A basic horse care test?!

JFTD said:
Do you dispute that people should be able to answer basic (and I do mean basic) questions about horsecare before buying a horse, or that there are horse owners out there who aren't aware of the basics?

It is impractical, and it shouldn't be necessary, but in principle, I don't see a problem with the idea (the execution is another matter).
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I would turn this around and ask who sells to these people who have no idea, I guess I know the answer, over the years I have sold a fair amount of horses and ponies and generally grill the potential buyers before even allowing them to view, some have gone to first time owners but only if I know they are going to be in a decent yard/ somewhere suitable and that they have good support, when they view I expect them to ride/ handle in a competent way and ask appropriate questions, their questions can be very telling.
If I have to I will turn them away and have at times been fairly blunt about it but possibly as mine are normally in a higher price range I have only had a handful of people who were really not up to having one and of those I did sell to one child but the pony stayed here for several months while she and her dad learned the basics, I could never let a horse go if I was not comfortable but guess the people selling lower value animals just don't give a damn and take the cash without a second thought, this seems to be becoming far more common.

The above explains why I have always had a few "extra" here, some are more tricky to home and as I will not just pass them on several projects have seen out their days in my fields and there are currently 3 in my care that would have been hard to rehome that are with me for life.
 
I think it is both a great idea and a terrible one.

FWIW, the vast majority of abuse through ignorance I see is by experienced owners who could probably comfortably pass that test. I have met a couple of abject idiots who have bought a horse knowing literally nothing, but it is rare in comparison to the 'experienced' ignorance, and frankly, if someone is thick enough to buy a horse without even doing basic research into how to care for it, then teaching them to pass a test probably isn't going to help whichever poor horse ends up with them.

As upsetting as it may be to see a poor horse shivering because the owner doesn't know what a rug is, it is equally upsetting to watch a horse being fed human cough syrup in preference to bedding it down on something less dusty, and then giving it sedalin to ride because the sugar in the syrup has turned it loopy, or watch someone pour competition mix down the throat of a box resting lamanitic, or put cream on a horse's legs then bandage over them and leave for the night, or solid tie a horse off a pressure halter.....(all these examples are from people who at the time made a living working in horses, when they weren't ruining their own that is).

Unfortunately, you can't teach stupid. Though if you could then yes, I agree, a basic ownership test would be a great idea.
 
Apache Warlord said:
There is also general ignorance in the situation of non-horsey parents with a teenager, who despite being told by a vet their horse is lame, because they don't see it have decided the horse is fine......
Parents aren't interested and don't want the vet costs...
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This isn’t ignorance this is neglect they’ve been told by an expert the information but are choosing to ignore it for what ever reason
 
DabDab said:
Unfortunately, you can't teach stupid. Though if you could then yes, I agree, a basic ownership test would be a great idea.
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Yes this. I was so clueless that I had no idea I was clueless - I grew up in HK where the ex race hourses at the riding school peed into buckets on a whistle command. (Don't all horses pee in buckets? I thought so and stood there for ages whistling at my new pony....) My parents did not know one end of a horse from another and I had no horsey friends. But I read everything I could, chose a yard with loads of onsite help, started my BHS stages, asked people in the specilaist agricultural supplies store what to feed, went to demos etc etc. He was fine. If you want to learn the info is readily available. If you think you know it all already you'll learn nothing anywayu.
 
I like the idea of a horse care test but sadly think it would be enforced about as much as passports or micro chipping.
The ones who do not care, will still not care. The ones who keep breeding cobs on waste ground, and abandon the colts or the ones who need a vet, will continue to do that.

As someone else said, we have also refused to let people buy or loan our horses because they do not have enough experience. Some people do not care if the horse they sell is not suitable, or the person who buys it has no idea how to look after it.
 
I think that it is really difficult now for people who don't come from a horsey background to get that kind of experience before owning. Issues around risk & insurance put a lot of riding schools & private yards off offering novices the chance to get hands on with the horses, which is a shame. I know some riding schools offer the option to part-loan a school horse, which seems like a great idea : )
 
I'm rushing today with no time to read all the replies so I'm probably going against the grain but I think it's a silly idea. Sorry.

Am I against animal cruelty? Absolutely, 100% yes. Do I support horse welfare charities? Again, 100% yes. I support both a local one and PFK have re-homed a horse as well as many cats and dogs over the years.

So, that being understood, I believe that in today's times of austerity when children can be conceived without a license or any type of compulsory training (and some of the most unfortunate amongst them are born to drug addled parents - sorry if this offends some of you but I do not think it is morally right to reproduce when you are addicted to drugs - and grow up in horrendous circumstances) then no-one's going to find money to set up a massive scheme to protect the welfare of horses are they? For this reason the scheme is impossible on a practical level.

Does anyone think that the people who breed indiscriminately and allow malnourished coloured cobs to wander on public land will obey the new laws? I think not. This scheme would be ignored by those who needed it the most and there would be no consequences for them to face would there? After all, if you can steal cars, caravans, diggers, horses and other valuable property and still no-one comes after you or punishes you are you going to submit to the rules of this scheme? No bloomin' chance I'm afraid.

Finally, this proposed scheme is incredibly elitist. Yes, nice middle-class parents where mummy has a horse and can teach junior to ride from an early age on his or her own pony is a lovely idea but that automatically excludes anyone poor or those with non-horsey parents. Is that really what you want? Is it right to make riding such an elitist sport that many people (who may have just as much talent and dedication as the middle and upper classes) are not allowed to participate because they haven't got the advantages that the children from wealthy backgrounds have? There are plenty of sports like this already I'm afraid, where money is a barrier to entry.

Sorry if that offends the majority but it's my honest opinion and I felt the need to say it :o
 
Might be an idea to read more posts then.
I didn't have horsey or wealthy parents, for example, but I learnt the old fashioned way by having lessons and helping out in lots of different places. I don't think for one minute it would stop over breeding, or outright cruelty but it would save a lot of the problems caused by sheer ignorance. What isn't acceptable is the large number of people who buy green or lame horses with the aim of riding them and try to bring them on themselves without having basic balance and independent hands, and ignore advice to seek professional help. Low grade suffering by stealth.
 
I love the idea that a basic horse care test would make money a barrier to entry into horse sports - which are already among the most expensive sports. A basic test prior to ownership would be a drop in the ocean compared to actual horse ownership!
 
Nudibranch said:
Might be an idea to read more posts then.
I didn't have horsey or wealthy parents, for example, but I learnt the old fashioned way by having lessons and helping out in lots of different places. I don't think for one minute it would stop over breeding, or outright cruelty but it would save a lot of the problems caused by sheer ignorance. What isn't acceptable is the large number of people who buy green or lame horses with the aim of riding them and try to bring them on themselves without having basic balance and independent hands, and ignore advice to seek professional help. Low grade suffering by stealth.
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Whilst I'm obviously pleased that you had a lovely childhood, helping out in lots of different places I don't think life is like that any longer due to health and safety and the increasing fear of litigation. Many riding schools have had to close because of problems with insurance and quite a lot don't even allow unaccompanied (or accompanied for that matter) children on the premises.

Back in the day children used to play outside and could also hang around the stables from morning until night but they don't any longer or at least not in any of the places in which I've lived. It might be different 'Up North' though so I'm open to correction. Surely most children from poor backgrounds wouldn't be given riding lessons or even taken to yards to hang around and 'help' in any case would they?

Admittedly I don't know anyone like those in your examples which certainly doesn't mean to say they don't exist but, assuming you do know them, could you not help them or, if you haven't the time or inclination, point them in the right direction for help? I couldn't stand by and let an animal suffer myself. Far better to have a word directly rather than wait for the government to come up with a scheme, no?
 
Haha, I love you snowy....'sod you lot having your nicey nicey discussion about practicalities and what not, I'm going to talk about drug addicts having kids'

!!!
 
DabDab said:
Haha, I love you snowy....'sod you lot having your nicey nicey discussion about practicalities and what not, I'm going to talk about drug addicts having kids'

!!!
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Um, it seemed relevant to me ... I abhor cruelty but until the government have solved child abuse I very much doubt they'll start drafting the OP's scheme!
 
JFTD said:
I love the idea that a basic horse care test would make money a barrier to entry into horse sports - which are already among the most expensive sports. A basic test prior to ownership would be a drop in the ocean compared to actual horse ownership!
DabDab said:
Oh yeah, I completely get your point. I was just admiring your style that's all 😂
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Ah, in that case, thanks :oops:
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JFTD said:
I love the idea that a basic horse care test would make money a barrier to entry into horse sports - which are already among the most expensive sports. A basic test prior to ownership would be a drop in the ocean compared to actual horse ownership!
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I think that entry into horse sports requires being able to ride though? So if large swathes of the population are forbidden to buy a horse until they have obtained a high standard of riding (which involves a lot of expensive lessons or horsey parents which not everyone has) then it will kill off the grassroots competitions won't it? I would have loved a crack at F1 racing but that was off the agenda, unlike karting because my Dad built me a kart! He wasn't clever enough to build a horse though :p
 
Snowy Celandine said:
I think that entry into horse sports requires being able to ride though? So if large swathes of the population are forbidden to buy a horse until they have obtained a high standard of riding (which involves a lot of expensive lessons or horsey parents which not everyone has) then it will kill off the grassroots competitions won't it? I would have loved a crack at F1 racing but that was off the agenda, unlike karting because my Dad built me a kart! He wasn't clever enough to build a horse though :p
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I don't really care about the riding side, to be fair - provided people are having lessons, or educating themselves, or not really taxing their horses. I'm mostly concerned by people who have no concept of how to look after a large, potentially dangerous animal, and buy one without any back up or plan to educate themselves. Not only does the horse suffer, but they endanger themselves and those around them too. I do agree it's completely impractical - I just wish some people would think before they take on an animal.
 
JFTD said:
I don't really care about the riding side, to be fair - provided people are having lessons, or educating themselves, or not really taxing their horses. I'm mostly concerned by people who have no concept of how to look after a large, potentially dangerous animal, and buy one without any back up or plan to educate themselves. Not only does the horse suffer, but they endanger themselves and those around them too. I do agree it's completely impractical - I just wish some people would think before they take on an animal.
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I agree :)
 
I did not come from a horsey background either, the nearest my father got to horses was when i needed someone to hold my pony because all i had was an open field. The same pony i had to wait until i was working to buy. My mother hates horses.
Hubby and i spent a lot of time teaching different kids to ride and look after ponies, some of these kids were from the better off family, some could not even afford the bus fare to the stables, so long as they were keen we went and picked them up.
 
Snowy Celandine said:
I think that entry into horse sports requires being able to ride though? So if large swathes of the population are forbidden to buy a horse until they have obtained a high standard of riding (which involves a lot of expensive lessons or horsey parents which not everyone has) then it will kill off the grassroots competitions won't it? I would have loved a crack at F1 racing but that was off the agenda, unlike karting because my Dad built me a kart! He wasn't clever enough to build a horse though :p
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That already costs a lot of money so it doesn't really matter. Not everyone is supporting mandatory riding test... it's about the care. Actually, as far as I know you do have to have a lot of training to be an F1 driver....? Also, didn't know a cart needed fresh water and food and maybe a vet once in a while.
 
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