change my mind - what controversial/guilty horsey things do you do and not feel guilty for??:)

[PurBee]

I never pick out feet. The only time they are done is on farrier day.

I don't tie up in the trailer. Just chuck the rope over his neck and he loads himself.

Breaking in, I don't hack in company until they are going well in all three paces on their own and are confident out and about. I just don't see the point.

I never keep horses in routine. I think horses often do better without routine.

I’ve always wondered about trailering horses do’s and don’ts - i haven’t travelled many horses at all and the few times i have, have hated it, due to safety concerns.

If the horse is tied-up on a short leap rope when in the trailer to travel, surely if the horse slips for whatever reason, despite rubber flooring, it’s going to be potentially hanging there by its headcollar and could seriously harm itself? Wouldnt it be better to have the horse untied, without a headcollar whilst actually travelling to avoid all sorts of issues with headcollar and ropes?
This issue really bugs me, yet i see everyone recommend tying them up via headcollar with a short leadrope too.
Using their head to help stabilise them if they become unsteady surely is potentially dangerous?

 

[canteron]

Oh. Sometimes when I dismount, I swing my right leg over the front of the saddle instead. Just on the ponies.

I used to do the leg over the front dismount until I got a sticky seat saver; then you just hang there

I used to this but came to grief one day when wearing an air jacket - it didn’t go off for ages and horse ran off - an interesting few moments hanging off at a very uncomfortable angle ?

 

[Red-1]

Nope. But very, very cool! ?

Unless it goes wrong LOL.

 

[SEL]

I used to be on a yard with a lot of BHSy people and i think they all started to develop a nervous twitch around me ?

My stables don't look like you'd want to sleep in them let alone eat off the floor - fine for the horses tho.
Grooming? Only when necessary. The worst of the mud comes off when they shed their winter coat.
Tack cleaning? Ummmmm......
I do sometimes wash saddle cloths.
Sometimes I tie up with haynets to stop the fidgety one fidgeting. Sometimes I don't.
Quite happy to tie fidgety one up with the headcollar round her neck when I put the bridle on. Yet to strangle herself.
Also tied her to a solid beam as a 4yo to stop her pulling back and breaking the headcollar / rope / wall habit. It worked.
I rug with the fling on approach
I travel without bandages
My vets know I often self medicate them
I pander to the neurotic mare because it makes my life easier.

Probably a billion other things .....

 

[conniegirl]

Wouldnt it be better to have the horse untied, without a headcollar whilst actually travelling to avoid all sorts of issues with headcollar and ropes?

Not really. You really should have a headcollar and leadrope on the horse.

If you have an accident/incident you may end up with a loose horse or a horse that has to be removed from the transport very fast and you don’t have a headcollar on it. (A friend of mine had her lorry burst into flames on the motorway on the way to a show, she had less than 2 mins to pull over, get 3 kids, 2 dogs and 3 horses off the lorry before it went up fully, she lost everything in the horsebox)
It can also disuade a horse from trying to turn round in the trailer

I tie mine loosely to quick release snaps so that if they go down in the trailer it will release and you dont have a horse hanging itself.

 

[Scotsbadboy]

I start my dismount with my left foot still in the stirrup. The days of swinging my leg over and gracefully landing on the floor are long gone, its now more stand in the left stirrup, drag right leg over, take foot out of stirrup and either slide/ climb down onto the floor or find something high enough to slide on to to lessen the impact.

 

[littleshetland]

Will stand bent over directly infront of horse, face inches away from horses knee whilst fiddling with overreach boots. Can successfully roll fags and smoke them whilst hacking. feed random treats to horses because they're adorable.

 

[ycbm]

I’ve always wondered about trailering horses do’s and don’ts - i haven’t travelled many horses at all and the few times i have, have hated it, due to safety concerns.

If the horse is tied-up on a short leap rope when in the trailer to travel, surely if the horse slips for whatever reason, despite rubber flooring, it’s going to be potentially hanging there by its headcollar and could seriously harm itself? Wouldnt it be better to have the horse untied, without a headcollar whilst actually travelling to avoid all sorts of issues with headcollar and ropes?
This issue really bugs me, yet i see everyone recommend tying them up via headcollar with a short leadrope too.
Using their head to help stabilise them if they become unsteady surely is potentially dangerous?

Completely agree, mine are always tied up very loose for the reasons you give.
.

 

[ycbm]

I will smack my horses muzzle if they bite me, unsurprisingly they only ever do it once.

Yup, me too, you only need to do it once

I don't change my saddle cloth after every ride,

People do this? ??

 

[conniegirl]

People do this? ??

apparently you are supposed to.
My washing machine would hate me if I did.

 

[Reacher]

one thing I won't do is fling rugs on - if you or pony get caught by a flying buckle it blumming well hurts!!! always fold in half crossways and carefully place over the back.

I’ve had to moderate my rug throwing after once in the stable I threw the rug at the horse and a flying leg strap clip hit the fluorescent light tube and smashed it and I had to spent ages sweeping the glass up.

Regarding smoking while hacking, I sometimes see a lady riding her horse (on the buckle) leading another (on the buckle) and with a fag in hand. She looks very cool.

 

[dorsetladette]

Chuck rugs on in the field with no headcollar (even the yearling) they are all expected to stand.
I faff with them while their eating - again they are expected to not prat about.
Smack them if they nip - youngster still learning this (probably need to smack harder)
OH feeds treats (probably not helping the nipping)
I pick feet out and groom with out tying up. I do tie up for tacking up though as B will disappear at first sight of the saddle.
My hacking routes all have an element of coming back on yourself as we are at the end of a road.
I feed sugary mixes and feed in the field with out separating them.
I get off with a leg over the front - usually because my hips are stiff and its the only way I can.
I ride in the same field I turn out in.
I think there are many more too.

 

[maya2008]

I think that what people do themselves, with horses they have trained to accept it (or are being trained to do so) is always going to be very different from the BHS way, because the BHS standards are designed for handling potentially unknown horses with unknown manners and general training. We catch in with bridles, I can leave them waiting by the gate with reins over their heads and know they will be fine - but they are all chilled and used to this. I wouldn’t do that with someone else’s horse! Equally how we tie up etc. It suits us and new ponies who arrive here learn from the others.

The same is true for riding - a friend came hacking with us last time we were allowed to do these things and couldn’t keep up over the more uneven ground. I have natives who are used to it, she had a competition horse who wasn’t.

 

[lottiepony]

Ah now I used to do loads of things similar with my old horse and then I got my new one...
Super sensitive thing and he's over reactive which I occasionally get reminded about if I do something forgetting who I'm dealing with lol.
He does get used to things but takes time. To make life less stressful for us both I do things the way we like them done. It has now made me more aware of things others do and I find myself thinking the worse as that would most likely be my luck if I did the same with him.

 

[scruffyponies]

Only trim feet when they need it, just removing the odd flare with the nippers, and trot on the road instead of rasping.
Tie to solid as a cure for pulling back.
Break to drive without using a tyre first. Drive without a groom.
Long rein youngsters on the road. Back and ride away without a school.
'Lead' the horse without actually having hold of the rope.
Loading via the Boston doors without using the little ramp thing... but who does?

 

[windand rain]

Completely agree, mine are always tied up very loose for the reasons you give.
.

Have you ever used noggins or whatever the local word for the polished wooden balls. The tie rings are low on the lorry sort of chassis height so thought they might be a good idea for there. Also cannot think of any safety reason not too

 

[teddypops]

Yup, me too, you only need to do it once



People do this? ??

I only use a saddlecloth once because I think it’s gross to put a dirty, hairy, sweaty saddlecloth back on. However, I’ve never been ‘taught’ this and I don’t know anyone else who does this, I just do it because I want to, not because it is correct.

 

[Fransurrey]

Trim feet (tack up, groom, etc) without the horses tied up.
.

I don't even tie up to clip. He has a head collar on, but that's so I can hold his head still to do under the chin (without much success...).

 

[Birker2020]

Trotting the horse on the tarmac drive saves time picking packed mud out of hooves. You do have to check it’s all out though.

My YO and the guy/woman who rents 10 boxes from her never pick out their horses feet. It horrifies me, having had my horse with maggots from under her foot pads! I pick out twice daily too!

But they never seem to get stones/mud fever/maggots (delete as appropriate)

Oh and I nearly always lead from both sides swapping over as my horse comes in or is turned out.

 

[SOS]

Now THIS I would like to see

Its easier than it sounds - providing no one moves - if you’re feeling brave you can simply put your hands on the pommel, swing your legs up as if you were getting off but instead “jump” into the other saddle. Or if you don’t trust them much or one is flighty then swing your front leg over so you’re sitting facing the near side, but your right foot in the stirrup and mount normally.... don’t end up backwards ?

 

[WineOClock]

So many of the above, but the biggest mortal sin is probably plaiting to the left to compete BD. It's the side his mane falls, and life is too short to spend time 'training' it over.

 

[eggs]

Guilty of a lot of the things mentioned particularly the rug flinging on and dragging off.

Have to say I never 'realised' that you were supposed to give a haynet if the horse is tied up. As I groom and tack up outside of the stable they are tied up for that but never with a hay net although they do always travel with one.

I have even been known to duck under B's belly (he is 17:3 though) to save having to walk round the back of him so two potential no-no's in one go!

 

[honetpot]

I have most of the time I have no extra pair of hands, so when I get youngstock they are always taught in a pair with an older one. Very rarely do I lead them in, they follow the older one, so I have hands to do the gate, and air traffic controller arms, to point the way. I never do the whole handling youngstock thing, they learn to tie up, see the farrier, be wormed at a development of their normal routine. I think over familiarity with young horses leads to a lot of problems with handling later on, I am often asked why are mine so good to handle.
I never pick out unshod feet, life's too short, I don't wash or change rugs, you get one rug if you are lucky, and you're in it for the winter, in or out.
Don't bandage, I do a very neat bandage, its just a faff and more trouble is caused them slipping and being applied too tightly.
I have never been nimble, even when I was young, so everything has to stand like a rock at the mounting block, or nearest wall, log or in a dip in the ground. When backing they are taught to stand while you fiddle, tighten girth, adjust stirrups, this is about the only time they get a treat. It pays off when you have young wobbly children, or in my case creaky adults.
The main sin now appears to be now, not poo picking, I have seen people do it in the dark, with a head torch. It's left from when it gets muddy, till I start paddock tidying, about now, and I do it every couple of days, if I feel like it.
I suppose the worst thing I have ever done , none BHS, is when we flooded, it was almost over my wellies, I shoved all the poo to the back of the stable for a week until I could build a pontoon to the muck heap, and they went out every day paddling with water mid cannon bone. Its the only time their legs got washed daily, in the flood water. What is it with washing legs?

 

[PurBee]

Not really. You really should have a headcollar and leadrope on the horse.

If you have an accident/incident you may end up with a loose horse or a horse that has to be removed from the transport very fast and you don’t have a headcollar on it. (A friend of mine had her lorry burst into flames on the motorway on the way to a show, she had less than 2 mins to pull over, get 3 kids, 2 dogs and 3 horses off the lorry before it went up fully, she lost everything in the horsebox)
It can also disuade a horse from trying to turn round in the trailer

I tie mine loosely to quick release snaps so that if they go down in the trailer it will release and you dont have a horse hanging itself.

Thanks for the insights - i can see the sense having them in a headcollar to quickly get them out if anything happens.
I really do have travelling anxiety with horses and want to be prepared!

Im not familiar with quick release snaps - can you show me a link of the type you mean?

 

[DizzyDoughnut]

I thought of another tonight, I kneal down and sit on the floor directly behind or infront one of mine, but I have had her for 17 years and she is the most laid back pony I've ever met, she's also very small and sitting on the floor is easier than bending over all the time. I would not do this with my over dramatic welsh buffoon he'd flatten me if a leaf blew past unexpectedly.

 

[P.forpony]

Duplicate post

 

[P.forpony]

I’ve had to moderate my rug throwing after once in the stable I threw the rug at the horse and a flying leg strap clip hit the fluorescent light tube and smashed it and I had to spent ages sweeping the glass up.

Regarding smoking while hacking, I sometimes see a lady riding her horse (on the buckle) leading another (on the buckle) and with a fag in hand. She looks very cool.

I do this... never realised it looked cool though! ?
Mine is mostly a bit furtive if in public, smoke held inside the hand and back of the field behind a hedge out hunting, because if my mum ever saw she'd go ballistic...
(I'm in my 30s)
Seem to have accidentally conditioned the horses though. The moment I stick my hand in pocket for cigarette tin they stretch out and chill, which is quite handy.

Also a rug flinger,
think nosebands are a waste of saddle soap, leave doors and gates open expecting them to stay put,
turn around on hacks,
feed the native ad lib haylage and plenty of hard feed,
Don't bother with tack if I'm feeling lazy (often)
Clip the pony untied, do the low bits on my hands and knees
Dismount forwards or backwards on whichever side the knees hurt the least.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I too fling rugs ?
I flyspray in the field, do hooves there too.
When my horse was in work, I used to have a cup of tea on the wall of the school and snatch gulps in passing during schooling sessions. If there wasn’t much left, I’d carry the cup round as I rode-at an angle so it wouldn’t ever spill on the horse. ?
I’m a hugger, I don’t give a crap that you’re not supposed to hug your horse, I do, all the time.

 

[SEL]

[QUOTE="eggs, post: 14583296, member: ]

I have even been known to duck under B's belly (he is 17:3 though) to save having to walk round the back of him so two potential no-no's in one go![/QUOTE]

Can't walk under mine (short, fat) but I do push the barrows under them when tied up outside stables.

 

[scats]

I’m a hugger, I don’t give a crap that you’re not supposed to hug your horse, I do, all the time.

I’m a serial horse hugger. My girls tolerate my need to hug and kiss them with surprisingly good grace.

You wouldn’t catch me hugging a human though!