Do we mollycoddle our horses?

Over the years I've found that the more you molly coddle them the more things go wrong with them. Mine now get casually looked after - they are naked 24/7 - 52 weeks of the year unless they develop rain scald - then they get a light cover.

I don't boot them, haven't had the vet to them beyond routine jabs for over 12 years. Cuts get washed and salt put on them, an abscess gets poulticed with Animalintex after being dug out by the farrier.
 
God Tia has it rough, She never ever has boots on when being ridden, she's out 24/7 and is only rugged in winter.

Before I owned her she was kept in for 14 hours over night in winter and rugged during the day. Unfortunately she's toughened up with me after keeping her out in winter so If I keep her rugged for to long (Until March) she will take the rug off herself - 4 rugs have now died
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but I've learnt my lesson now
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lol.
 
Define 'Mollycoddle'.

Mine are out 24/7 whenever possible (being on livery means I don't always get a choice). They are rugged because I've clipped them. They get hard feed because I want them to have the energy, stamina and flexibility to do what I want. When they are in, their bed is a light sprinkling of shavings on top of rubber matting.

I don't think putting a grackle on a horse that gets his tongue over his tongue is mollycoddling (unless of the rider lol); nor is putting boots on to reduce the chances of kn*ckered tendons when horse waves legs around like she's doing a St Vitus dance.

I like to keep things simple
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, but will do what is necessary for each horse.

I have memories of horses being on deep straw beds, rugged in Whitneys and jute rugs with leather anti-cast rollers, hot bran mashes, and restricted turn-out - and that was thirty years ago
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i don't moddycoddle mine- all bar one live out 365 days a year 24/7. they haven't worn rugs since March and don't tend to have them on until November.
they aren't fed (have loads of grass), they get groomed once a week apart from flick off where the saddle goes.

horses with shoes are booted up but those without aren't.
they all go in plain nosebands, snaffles and no martingales etc.

my older horse is rugged as apropriate and lives in at night over the winter as i got him at 9 when he had been turned into a primadonna and he will shiver and shake if left out with the kids.

my horses all work daily and compete regularly up to BE Novice which shows it is not only native little ponies that cope fine with more natural living
 
I am a self confessed molycoddler and agree with TicTac
as my horses feel the cold and will drop wieght so easily they had 200 grams on last night as very short coats. Where as my pony just has a lightweight on at night during summer. If it rains and i am there they get their rugs on :P
 
compared to most people on here, i def do mollycoddle!
same as the others though, my horse drops weight very easily, so needs to be rugged according to weather and temp and always has some kind of hard feed. i boot for all exercise and T/O. i think that this is all just sensible.
if it rains heavily i will keep her in to preserve her field as she will only tear round with her friends and churn it up.
it is def all about the individual horse and owner. most horses are quite happy 2 b chucked out come rain or shine, but some just aren't. i dont think that i am any less of a horse person because my horse isn't out in the field 24/7 with no ug or hard feed!
 
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