So scary to even picture it. It's when things go horribly wrong with horses, and they are totally out of control, that we realize, they are only ever under ~control~ because they want to be. When they truly panic, there is no way to stop it.
Yes, lots of things went wrong here... the foal should have been well halter trained beforehand, the first ride(s) should be in an enclosure, and the line should never be fastened to the horse, or to yourself. If you're in a pen, or even if you aren't, there is less harm in letting go, than trying to hang on if either horse fights it. Just grab them up and start again. Even when we were out on trail, I had to let go of Cadence a couple times... with a babe and the momma, most foals who find themselves disconnected, as soon as they realize it, they want right back. They don't go far.
Yeah, it was snowball of errors.
We had a neighbor girl that use to ride a momma mare, and her foal just followed, she never put a line on the foal. I got where I wouldn't ride with her, she was a friend of Jenny's, if the foal was going too. The foal would sometimes run ahead, and then drop back. 1. it was distracting to the other horses, and 2, sometimes as the foal passed another horse she would kick up at it.
But letting go is the best thing when there is a problem. They won't go far.
Becky
That is exactly right, and something I don't like to think about:)
Becky