Am I Too Soft with My Horses ?

[Gingerwitch]

Ok so most of us have had a few weeks "lay off" from riding with Christmas and New Year and the horses are fat and more unfit than normal as they have been getting turned out every other day for a couple of hours and then stood eating hay the rest of the day.

Picture the scene - we have a freelance instructor teach for an hour on a Sunday morning - we are lucky enough to have access to a Shed type indoor (bit cold though!).

One of my friends whom is equally if not more so soft than me (her horse is unfit and has been for months, and at best is ridden twice a week) has started to allow her horse to be ridden by a new work collegue whom appears to have done everything to do with horses...... now apart from leaving the horse tied up outside its outdoor stable, fully tacked up, with no rug on for 20 mins in a freezing cold wind.... and pulling its 14 stone + bulk up onto the poor horses cold back from the ground (mounting block 3 foot away from said horse and rider) she then proceeded to make poor beatie work in outline for 55 mins, in a double bridle, horse was lathered in sweat to say the least. To add insult to injury, horse was untacked, rugged up and fed its night tea and hay by the time i had walked my horse round the block twice and taken its tack off she was gone!

Same thing almost tonight - horse tied outside stable, lord knows how long poor neddy was stood there for - and i would not be happy about the state of the saddle if it were mine as it was snowing quite heavily tonight - walks horse round school twice, trots a circle and immediatley into canter, and canter and canter and canter..... couple of laps of trot at the end and horse is out of school, rugged and fed and shes gone.

Now is this right - to me it is cruel and totally unfair on an unfit but willing horse... the 2nd question is - do i say anything to the owner or not?

 

[miss_bird]

I would not be happy if someone was doing this to my horse, and would want to be told.

 

[HollyWoozle]

If it was me, I would definitely tell the owner about it. I don't think there's ever really a cause to feel that you're interfering in something when you're genuinely concerned for the wellbeing of an animal.

 

[finkle]

Oh yes, snitch!

 

[HOLCHE]

No this is not right, please say something to the owner. If it were my horse I would want to know.

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

No, I don't think it's fair. If the horse is unfit they should be fittened up gradually, too fast and it can cause injury.
As it is a friend of yours horse, I would just have a quick chat and explain your concerns.

 

[debsflo]

i would be furious.definatley say something.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

I don't think that is soft, it's unjust, will probably lead to a sour uncooperative and possibly injured horse!

Difficult re the owner, maybe say something along the lines that the new sharer has really got into the swing of it (positive to start with, don't get her back up), you hadn't realised the horse was fit enough to be working so hard etc etc - could say that as he's sweating so much, will she be clipping him out this weekend - soft peddle it a bit.

 

[Highlandsig]

This is disgraceful and so dammed ignorant of the rider. I would certainly tell the owner. I think you are right to be concerned.

 

[Gingerwitch]

Thanks for confirming my thoughts - i like spot the risks slant - that may be a good one to take.

This just puts me off even more finding someone to ride one of mine - i know we all do things differently, and we all have different opinions on things - but i felt really really sorry for the horse on Sunday and tonight you could see her "hunching" up to keep warm - it just is not right.

Will takle the owner on Saturday

 

[rcm_73]

Gosh yes definitely have a word with the owner of the horse, I hope the owner is not paying for this 'priviledge'?!!

 

[Gingerwitch]

My Mills -No - owner not paying for the privledge - but is doing all the chores and leaving horse for "champion rider" to ride.... she has only been doing it for November, she did not come to the yard once in December and re-started riding the poor beastie this Sunday on the lesson

 

[Luci07]

Tell - if horse gets chill/sour/tied up due to this then you will really regret not saying something. Liked the suggested approach though! or could start by saying something on the lines that you know said owner is very hot on cooling down/keeping rugged up etc?

 

[claireelizabeth]

I think Spot The Risks approach is a good one. Very diplomatic

 

[Queenjude]

I'd have to say something if I were you. Poor horse.

 

[sea_view]

Eeeek, I spy an injury/illness occuring - poor horse!

 

[Storminateacup]

There are so many people who ride like this and treat horses, theirs or someone elses , like this, and its just gross.
Seen it at so many places , sadly so many times.
Yes, you have a duty to the poor horse to snitch on this horrible ignorant woman.
Be tackful enough to be effective though!!
Good luck.

 

[tangoharvey]

if anyone did this to my horse - I would be soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo angry and cross, and I would definitely be very greatful to whoever told me

 

[PeterNatt]

This is absolutely typical of someone who may technically be a good rider but has totally no common sense, no concept of horse care or horse management or compassion for horses.

She should not be allowed to come in to contact with horses until she has completed a horse management course and been fully assesed on what she has learnt.

She is yet another example of someone who should be kept as far away from any horse as is possible. She may just about qualify to being able to sit on a mechanical horse.

 

[Hedgewitch13]

Has the owner actually told the rider what she can and can't do with her horse? Did she explain how unfit it was? Just asking as there could be crossed wires about the work load it does.

No excuse for bad horse management though and I would definitely mention the tieing up without a rug, not properly cooling down etc the owner.

 

[Kat]

Is this person actually a good rider?

I think it is definitely worth having a word. Depending upon what the rider is like, you could try just a quick word of advice to them. Maybe they are a bit inexperienced in horse management and would be receptive to a bit of guidence. If you don't think this will work go straight to the owner.

Try not to be super critical and sort of hint a bit rather than openly critisize.

It could be that this person is used to having staff do all the care and doesn't really understand, or it could just be downright carelessness. Difficult to know really.......