Help with an equine mystery.

[milegajo 595]

Hi guys, I've just lost a permission due to the horses being spooked. I only use an air rifle (Air Arms tx200 Springer).

 

Any theories from those who might know that may explain it would be most welcome.

 

My blog post might help with details;

 

Friday 9th October 2012

 

On a walk through the woods to setup the trail camera, I received a phone call from the owner of my permission.

 

She wanted to know whether I had been using a shotgun on the cereal field. I informed her that no, I hadn't and I didn't own a shotgun. The reason for her enquiry is her horses acted strangely lasted night and one of them "aborted".

This was interesting as upon my walk home I noticed the horses in the field below running in circles and snorting. As I left they were lined up looking in my direction. I could only think that my couple of crow calls had peaked their interest. I did consider texting her, but decided against it as they didn't appear overtly distressed and I've often seen horses galloping at the end of the day possibly venting energy.

But as a layman, its hard to say. Equally, what I witnessed may have been unrelated.

When told her this, she wondered if the pitch of the caller had upset them. Potentially, though I wouldn't have thought to the level of inducing a miscarriage.

 

Suffice to say, she has understandably asked me to abandon shooting there. Whilst she has promised to call if the biopsy on the foetus comes back negative, I am rather pessimistic.The very fact I was present the day the incident occurred warrants enough doubt to ensure my indefinite exile.

 

It is early yet, but I believe it may be better to concentrate on securing another permission than to wait and hope.

 

A door has shut. Time to open a window.

[Carraghs Gem 1,699]

Horses can get excitable over a great many things and abort over anything, I find it unlikely your presence contributed to the loss of the foal

 

If I was to hazard a guess id say the owner was upset over the loss of the foal and looking for a scapegoat

[WILF 51,134]

Sounds like they just had the wind up their arse or were spooked at something, not your fault at all matey....unfortunately this won't go far towards putting the horse owners mind at rest.

I find that most " pet" horse owners are women and they have f**k all clue about animals, not all but most.

 

Shame for you that but women, animals and logic are very strange bedfellows !!!

[milegajo 595]

Not sure that a biopsy will reveal anything conclusive.

 

I'm 99% certain I had no hand in it. I was at least -100 yards away. The 1% is the caller but it sounds like a crow!

[Carraghs Gem 1,699]

Shame for you that but women, animals and logic are very strange bedfellows !!!

 

Cheeky f****r

[jmj121 30]

I have 3 permissions with horses and shoot around paddocks with 60 + horses also my Mrs owns 3 !! ( good way to leach money ) so i know horses.....

 

I use Rimfire .22Lr rifles with sub ammo and it's not normally a problem. Trust me if the horse's had a problem i would not be allowed to shoot on the land. Horse owners are very particular about them getting upset.

 

Horse's do get spooked at the stupidest of things. bags, hosepipes to name just a few. The horse would of aborted for a medical reason and not you using an air rifle.... I could understand them becoming spooked with Boom sticks or .17hmr's.

 

When they do get spooked they just run away from the noise and normally settle in a couple of minutes.

 

Its 100% not your fault

[milegajo 595]

I have 3 permissions with horses and shoot around paddocks with 60 + horses also my Mrs owns 3 !! ( good way to leach money ) so i know horses.....

 

I use Rimfire .22Lr rifles with sub ammo and it's not normally a problem. Trust me if the horse's had a problem i would not be allowed to shoot on the land. Horse owners are very particular about them getting upset.

 

Horse's do get spooked at the stupidest of things. bags, hosepipes to name just a few. The horse would of aborted for a medical reason and not you using an air rifle.... I could understand them becoming spooked with Boom sticks or .17hmr's.

 

When they do get spooked they just run away from the noise and normally settle in a couple of minutes.

 

Its 100% not your fault

 

Thanks a lot for that. Confirms my thoughts, I'm familiar with horses but not sufficiently to rule out the possibilities above. Yours and others replies have been a great relief.

[jmj121 30]

your welcome, like i said its 100% not your fault.

 

your welcome to come shoot round the horses and permissions i have any time !!

[alimac 882]

Every horse is different so it's almost impossible to say what's what, but if what you say is right i find it hard to believe your the cause, they certainly sound a spooky bunch.. I was once told if horses were a man made they would have been discontinued long ago, there bizarre animals...

[jmj121 30]

Every horse is different so it's almost impossible to say what's what, but if what you say is right i find it hard to believe your the cause, they certainly sound a spooky bunch.. I was once told if horses were a man made they would have been discontinued long ago, there bizarre animals...

 

whats more bizzare, is the bloody money the owners will spend on them !!

[me1 99]

All id say is dont admit anything if that foal was worth any money she may want compensation

[jmj121 30]

All id say is dont admit anything if that foal was worth any money she may want compensation

 

impossible to blame him for that. i would say.....

[me1 99]

All id say is dont admit anything if that foal was worth any money she may want compensation

 

impossible to blame him for that. i would say.....

Stranger things have happend its a funny world were living in

[WILF 51,134]

Any one ton animal that will spook at a toffee wrapper is wrong in the head, I had the pleasure of owning 4 of the f*****g things at one time....down to one bullet proof old pony now and I have f****d him off down the riding school ! Lol

[ferret100 47]

Sorry, are these people expecting a PM to prove foal aborted due to mare being spooked by air rifle? Lunacy. Agree with others, you're the scapegoat. If they genuinely believed that your presence/shooting would potentially cause their mare to abort, they would have prevented such.