Are owners less able or willing to deal with things with horses themselves.

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

It’s not just the kids who are scared it’s also the parents. They don’t want to put their kids at any risk.

Oh yes, and that caution is passed on to the children. And yet in schools and Nurseries we try to offer even quite young children the opportunity to take (carefully managed) risks because research shows that is good for them.

 

[honetpot]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with paying professionals to do a job, I could decorate my house but an expert will do a much better job

I think its knowing when you need professional help. If you own a house you should know how to adjust the thermostat, turn the water off a a stop cock, hoover, change a light bulb and perhaps even do come cleaning, even if you think someone can do it better.
Abdicating all your responsibilities of horse ownership leads to poor welfare, because what happens when the money runs out, issues get left or put to one side, and then its a bigger issue or a problem to sort out.
There is so much information on Ytube there is no reason why people should not be capable of doing everyday horsecare with competance. If my daughters could tack up at seven years old, and knew what lameness, a twisted shoe looked like and what to do, in their early teens, the average adult should be able to do the same.

 

[SEL]

Not so long ago , I bumped into the daughter of my 1st RI, who is a few years younger than I am. She is now the chief RI at the family run RS. She was talking about the fact that children mainly do not ride often enough to develop muscle memory, often only having a lesson fortnightly or monthly. She also said that children are not as brave as we were. If we were taken to ride 'in the field' rather than in the school, we were delighted, as we knew that the less capable or beginner riders weren't allowed that privilege. Now she has children bursting into tears at the thought of riding in the field.

That's sad. Once I'd got the most basic understanding of stop, start, left, right on the Shetland saint I learnt to ride on I was sent out with the adults and told to hold the front of the saddle if I felt wobbly!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Its just so so expensive. I started my daughter riding lessons when she was small but I knew i couldn't afford it to be regular enough for her to get properly into it and my horse was too big. Luckily we were offered a string of outgrown ponies that saw her from 5 to 14 and worked out at half the price and she learned so much more from it.

 

[setterlover]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with paying professionals to do a job, I could decorate my house but an expert will do a much better job

But tying up a vet with a simple cut or to deal with a twisted shoe means that vet isn't available to attend a real emergency such as a colic or a mare struggling to foal where delay could be life threatening.
I honestly believe as horse owners we should be able to deal with routine stuff and assess when we NEED the vet not just phone the vet for everything even minor things like a twisted shoe or simple cut.

 

[Smogul]

But tying up a vet with a simple cut or to deal with a twisted shoe means that vet isn't available to attend a real emergency such as a colic or a mare struggling to foal where delay could be life threatening.
I honestly believe as horse owners we should be able to deal with routine stuff and assess when we NEED the vet not just phone the vet for everything even minor things like a twisted shoe or simple cut.

It depends on the definition of routine stuff, doesn't it? Varies for each owner. Never had a twisted shoe, only once had a horse with an abscess..... Great at dealing with mud fever, good at bringing into work after injury....

Wouldn't dream of criticising an owner who didn't know how to tackle the latter as they had never come across the situation before.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Challenge awards were literally introduced for that reason (and to make some money). Issue is they're fiddly to offer from an admin point of view, even for the training centres. It may well have changed, but I seem to remember I had to ring HQ to say we want to run them, coach doing them is an APC, what do we need to pay and ended up having to send cheques to get the booklets sent out etc. It was a lot of faff for not much reward (the platinum ones are equivalent to Stage 1)

My advice - find a willing APC within a rs environment and see if they can sort directly. Such a shame they ditched the Horse Owners' cert.

I will check it out with current RI. I don't think the RS is approved but she is an APC.

Same experience as an adult returner. And my riding school now just doesn’t have the same atmosphere like I remember at the one I went to growing up. I don’t feel especially ‘welcomed’. I would jump at the chance to do some proper stable management / care / first aid type refresher and would absolutely sign up to any courses or sessions. Looks like BHS stages (£££) is the only real option, alongside a loan or share horse! Equally, I’d feel a bit daft booking onto their standard stable management course, as I feel they’re aimed at kids or complete novices, which I’m not. There’s definitely a gap for something.

I also think red tape, health & safety, licensing etc. is a factor in how things are now.

Very similar experiences here!


Eta - it's kind of what I said before but it really depends on the support network around you. If horse ownership does ever become attainable for me, I'd be looking for part-livery for that support back up. In theory an RS environment would be ideal for a first-time owner but actually I am very not sure about this given some of the things I have seen (and sadly some that had to be pointed out to me by others on here as I had not realised/had trusted the environment I was in). The current RS I am at would be perfect though - YO super experienced over many years with different types of horses, keen to share knowledge, and has high priority for horse welfare. If I had that in place, I'd be well up for being shown how to tackle things for myself to know how to do things more independently in the future.

If you don't have people like that, or you have people who think they know but don't, or who would never themselves consult with a professional, it's going to be tricky to navigate things as they come up. Some wouldn't question it and seek help when they should, and others might be more cautious and call in a professional.

 

[Barton Bounty]

But tying up a vet with a simple cut or to deal with a twisted shoe means that vet isn't available to attend a real emergency such as a colic or a mare struggling to foal where delay could be life threatening.
I honestly believe as horse owners we should be able to deal with routine stuff and assess when we NEED the vet not just phone the vet for everything even minor things like a twisted shoe or simple cut.

I agree with you. Vet schools etc often run courses for FREE on emergency medicine and trauma. I have been to a few different things at Weipers.
It also gives you a chance to ask any questions that you may have about absolutely any emergency situation. I think we all should be helping ourselves be the best owners.

 

[setterlover]

The vet hospital at Liphook ran courses on emergency vet situations .What constituted an emergency and what to do whilst waiting for the vet.
Also a question and answer session at the end . Very informative and interesting.
This was some 30 years ago doubt they still do it

 

[Barton Bounty]

Weipers often advertise various stuff, to be fair i wouldnt mind paying a fee , refreshing your brain isnt a bad thing

 

[Lurfy]

There was an older lady where I keep my horse who got her first horse in her 60's. It was her lifelong dream to have her own horse. She never planned to ride her and the horse was unridable anyway, just enjoyed visiting and looking after her. It is a full care facility so most things were taken care of. She got the vet out for things that she was concerned about. Some may say it was a waste of money. A very reputable vet mostly dealt with her and was wonderfully kind and helpful. She had the money to pay and the vet had the patience and time to accommodate her. There are all kinds of horse owners out there and for as long as the horse is looked after, more power to them.

 

[lynz88]

I think some of the things mentioned are perhaps better left to the professionals if not sure.
I freelanced for a couple of years though previous to my job now and was shocked at how many people on livery don’t k ow very basic things about their horse. Not it’s regular pulse but it’s regular feed or rugs or just what’s normal behaviour for their particular horse.

It really irritates me some days (other days I can just ignore) 1 person in particular who has been around horses for much longer than me....yet how little she knows in general is astounding. She once told me my horse was not lame ... he was so lame even I could see it and I generally have problems seeing it, especially if only slight.

 

[poiuytrewq]

It really irritates me some days (other days I can just ignore) 1 person in particular who has been around horses for much longer than me....yet how little she knows in general is astounding. She once told me my horse was not lame ... he was so lame even I could see it and I generally have problems seeing it, especially if only slight.

Yes there are things we owe to our horses to be able to deal with. When I got my first one I had no clue but I was only in my teens and soaked up whatever I could from
My amazing yard owner, she got me to do all the dirty work but in hindsight you have to to learn along the way.

 

[lynz88]

Absolutely you do...you usually learn when there is a problem. Mine has been semi retired for a good few years but what he's taught me in his management is absolutely priceless.

 

[Caol Ila]

Was hanging out with my horsey friend on Skye today. Talk about self sufficient. You think you can get a saddle fitter up here? lol. Or a trainer?

Having your horses on your own wee croft sounds idyllic to me. My friend thought my big livery yard in Glasgow sounded idyllic! The grass is always greener.

 

[Needtoretire]

I run a small livery yard. The lack of knowledge and common sense is astonishing. Today I stopped an owner giving a large bucket feed to her horse that was sweating profusely after getting upset in the field.

The livery tack room is full of expensive designer tack, not one of them has a thermometer or first aid kit.

My vet recently ran a strangles evening talk alongside the recent strangles awareness campaign. Just 2 yard owners there. The talk was very educational and very helpful for future bio security and the use of the new vaccine.

Sadly todays owners seem to be all the gear and no idea types.

 

[adamntitch]

Im not from a horsey family, in fact my mum has only ridden a couple of times when i was a child on holidays.
I learnt most of my stuff from a very hard faced stern woman at the local riding school and I could never thank her enough. Riding schools are not the same now. I used to stay there for the whole weekend. Only stopping to eat sleep or pee.
Started at 10 cleaning tack, she would make us make a bridle up blindfolded. she and the other grooms used to learn us a lot.
She learned us everything from scratch. Especially falling off a 17hh and getting flung back on. Wipe your eyes and get back up there.

Edinburgh By any chance lol

 

[Barton Bounty]

Edinburgh By any chance lol

No , it was shanter riding school in maidens

 

[lme]

I make sure I retain control over how my horses are managed (I would hate to keep them with a trainer and have to fit into their system) but don’t hesitate to call in a professional when it is in my horses best interest. Just because I can do something myself doesn’t mean it wouldn't be better to get a professional involved.

 

[little_critter]

I find the exact opposite unfortunately, most people around here anyway, and when I lived in the UK absolutely can not do those things. I do agree that if some have done their PC stuff they will probably be more knowledgeable, but so many adults and children seem to just learn to ride for a few months then buy a 'made' horse or pony and off they go with hardly a clue how to care for the poor beast.

I couldn’t do PC due to getting my first pony when I was 33. I did help out at a riding school before then but that was only mucking out & tacking up. There was no opportunity to learn about first aid and husbandry.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I'm not sure the PC teach husbandry now. A friends daughter got her PC mucking out badge by standing next to a wheel barrow holding a shavings fork!! Hasn't mucked a stable out in her 5 years of pony owning, same with tack cleaning, same with grooming. As said before, kids just want to ride with their friends, they are not interested in the work. I was lucky enough to help at a riding school at weekends for free rides and I learnt so much. At age 9 I could trim and get a pony ready for the show ring ( under supervision!).

 

[sollimum]

I used to organise stable management sessions, badges, training, quiz etc for our local branch. When my son went to vet school, everyone was amazed by a boy that knew how to poultice, bandage, take a heart rate etc but at least all those hours of training came in handy! The same children used to come to all the sessions so they were all pretty amazing with their skills but I am not sure children are interested in learning this now. Which is sad.

 

[Caol Ila]

It’s like a rule - all adults think the current generation of kids are useless compared to them. Kids these days…

In my experience, most people who didn’t grow up with horsey parents or have access to some kind of barn as kids learn on the job. You figure out what you need to know when you need to know it. Like I had no idea how to poultice a foot until I had to do it. Even if I’d learned 25 years ago, I definitely would have forgotten.

Or another example…We put Hermosa’s mane into a lattice for my wedding. That’s something I did a lot 20 years ago when I was showing my long maned horse under USDF rules and had to do a thing with her mane. You think I remembered how to do it? Nae danger. I had to look it up on YouTube!

 

[Pippity]

At the end of the day, so much if it is down to experience. I come from a completely unhorsey family, to the extent that my mum has seen my horse twice and never even stroked her. As a kid, I had to change out of horse clothes in the garage before being allowed in the house to shower. I have less than zero desire to work with horses, so all my experience comes from riding schools/RDA volunteering/books/very forgiving shares.

Buying my own horse was terrifying and a huge learning curve. There are things I can't do that people on this thread have been very scornful about. I can't plait. (My horse is hogged.) I can't remove a shoe. (My horse is barefoot.) I call the vet at the slightest provocation (although I am able to give temp/pulse/resp).

I'd ask that people be a little more aware of their privilege if they've grown up around horses, with family who encourage (or even don't actively discourage) their horsey dreams.

 

[Spotherisk]

I don’t have an equine background, but do have an enquiring mind. Before getting my first horse I’d done my BHS Horseowners Certificate level 2, BHS Stage 1, and riding and road safety. I soaked up information like a sponge!

When I did get my horse and was hoping to show him at some point I bought old an nickel Weymouth set, a slip head for my bridle and set up the double bridle on the newel post at the bottom of the stairs. Sitting there at the same level I would on a horse I could see the action of the snaffle and the curb - I could see how much leverage came from a harsh pull, and how little was really needed. I learnt how to hold two sets of reins and how raising and lowering the hands effected the action of the bits. This was all well before the internet, and so my only other options were look in a book, or pay for a lesson, but I think I learnt the most from seeing how little pressure was needed to move those bits on the newel post!

 

[KatieDM]

At the end of the day, so much if it is down to experience. I come from a completely unhorsey family, to the extent that my mum has seen my horse twice and never even stroked her. As a kid, I had to change out of horse clothes in the garage before being allowed in the house to shower. I have less than zero desire to work with horses, so all my experience comes from riding schools/RDA volunteering/books/very forgiving shares.

Buying my own horse was terrifying and a huge learning curve. There are things I can't do that people on this thread have been very scornful about. I can't plait. (My horse is hogged.) I can't remove a shoe. (My horse is barefoot.) I call the vet at the slightest provocation (although I am able to give temp/pulse/resp).

I'd ask that people be a little more aware of their privilege if they've grown up around horses, with family who encourage (or even don't actively discourage) their horsey dreams.

You make some really good points! I would have bitten my parents’ hands off if I was able to do PC as a kid. I spent every Saturday loitering at the stables — mucking out, tacking up, lead rein, turning out…

 

[dorsetladette]

I think it helps having a horsey background definitely.

As a kid my parents ran 'own a pony' week in the holidays. The child would have a pony allocated to them for the week and they would be responsible for that pony. some of the kids were liveries and owned their own pony others came in and were allocated one of my showing ponies (which they had probably been having lessons on previously).

As a child I would be seriously grumpy about the fact these 'kids' would only have 1 stable to muck out, but I had the same 5 to do. I would be board in the lessons and probably was a total nightmare for my parents as I couldn't see why the children just didn't 'know' this stuff. Looking back I was probably a right brat during pony week. But I get it now as an adult that we aren't all knowledgeable in the same area's. I mean I can't land a rocket on the moon, but I can reverse a trailer up a narrow lane.

I have a very good friend who I call if I doubt myself on anything and she calls me if she needs second opinion. We don't always do things the same way but we respect each others views. We both call each other before the vet unless it is very obvious. We are with each other for every emergency vet call for all our ponies. It's just second nature now. not everyone has that support network, we are lucky we do.

 

[reynold]

Another from a non-horsey family here. I was 'allowed' my one lesson per week at the local riding school (7/6d for those that remember pre-decimal) and started helping out by polishing the old non-stainless bits and stirrups with duraglit and progressed from there. As I didn't have my own horse/pony (despite having it on my wish list every birthday and xmas my parents just couldn't afford one) there was no way I could go to Pony Club.

I didn't get my own horse until I was 24 and was working to pay for it myself, but wanted to learn more and progressed with the BHS stages 1 and 2 before that. Sad to read above that it is rare for local riding schools to bother or have the interest from customers to do that anymore.

One thing I always had in my trunk as a one horse livery and diy livery owner was basic things like scissors, iodine, Animalintex, Vetwrap, thermometer and vaseline, Kaolin poultice, etc. as a first aid kit for my horse.

I noticed in recent years that horse owners typically had nothing at all in the way of first aid (but had in one case over 60 rugs for one horse) and hence had to call the vet for even a basic cut, especially as YOs weren't prepared to provide such things as a roll of vetwrap to their customers due to the costs and the legal aspects.

 

[ycbm]

I know we were used as free labour, and there were some very unsafe things going on, but we have lost so much from children no longer being used as staff in riding schools. Add to that farmers who know nothing about horses diversifying into livery, and we've lost a whole base of practical training.

 

[Peglo]

At the end of the day, so much if it is down to experience. I come from a completely unhorsey family, to the extent that my mum has seen my horse twice and never even stroked her. As a kid, I had to change out of horse clothes in the garage before being allowed in the house to shower. I have less than zero desire to work with horses, so all my experience comes from riding schools/RDA volunteering/books/very forgiving shares.

Buying my own horse was terrifying and a huge learning curve. There are things I can't do that people on this thread have been very scornful about. I can't plait. (My horse is hogged.) I can't remove a shoe. (My horse is barefoot.) I call the vet at the slightest provocation (although I am able to give temp/pulse/resp).

I'd ask that people be a little more aware of their privilege if they've grown up around horses, with family who encourage (or even don't actively discourage) their horsey dreams.

Similar background to you. My dad hated horses and my stepmum made me wash all my clothes (including my dresses I wore on a night out) separately to everyone else’s because it “stank of horses” I’ve had horses for 20 years and I’m unsure me fither could name any of the 4 horses I’ve owned.
My granny though let me get my first pony but she wasn’t a pony club pony and I had no means to travel there anyway. But we had loads of fun and just got on with things. My granny being a farmer was probably quite easy going with the idea of horses that it didn’t seem a big deal to keep them. (seeing them basically as livestock. Make sure they have food and water, give them shelter and turnout, get their feet done, the basics) The older I get though the more I want advice from experts as I realise how much I don’t know and I’d rather get it right. I wouldn’t be phoning the vet for small grazes or cuts, things like that, unless things start to look suspicious or aren’t healing as they should.

I did an evening college course several years back and it was great for teaching me how to do things I’d never needed to do in the years I’d had horses. A lot of it was how to muck out, groom etc, stuff that you do daily but I learnt a lot too. I try to get to any talks put on by vets or other professionals and found the ones I’ve gone to really informative.