Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Bears or horses??

don't i know it... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Regards, sse

A bear will swat you one and leave you alone (most times). A horse will step on your foot and move all his weight to that @@#%$%&@ leg until you kick him in the belly with the other foot.

Did I mention I detest horses? FWIW, Dutch.

Have been on horses and mules my entire life, hunting and not. Luckily I have never been hurt by a horse or mule while hunting other than a few banged knees on trees and a few scrapes from falls. But I have seen my share of others get seriously hurt while hunting with horses. Most were from people not knowing horses or people using horses they shouldn�t. I do have to add that I prefer mules over horses any day, ride the mule and use the horse for packing. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

More are injured by horses. Bears got to get you to hurt you, why is good idea to hunt with buds you can outrun.

Horses usually have already got you on top, by side, or front or back, when they hurt you, LOL!

I have ridden quite a bit but was bucked off once when a grouse got up under my horse's schnoz in a mountain meadow; I have seen another horse stop at a small stream big enough for a child to step over, pause and then leap across leaving his rider, moderately experienced, sitting over air before his butt collided with the ground.

The outfitter - the owner of the horse I rodeoed with - got on his white mule rode and out of camp; later the mule plunged through an aspen grove, rubbing him off as he galloped through the trees; the outfitter fell on his radio which was on his hip and had to hobble a couple of miles back to camp. By the time he got back the mule had already been back for an hour or so muching grass in our meadow. The outfitter was hot and demanded my buddy get his .338 and blast him right there. I talked him out of it and probably shouldn't have.

Mules are sure footed; that's what I was pondering after having watched one trip over a fist sized rock on a level trail in an open meadow in the middle of the day, both mule and rider doing a header, the last clear over the first. The rider was unhurt but the mule actually suffered a two inch gash over one eye; his forehead actually bashing the ground. And... we had been taking a very steep, slippery, muddy switchback trail down at least five hundred feet every morning before light. Hmmmmm.
Then there was a time when at the trail head the outfitter pulled two big draft horses out of the trailer; I'm sure my face turned about the color of the snow there just south of Yellowstone. Later walking down a snow packed trail, my horse lost his footing and went straight down; somehow I threw myself to the side and was unhurt and he fell, luckily, scabbard side up. Another time leading this 1800 lb mountain of horse flesh down a very steep and slippery enbankment, I turned to see him sitting on his a$$, front legs straight out like some giant dog sliding for all he was worth, coming straight for me. Another dive to the side as he crashed past me. That time I thought I detected the hint of a smile as he went by.

You've heard of defensive driving? Well, when you get aboard a horse, or mule for that matter......

nathanial, you and my dad would get along splendidly! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Remember, as my grandfather puts it, people die in bed.

Chuck

I have enjoyed the stories. My gr'dad would only drive mules
my dad only drove horses go figure. Just remember the only
predictable thing about horses is that they are unpredictable.
a mule will be your friend for 20 years to get a clear shot
at you. happy hunting and good riding Cheers NC

On subject sort of, I have often wondered what happens when sombody hunting on horseback ties up thier animal and then hikes away. What happens if a bear happens onto the horse, will the horse head for the hills, is it possible that the owner of the horse will end up having to track his own horse for miles?

Do you tie up a horse so that it is possible for the horse to break free if confronted by a bear or lion, or do you never leave that much distance between you and your horse?

This thread is oh so timely. Just this past week I was bear hunting and it seemed the bear was near as the young horse I was on was very jumpy. Well jump he did and I having my packed boots on (snow was plentiful enough) could only get my toes in the stirrups, the saddle slipped and he kept skidding over so I figured the best thing I could do was get off as best as possible. As my hands and lips hit the terra firma I was thankful there was no rock or cow pie under my lips. There was plenty of both to go around. Picking myself up with my partner laughing his fool head off I looked around to see a squirrel running around. It was the only thing that was moving.

Then a friend was riding his horse Saturday when a blue grouse flew out from under her belly. She freaks a little but then slips in the mud and sends my friend rolling down the hill and runs all the way back to the corral.

Finally, I had my least experienced horse out getting some miles under him. We were going over some flat rock with a slight tilt to it. I have seen pool table about as level. He decides to tip toe over it and down he goes. Luckily, I try never to get complacent while riding and was able to get off standing. He got up and we went on. Hasn't been a problem since.

This all happened in a months time.

The problem with horses is they have a small brain and too many people (sometimes I think with even smaller ones) think they are John Wayne. There is more to riding than sitting up there trying to look good. If you are going on a horseback trip/hunt and have never been on a horse or not in a long time go get lessons well in advance of the trip.

Also, if you are inexperienced and you're with people who tear up and down the country side on their mounts causing yours to get goofy find other friends to ride with.

I always figured horses were just barely smart enough to know how to p**s me off! On a 10 week stint as a wrangler for a sheep outfitter, I was dang near killed by horses on several occasions. Most memorable was one occasion, in which I had been chasing a wayward group of horses up and down the mountainside for several hours, as they were determined not to go back to camp. My mount was rather high strung and excitable, though very fast and great stamina. Anyway, he decided to go through some thick tree's, and I was turned around trying to see if the horses where circling again. I got scrubbed off, but one boot hung up. Off we go, bouncing through the woods at a run. I'm not sure how far we went, but I finally go slung against a tree hard enough to pull my foot free. Took a while to breathe again, but finally did and managed to find and catch my horse again. It was a long painful ride back to camp, but we did it,and with all the horses too. Another time, I was riding a very nice but somewhat skittish young mare, and leading two massive drafts,tail tied together. Come to a creek with a 2 foot drop off into the water. She hesitated, then went for it. Problem was, those two drafts weren't having it, and put the brakes on. The rope was looped over my horn, and it caught somehow. Next thing I know,I'm upside down in the river,saddle and all. Cinch was ripped in half. Hunting on horseback, especially those area's where no motorized vehicle's are allowed, is probably one of life's better experiences. I guess hair raising experiences is the price you pay.

Sorry, but sounds like pilot error to me on both occasions. Glad you didn't get killed though.
t

It takes alot of wet saddle blankets to arrive with a "broke" horse under you. Bomb proof is still another consideration and takes even more experience and time to accomplish. Only some horses are good candidates for "bomb proofing" and potentialy high stress situations.Nearly all wrecks ahorseback are a result of fear on the horses part and their reaction to a situation and of course poor judgement on the riders part. I by no means consider horses to be dumb but they don't think like you and I. They are basicaly a prey/herd animal with a high flight instinct built in..Soooo..some of the iffiest situations you can put even a trusted mount through can be with a predator like a bear or a cat....

My ideal montain horse (other than a real ideal mountain horse) is a retired rodeo pick up horse. Quick as a cat and dead calm.
t

Yes sir that's a good source. I'm a firm believer in taking a horse to town to smooth out those wrinkles. It's harder for a flatlander to make a good mountain horse if you don't have much terra firma to ride beside instead of just over but dead calm is obtainable. It's not a big jump from here to N. New Mexico and some easy mountain country for a younger horses introduction to that type of terrain (generally no switchbacks at first) Eastern Okieland has some good training terrain also. The best mountain/hunting horse I've ever owned came out of the cutting arena. You could shoot a howitzer over her and she'd laugh at you if you missed. She got a little snorty over a bear once but held her ground. She would have nothing to do with a cat though - not even a bobcat but barn cats weren't safe in her neighborhood as they'd end up flatter than usual. I guess we all have our limitations...I sure do miss that mare...

Had a Molly when I was a teen that sounds just like your mare. Miss her a good deal also.
However, Buddy the john pictured at left is a good ride and freind. He is one great bear radar, ears straight up and points like a short hair.

Oh, mine were all pilot error, no question. See, I had never ridden a horse in my life till I went up there. I just wanted to go up to sheep hunting camp so bad, I figured,what the hey, gotta take a chance sometime. Went from never having ridden to spending 12 hours a day in the saddle. After 10 weeks of that, I maybe couldn't ride real good, but I learned how to hang on! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

xx
Excellent response and a great adventure for you at the time. Too bad somebiody didn't take a few minutes to improve your chance of surviving. But it happens that way, sort of a cowboy joke on greenhorns. Learn fast or die. Bet you wouldn't trade it for anything.
t <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Bears and horses?

I've been hurt by horses plenty of times, staritng when I was a kid. A bear has never aid a finger on me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Of course, when we introduce bears, there may be bear pepper spray around...and when we introduce that to a horses face, look out! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

I had a rodeo last month becuase of pepper spray to a horses face!

Toltecgriz, your right, I wouldn't trade that for anything. Still take my photo album down once in a while and sit there going through all the pictures I took up there, plotting my return. And Gatehouse, pray tell, how exactly did pepper spray end up in a horses face? No chance you got video,eh? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

We were coming through a wooded area, not much of atrail. As I rounded a tree/came upa ditch, a pack horse in fron t of me was doing a rodeo show!!

Ran right into my horse, who went nuts and tossed me. Then my pack horses decided to run me over, too!!

When asked why they first one went crazy, tmy buddy said "I htink a wasp stung it"

The next day I find out that his pepper spray (which was on his belt) got the safety tab knocked out and soehtign hit it- causing it to discharge int e horses face. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

He didn't tell me at the time, because he was frightened I may try to knock him out. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />