Scarlett
Well-Known Member
Day after day I read posts on here where people are asking questions regarding something to do with their horse or a horse related situation they are in where the answers always follow a particular trend - Tb's have bad feet, cobs are too slow, warmbloods are stupid, comp horses don't get turned out, certain bits are cruel etc etc - but theres always someone who comes along and bucks the trend and proves that, as clever as our horses are they don't read the forums and don't have the same pre-concieved idea of how they should react or cope in a situation and infact they just do what ever their little horsey brains tell them to do. Horses are individuals and we should never try to shoehorn them into a particular mould IMO, we should listen and learn and when needed we have to be prepared to look outside our own knowledge and experience to make their lives better.
There is no right or wrong answer to many of he questions on here, just our own opinions and experiences....
So, my question is; what do you and your horses do that goes against a stereotype or a commonly held opinion on this forum?
This is Indy, my 6yo TB exracer. He's barefoot through my choice yet he is my 'competition' horse, he is expected to jump, hack, hunt and school all on his little bare feet, he goes to clinics and lessons and xc schools, all being well his jumping and eventing career will begin next year. He's viceless, can be ridden by anyone and is too lazy to be a 'typical TB'. He's also increasingly ridden bitless as it allows us to work him in a certain way and improves our bitted work. He lives in a lot over winter, goes in a horse walker almost every day, often doesnt get booted up. I'm no Natural Horsemanship person, I wear spurs and carry a whip that I'm happy to use if I feel it is required. I'm strict on manners, my horses have a job and I expect them to do it, for that they are looked after like kings and want for nothing. If I have a horse I don't think will do a job for me I move it on, I have no room in my life for sentimentality, a horse costs the same amount to feed whether I love it or not.
I also believe that being competative doesn't mean being harsh, that carrying a whip doesn't make me a horse beater and that I can keep horses to ride and compete but keep my ethical integrity intact.
Indy bitless and barefoot
All dressed up for a SJ lesson
Barefoot XC
Our favourite thing to do together - go as fast as we can.....
So, c'mon, what do that you 'shouldn't'?
There is no right or wrong answer to many of he questions on here, just our own opinions and experiences....
So, my question is; what do you and your horses do that goes against a stereotype or a commonly held opinion on this forum?
This is Indy, my 6yo TB exracer. He's barefoot through my choice yet he is my 'competition' horse, he is expected to jump, hack, hunt and school all on his little bare feet, he goes to clinics and lessons and xc schools, all being well his jumping and eventing career will begin next year. He's viceless, can be ridden by anyone and is too lazy to be a 'typical TB'. He's also increasingly ridden bitless as it allows us to work him in a certain way and improves our bitted work. He lives in a lot over winter, goes in a horse walker almost every day, often doesnt get booted up. I'm no Natural Horsemanship person, I wear spurs and carry a whip that I'm happy to use if I feel it is required. I'm strict on manners, my horses have a job and I expect them to do it, for that they are looked after like kings and want for nothing. If I have a horse I don't think will do a job for me I move it on, I have no room in my life for sentimentality, a horse costs the same amount to feed whether I love it or not.
I also believe that being competative doesn't mean being harsh, that carrying a whip doesn't make me a horse beater and that I can keep horses to ride and compete but keep my ethical integrity intact.
Indy bitless and barefoot
All dressed up for a SJ lesson
Barefoot XC
Our favourite thing to do together - go as fast as we can.....
So, c'mon, what do that you 'shouldn't'?
