do you check your horse twice a day

_HP_ said:
They are not made of china and have both survived 18 yrs without being wrapped up in cotton wool.
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Same - I've had horses all my life and started to think in the last few years the horse world has gone into overdrive with some things. I'm sure 10 years ago we didn't think too much about leaving the horses in the field and only checking on them once a day and they're in their late 20's now so we must have done something right!
 
MerrySherryRider said:
How many people does it take to check a horse or as an owner do I have magical powers that my YO and fellow liveries don't have ?
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As an owner you have a responsibility, that is the point.

Yes a fellow livery can check the horse, as indeed can the yard owner. However, unless they're physically putting their hands on the horse and taking the time to check it up close and personal then the horse is not being checked.

Why do people have horses if they cant be bothered to physicallycheck them themselves twice a day. Anything less is simplyshoddy ownership.
 
amymay said:
Why do people have horses if they cant be bothered to physicallycheck them themselves twice a day. Anything less is simplyshoddy ownership.
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Yes but that's because you're able to check yours twice a day. Someone who can check theirs 3+ times a day could turn around and say "seeing them less than 3 times is shoddy ownership." Where do you draw the line?
 
Tiddlypom said:
I agree.

IMHO a twice daily close check by a responsible person, who may or may not be the owner, is a bare minimum.

ETA I am genuinely quite shocked by how many posters are content to check their horses once daily.
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Sadly I am not shocked. People on here say that the horse world has gone into overdrive. No, quite the opposite - so many people these days have shoddy sub standard horse care regimes it's untrue. Quite a few of them seem to be on this thread.

FWIW, none of my horses have EVER been checked once in 24 hours, not even years ago.
 
vikkiandmonica said:
Yes but that's because you're able to check yours twice a day. Someone who can check theirs 3+ times a day could turn around and say "seeing them less than 3 times is shoddy ownership." Where do you draw the line?
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Checking morning and evening is reasonable. As you would attend to a horse in a stable, morning and evening. Of course, the more checks the better, but that amount is classed as reasonable.
 
amymay said:
As an owner you have a responsibility, that is the point.

Yes a fellow livery can check the horse, as indeed can the yard owner. However, unless they're physically putting their hands on the horse and taking the time to check it up close and personal then the horse is not being checked.

Why do people have horses if they cant be bothered to physicallycheck them themselves twice a day. Anything less is simplyshoddy ownership.
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LOL Shoddy ownership. That's the first time I've been accused of that. Just spat coffee all over my laptop.
 
MerrySherryRider said:
LOL Shoddy ownership. That's the first time I've been accused of that. Just spat coffee all over my laptop.
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You keep repeatedly missing the point. If a responsible person is checking your horse for you more than once per day, then fine. No problem, provided they are checking them properly and thoroughly. I am not saying the owner themselves MUST go twice per day. So long as someone else who is responsible and knowledgeable enough is checking them the second time, fine. But 24hours with only one check by anyone is not.
 
vikkiandmonica said:
Yes but that's because you're able to check yours twice a day. Someone who can check theirs 3+ times a day could turn around and say "seeing them less than 3 times is shoddy ownership." Where do you draw the line?
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You're right. I can check them twice a day because I ensure that I can. It's part and parcel of horse ownership as far as I'm concerned.

As for the possible argument about 3 plus times a day, I think it's commonly accepted that twice a day is a minimum, and if you can cast your eye over them more than twice great.
 
Moomin1 said:
Checking morning and evening is reasonable. As you would attend to a horse in a stable, morning and evening. Of course, the more checks the better, but that amount is classed as reasonable.
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YOU class it as reasonable. Clearly there are people who disagree with you, and once is reasonable for them, or Springfeather (I think?), who is around them all day, doesn't seem to think twice is reasonable. Plus most people here have said that when stabled they see theirs twice a day/YO will turn their horses out in the morning, as otherwise they would go out without food and water. We're talking about being out 24/7 so food and water isn't an issue.
 
amymay said:
You're right. I can check them twice a day because I ensure that I can. It's part and parcel of horse ownership as far as I'm concerned.

As for the possible argument about 3 plus times a day, I think it's commonly accepted that twice a day is a minimum, and if you can cast your eye over them more than twice great.
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Leaving it to you Amymay.....I am too busy banging my head against the desk here....
 
Moomin1 said:
Yes, I work full time 40 - 50 hours per week. My horse still gets checked every 12 - 14 hours by myself, and also kept an eye on by YO and other liveries in the meantime.

If we have animals, we have a duty of care to them, whether we work or not.
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i was quoting springfeather who felt that twice a day was inadequate!!
 
Moomin1 said:
Leaving it to you Amymay.....I am too busy banging my head against the desk here....
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I'm not meaning to frustrate you, but surely you can see my point? Someone who has their horses at home or their work allows more checks a day could see you, who only sees your horse twice a day, as being irresponsible. You can manage to see your horses twice a day, therefore it makes sense that you think that is acceptable. Someone who can see theirs only once a day may therefore see that as acceptable.
 
From one of the earlier posts: yes. Keeping a horse properly IS a massive commitment. If they're on DIY, that means twice a day, every day, 365 days a year. For ever, until you cease ownership though selling, loaning or death. They are - through our intervention - entirely dependent on us for everything.

I am on DIY. I've run my own DIY yard. I think checking twice in 24 hours is reasonable if you keep one of these animals.

And to say "Oh - there are lots of people up at the yard every day - I'm sure someone will tell me if there's a problem" is lazy, selfish b*ll*cks.

Why the hell should someone be responsible for your horse? So you can have a lie-in on a Sunday because you can't be arsed? Or had a late night? Or something else in your life seems (other than in a crisis) to be more important? Then stick to a riding school. Please.

No, you can't be there 24/7 and no, you can't wrap them in cotton wool, but you can be there in reasonable time to prevent excessive suffering if the worst happens.

I've owned and cared for many horses in 40-odd years. On my regular checks I've discovered 2 eye injuries, 3 potentially fatal wounds, found (and sadly had to have destroyed) 2 with colic and had numerous minor cuts in that time.

The outcome for these cases would probably been much worse, painful and cruel if the 'I'm sure someone will call me if there's a problem' owners had been in charge.

They're not toys to shove in a cupboard until you have time in your life and feel you'd like to play with them again!
 
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vikkiandmonica said:
I'm not meaning to frustrate you, but surely you can see my point? Someone who has their horses at home or their work allows more checks a day could see you, who only sees your horse twice a day, as being irresponsible. You can manage to see your horses twice a day, therefore it makes sense that you think that is acceptable. Someone who can see theirs only once a day may therefore see that as acceptable.
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You're not frustrating me at all. And if you have your horse on part livery, whereby someone else is doing a good physical check for you at one end of the day, then that's great - and works for you.
 
Mrs B said:
From one of the earlier posts: yes. Keeping a horse properly IS a massive commitment. If they're on DIY, that means twice a day, every day, 365 days a year. For ever, until you cease ownership though selling, loaning or death. They are - through our intervention - entirely dependent on us for everything.

I am on DIY. I've run my own DIY yard. I think checking twice in 24 hours is reasonable if you keep one of these animals.

And to say "Oh - there are lots of people up at the yard every day - I'm sure someone will tell me if there's a problem" is lazy, selfish b*ll*cks.

Why the hell should someone be responsible for your horse? So you can have a lie-in on a Sunday because you can't be arsed? Or had a late night? Or something else in your life seems (other than in a crisis) to be more important? Then stick to a riding school. Please.

No, you can't be there 24/7 and no, you can't wrap them in cotton wool, but you can be there in reasonable time to prevent excessive suffering if the worst happens.

I've owned and cared for many horses in 40-odd years. On my regular checks I've discovered 2 eye injuries, 3 potentially fatal wounds, found (and sadly had to have destroyed) 2 with colic and had numerous minor cuts in that time.

The outcome for these cases would probably been much worse, painful and cruel if the 'I'm sure someone will call me if there's a problem' owners had been in charge.

They're not toys to shove in a cupboard until you have time in your life and you'd like to play with them again!
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Cheers very, very loudly!!!!
 
windand rain said:
And if you visit yours at 4pm and again at 8 or 9 am you leave them for 16 hours if they injured themselves at 5 minutes past 4 yours would be left for 16 hours against the 21 hours mentioned in the quote. I would guess that 5 hours would make little difference to a serious injury that had already been left for 16.
Unless you check every 15 minutes for 24/hours a day then you cannot eliminate the slight risk of injury being an issue most injuries are best treated within a golden hour
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completely agree with the above /\/\ I have no qualms on checking them once a day. They are brought in, checked over and ridden and then left out again till next day. Injuries happen, but they can happen at any time. I stack the odds in my favour as much as possible with a good field, safe fencing, quiet herd and natural water supplies. You can't wrap them in cotton wool, they are animals and injuries and scrapes do happen. But in 3 years (touch wood!) i've never taken one in injured from a field. I have seen horses die of colic on yards overnight, sometimes horrible things just happen. They are animals that have to cope with injuries, and unless its something seriously broken then they can survive a while with them. sounds harsh but they are animals and ***** happens.
 
paddi22 said:
completely agree with the above /\/\ I have no qualms on checking them once a day. They are brought in, checked over and ridden and then left out again till next day. Injuries happen, but they can happen at any time. I stack the odds in my favour as much as possible with a good field, safe fencing, quiet herd and natural water supplies. You can't wrap them in cotton wool, they are animals and injuries and scrapes do happen. But in 3 years (touch wood!) i've never taken one in injured from a field. I have seen horses die of colic on yards overnight, sometimes horrible things just happen. They are animals that have to cope with injuries, and unless its something seriously broken then they can survive a while with them. sounds harsh but they are animals and ***** happens.
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Thank you.. someone else with sense..
 
It's the 'twice a day is acceptable' argument that gets to me. Horses should be checked as much as we are able or as much as we pay for. My horses are at home but I still go to sleep for 8 hours a night, although I do get out of bed and check if I hear neighing - which happened for the last 3 nights due to mare number 1 having a season. Who has that 'luxury' at livery?
 
paddi22 said:
completely agree with the above /\/\ I have no qualms on checking them once a day. They are brought in, checked over and ridden and then left out again till next day. Injuries happen, but they can happen at any time. I stack the odds in my favour as much as possible with a good field, safe fencing, quiet herd and natural water supplies. You can't wrap them in cotton wool, they are animals and injuries and scrapes do happen. But in 3 years (touch wood!) i've never taken one in injured from a field. I have seen horses die of colic on yards overnight, sometimes horrible things just happen. They are animals that have to cope with injuries, and unless its something seriously broken then they can survive a while with them. sounds harsh but they are animals and ***** happens.
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What a seriously awful attitude to keeping horses. I'm no bunny-hugger at all but am really pretty shocked by your post. Why SHOULD animals in our complete care have to 'cope' with injuries? And 3 years? Wow! You've seen true life with horses, obviously. Or been bl88dy lucky.

ETA Pudster, you agree? Your avatar states: 'Keep calm and love horses'. Shouldn't that read "Keep calm and your fingers crossed"?
 
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My way or the highway eh?

Once a day works for me and mine... I may spend 3 hours up there or 5 minutes. My horses are tough and sensible, relaxed, stress free and healthy.
IF I felt they needed checking more often I would ie unusual weather, but generally I don't feel the need to...

Personally I'd rather mine were out 24/7/365 and checked once a day than stuck in a12x12 with no freedom, unable to express natural behaviours and likely to develop unnatural ones and having to work hard instead of getting turnout as many horses have to for many months of the year...but is apparently ok as long as they are checked twice a day :p
 
Mrs B said:
What a seriously awful attitude to keeping horses. I'm no bunny-hugger at all but am really pretty shocked by your post. Why SHOULD animals in our complete care have to 'cope' with injuries? And 3 years? Wow! You've seen true life with horses, obviously. Or been bl88dy lucky.

ETA Pudster, you agree? Your avatar states: 'Keep calm and love horses'? "Shouldn't that read "Keep calm and your fingers crossed"?
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Surely though, if you're so set against someone just going up once a day, you'd have to look and see if you should be going up more than twice? You're still leaving your horses for at least 12 hours overnight when an injury could happen. If an injury did happen overnight, they would have to 'cope' with their injury until you got there in the morning, wouldn't they?
 
I'm wondering what sort of yard those who feel they are the only ones who will check their horses are on.
It can't be one with an excellent YO and a great community of owners who feel responsibility goes beyond their own horses.
I'd hate to be on a yard like that in case something happened to my two between visits.
 
Twice a day is the barest minimum I would consider to be adequate .
To many things can go wrong .
And of course if stabled people are with them on the yard most of the day.
 
You have to balance what's good care against what's possible of course. In my book, good care is checking yourself twice a day at least. Sometimes, I'm there more than that and yes I know others are also up there checking theirs too, but it's not their job to notice something minor with my horse! I'm sure if he were lying dead, they'd let me know but ... ;) What pi**es me off is those that say 'I'm sure they'll be fine. I have other thing planned/to do and someone will tell me if he/she's not ok'.

The don't have one.
 
Mrs B said:
What a seriously awful attitude to keeping horses. I'm no bunny-hugger at all but am really pretty shocked by your post. Why SHOULD animals in our complete care have to 'cope' with injuries? And 3 years? Wow! You've seen true life with horses, obviously. Or been bl88dy lucky.

ETA Pudster, you agree? Your avatar states: 'Keep calm and love horses'. Shouldn't that read "Keep calm and your fingers crossed"?
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i've horses over 36 years and have followed the same care system at a different yard. The 2 i have now have been in their current field for 3 years and i can only get up to check and ride once a day, so that's the situation i reference now. i do believe animals have to cope with injuries because life is tough and bad things happen, and it is a case of crossing your fingers and hoping nothing happens. I know they are in a herd who are quiet and don't kick and fight. I know they stay in the same place and chill once it gets dark. So i know if they get injured in the morning i'l find it by 11 when i get there, which i feel is a fair enough time. they are ridden and fed at yard, turned back out at 3 and then left till 11 next day. i have absolutely no qualms about this. as the other poster said, if the weather was extreme, or the herd changed i'd check more often, but they are in a lovely 30 acre field, so I let them live their own lives while im not there.
 
When mine are out 24/7 they are checked several times a day, by either me, my daughter, OH and several friends when they are up checking theirs ( me and my family give them the same courtesy). Horses have far more opportunity to injure themselves whilst they are out than when confined safely in their stables so I just can't understand some peoples attitudes regarding how often (or not!!!) they should be checked.
 
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paddi22 said:
i've horses over 36 years and have followed the same care system at a different yard. The 2 i have now have been in their current field for 3 years and i can only get up to check and ride once a day, so that's the situation i reference now. i do believe animals have to cope with injuries because life is tough and bad things happen, and it is a case of crossing your fingers and hoping nothing happens. I know they are in a herd who are quiet and don't kick and fight. I know they stay in the same place and chill once it gets dark. So i know if they get injured in the morning i'l find it by 11 when i get there, which i feel is a fair enough time. they are ridden and fed at yard, turned back out at 3 and then left till 11 next day. i have absolutely no qualms about this. as the other poster said, if the weather was extreme, or the herd changed i'd check more often, but they are in a lovely 30 acre field, so I let them live their own lives while im not there.
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This Exactly..

Also to MrsB NO.. I do not 'Keep Calm and Fingers Crossed' at all.. I know my horse well and I keep him well, and just because I don't choose to go to him twice a day does not make me incompetent. I have GOOD friends that know and look out for my horse as I do theirs. I cannot believe how judgemental this forum can be. WOW I really wish I could afford the 24/7 grooms that you all seem to have working for you.. Unfortunaltly have to work bl**dy hard for a living. Also, when I did have my boy on part livery, their idea of a field check was a 200 yard glance that he did have four legs.. that I was charged £3 for that duty.. So, I ask..? How many of you have part/ full liveries with this option.. maybe its time to check it out..? (when I found this out yes I moved to where I am now.. a much more trusted small yard).

A
 
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paddi22 said:
i'l get shot down now but i only get to check mine once a day. They aren't rugged or have fly masks so nothing like that can come off. I do my best to have them in a safe secure field with tons of space and I just have to hope all goes well. I don't have the time to drop down morning and evening. I bring them up to ride and check them in yard, and then they are left down again to field till next day
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I have my horses at home, I was on the phone when I noticed my OH's TB behaving oddly in the field, asked my OH to check, then saw him stripping the TB's rugs off, I hing up on my call, went to my OH and TB, who was sweating profusely due to an injured hind leg, it took four of us to persuade the TB into a stable, hopping on three legs on muddy sloping ground, he went up and over the garden to avoid the mud, long story short, a week later he came down with pain related colic and we lost him due to his heart giving out during the colic attack. I am still haunted by the thought of, how long would he have been stood in pain if he had been on a livery yard
I check mine first thing, if I pop home, on route home and to give them various supplements
 
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Mine are checked in the morning, at tea time and before bed, plus any other time someone checks on them. If we only did 2 checks poor Nookle would have died cold and muddy in the field, rather than in a warm dry stable... Some people may say I check more than necessary but for this one reason it was worth it. He died knowing he was loved rather than cold and alone
 
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