those feathered hooves.

Novice Hurdlers....

...prove they're novice.

Oops.

No serious injuries to horse or rider.

I'm not...

...that short, but I've had some similar difficulties with saddle racks and the like. Plus, this is funny.

Loose Horse!

Horse gets out of stall with saddle around its groin. Needless to say, it bolts...into the spectator area. The commentator does an amazing job of staying calm.

Good Catch!

Rider clings on with velcro seat. Horse carries on like nothing just happened.

Nope.

Yeah, everyone ELSE is silly enough to jump that. Not me. Nope.

Let's go...

...to the beach. I love how they fit under the breast bars ;).

I've seen...

...agility with miniatures. But with full sized horses?

I could see it being useful for desensitization and the like.

Whoooooah

No, carriage driving is neither easy. Nor safe.

Zoom...

Ponies turning on the afterburners. Harder to deal with than you think when the little ones pull it.

What a...

...gorgeous horse. I do like Friesians.

Oh boy...

...somebody helmet camed a bronc run.

Careful!

Oops...

...thud. And then nope, nope, not being caught.

Just...

...felt like sharing some beauty today. Mmm....A-rab.

Insanity...

I like jumping, but this might be a little bit much...

Ear-dorable

Spotted mule baby!

Hard To Believe...

...this was a wild horse not that many months ago.

Let's...

...make him jump through some hoops. (Those are normal sized hula hoops, by the way).

This horse...

...is so small that the rider is walking (No, you shouldn't ride minis, but she wasn't, really).

How about...

...a drag race?

Sploosh!

It doesn't take much of an error. Fortunately the carriage is light...

That's...

...a funny looking horse, mom!

Don't...

...try this at home.

(Be aware the sound with this has given some people headaches...)

Could a tractor...

...do this?

(I'm thirsty now).

Don't trip...

...over the little guy! (All of three days old...)

See....

Daddy says, 'That tarp is nothing to be scared of.'

And...draft pull fail...

Three horse pull - Belgians, I believe...and the traces holding two of the three snap.

They decide they're going back to their trailer.

I love how the three horses picketed in the ring are just "Whatever."

Look At This...

...beautiful pair of longears. So nicely matched and so eager to get to work.

Silly...

I don't think I'd try this, although the horse is a saint ;).

These Guys...

...are crazy.

Logging?

For sustainable logging, sometimes a horse is still the best motive power.

Or maybe two.

Er...Nope.

He's cute, but please don't play with your foals like you were another horse.

They might keep trying to do this when they're 16 hands...

Fast Ears

I'm not sure about nailing the numbers to the shaft while the cart is attached to the donkey, but they look to be having some fun ;).

(No, they aren't underweight. How often do you see donkeys in racing condition?)

Nope!

I think that was called a big NOPE.

Oops!

This obstacle was not part of the course.

Aww...

Trick training is for everyone!

How does your garden grow?

With extra ear power, of course.

Look At This...

...how horses jump. Slowed way down so you can really see what they do.

Mini Horse...

...who thinks he's at the Spanish Riding School. Check out the adorable.

Want Some Cute?

How about a spotted mule baby!

Let's get...

Plowing. Great demo video.

Also happy to see some full tails.

Love them big guys...

...with spots to boot!

Another...

...what not to do. Playing with horses like this requires skill she doesn't have. She got way too close. Not to mention the debris in their "training area."

Yuck, yuck, yuck!

Grown men (and women) riding standard sized donkeys. With some pretty awful riding, too. Yuck. And not a helmet to be seen, but for once...if they're going to sit on the donkey's loins (almost all of them were) then I have no sympathy for any resultant injuries.

We all

...have these days.

...and some of us get embarrassed on Youtube for it, apparently ;).

I wouldn't mind...

...being in one of these coaches.

Or maybe an outrider?

Possibly...

...the smallest mule ever.

Who needs...

...a saddle. Not this girl?

In contrast...

...to yesterday's little guy, here, have some horsepower.

Look at...

...those little legs go!

So, ranch work...

...is for big guys, right?

Don't say that in front of these ladies.

Talk About...

...cowgirling it up and getting back on the horse.

Useful?

Horse jumping in slow motion.

Had to do it...

Shetland Grand National. The original at Olympia, which has bigger fences.

Such talented kids!

Bounce, Bounce, Bounce...

...gotta love kids jumping their itty bitty ponies over itty bitty jumps!

...mostly, anyway.

Don't try this...

...at home.

This is a horse who's been trained to fall on command - which you might have seen in the movies. Don't worry, he's not hurt!

Let's jump...

...or not.

When something like this exactly happened at a show I was at somebody almost got killed...the horse went through the rope sooner and some idiot tried to grab it by the bridle it was no longer wearing.

In this case, everyone stayed calm, stayed out of its way and let it run back to its temporary stall.

Aww...

Mini horse agility is so much fun to watch. This guy's got his stars and is jumping through his hoops ;).

This may...

...be one of the most adorable things ever. Sadly, he seems to have dwarf traits - but bounce bounce bounce!

Pony tag

She wanted the treats. The human wasn't giving them over ;).

Uh oh, here comes her slightly bigger friend.

...wow.

Oops.

Funny how the commentator somehow didn't notice the little problem in the home stretch here.

If you think...

...mounting is tough, try this lady!

Yes, she really is mounting from a wheelchair.

That's...

...what I call a well trained horse.

Coming in to the second barrel, the rider drops a rein. Because they're split reins, she has no chance to regain it. She intentionally drops the second rein (which might otherwise pull the horse off course) and just...finishes the pattern without them. Given how many barrel racers seem to use the reins to stay on...impressive.

Which is better?

Horse...or bike?

Oh dear.

Somebody's taking their mini Shetland for a walk. I particularly love the side pass.

Yeah, he's NOT going to be caught.

Bounce, bounce, bounce!

Baby's first turnout!

....so small!

Mini donkey pulling a scaled down covered wagon. Gotta love it.

Angry horse?

Nope. Ears are forward and swiveling. Horse with way too much energy, not angry horse ;)

Oh dear...

This horse hasn't been quite trained right (supposedly she's been fixed now). Saddle's also too far forward.

I hate when that happens, though...

But I can jump, mom?

Classic dressage oops.

Ow...

...this is why your little girl should be wearing a helmet when barrel racing. (This is actually a pretty typical barrel fall and the same mud that caused it probably saved the girl serious injury. Something similar happened to me once jumping.

Mule power!

That's about enough longears. Look at them...

I'm...

...just in the mood to look at BIG horses right now.

I'm a marine!

I can do anything!

They Could...

...walk under the rails! Or run under them if they didn't have jockeys!

I know...

...it's not a horse, but check this cutie out!

Oops

Beautiful stickability. Unfortunately...he set off his airbag and spooked the horse. Apparently it's not comfortable to keep riding with one on, either.

How...

...do you make a horse do what you want? When it's a 17 hand Belgian...

...you don't. Not sure where she's going that's so bad.

Let's...

...lunge the horse and then shake a whip in its face...

...then just hook it up to a giant cart. It's clearly never been driven before... When it freaks out they don't seem to know what to do.

Smart Little Girl...

...look at this mini. I think she might think she's a dog!

Quite the musician, too.

His ears...

...are bouncing! Look at this wonderful sport, uh, mule.

Ow...

...and another jumping screw up. Misjudged the stride and, well...ow.

That's a...

...dang funny looking dressage horse ya got there.

Nice round, then...

...thud.

I had this happen to me the other day. Difference is, I stayed on. (By the skin of my teeth).

Foals, Foals...

...and a dog almost as big as the foals.

This...

...is why you don't want a lop eared horse.

The normal horse is having definite issues working out what lop ear, outside the ring, is trying to say to him.

Oh my...

Some horse pulls involve thousands of pounds...not this one!

Temper Tantrum?

Two and a half month old foal away from mom - so of course she's very upset. She's not really ready to be on her own yet. Oh, and she tried to eat the camera ;).

Aw...

...what a cute little barrel racer. Riding a quiet horse that knows what he's doing. With a pink helmet. Not strapped into the saddle. This is how you do it.

Sigh

This is a so called trainer working with a lesson horse.

Everything looks really good until the one minute mark where he starts nagging at the horse. The horse starts spinning, which is what his spurs are asking for. Then he starts hitting her. The horse melts down.

You don't...

...see these people when you watch racing on TV.

Well, you do...you see them leading the horses to the start, not making saves like this. This could have been a bad accident.

Let's...

...film a western.

Nice stickability, but the horse is a size too small.

The pony at the end, though. Is he hamming or trying to walk off the set? I can't tell.

Jumping the fence...

...without the horse. In rather spectacular fashion.

Both jockey and horse were fine. I'm not even entirely sure why he fell - did a stirrup leather break?

Not sure...

...what these two were up to, but I think I'd want to back my car away from that!

These guys...

...deserve some sort of award. This is brilliant.

This is not easy, people.

Let's tame...

...this lion.

I'm not sure I wouldn't rather have the real thing!

Teaching A Horse To Drive...

...can be dangerous. (I think I would wear a helmet with greenies. Oh, and a body protector).

What is very interesting in this is that the older horse actually pushes the freaking out youngster into the fence, stopping him quite neatly. Not somebody's first time at the rodeo, perhaps?

This Is a Real Dressage Queen

Always...

...good to see people who can snark at themselves.

Gotta Love...

...those insane mounted games kids.

Oh dear.

Somebody's having nothing of her dressage test, it seems. Nope. Not going to do it. Not going to.

Trying...

...to decide how I feel about this. There's no other way to get them across, but I'm not sure about the neck ropes.

Long, But Amusing

Don't...

...try this unless you really know what you're doing. I've seen people almost get killed trying it.

Oops...

Somebody may be in mild disgrace here.

Not...

...a fun ride.

This is probably an example of what I call the "downward spiral." The horse gets spooky. The rider gets anxious - as shown by the death grip on the reins.

The horse responds by thinking "If the big scary human is scared there must be something to be scared of."

The rider gets more anxious, and this is what you end up with.

He's a big boy...

No helmet, strapped into the saddle, and the horse is so fat it looks pregnant...yeah. If you want your kid to actually be a big boy?

Don't do this.

What is...

...even going on here?

Let's start with the completely slick trailer ramp, continue with the not being able to control the horse properly. End with...whacking it on the nose. But not when it tried to kick her with a front hoof...that got no discipline at all.

Levitating Horse!

I've only normally seen this with far-too-ready-to-go sled dogs!

Still...

...working out what to do with those hooves.

Slam!

Ow, ow, ow.

(The Haffies are cute, though).

Dramatic Rescue...

Horse gets loose and runs onto frozen pond. To make it even worse, she's in late pregnancy.

(Yes, both mare and foal survived).

Show Off!

Look ma, no hands! This is actually a good training exercise, but not normally over a jump this high - It's a way to learn a better automatic release. She got slightly left behind, but otherwise pretty good.

Nice, relaxed horse, too.

Velcro Seat

I'm not sure I could have sat this one! That horse is really trying to get him off.

(Horse is healthy but very green and did train out of it).

Oops...

Attempt at emergency dismount.

...yeah. Didn't go well.

So, in the hot desert...

...racing horses might be a little bit unfair.

How about donkeys?

(I think the whip use is less excessive than it sounds - the whips appear to be noisemakers).

Cute, but...

...I want to say this is just cute...little Shetland doing the dancing horse thing.

The Shetland is doing it well with his tiny rider, until about 0.26 when an adult comes in and starts hitting it on the butt even though it's performing the exercise.

I don't have a problem with teaching horses to dance, but really? (Not to mention the messy yard it's in).

Truth In...

...video, not.

Watch carefully.

Looks like fantastic bridleless riding (except for being too big for the pony), but if you keep watching, the photoshopped out reins make their reappearance on more than one occasion...

Hey...

Kid: I'm going to ride you bareback with a halter.

Pony: NOPE!

Awww....

...such a cute little cowgirl!

I'm Seeing Stars!

...and they're attached to a beauty.

(It's actually a fancy clip).

Ow, ow, ow...

CRASH.

Not A Horse...

It's an ad, but it's pretty funny nonetheless.

Bounce, Bounce, Bounce!

I know, I know, more Shetlands, but look at them JUMP!

Ponies Are Evil...

Fortunately, they are more likely to beat up...

Yeah. They saw that piggie off good.

Worst Dressage Caller

I am pretty sure this video is a joke ;). It's a good one, though.

This...

...is why I hate to see bronc riders not wearing helmets. I have little sympathy for the rider - he should have waited for his pickup men.

And this guy was wearing a helmet...but it wasn't properly secured and flew from his head. Despite that, it probably saved his life.

We can see...

...who the herd alpha is here.

Yup. It's the little guy.

I love how they both have socks, though.

Oh Dear...

Let's take a photo of the bride on a horse.

The horse, not cooperating.

(I suspect the wind blowing the dress spooked him).

Flipping Out

...literally.

The horse is tense at the free walk and ducking behind the bit, then messing with the bit, then...freak out.

My suspicion would be a mouth problem, although the owner said they got her evaluated and she checked out clear. Brain issue, maybe?

This Is Why...

...I hate Rollkeur. I really do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTD1YKm81os

(Youtube decided that all videos "didn't exist" today hence the embed failure).

Cuteness Therapy...

Because I've been having one of those weeks. (Including literal cat herding).

(Note, these are trained trick animals! I wonder how many times the terrier has fallen off).

Somebody's...

...having a bad day.

Reminds me of a certain Quarter Horse.

Any Horse...

...can do dressage. For example, the Highland Pony, bred to pull carts, help farmers, and lug dead deer off the moors.

Isn't he absolutely cute? Gotta love the costume, too.

Oh dear....

This horse is completely out of control. If this was my horse I'd be looking at her feed - this does not look like a pain reaction, this looks like pure hyperactivity.

Cuteness Therapy

I've had a frustrating day. I decided I needed this - and so do you!

Even...

...Olympic level horses have their moments. Apparently there was a horse eating monster in the judge's box.

Beautiful Dressage...

...beautiful...beautiful...oh dear.

Horse eating monster!

Emergency Dismount

This is what you SHOULD do if a horse rears and flips. If you can.

Note that the first thing you should do if a horse starts to lift both front feet is lean forward, drop the reins, and apply both legs firmly to send the horse forward. Another thing that can work if you have the balance is to free a hand and gently press on the top of the horse's head...I stress gently. Never hit a horse on the poll - it's so vulnerable you can actually kill them.

And then once the horse is behaving, work out why it started rearing. The most common reason for an otherwise well behaved horse to suddenly rear is pain - usually in the mouth or the withers. Check saddle fit and teeth.

Nope.

This is a pretty big "Nope, not jumping," although not as bad as the one I got from a certain Pony yesterday. (It's really hard to do much when they just decide they're going to stop, look at the fence and plant all four hooves to the center of the Earth).

Dressage, So Refined...

...so classy...so...hip hop? Why not!

Let's...

...have the bride come in on a white horse.

Oops! Even the best trained horse can be unpredictable. Fortunately, the bride knew how to ride!

Thud.

This is one of the few cases where the horse could be blamed for the fall. When a jouster charges, he drops the reins and trusts his horse to keep running straight, and it didn't. It's also possible that the bales forming the outer edge of the lyst were too close to the rail.

Couldn't They...

...have found ANYONE smaller to get on this clearly only two-year-old pony?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8vDS6OgndI

Idiot...

I am on the Appaloosa's side here.

Be Careful...

...don't get too close to the feral burros now. Aren't they cute, though?

Those Mounted Games...

...kids are brilliant. And completely nuts.

I Love...

...freestyle reining. And here?

Have a pas de deux, cowboy/cowgirl style.

It's Always...

...the little guy in charge.

Look at the little guys. They're making it quite, quite clear who the alpha is.

Ow, thud...

...and yes, she was hurt, so please don't mock this one. It happens to all of us at times.

If you ride, you will fall off.

Horse "Loves" Having His Belly Scratched.

First of all, that isn't his belly...

Stirrups...

...are for wimps.

Nope, Nope...

No, this horse doesn't know his changes. Yet.

I love how she talks about rewarding the try and knowing it will be messy to start with.

Thud!

This is always embarrassing. When wearing a helmet cam...

You go ahead...

...I'll wait here.

(Everyone who jumps has had this happen).

Ow Ow Ow

Jockeys take a lot of risks...as these clip demonstrate. The second one, though, that's some strength.

How Embarrassing

Nope. I don't feel like jumping an entire course today...

Pony Makes Break For Freedom...

...with rider still attached.

I AM impressed by the behavior of the pony being filmed from. Not following that? Saint.

This Is So True!

Speaks for itself.

Jump, Jump...

...silly Thoroughbred. This rider's having all kinds of issues rating the horse, but nice school anyway. Plus, helmet cams are fun.

What Went Wrong?

This is somebody getting on a horse for the first time. She carefully mounts, reassures him, then she starts messing with the reins and stirrups. And messing. And messing.

Explosion, unavoidable. Then when he does explode she tries to hold herself on with the reins...

Weird...

...the start of this where they seem to be riding through a mall, and then jumping in, what, an underground parking lot? Pretty crazy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV0PrufUe4w

(I'm in a hurry and it refused to imbed. Sorry, people).

Never Say Never.

"I'm really experienced. I've never fallen off the craziest of horses."

Top of the list of things NOT to say before getting on your friend's pony to school it.

Oh Dear...

So much wrong with this picture. Why are you using lawn chairs as jump stands? There's something not quite right about the front boots, too....

Let's Go...

...swimming with the horses.

...and make them rear because it's funny. Sigh.

This Horse...

...doesn't seem to want to jump. He seems to want to buck instead and then take off for the horizon.

I dunno. His ears are forward, but I'm not sure he isn't in a bit of pain causing this.

(Warning - foul language used by the person with the camera at the end - if it bothers you, might want to watch with the sound muted).

Not A Video Game...

...a helmet cam.

My trainer would be telling him to stop looking down over the fences. Actually, he looks down even more than I do...