Do you handle other horses?

Cinnamontoast

Cinnamontoast

Fais pas chier!
Joined
6 July 2010
Messages
38,863
Visit site
I used to occasionally catch in for various friends but since being at the new yard, one bloke and I have a handy reciprocal arrangement whereby he does mornings and I do afternoons. His ID mare is 17hh2, huge, can be a moody girl, but has decided that I'm now a nice carrot wielding person :D

I've never consistently looked after a horse except for my own so for me to be doing this is quite a novelty. I realise this makes me sound like some kind of novice numpty, but I've just never had to look after another horse so much! I've had to realise that I can't just throw her rug on and yank it into place, she's too sensitive. She doesn't like other horses being too close so I have to be careful at the gate or she can turn and be awkward.

Do you handle other horses and do you have to change how you handle them?
 
Last edited:
Yes, I used to handle other people's horses and still do occasionally. You need to remember that you and your horse know each other very well and this can mean you no longer follow all the safety rules. With every new horse you handle it is safer for all concerned to do everything by the book, no short cuts ever. In fact, with any horse that is not your own, just do everything in as safe a way as it can be done, then if anything does go wrong there should not be any blame attached to you. Try and anticipate any potential hazards and always assume the worst could happen. And when you know the horse's pet peeves or fears you obviously take them into account.
 
Yep did freelance grooming for a bit, had to completely care for 4 horses stabled over night as if they were my own and another 2 that lived out. The first 4 you had a oap Arab, welsh cob, and two other cobs. Routines/rugs/handling was different for them all, it was hard to get my head around it at first but soon got used to all their quirks :)
The two that lived out was a whole other story, I more or less treated the little welshie as my own as the owner had no interest in her other than as a companion for her precious veteran (who was a pushy spoilt and rude!) so I took over exercising her (longreining her out, organising friends light enough to ride her, lunging her etc) grooming her and everything else! All for no pay, as I didn't want to see her get laminitis never got any thanks .. She thought she was doing me a favour :rolleyes:
So yeah have handled other peoples horses a lot, and all those horses acted differently with me than their owners told me :p
 
Yes I do and echo what Planete said.

I completely trust my own horses and they trust me and I can always forsee if anything is going to cause them to react badly and will put on a hard hat sometimes if I think there is a possibility of them acting out of character.

But with other people's horses, I am always very careful to not take any chances as I'd be the one that came off the worst and ensure that I do everything by the book.
 
Yes, and it always reinforces how well I know Kal and how easy he is to do most of the time.

I regularly turn a friend's gelding out for her in the mornings - he's very sensitive and has been Paralli trained for the past three years. I have to keep my energy right down, keep my movements smooth and quiet and be calm and reassuring. Also, I have to lead him to his water trough before I take off his headcollar - otherwise he snatches away from me and rears . . . I've had the rope burns in the past to prove it.

Also, I sometimes turn out/catch in other horses - this morning, for instance, I turned out my stable neighbours' two horses . . . one of them was incredibly rude and bargey on the way down to the field and kept snatching his head away when I went to take his headcollar off (not to mention circling, rearing, bucking and generally being an arse). Patience and persistence resulted in me getting it done, but apparently this is common for him (thank goodness the other horse was so quiet and patient).

Kal has his faults, but he's a joy to turn out - even when he's antsy to get away from me and play he will wait until I have fully removed his headcollar and stepped away from him before he tears off.

But, yes, it's amazing how handling someone else's horses highlights the bond you have with your own. And, yes, I make sure I go back to "safety first" when handling someone else's horses . . . very much by the book.

P

P
 
Isn't it amazing just how naughty other people's horses can be and I don't mean this as they do not know you, but such as the rearing and oh they do this most of the time, mine are angels, I guess it's because some of us handle ours more so they know the rules of respect.
 
Yup! I handle a bunch of other horses and I do change how I handle to suit them or I'd never get anything done. Thankfully I know them all well, so I know how far I can push it.
Such as Toby, you need to be on the ball and firm with him when leading him in, but Sharkie will follow and ask for cuddles on the way.
 
We have 5 of our own, all have different natures. They are all kind, but hubbys very moody shire x can really try it on!
My eldest daughters horse will have a snap if your not confident with him. I dont have a problem with him, but when he was at a livery yard for a short time the owner said he was dangerous! Hes not, he just needs to know his place. The owners of the field we rent now love him.

One of my mother in laws horses is a real grumpy thing. He will kick and he will bite a real delight to have around the place! I wouldnt like a horse like that all the time, i will be pleased when those two go back home. The pony companion is ok.
 
a couple of friends and I turn in/out for each other and I clip a couple of other people's horses.
I'm always more careful with other horses tho as I don't know them as well as I know my own. It reinforces how easy but cheeky my mare can be in some ways. What I find funny is my mare changes her behaviour depending on who's handling her - she's fine for me and my yo but is a madame for my sister :-)
 
Yes I do, I have been caring for a friends mare for the last 6years, she is often away so I take care of her and will ride her from time to time, she is a very good girl though, also help out and have ridden another friends mare on the yard who is also very easy really, so I do, and fortunately have not had anything difficult to handle
 
Yes loads!
Ive always helped/worked a bit at yards ive been a livery at, or been the one people seem to ask to look after their horses. Currently I work at two different fairly big yards. One Mon-Friday so I know all the horses there like they are my own so handle them according to their personality I guess. The second yard id much bigger and has a higher turn around so im handling new horses including colts, stallions and youngsters on a regular basis.
Its made me incredibly confident with mine- nothing they could ever do could worry me as ive seen it all!
I love meeting new ones and getting to know their individuality, especially winning over a scared or nervous horse- its one of my favourite parts of my job.
 
Yup help out at the livery/stud where I livery. handle everything from the stallion to foals and everything in between :)

Like others have said, I am super safe with other peoples and have learned not to expect someones horse to behave for you like they do for the owner (mainly because mine can be an arse for other people but I don't have rose tinted specs and warn people so it is more 'ok').
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top