It happens more than one would like - I've had people go off cantering over narrow bridges, galloping (literally!) downhill and so on. I've stopped being polite about it, and with Hogan being a bit of a numpty anyway, it's safer to go out alone.
This riding off from someone else seems to be a thing at boarding barns everywhere, as I’ve read about this poor etiquette many times.
I am a retired die hard trail rider and that is all I have done my entire life. Even when I had to board my horses (divorces seem to make that happen), I never rode with anyone who rode off. Riding away from someone was considered very poor manners and if someone did join us that insisted on showing off in that manner, they weren’t invited back, and were told “no” if they asked to join.
That is all riding off is —- showing off. That’s how people get hurt, regardless if you‘re on a horse, a dirt bike, a snowmobile, etc. Our rule was we all stick together.
@horseandgoatmom I just love your horse, lollol. I am not surprised he rode off like his last ride was the day before. Even though you don’t have time to ride, I suspect you spend a lot of time with him.
Horses stay broke if they’re handled and played with a lot because we are constantly reminding them of their manner. After my last go-round with my back in 2011, I had to give up sliding down river embankments and digging up the other side. Its been nothing for me to go a few years then get on one of the horses for five-ten minutes. They always stand perfectly for me to get on, then walk off like the last ride was yesterday. Going down the road, however, would mean getting some spook out of them but their riding manners at home are impeccable- I just put a bridle on and get on; it’s a lot easier sliding off bareback, than trying to get over the that low rise cantle that doesn’t seem very low rise at the end of ten minutes, lol