Fed up pony

He's being crawled over, "mauled" and annoyed...

Ponies can be very patient, but...he's trying to eat lunch here.

You go ahead!

Nice run. Shame about the, uh, landing.

I just love...

...itty bitty brand new drafties!

Sometimes....

...you just aren't going over that fence.

Thud, splinter, thud....

Thud...

Even good horses botch a fence now and then.

Looks like the horse misjudged the width of the fence.

Scaled Down

Scaled down horses, and the carriage is almost as cute! All the spots, too.

Wanna be...

...here. Yup, right there, right on that mule.

So cute...

All of them!

I can ride...

...my pony bareback in just a halter.

Pony: Yeah. Right.

Not sure what set him off, but he def. had a twinkle beforehand. Good velcro seat from the kid!

See...

...gaming horses have the pattern memorized. Who needs a rider?

This town...

...has horse trails everywhere. So why not get some Pony Espresso.

You can't ride drafts...

...right? Look at these guys.

He's adorable...

...probably a little dwarfy, but still just plain cute.

Vaulting...

...is a crazy sport. As in, I could never do it. And yes, it can be dangerous. I really wish they'd wear helmets, at least in practice.

Bounce!

Somebody needs more work. And apparently there's a paddock, but guess who would rather bounce around in her stall.

Ow...

...the poor driver. The horse spooked at something...

If the horses look different from normal trotters - they're Finnish Trotters, not Standardbreds

I try...

...to have sympathy, but when your legs are on the horse's shoulders...

I mean, I hope she wasn't hurt, but legs back!

Other end!

Reins....

...are completely unnecessary.

In fact, sometimes they get in the way, right?

Let's go outside!

...nope. I, uh, think not.

Those were well-synchronized nopes, too.

Let's run away...

...with the circus!

Man...

...this horse looks really hard to handle.

He gets stronger and stronger...

Then in the second round he decides it's just not safe to jump from that spot/angle. Ow. NICE velcro seat.

Watch your...

...lunch.

At least I assume that's what the pony is hoping to find...

This...

...is one of the most interesting horse drives on the planet.

Daang

What a nasty fall...

Oops

Skip to :43 as they have an obnoxious intro.

Who says you need all of your tack to jump?

Don't look down

I've done this ride. Some pretty spectacular drop offs there!

Babies!

Just some foals playing.

The grass...

...actually does look slightly greener on the other side.

The horse looks completely innocent.

Gagnam Style horse

Showing off!

I wouldn't attempt that mount with just any horse, though!

Pay attention to mee!

Or I'll yodel until you do

They call her the singing donkey, but that is totally yodeling!

Today...

...she let somebody talk her into wearing a body protector.

Ow. Yeah, it's a new horse being backed for the first time. I don't think that horse is ready at all.

But this is why you should wear a vest with the babies.

No, it's not a sheep...

...it's a white donkey.

Or maybe a donk in sheep's clothing?

Shaggy!

The only livestock that stay out in the winter in Iceland...

Zoom!

Spectacular driver's eye view of a high end chuck wagon race.

You can't..

...hold me back.

Especially when there's grain involved. Looks like we need a snap chain to keep this little girl in.

Not sure...

...what this horse is so mad about. Flies? The weather? I think flies, but yeah...bit of a tantrum there!

Dinner bell!

It's not just for the cowboys!

Aww....

...but it's so crueeeel to make them jump!

In a ditch...

...but thankfully, help is at hand.

The...little wall.

Well, actually it's not a wall, so it's not a true puissance but rather a chase-me-charlie. But look at all of those little guys jump!

The dog really is bigger!

...and the dog has a blanket on.

Not sure the donks quite know what to do with him at the start.

Come on mom!

Open the gate! Now!

I think these horses might be a tad "hangry."

Aww...

...baby longear doesn't have everything worked out yet. Standing up is a challenge!

Ow...

...barrel racing isn't safe.

Especially if you ride like some of these girls. Sorry...not all of these falls are the rider's fault, but some definitely are.

Another Nope

Some horses just don't want to do the big wall today.

That bottom layer seems a little bit TOO solid for my taste.

Nope...

I won't go that way.

No helmet, no saddle, loose dog, and a horse that seems completely confused about what he wants to do. He almost went up at one point.

Baby foal...

...and an interesting choice of music.

Yes, uh, that's the X-Files theme. What, are they planning on naming the baby Scully?

Winter fun!

It might still be fall, but check out these guys playing in the snow.

Of course, they are Iceys...

Ugh...

This is why you don't tie kids to the saddle when they ride!

Her feet were tied to the stirrups so that when the horse went down, she was nearly crushed. If the kid can't stay on without that, they aren't ready to race.

Get 'em cowboy

I particularly love the expression on the long ear's face...I think he wants to play too!

And more aww...

...small horse, large dog!

Aww....

...silly little mule!

This is why...

...polo players wear a lot of protective gear.

Ow, ow, ow.

Aww...

...look at this little cowgirl and her pony go. She rides better than many adult racers I've seen!

(As a note, having a horse decide to do that around a jump standard because she's forgotten she ain't at the rodeo...in an English saddle...is kind of...scary?)

Ow....

Thankfully, neither pony nor rider seemed to be hurt.

Not how you do pole bending. And the poor kid really didn't know how to sit that.

Oh dear...

...what not to do.

Horse rears, rider dang near pulls it over, and then somebody (her coach?) tries to help out...by running up behind the horse. Somehow, he doesn't get kicked.

A little....

...too enthusiastic, perhaps?

She kinda squeaks like I do when that happens...

Oh dear...

I think somebody had to walk home.

Looks like they pulled the bridle off when they fell.

Drill...

...is hard enough in the saddle. In harness?

Plus, look at those little legs go!

Long suffearing mom!

Baby has way too much energy!

Uh...

...I've retrained a barrel horse and she didn't want to jump things supported on barrels. But this horse forgot he wasn't supposed to jump it. I'm guessing he was trained to jump at some point!

Aww....

4 day old baby donkey plays with ball bigger than she is!

Ha...

...not sure who came up with this one.

After being dragged back to the paddock and his jockey, the horse won the race.

More great....

Go Pro action!

Neat...

I haven't found much go pro reining footage.

Okay, so...

...let's gallop flat out on a road. The horse-eating woodpile was only part of the problem here...

Ugh!

Look, I get wanting to ride, but I can't blame this horse for saying no to jumping in these conditions!

Cowboy's eye view...

...poor cow, getting chased back and forth, but what a view, and what a nice horse!

Let's jump....

Pint-sized pony is all ready to go go go! "I may be short, but..."

Not a good...

...place to park a horse. Somebody's gonna get kicked.

So elegant...

so beautiful...

I think this Friesian just wants to show off to any audience that might be there. Or maybe he has cow sense?

Let's...bray?

I dunno, this might be donkey abuse.

Oh dear...

...this cross country lesson is not going well.

I'm guessing this horse's buddies are off that top right corner somewhere, because that's sure the only way he actually wants to go.

Aw....

...in the mood for some little foal games today!

They're baby Warmbloods!

What a...

...nice horse. Gorgeous test...

...oops.

Somehow she still won.

Aw...

...poor little foal got stuck. Mommy is definitely looking for some help here.

Horses...

...generally love the snow. Even desert horses! ;)

The cleared path was too slippery!

I hate...

...these branches!

Hold Your...

...horses. All six of them. This hitch demo did not go well...

The driver handled the mess beautifully.

Sometimes...

...hot tape isn't quite enough.

Neat form on her!

Why yes...

...there's a donk in the house.

Look who's...

...taller, and it's not the horse!

At least...

he won the race, right?

Or did he? No, I think he did fall off before the finish line...

More ears...

...on the track this time. (Apparently some people breed racing mules).

Ears!

Running ears! ;)

Zoom!

Baby draft foal working out how to run!

What mules are for...`

...amongst other things. I might know a couple of horses that can do this, but I think I'd rather have the ears!

Who's...

...in such a hurry? These guys!

Light hitch/carriage type Percherons showing just how fast they can go!

Welp...

Mini: You go ahead without me...

This rooster...

...free lunges better than I do!

Ow!

Just goes to show horses can have accidents for, oh, no reason at all.

Both okay, but wow.

Good Save...

Desensitizing a horse can sometimes be a little risky

Gotta...

...work out what to do with these legs. And these ears!

Such nice action on such an adorable little donk!

It's...

...been so hot this week, I need cuteness.

Little guys jumping.

When...

...a cowboy has a bad day at the office.

I was particularly amused by him roping the fence.

Nope...

...I don't want my pedicure done.

Take me to the rodeo...

Poor horse has been on stall rest too long. I'd have chased him around first.

Apparently...

...this cob doesn't enjoy dressage that much.

Not sure what set him off, but it was escalated by the rider's inability to sit a crowhop without jabbing him with the spurs.

Wow...

...sometimes cops are, I swear, dumber than the average person.

Apparently, the carriage was illegally parked. So the cop pulls up lights and sirens blaring. If those horses weren't utterly bombproof and desensitized, he could have got somebody killed. Somehow, not one of the horses on the street spooked. Such saints. Apparently, this is in Melbourne, Australia.

Ow...

This is why you wait for the horse to calm down before attempting to catch it.

Actually, this might be the end result of somebody who made a habit of beating her horse when she fell off. My apologies for the language. Wow.

Oh dear...

...two examples of "top" riders doing it wrong.

The dressage rider is yanking and spurring.

The jumper loses his temper and beats his horse for refusing. Which he probably did because Talbot gave him no place to go.

Oh, come on...

...let's do some kind of weird equitation class with two people per horse...and not expect it to end like, well...

This...

I mean, one: What's the point.

Two: Hitting the horse was really quite unnecessary. The horse didn't even buck.

Revenge!

The vet is here to give their shots. This silly pony has an idea for payback...

Yeah.

Little guy ate the vet's lunch.

What's better...

...than a miniature horse doing liberty?

Why, two miniature horses doing liberty together, of course!

Zoom!

See! I can jump! At full speed, even!

Kid needs to work on her form. Pony is a speed demon and a saint rolled into one.

Pet me!

...and the horse obliges.

Sit on your...

...honestly, I'm posting this for the instructor's, uh, phrasing as much as anything else.

Horse Eating...

...dressage boards. Oh dear.

 Well sat. But what set him off?

Tantrum...

They all went on a trail ride without me! Not fair!

Zoom!

...as fast as her little Shetland legs will carry her!

Oh dear.

Spoiled horse being fixed. Great example of "trope" going on.

I don't liiike red!

Horse jumps perfectly fine until they get to the red wall.

Then it tries to kick the course steward, nopes out of being caught seriously. Second rider tries.

Something is going on with this horse. Mouth, perhaps?

Making the horse do another round after its behavior after the fall, which to me indicates an animal in pain, with a heavier rider, seems...well...inappropriate.

Nope!

No, I won't go through that gate!

This is pretty bad, dangerous gate sourness. Horse could probably use more cross training. He ran fine, but he really didn't want to...

You go ahead...

...I'll wait right here.

This was the rider's fault...the horse was just not set up well for the fence.

Not...

....how you handle your horse stopping.

I don't know what caused the horse to nope out, although that's an awkward looking fence with no ground line.

But the rider was out of line.

Horse Eating Ditch Monster

Nope, nope, much more nope.

Explosion!

I'm guessing the wind triggered it.

Feel sorry for the rider.

Appytude...

Especially, for some reason, chestnut appies. From the name, she's a mare too.

Aww...

...look at these two.

Wanna pet both of them.

Prance, prance, strut, strut, wind...

I blame the wind for this little display...and once one starts fidgeting, they all do.

Ow, ow, ow....

This is why they put grease on cross country horses. That, right there.

That ain't...

...no horse. Great view, but I have to mock the person who posted this video and labeled it "Horseback riding."

Sometimes...

...dressage just isn't that easy.

Not how...

...to catch a loose horse.

They keep crowding him and wondering why he's kicking. You send ONE person to get the horse.

Mom...

...is so patient.

Baby has so much energy and would probably like to meet the other horses watching over the fence.

So cute.

Ooh...

...look at my spins. Okay, let's do this again...except with a bit less tack.

Learning to neigh...

...or at least squeak!

What's That?

It's a cat, of course...

Poor little foal has no clue what to do with this strange fuzzy critter, but he's really brave!

Zoom

Just something about the fast little ponies!

I'm done...

...and going back to the barn.

Not sure whether he was just barn sour or whether he was mad about hitting that standard...

Dashing through the...

...heee.

The dogs are letting the horse do all the work here.

I'm so...

...jealous of this rider. Lovely horse, lovely beach!

When dressage...

...goes wrong.

Ack! It's...it's...my reflection!

I'm figuring they didn't get great marks for this test...

Talk about...

...keeping the horse between you and the ground. Dang.

I think that horse needs a bit more jump schooling!

Who needs stirrups?

Not this guy!

(Other pro tip: Check your stirrup leathers. He didn't just 'lose' his stirrup...he actually lost his stirrup. I assume they did find it again...)

Here they come

Clearly, there's something good waiting in the barn to get these guys to come running!

Even more cute...

I couldn't resist this one.

And...

...an even cuter foal jumping video. But of course it's cruel to "make" horses jump...

Oops...

Way, way, way too much enthusiasm here. Nearly took out the starter!

Aw...

Little baby foal is learning that jumping is fun and the like!

Apparently...

...they call this the round pen of horrors.

He's not too keen to start with, but I bet he'll make a nice trail hinny (opposite of a mule) before too long.

I don't think I'd have done this bareback, though!

There is...

...so much wrong with this.

Why are we working this horse in a tiny area between the haystack and the equipment shed? (to be fair, maybe it's pouring it down).

Saddle way too small for the rider, and I'd put that rider on the lunge for a bit to learn correct posture. I don't like all that head tossing either...and is that a boucher? Rider is using hands for support a lot.

It's not horses...

...but I had to anyway.

I mean.

Seriously.

The Running of the Bulldogs

I like birds...

...unlike this horse.

Well, to be fair, geese eat his grass?

But what did the chicken say to deserve that?

I love...

Scurry driving. A British tradition I miss.

I never could...

...resist some feathers coming down the street. Look at those guys.

Just some...

...adorable baby minis.

Been there.

When the jumping lesson turns into the "Behave" lesson.

I don't even know how she stayed on, although she might have been using a bit much rein and trotting through cantering poles is kind of asking for trouble. But...insane horse and no stirrup?

Aww...

Adorable baby is learning that one of the uses of opposable thumbs is scritches!

Oh dear

I'll show you how to stop your horse without jerking the reins.

I guess this is a "do what I say, not what I do" moment?

Down the road...

...with an adorable little mule. And a very noisy dog. I'm amazed the mule doesn't kick it...

Horses...

...don't really understand what you're saying. Yelling doesn't help.

...and the number of times I've said things to my horse anyway...

More foal cuteness.

Where's mom? Where did I put mom!

Poor little baby.

No, that's not your mom, that's a gelding.

But maybe the gelding knows where mom is?

(Not a very big foal - I think it's gonna be a pony!)

Aw...

...baby foal isn't too keen on halter. (I actually think it's the big tag bothering him).

Oh, this is...

...just plain fun.

Drill. With minis!

It's harder to do this kind of thing in harness, too.

Today's cuteness?

Mules. Baby mules. They're about a year old, and look at those ears. Especially on the bay one!

Zoom!

Shetland Ponies on the normal race track. And no, none of them run under the rail.

Shame the chestnut can't run in a straight line to save its little pony hooves. He'd have won if he didn't keep swerving!

How embarrassing...

...although I admit I've been there.

"You go ahead. I'll wait here."

Slow down...

...slow down!

Nice to see a horse enthusiastic about jumping, but this might be a bit tooo fast. If the legs are blurring, they're probably going too fast...

Got away with it, mind.

Wow...

...I have no clue what this person is even trying to achieve with their "rescue."

Rope around the neck and then the animal vacates the premises to freedom. They're doing nothing about the rope being tangled around the horse's legs and body.

Oh dear...

...there's so much wrong with this trail ride.

Pelhams with only the lower rein. Yes, I know western bits are like that, but you don't use western bits in the same way. At least one noseband is too low, on the lighter of the two greys. When people use the reins, heads are shooting up, esp. on the pinto.

Speaking of the pinto, the rider is really too big for that horse, or at least too tall. The horse seems fine, though, and I do ride ponies, so...

Not everyone is wearing a helmet.

Oh, and don't hook the reins under the cantle like that...it's not comfortable for the horse.

I'd love to take that gallop, though.

I...

...don't know in what world this is how you deal with a horse...he spooked a teeny tiny bit and she's disengaging his hindquarters into spins and yanking his head around.

Ow, ow, ow...

I think the going is a bit too deep here?

Oh dear...

...the race starts well. Starts.

Then a jockey comes off, the horse decides to continue without him until he has an opportunity to leave the premises.

Then another horse decides to run out and jump over the rail instead of the fence.

Oh, that loose horse from earlier is back.

Another jockey comes off. Now two loose horses on the course, acting as hazards to navigation.

We don't see the third one come off.

But...yeah. It's a novice race, I suppose that's their excuse (nobody appears to have been hurt). Commentator has some fun pointing out that most of them can't go in a straight line...

Aww...

...this is one foal who is going to learn not to be afraid of dogs.

At first he's telling the dog to go away. Every time the foal adds pressure, the dog backs off. Pretty quickly, the foal realizes running around with the dog is fun.

Not sure...

...how I feel about this. I think she needs more to hold the saddle in place, but such a good horse.

Really...

...this is a great trail ride. Looks like she had a lot of fun...

...but what's with the boots?

I know you're supposed to have heels, but...I wouldn't let anyone get on my horse wearing those!

Oops...

...not a fun trail ride. Horse is tense throughout and...yup...disaster happens.

Horse gets nervous, rider gets nervous. Horse wonders why rider is nervous and gets more nervous. And massive horse eating GATOR.

Oh dear...

...somebody is being really gate shy. Apparently this is even this horse's home yard, but there's a lot of wind. (Nice feathers, though!)

I think the rider was nervous and yanky too. That fall "happened" long before it did.

I know...

...it's a six up, but they weren't doing anything that hard...

Seriously, not that tight a turn. I have to think there was a malfunction with the carriage... Well trained horses, though.

I know...

...where I'm supposed to go.

I do wonder how many treats it took to get to that point.

Ow...

...somehow she wasn't hurt, but...check your helmet?

Now this...

...is my kind of trail ride. "Only a trail horse..."

All the...

...mini driving cuteness.

Buddies!

I don't normally post dwarf minis because I don't want people thinking they're cute, but...seriously...

What...

...is that thing! Why is it moving! Ooh, I can make it move...

That foal is completely pushing the wheelbarrow deliberately.

Zoooom

Quarter Horses at Canterbury Park. From the, shall we say, hot seat.

Apparently this jockey likes to yell ;).

Best view...

...of a horse drawn sled ever (Yeah, it's an ad, but...)

(And no, they can't pull 45,000 pounds. Nope. No horse can pull 10x their own weight, so not sure why they were saying that).

Well...

...not very fast, but they're trying, ears and all!

Nope...

Not going over that. Almost as embarrassing as my last course!

And more ouchie.

(I stayed on, but it took more than one attempt per jump because pony was being stupid).

This...

...is one of the best looking mules I've seen yet.

I thought...

...the mini hitch was cute enough.

How about...a mini stagecoach!

It's 40 years old and was recently restored and ended up in the UK, where they were able to find mini Shetlands that look just like the ones from the old footage. Look at them go ;).

This...

...almost gave me motion sickness.

He's already having difficulty rating that horse when he turns it to the arena. Look at those tippy ears!

Winter...

...might be almost over, but these two horses like the snow just fine!

Such...

...a good pony.

If she'd been a tiny itty bitty lead line kid he'd have put her back in the saddle!

So...

...I had to beat yesterday, didn't I.

I'll see your six up of mini horses...

...and raise a twelve up of mini mules. That's like...double trouble in so many ways.

(And so nice to see the young whip wearing a helmet even if her dad isn't).

Okay...

...this is just way too cute. Six in hand of minis put to an itty bitty hitch!

Bud Lite, perhaps?

Wow...

...this happened at a schooling show. I'm assuming the idiot on the ground is the rider's trainer, interrupting her round to "assist."

And surprise surprise, the horse gets pissed off and the rider is the victim.

The horse was behaving fine until the idiot on the ground interfered - the first run out was a missed jump, not a disobedience, caused by the rider muffing the turn (which I've done myself, you don't blame the horse, you just go back and do it right next time).

You know...

...those high stepping horses are forced to do it, right?

Here's the very cute evidence to the contrary!

This isn't a show horse...

...it's a very, very silly barn cat.

Okay...

...this isn't a horse, but seriously. And yes, apparently it's not a steer...

They don't appear to make saddles for brahma bulls.

Oh look...

...a girl learning how to ride a bronc proper.

Aww.

I need some cuteness, and how about these unusual buddies.

That cat is seriously getting away with it.

This is...

...what itty bitty horses are for. Needs bells!

Ugh...

...ugh, ugh. And she's jumping like this.

Part of the issue here is that the horse is not desensitized to the high winds. But there's another issue. The standing martingale is slightly too tight. It's coming into play when the horse's head comes up at all, interfering with its ability to jump. This is exactly why I'm not a fan of jumping in a standing martingale.

This...

...is why there are always lots of people around the water complex.

They both look fine, so...

Okay, this is amazing...

...what a saintly horse.

To start with it looks like a good round. Horse is rating nicely, rider is comfortable, striding is good...

...then disaster. The curb chain breaks on the hackamore, leaving the bridle unstable and the rider with only seat and legs to steer and rate. What does she do?

Cowgirls up and just keeps going! You can tell she's getting a tiny bit worried, and then it comes off the horse altogether and he runs out (because he can't see). She repositions the bridle, tries again, and finishes the course. Dang.

Check this out.

"Wild" raised Mustang after 120 days.

Chariot racing!

...or rather, very small sulkies. Look at those little things go!

Ow...

...and that horse left her to walk home too.

Heeeheee

This is one way to get out of work...

Straight in the puddle, too. He got a brief reprieve ;).

I'm not sure...

...this is a good idea, but dang, what a good little rider.

Oh, and what an awesome packer of a horse too. *I* struggle to jump 2'6 some days.

Cheeky!

Look at the big hooves on that baby! Well, the big everything on that baby.

Maybe all of that running around has to do with the bagpipes! Mud!

Oh dear...

...cross country is hard, hard, hard.

I need cute

One of my favorite horses ever was in a freak accident in her stall and may end up having to be PTS, so all I feel like posting today is cuteness.

Cuteness to the William Tell Overture works.

Ow, ow, ow.

...and I don't mean the lime green accessories.

Poor horse tripped over his own feet.

Big yet graceful

...and a full bridle being used correctly. Who says draft horses can't do dressage.