Bee attack!

[racaille]

After the weird mare it was a relief to get back on Paco at the w/e. Thought he'd enjoy an amble through the countryside as the weather is glorious, so we went pottering about. The cherry orchards are in full blossom and very pretty but humming with bees. We had our first tiff when we were cantering beside an orchard and he did a big shy at some beehives that had been placed nearby. He hates things that 'should not' be there, the twit.

Then we pottered through a field full of wild narcissus, which was lovely. and came out into a field near home where there are about 20 beehives. We pass them regularly without any problem. But suddenly there was an angry and multiple buzzing beside my right ear. I know bees do not attack just for the fun of it, unlike wasps, and I didn't want to swat at them and risk getting stung.

So I did the only thing possible and threw P into a licking canter. Luckily we were on a grassy path and could set off sharpish .... but the bees were sticking with me. I really did not want them getting inside my helmet and did consider taking it off but thought that at our lively canter that was not a good idea. So we just kept on going. It was only at the top of the path that the bees calmed down. A few had stuck with me but I tried to calm my breathing and keep my hands from flapping and gradually they gave up and buzzed off home.

But phew! Think I will avoid that field for a while!

[haffyfan]

Sounds like a lucky escape! Probably best to avoid, do you think they felt threatened or were they just naturally swarming...i have no idea why they do this but J (who use to ride harry) Mum kept bees and she often spoke of them swarming and not being to go safely in the garden because of it!

[solomon]

Lucky escape. Horses and bees don't mix. We were going to have some at home at one time but I was warned to never go near them in horsey clothing. They feel threatened by horses apparently.
We did get some but they are on an allotment.

[racaille]

Apr 8, 2016 13:37:12 GMT solomon said:

Lucky escape. Horses and bees don't mix. We were going to have some at home at one time but I was warned to never go near them in horsey clothing. They feel threatened by horses apparently.
We did get some but they are on an allotment.

I've never heard that Sol but now it makes sense I've been past those hives a thousand times and never given them a thought, but I will now! The annoying thing is that I wasn't all that close to them so in future I will make a detour!

[brigadier]

Swarming bees are harmless. They are so full of honey they just want to find a new home. Sounds like you attracted the guard bees whose job it is to guard the hive. They will sting and will stay with you as far as they can. I had two hives next to my main field without issue but did have a gentle strain of bees.. Some are more ferocious than others.

[pboy]

Eek scary! Brig - that's very interesting, I realise now that I have no clue about bee behaviour!!

[brigadier]

Neither have I pboy, I managed to kill my bees?

[racaille]

Poor bees! But I will steer clear in future. It is difficult though as the hives are moved around - I didn't know you could do this but a lot have been put in the cherry orchards and some are now being moved into the lavender fields. Many of them will be taken up to the Alpes as it gets hotter here. But the ones in question are permanent. I wonder why he guard bees were more ferocious this time?

[zara]

That sounds very scary and I would have freaked out! Thankfully there aren't any hives near us.

[brigadier]

Apr 11, 2016 6:36:50 GMT racaille said:

Poor bees! But I will steer clear in future. It is difficult though as the hives are moved around - I didn't know you could do this but a lot have been put in the cherry orchards and some are now being moved into the lavender fields. Many of them will be taken up to the Alpes as it gets hotter here. But the ones in question are permanent. I wonder why he guard bees were more ferocious this time?

You may have trodden one underfoot by accident, bees emit a pheromone that tells others they are under attack so they may have come to rescue!

[racaille]

Oh gosh that is really sad. I know it is daft but I have a very tender spot for bees and spend a lot of the summer scooping them out of the horses' water so they do not drown. (Unlike the grotesquely huge hornet currently drowning , I hope, in my swimming pool )