Am I A Bad Owner (sorry long)and a bit rantish

charliesarmy

charliesarmy

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 July 2008
Messages
5,777
Location
Lancs
Visit site
I have to say I've always had my horse spic and span with always having her in competition... but having put her in foal this year I've let her go Au Natrel she now has a long mane thick unpulled tail and feathers and a woolley mammouth coat she's not being ridden much... but wheras she used to be stabled 24/7 over the winter months (and competed)(but now retired from comps) I've now got my own place where I'm hoping to put her out during the day over winter.. hence why I've let her go Au Natrel but I am now classed as not looking after her as what has been suggested by people who have come to see her recently (which I find hurtful) I admit she would have normally been clipped out by now would be sporting clipped legs nice cropped mane but she's not doing anything but lazing around
crazy.gif
crazy.gif
so should I still be keeping her looking like a show horse or let her chill over the next year am I a bad person
crazy.gif
crazy.gif
 
I wouldn't class a horse getting hairy is not looking after her! Don't listen to what people say, if she's happy and healthy it speaks for itself!
 
No you're not a bad owner. She'll be enjoying life out in the field, the freedom and relaxation. Horses don't care what they look like.

As long as they're fed, watered and are warm and/or have shelter, they're happy
 
She is looked after exactly the same!! but she's roughing it and people just can't seem to accept it I've had comments like "ah poor Chriss look at the state of her" and "is she just serving a purpose now" ie the foal is for me and hopefully a showing replacement from my girl but gawd it makes me feel bad but don't want to take her feather's.mane,coat off because I don't see it as necessary but why are people so judgemental why can't they see why I am doing it
frown.gif
 
your not a bad owner at all did you say she was in foal?

When i was pregnant i stopped doing my bikini line [as could not see it] and i did not spruse myself up everyday i slobbed it.
So why not your mare she needs to be nice and warm while she is pregnant bless her.Last thing i would of wanted is someone fussing round me all day let her get hairy i say.

Ignore these people your obvioulsy love her very much.
 
Definatly not a bad owner!
I would set them straight about this if it is mentioned again having a horse fully clipped out does not mean it is less (or even more) looked after than a hairy one.
Leave her how she is I think she will appriciate it more then bringing her in and clipping her etc.
 

"so should I still be keeping her looking like a show horse or let her chill over the next year"

I think there is a little bit inbetween thses two extremes! How about getting her in every now and then, spending some nice time with her, solocombing her mane so that it's nice and tidy etc? You certainly don't need to go the whole hog and keep her looking like a show horse! It may make both you and her feel better to keep her looking a bit 'tidy'? If the other people's comments don't mean anything to you then leave her as she is, but if they've made you wonder if you are doing the right thing, then maybe it's time to have a re-think?
 
Go to any top thoroughbred stud...mares are mostly kept au natural and treated like horses.....not dolls!

Maybe even have a chat with your vet - who shouldn't charge you for a phone call, particularly about a pregnant mare and ask their suggestions - I am sure that they will recommend regular handling to check for any lumps/bumps/stratches etc etc but never forget, they are horses! all this primping and preening is for us, not them! Have never yet met a horse who stands at the gate saying "Since I retired, she never phones, she never writes, she doesn't bring flowers ....." etc etc etc!

If in doubt, rake professional advice from vet and/or other local breeder - all the throroughbred mares I know of are hairy girls!

Good luck with your foal - how exciting!
 
Actuallly, I think keeping them looking like 'show horses' is much crueler.....

They chop their whiskers off (you'd never chop a cats whiskers off, but it's ok to do it to horses?) so they can't feel properly, chop off all their nice warm fluff and wrap then in restrictive rugs instead so they can't enjoy a good itch or mutual grooming and can't thernoregulate themselves. Pull their manes (owch!) and make their tails look like they have sweetitch (plus they then can't use it as a windblock), so they can't keep themselves warm. What exactly is less cruel about the show horse look?

Best think to do is ask yourself what SHE would chose. Lots of warm fluff or looking pretty?
wink.gif


I clearly have some very unhappy and uncarefor horses
wink.gif


hairbearkalli.jpg


sunnywinter046.jpg


hairypink.jpg
 
Good grief I can't believe people are slating you for letting your horse go au natrel! Good for you for letting her be a horse! Anyway I prefer to see broodmares left in their natural state while in foal - let her chill and ignore the numpties
smile.gif


ETS as long as she gets a regular check over (and I'm sure you do!) under her thick coat to make sure there aren't any nasties or lurgies then go with your decision
smile.gif
 
I think it is hard for us to see them outside especially in Winter - I know I am struggling with it. My two are both in foal and will both be wintering out this year. They do not have rugs and are getting lovely thick coats.

I have taken advice from the stud re bringing them in - or rugging them at least whilst out, but apparently the broodmares usually do very well on just ad lib hay and hard feed. Obviously if that is not the case, they will get rugged first and then brought in.

Worst of all for you I cannot understand anyone saying the things they have said to you. It is none of their business, so long as she is healthy and happy and for them to suggest she is still kept in show condition whilst in the field when it is cold and wet - ie without a nice snug coat and waterproofing - is more cruel.

Fingers crossed all our girls winter well!
 
For heavens sake - it's not like you've abandoned her - she's in foal so why the need for perfection??

To be honest it sounds like a load of folk who don't know enough about horses (but I take it they are gossipy, know it alls
wink.gif
)

Ignore them, you're doing the right thing for your mare - as the others have already said above
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

How about getting her in every now and then, spending some nice time with her, solocombing her mane so that it's nice and tidy etc? You certainly don't need to go the whole hog and keep her looking like a show horse! It may make both you and her feel better to keep her looking a bit 'tidy'?

[/ QUOTE ] How on earth is having a tidy mane going to make a horse feel better? Horses don't give a monkey's whether their mane is trimmed! I really can't understand horsey people who judge an owner's management by whether a horse is trimmed, clipped etc! We do it for us, not for the horse's sake.

Often these are the same people who will happily incarcerate a horse in a stable all winter with insufficient exercise, but will think they are 'good owners' because their horses are beautifully trimmed and clipped.
crazy.gif
 
Thank you all for your comments it has made me feel much better
smile.gif
the thing is as some of you have suggested she comes in everyday for food a brush and a check over shes given nets morning and night in the field shelter an will probably come in overnight from Nov but it has just been peoples comments that I have found hurtful my routine has been the same its not like she has just been put in foal and abandoned..so why are people so bitchy if they are saying things to my face god knows what they are saying behind my back....but after some reassurance from you guys you know what stuff em
grin.gif
grin.gif
my girl will defo prefer hairy she used to hate clipping 1st time fine 2nd time fidget face 3rd time sedated
blush.gif
crazy.gif
THANK YOU ALL
 
After having spent x amount of years bein kept in, regularly pulled, clipped, trimmed etc i expect shes enjoying being allowed to live in a natural state and not pestered on a regular basis to "look posh". If shes happy and healthy thats what counts most!!!
 
I think you're doing absolutely the right thing in letting her get a bit of a thick coat and long mane if she's going to be out - will help her against the elements better, especially if she's been used to being in all the time. When my mare lived out she was a real hairy bear! Yes, she looked scruffy, but she never dropped her weight and was never cold. Ignore anyone who criticises what you're doing - your mare will be grateful for that coat in January!!!
smile.gif
 
My coloured girl came in on really cold nights when she was in foal, and had a med weight rug on, but apart from that she was left au naturel, her mane (hogged) grew dreadlocks and her legs looked like a shires! She was as happy as a pig in poo!
Good on you for letting your girly be a neddy, Im sure that she is happy healthy and loves you just as much as she always has! xx
 
Absolutley spot on you are doing the right thing, I did exactly the same with my mare , and normally the clippers and scissors have to be prized out of my hands, in fact my mare spent the summer out at a very posh dressage yard after being covered and they got the shaggy look going for me, she was happy and chilled , after giving birth to a super foal she is now back to her posh self and none the worse for a longer mane and wooly coat, let her enjoy her pregnancy.
 
When my warmblood went out to be a broodmare, shoes came off (she had good feet), I roughed her off - she grew a coat that would have made a native jealous, tail to the ground, mane like a gypsy cob. If very cold/wet then a rug on. In bad weather, she came in at night. I just did a basic flick over groom every few days.

She was never so happy or chilled. Once she went out on loan, she was groomed and check over but left as nature intended. Before that she was pulled, plaited and clipped for competitions.

I show my gypsy cob, for most of the year, he has tail and mane bags and due to sweet itch has to have a rug and mask on 24 x 7 all summer - he lives out.

Come end of September he is out in the field, no rugs, bags and minimal grooming. He is now very hairy and covered in mud. I personally feel it is good to let him have 4 - 6 weeks of being natural with minimal grooming.

End of month, he will be stabled at night and then he will have his mane and tail washed and bagged for the winter. He will be clipped and rugged and his legs oiled up.

What you are doing is far more suitable - a broodmare should be kept healthy and this does not mean, pulling, clipping etc. You can always tidy her up next year if you want to show her with the foal.
 
Well TB broodmares the world over go "au natural" so why shouldnt yours? Iv eworked for a few big studs and the owner doesnt like his mares manes pulled short. they are tidied up a little every spring and kept tidy in the summer - ie the mane are kept long but just evened up as obviously there are going to be quite a few visitors to the stud and they have a standard to keep. Mares only have rugs if they live in the field 24/7 ( most are stabled at night from Nov onwards and are not rugged). the excetion to this is in kentucky when most of the stabled horses are rugged at night over winter as its pretty bloody cold when they cant move around to keep warm!

I think you are doing the right thing leaving your mare with her full mane and coat if shes not working much and going to be out over winter - it will be time enough to tidy her up in spring when she doesnt need her winter woolies.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top