9 girls hurt riding horses ! Updated - Girl Scouts -

[Monty]

This was scarey to read - I will see if there is more info later - she is a reputable trainer - so have to wonder what really happened - it says leg was caught in the reins - not a stirrup . (But, my impression is the reporter has no clue about horses ! JMHO)

From Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel WEDNESDAY, June 28, 2006, 1:46 p.m.
By Jacqueline Seibel

Nine girls injured as horses startled.
Nine girls were taken to the hospital after the horses they were riding became startled in Eagle today.

None of the injuries was life-threatening, Waukesha County Sheriff's Capt. Karen Ruff said.

Twenty-one girls, between the ages of 9 and 11, were riding horses from the Swinging W Ranch on Wilton Road near the Kettle Moraine State Forest. One of the horses tried to throw off its rider.

As the girl was falling off the horse, her leg became hung up in the reins and the horse started to run.

Seeing their friend in trouble, the other girls started to scream.

Other horses then became startled and started to run.
Manager* declined to comment other than to say that all the horses are back in their stable.
*Name deleted -

[Pasogirlz]

JMHO....terrible writing.

But that is a terrible accident. Hope eveyone is ok.

[CarolU]

I can just see it now...21 girls screaming. I think my horses would bolt too.

[Barbwire]

I can see it happening as clear as day. I taught riding at a Girl Scout camp in the Catskills for one summer. All the girls were from the city and were realy, really excited to be riding. They could screech and squeal over every little thing the horses did. If a horse shook, the rider would freak, and so would all the other girls in the class. If a horse scratched it's face on it's front leg, mayhem would ensue. :roll:

I was there for the whole summer and only had one group that I trusted enough to take out of the ring and onto the trail. We ended up getting lost, troopers were called, lawsuits were filed...but that's another story. ;-)

[CarolU]

LOL Barbara...I can well imagine it. I can think of several run aways that were CAUSED by screaming girls...but these were just one girl/horse at a time. I can't imagine 21. That poor instructor.

Okay...now tell us how you got lost in the woods??? :lol:

[Brigitte]

Poor horses...having girls who cant ride scream at everything

[PASOFAN]

Kettle moran, is that in WI? Wow, just scary... I hope everyone and the horses too is ok...

[Monty]

Kettle Moraine has two units ,State Parks(one in southern WI and part in northeast ) and really neat ,it is where the glaciers carved out the area and deposited debris - and you can go camping with your horses - but this deal sounds like a group trail ride with rented horses .

Southern = Bridle Trails
Fifty-four miles of equestrian trails offer loops of varying lengths over a cross section of the Kettle Moraine. Riders will enjoy large hardood forests, pine plantations and many vistas overlooking wet kettles, oak savanna prairies, and area lakes. Horses are limited to trails marked with orange diamonds. A state trail pass is required for riders 16 and older.

Northern = Bridle Trails
Equestrians enjoy 39 miles of bridle trail which are traditionally open late April through mid November depending on trail conditions. The main bridle trail winds the linear length of the forest of 33 miles. Two loop trails, Crooked and Forest Lake, provide shorter routes totaling 6 miles.

[Monty]

Girl Scouts taken to hospitals after falls
Horses startled in 'chain reaction'
By JACQUELINE SEIBEL
Posted: June 28, 2006

Town of Eagle - Ten Girl Scouts were taken to hospitals Wednesday after horses they were riding were startled on a state trail, setting off what one official called a chain reaction of girls screaming and horses being spooked. One girl was expected to remain overnight.

None of the injuries was life-threatening, said Rob Wessberg, assistant superintendent of the Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest, where the incident occurred.

"We are so relieved that the injuries were minor," Wessberg said in providing this account:

Twenty-three girls ages 9 to 11, two adult guides from the Swinging W Ranch and two adult counselors were on the trail before 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The girls are members of the Girl Scouts of Kenosha County and were staying at Camp Pottawatomie Hills near Elkhorn. All wore helmets, and they'd had riding instruction for three days prior to the event.
Horse stumbles on trail

While on the trail, one of the horses tripped on a rock, and as it tried to regain its balance, the rider screamed. She might have been starting to fall or might have been trying to jump off when a foot became hung up in a stirrup. Other girls began to scream, setting off the chain reaction. Nine more girls either jumped or were thrown from their horses.

One of the girls rode back on an all-terrain vehicle to the Swinging W Ranch. The other nine girls walked the half-mile back to the stable.

The 10 were sent to either Oconomowoc Memorial or Waukesha Memorial hospitals for precautionary purposes, according to a statement from Camisha Klumb, communications director for the Girl Scout Council of Kenosha County. Klumb said the girls ride horses to earn merit badges or patches.

Swinging W Ranch is a private corporation that uses state trails, Wessberg said. Swinging W Ranch manager Shelly Bruce declined to comment other than to say that all the horses are back in the stable.

Rescue crews from the Eagle, Wales-Genesee, Mukwonago, North Prairie and Palmyra fire departments responded to the incident. The state Department of Natural Resources, which is investigating the accident, refused to release the names of the any of the girls involved.

This is the final straw for the stable owner, they are going out of business this fall - so the only way you will be able to ride in that park - is to haul your horse in .The only thing that saves them is the state law that prevents lawsuits against stables - They are exempted - but owners have had enough of the hassles! Really sad - they had a super rep ! Owner even checked if you had the right footwear , before you could ride ,if not you couldn't !

[reuben T]

Problem no 1, horses not trained to not react to squealing, (but only few horses are) Problem no 2, 3 days not enough to retrain that conditioned response to create some noise when something happens. the kids would have to be around sensative horses for some while to learn not to make sudden noises or moves unless really necessary.
But that leads to another problem, if everyone waited till all the potentual problems were cleared up, not much ridin would happen.
I know the solution, but few people would believe it effective, understand it, or even be willing to apply it. I knew a man who's life was saved because he applied it. although it has little to do with being safety concious.