PolarSkye
Well-Known Member
Didn't we have this particular argument/discussion last month?
P
P
Do you think equines are more ruined these days by novice owners etc?
- Thread starter indie999
- Start date
Magicmillbrook
Well-Known Member
We are looking for a younger horse at the moment an I am amazed at how many have been purchased by novices who are now overhorsed.
My thoughts are that :
- We have more spare cash nowadays so more people can own, when perhaps they shouldnt
- Horses are fed more (inc crap), exercised and turned out less
- Horses that would have gone to the sales and then on to the meat man or kennels for reasons such as unsoundness, poor health or poor tmeperament are now kept, and worse still bred from.
- People are flash and want the Ferrari of the horse world when a Ford focus would do the job nicely
My thoughts are that :
- We have more spare cash nowadays so more people can own, when perhaps they shouldnt
- Horses are fed more (inc crap), exercised and turned out less
- Horses that would have gone to the sales and then on to the meat man or kennels for reasons such as unsoundness, poor health or poor tmeperament are now kept, and worse still bred from.
- People are flash and want the Ferrari of the horse world when a Ford focus would do the job nicely
Tammytoo
Well-Known Member
So true!
Alphamare
Well-Known Member
The standard of teaching has fallen too!
I fired an instructor that I used a couple times for my youngster. I have over 20 years of experience (some of it in a professional capacity, not counting when I was a child as I may have ridden then but didn't know much about the other aspects of horse care that came later.
Anyway the point I am trying to get too is I have had to hire an extremely experienced dressage instructor to help me train my youngster, even with my experience I've enlisted help to do it properly.
I have no intention of doing dressage its not my thing I just want him brought up right and well schooled.
The instructor I fired was trying to get me to haul his head into an outline. On a four year old!! And criticising me for not yanking him into a halt. He responds to light pressure because that's what I've taught him why the hell would I want to hang off the bridle just to force him into an unatural outline. Self carriage comes first.
I fired an instructor that I used a couple times for my youngster. I have over 20 years of experience (some of it in a professional capacity, not counting when I was a child as I may have ridden then but didn't know much about the other aspects of horse care that came later.
Anyway the point I am trying to get too is I have had to hire an extremely experienced dressage instructor to help me train my youngster, even with my experience I've enlisted help to do it properly.
I have no intention of doing dressage its not my thing I just want him brought up right and well schooled.
The instructor I fired was trying to get me to haul his head into an outline. On a four year old!! And criticising me for not yanking him into a halt. He responds to light pressure because that's what I've taught him why the hell would I want to hang off the bridle just to force him into an unatural outline. Self carriage comes first.
claireandnadia
Well-Known Member
Being a novice owner myself and can only speak for myself but I had lessons for a year and yes, wanted to buy my own.
I was lucky enough to have a very good friend who is very knowledgable to help me and I have since leaving that yard been lucky enough to get lots of help and advice.
I also made a point of reading up as much as I could and learning as much as I can.
Now, I have owned Nadia for 4 years and she still has all 4 legs, she's healthy and occasionally happy
I ring the vet/farrier if I have any problems and so far all has been ok.
I was lucky enough to have a very good friend who is very knowledgable to help me and I have since leaving that yard been lucky enough to get lots of help and advice.
I also made a point of reading up as much as I could and learning as much as I can.
Now, I have owned Nadia for 4 years and she still has all 4 legs, she's healthy and occasionally happy
I ring the vet/farrier if I have any problems and so far all has been ok.
Slinkyunicorn
Well-Known Member
I haven't read the other answers but its not NOVICE owners that do the harm but IGNORANT ones
There is a wealth of information out there and people to ask - everyone has to start some where - but a failure to learn/research is inexcusable in this day and age. Advice and knowledge if forever changing and being updated - some of the worst information can come from a 'knowledgeable horseperson' who has not moved with times as much as it can from a 'novice' who is trying to learn.
There is a wealth of information out there and people to ask - everyone has to start some where - but a failure to learn/research is inexcusable in this day and age.
Advice and knowledge if forever changing and being updated - some of the worst information can come from a 'knowledgeable horseperson' who has not moved with times as much as it can from a 'novice' who is trying to learn.Taffyhorse
Well-Known Member
I think there is a world of difference between making use of the services available today i.e. physio, chiro, dentist, saddler etc and 'novices ruining horses' which was the point of the OP.
I have ridden and owned horses for over 30 years - no, I'm not likely to be challenging for 2012 and I doubt I give Mary King too many sleepless nights but nonetheless I would class myself as being fairly experienced.
I regularly had the physio, dentist and saddler out to my last horse (currently horseless). Not because I was a 'numpty novice' but because at the end of the day, these people are professionals and can pick up far more than I can at the end of the day. I can tell if my saddle is a good/poor fit broadly speaking, however, I'm not an expert/professional in this area hence I use their services on a regular basis - for my own peace of mind as much as anything else. I'd rather pay the money to be told that everything is fine, rather than not and overlook something that could have been easily treated but may be problematic without.
I do think that people these days appear less confident and sometimes less knowledgeable than they did when I was growing up. When I was a kid, your Riding School was where you learned everything from stable management, through schooling to hacking out and dealing with difficult situations or unruly ponies. These days it seems that RS's are too worried about the risk of being sued to allow kids to work there as they used too or ride anything with the merest hint of life in it. And then you get the ones who watch a couple of video's waving funny sticks about and think they are the next Monty Roberts... (not that I'm slating MR, just using as an example!)
I have ridden and owned horses for over 30 years - no, I'm not likely to be challenging for 2012 and I doubt I give Mary King too many sleepless nights but nonetheless I would class myself as being fairly experienced.
I regularly had the physio, dentist and saddler out to my last horse (currently horseless). Not because I was a 'numpty novice' but because at the end of the day, these people are professionals and can pick up far more than I can at the end of the day. I can tell if my saddle is a good/poor fit broadly speaking, however, I'm not an expert/professional in this area hence I use their services on a regular basis - for my own peace of mind as much as anything else. I'd rather pay the money to be told that everything is fine, rather than not and overlook something that could have been easily treated but may be problematic without.
I do think that people these days appear less confident and sometimes less knowledgeable than they did when I was growing up. When I was a kid, your Riding School was where you learned everything from stable management, through schooling to hacking out and dealing with difficult situations or unruly ponies. These days it seems that RS's are too worried about the risk of being sued to allow kids to work there as they used too or ride anything with the merest hint of life in it. And then you get the ones who watch a couple of video's waving funny sticks about and think they are the next Monty Roberts... (not that I'm slating MR, just using as an example!)
vienna
Well-Known Member
Lets just agree that even as an experienced person the whole horse owning/training/competing and training is a mine field with so many schools of thought.
But yes agree with you, when you have worked hard to obtain lightness, why would you want to hammer your horses mouth to a stop???
Glad you fired her
But yes agree with you, when you have worked hard to obtain lightness, why would you want to hammer your horses mouth to a stop???
Glad you fired her
vienna
Well-Known Member
Oh dear
Whats wrong with Monty Roberts
No, I understand your point.
I love NH training myself but I do see the problem when very nervous and inexperienced people get the videos and carrot sticks.
Usually there is no harm done to said pony when nervous owner uses this method
It just provides yard with very good entertainment
Whats wrong with Monty Roberts
No, I understand your point.
I love NH training myself but I do see the problem when very nervous and inexperienced people get the videos and carrot sticks.
Usually there is no harm done to said pony when nervous owner uses this method
It just provides yard with very good entertainment
OWLIE185
Well-Known Member
This is an excellent posts with some most interesting responses.
I believe that each commercial yard should have a full time member of staff who is qualified in horse management as there are too many yards out there that have no one on there with horse management skills. There may be plenty of riding instructors but riding instructors are just that and are not necessarily qualified (or have any interest) in horse management.
One of the biggest issues we have these days is that horses are not regularly exposed to things early on in their lives. This is why we have so many horses that are not good in traffic, spook at things and owners are reluctant to hack out. The same applies to the loading and travelling of horses - there are far to many that have not been properly trained to load and travel as youngsters.
The other issue is that todays horses are not excercised enough on a daily basis and fed too many manufactured feeds and additives which probably blow their brains.
I strongly believe that every horse should be able to hack out quietly because in the event of them suffering an injury and then suubsequently being brought back in to work again they will need to be gently hacked out to get them going again.
In my mind today riders spend too much time in the school and far too little time hacking their horses out.
I believe that each commercial yard should have a full time member of staff who is qualified in horse management as there are too many yards out there that have no one on there with horse management skills. There may be plenty of riding instructors but riding instructors are just that and are not necessarily qualified (or have any interest) in horse management.
One of the biggest issues we have these days is that horses are not regularly exposed to things early on in their lives. This is why we have so many horses that are not good in traffic, spook at things and owners are reluctant to hack out. The same applies to the loading and travelling of horses - there are far to many that have not been properly trained to load and travel as youngsters.
The other issue is that todays horses are not excercised enough on a daily basis and fed too many manufactured feeds and additives which probably blow their brains.
I strongly believe that every horse should be able to hack out quietly because in the event of them suffering an injury and then suubsequently being brought back in to work again they will need to be gently hacked out to get them going again.
In my mind today riders spend too much time in the school and far too little time hacking their horses out.
Taffyhorse
Well-Known Member
Oh dear
Whats wrong with Monty Roberts
No, I understand your point.
I love NH training myself but I do see the problem when very nervous and inexperienced people get the videos and carrot sticks.
Usually there is no harm done to said pony when nervous owner uses this method
It just provides yard with very good entertainment
Ha ha - I don't have a problem with MR at all.
But I think your comment about inexperienced people using techniques for which they have neither the skill or the understanding is really telling. I'm pretty sure it was someone on here who posted something along the lines of 'Those who need it aren't experienced enough to use it, and those who are experienced enough to use it, don't need it'
I think he was posting about the dreaded 'P' but still, it puts it rather nicely!!Anglebracket
Well-Known Member
I think that horses can be ruined by owners who overestimate their own abilities and do not have a good support system to fall back on. These owners are not necessarily novices though. They can be "experienced" horse owners who believe that because they have been doing x for y number of years; doing x is the only way to go. So, I would say that it is a lack of humility and mental flexibility that ruins horses rather than being a novice. Whether this is more prevalent now than it used to be, I do not know.
Do you mean the one about riding school riders?
Do you mean the one about riding school riders?
Puzzles
Well-Known Member
I completely agree with this.
If anything I disagree with the OP, as in my experience it's the experienced riders (aka those who have ridden for a fair while) who seem stuck in their ways and unwilling to ask for help or change their methods and attitudes. I think that novice owners are far more likely to be aware of their own strengths and limitations (rather, some could do with more confidence) and ask for help, and don't need reminding that they don't know everything (as other riders seem all too willing to accuse). From my experiences when working at an equestrian centre, it was generally happened to be the riders labelled as experienced who I found the most fault with.
Several posts on here criticise novice owners as using methods/sending their horse to trainers, i.e. Mont Roberts-esque trainers, that experienced riders apparently are too knowledgable to use, which just isn't true. It's important to consider that novice owners are all too aware that they may not be the best person to train/break their horse (i.e. out of a particular behavioural problem) and noone lets just anybody train their horse. Everyone should - and probably does - do their research regarding this sort of thing, but I don't think it has anything to do with whether the owner is experienced or a novice. Not many owners are necessarily the best person to break/train their horse for particular problems.
You get idiots, ignorance and lack of experience with any kind of rider, as measures of experience and knowledge can only be relative. E.g. serious dressage riders might not have a clue about basic gridwork or lack the confidence to hack down the driveway. I don't like to judge or undermine anybody, because what experience they do have is still invaluable. So long that everyone realises they should - and need to - be learning all the time and are aware of their capabilities and areas of weakness, then onwards and upwards is the way!
Last edited:
Little Squirrel
Well-Known Member
I don't think it's just novice owners. I think proper horsemanship has been lost in this country. Too many horses treated like children and spoilt to death and too many people who think they know everything when the really don't have an iota!
I think colleges and the BHS has alot to do with turning out clueless people with higher qualifications than me but I learnt from the school of life! Anyway that's a different post altogether!
I think colleges and the BHS has alot to do with turning out clueless people with higher qualifications than me but I learnt from the school of life! Anyway that's a different post altogether!
Equilibrium Ireland
Well-Known Member
Very good post and responses.
Here's how things are different. Health and safety wasn't so prevalent in every day life. I grew up in The States. I rode once a week and that lesson was paid for but we all stayed all day to work out butts off learning anything we could. There would be extra bareback rides when the day was done if you were capable. I can remember caroling bareback through neighbourhoods in ice and snow. We all did things a little dangerous because it was ok. We did have to wear helmets but they were crap. This is the 70's.
Someone mentioned the strides vet medicine has made. Very true. Now we are aware of so many more things to the point of sometimes second guessing common sense. If you hear footsteps we now think Zebra.
Feed. Back then it was, gasp, sweet mix. All the ponies got it along with living on grass. Now every other horse is IR with soaked hay and now turnout. I blame soya but how and ever. Straights with molasses mixed in was the norm and there weren't as many problems as we have today with "super" food. I now feed straights and my horses are in great form. Better than when on bagged feed.
Riders become good riding all types of horses all the time. Not having 2 lessons and buying your own. I owned my first horse at 32 and have been on thousands. I think I'd be utter rubbish if I just had one or 2 horse teachers over the years.
And lastly if a horse needed shoes they got them if they didn't they didn't. It wasn't so OMG you have to do this or that. It wasn't such an ordeal. I have one saddle for my horses. It fits fine. You don't have to be a specialist to know if your saddle fits. It's obvious the things to look for. My jumper mare gets a Chiro during the show season roughly every 3 months. And my Chiro says she does not need more because she is good. She works hard for me and deserves to be looked after. All have their teeth done and wormed and what they need.
When I was a groom at the track ages ago I learned from the seasoned grooms. Their wealth was immense. I also saw the vet in our barn very little. By the time I left the track 15 years later, vets were near enough training the horses. It seems the real horseman just weren't there anymore. The guys who knew with one look something wasn't right. I don't know, I know I'm rambling but it really has changed. And this new generation of having these special needs horses or these fairy tales created in their heads is just too much. Keep it simple, keep it real, and enjoy!
Terri
Here's how things are different. Health and safety wasn't so prevalent in every day life. I grew up in The States. I rode once a week and that lesson was paid for but we all stayed all day to work out butts off learning anything we could. There would be extra bareback rides when the day was done if you were capable. I can remember caroling bareback through neighbourhoods in ice and snow. We all did things a little dangerous because it was ok. We did have to wear helmets but they were crap. This is the 70's.
Someone mentioned the strides vet medicine has made. Very true. Now we are aware of so many more things to the point of sometimes second guessing common sense. If you hear footsteps we now think Zebra.
Feed. Back then it was, gasp, sweet mix. All the ponies got it along with living on grass. Now every other horse is IR with soaked hay and now turnout. I blame soya but how and ever. Straights with molasses mixed in was the norm and there weren't as many problems as we have today with "super" food. I now feed straights and my horses are in great form. Better than when on bagged feed.
Riders become good riding all types of horses all the time. Not having 2 lessons and buying your own. I owned my first horse at 32 and have been on thousands. I think I'd be utter rubbish if I just had one or 2 horse teachers over the years.
And lastly if a horse needed shoes they got them if they didn't they didn't. It wasn't so OMG you have to do this or that. It wasn't such an ordeal. I have one saddle for my horses. It fits fine. You don't have to be a specialist to know if your saddle fits. It's obvious the things to look for. My jumper mare gets a Chiro during the show season roughly every 3 months. And my Chiro says she does not need more because she is good. She works hard for me and deserves to be looked after. All have their teeth done and wormed and what they need.
When I was a groom at the track ages ago I learned from the seasoned grooms. Their wealth was immense. I also saw the vet in our barn very little. By the time I left the track 15 years later, vets were near enough training the horses. It seems the real horseman just weren't there anymore. The guys who knew with one look something wasn't right. I don't know, I know I'm rambling but it really has changed. And this new generation of having these special needs horses or these fairy tales created in their heads is just too much. Keep it simple, keep it real, and enjoy!
Terri
be positive
Well-Known Member
It is not helped by all the red tape in place for health and safety, I know it has to be there, but it has put many small RS out of business and made many larger ones have to charge so much for lessons in order to remain viable that people see they can keep a horse for less each week than the cost of a lesson.
DIY livery yards, many are good, others often have no one with any knowledge "running" them often just used as a means of making money out of the land.
So a person can have a few lessons, buy a horse and learn as they go, this is fine and how many people learn but you need to have someone to ask for that advice that really does know what they are talking about, have an open and enquiring mind in order to ask and take advice when it is given. All too often the horse has already started to behave badly before questions are asked.
Years ago there were far less horses and most were kept by either experienced people or in livery yards run by experienced people that were happy to teach skills to new owners. Horses would often have been broken by specialist breakers yards, they still exist but more often are now started by owners that think it will create some sort of bond if they do it themselves, the horse may be easy and develop into a well adjusted, confident ride but if it goes wrong it can be hard to restart and undo damage caused by well meaning but inexperienced owners.
DIY livery yards, many are good, others often have no one with any knowledge "running" them often just used as a means of making money out of the land.
So a person can have a few lessons, buy a horse and learn as they go, this is fine and how many people learn but you need to have someone to ask for that advice that really does know what they are talking about, have an open and enquiring mind in order to ask and take advice when it is given. All too often the horse has already started to behave badly before questions are asked.
Years ago there were far less horses and most were kept by either experienced people or in livery yards run by experienced people that were happy to teach skills to new owners. Horses would often have been broken by specialist breakers yards, they still exist but more often are now started by owners that think it will create some sort of bond if they do it themselves, the horse may be easy and develop into a well adjusted, confident ride but if it goes wrong it can be hard to restart and undo damage caused by well meaning but inexperienced owners.
goodtimes
Well-Known Member
I don't think its down to novice owners but more like people realise there is more than one way to ' skin a cat' nowadays.
Rather than go down the common sense route - there has to be a problem! So sort it out either with tack, or groundwork, or parelli or whatever rather than use your common sense and get on with it.
Rather than go down the common sense route - there has to be a problem! So sort it out either with tack, or groundwork, or parelli or whatever rather than use your common sense and get on with it.
scrunchie
Well-Known Member
Personally I blame two things -
the compensation/health and safety culture - pushing the prices of insurance up which forces riding schools and instructors to charge more. This means less people can afford the lessons they need. It also stops kids from messing about on yards which is a great shame. I spent many a weekend stinking of horse from grooming, tacking up and mucking out at my local yard as a kid. I was so happy and I learnt so much.
Parelli/Monty Roberts propaganda machine - I have no problems with the whole NH thing but if you see a few of these programmes on the telly it is easy to believe that all horses can be turned into a "partner" with a bit of stick shaking and a long rope. It's not that simple.
I have a friend who was planning on taking on unwanted horses, doing a bit of Parelli and then selling them on. Luckily, she couldn't find the land or premises she needed within her budget so it never got past the idea stage, but can you imagine the trouble she could have got herself into? People really do believe everything they see on the telly is real. It's quite scary really.
the compensation/health and safety culture - pushing the prices of insurance up which forces riding schools and instructors to charge more. This means less people can afford the lessons they need. It also stops kids from messing about on yards which is a great shame. I spent many a weekend stinking of horse from grooming, tacking up and mucking out at my local yard as a kid. I was so happy and I learnt so much.
Parelli/Monty Roberts propaganda machine - I have no problems with the whole NH thing but if you see a few of these programmes on the telly it is easy to believe that all horses can be turned into a "partner" with a bit of stick shaking and a long rope. It's not that simple.
I have a friend who was planning on taking on unwanted horses, doing a bit of Parelli and then selling them on. Luckily, she couldn't find the land or premises she needed within her budget so it never got past the idea stage, but can you imagine the trouble she could have got herself into? People really do believe everything they see on the telly is real. It's quite scary really.
padderpaws
Well-Known Member
Why have you got to bring Parelli into your question? Sounds like you just want to cause an argument and offence to people who like Parelli. The type of people you describe would have trouble with a young horse who ever backed it because they are very novice and don't know about horses.
scrunchie
Well-Known Member
I quite like Parelli. I even have Parelli rope and an orange stick and subscribed to his site for a while. Not at the moment though because I am fat and pregnant and the weather is too crappy to play games. BUT I know that there is a time and a place for everything, as do many other people.
But the problem is that some people take things at face value. They see a 10 minute clip of Parelli working with a horse and think they can reproduce the results with any horse at home. What they don't see is the hours of extra work the Parelli horse may have had that hasn't made it onto the clip because it would be repetitive and dull for the viewer. People don't realise that stuff gets edited. That's my problem.
I already stated that I had no problems with the NH thing.
In "the old days" you would rarely see any horses being trained outside of a professional yard or by someone who knew what they were doing. There was much less of the "monkey see, monkey do" culture.
Last edited:
BigRed
Well-Known Member
When I was a young girl, most people had cobby type horses, that maybe had a bit of TB in them. Basically mongrel ponies or horses. Now we have sports horses which have a lot of TB in them, people use competition stallions that are bright and clever thinking. I think this gets a lot of people in trouble. They buy a horse that is too much for them, it gets ruined and then gets passed on a few times.
It's like buying a dog. People see Collies and think they are clever and easy to train. In fact, they are super brainy and hyperactive, they need a firm hand, lots of exercise and stimulation and for a lot of people they are a nightmare dog.
It's like buying a dog. People see Collies and think they are clever and easy to train. In fact, they are super brainy and hyperactive, they need a firm hand, lots of exercise and stimulation and for a lot of people they are a nightmare dog.
anuvb
Well-Known Member
I haven't read the other answers but its not NOVICE owners that do the harm but IGNORANT ones
This ^^^^ coupled with more disposable income meaning horse ownership is within easy reach of many people who previously might have been put off by the costs (although this is rapidly changing again).
Add to that mix poor instruction and too many people selling themselves as experts because they have a 'qualification' and novices don't know where to turn. In my day horsemanship was achieved through experience - it would be good to get a balance between experience and the study and then we might have some amazing instructors out there. There has also been a fashionable shift away from native breeds towards more sparky WB & sports horse types and people's expectations havealso shifted to believe that a 6 year old will be bomb proof (some are, the majority aren't). Plus the horse world has become big business (although not necessarily cash generating!) there are way more livery yards than riding schools, and whole pages of catalogues devoted not just to the kit you need for the horse but fashion for the rider.... it's like a mini cult.
Marydoll
Well-Known Member
Research has shown that most injuries occur in the field, unfortunately i cant remember where i read it.
A horse needs to be physically fit for xc and a good rider listens to their horse and works and pushes said horse appropriately
Syrah
Well-Known Member
I haven't read the other answers but its not NOVICE owners that do the harm but IGNORANT ones
There is a wealth of information out there and people to ask - everyone has to start some where - but a failure to learn/research is inexcusable in this day and age.
^^^ This
Ladydragon
Well-Known Member
I haven't read the other answers but its not NOVICE owners that do the harm but IGNORANT ones
There is a wealth of information out there and people to ask - everyone has to start some where - but a failure to learn/research is inexcusable in this day and age.
Good post!
Judging by some of the comments in this thread I've got to be a numpty novice owner because my horse desperately needed the dentist, I've had a back lady out and use the services of a qualified and trusted saddler...
madiz123
Well-Known Member
I can see how novice owners may fall into the trap... I did myself!
Bought a 3 year old beautiful mare for polo... she was lightly hitting the ball at a canter when I got her.
For the first two years it was relatively light work, always the same big looping circles and she was as good as gold. Then it happened.
She started to rear and not go anywhere when I took her to polo (not even playing just cantering circles on the side of the pitch). Gave me a real scare, as I've never been on a horse that reared before.
Luckily, I gave her to the an ex-dressage pro at the polo club for a week. He rode her twice a day for a week and she was much much better. A lovely, light mouth and turned much quicker... most of all NO REARING/BUCKING.
So riding her till my bum was raw was all fine. Winter came - turned her out for two months to let her grow a bit more.
I got on her again, thinking she'll be ok. All was fine, went up to a canter and she went doo-lally excited, threw me off and broke my ribs :-( confidence is still scarred from that.
Where people may give up, I rode her every day from November to May after work no matter what the weather. She became absolutely brilliant - so responsive and quick. I played some brilliant polo games on her - so proud!
However, I did sell her in the end. That was during my gap year, and I was off to Uni and there was no way I would have the time let alone the money to do that everyday.
I sold her to a lovely girl very similar to me, but last time I saw my pony I was horrified to find she had slipped back into her rearing ways :-( I told the girl specifically how to keep her behaving, but alas, people do not always take the time. I know the girl can do it but she needs to keep at it!
She still has her and luckily she is on a yard with a lot of very experienced people to hand - so she will be ok.
Bought a 3 year old beautiful mare for polo... she was lightly hitting the ball at a canter when I got her.
For the first two years it was relatively light work, always the same big looping circles and she was as good as gold. Then it happened.
She started to rear and not go anywhere when I took her to polo (not even playing just cantering circles on the side of the pitch). Gave me a real scare, as I've never been on a horse that reared before.
Luckily, I gave her to the an ex-dressage pro at the polo club for a week. He rode her twice a day for a week and she was much much better. A lovely, light mouth and turned much quicker... most of all NO REARING/BUCKING.
So riding her till my bum was raw was all fine. Winter came - turned her out for two months to let her grow a bit more.
I got on her again, thinking she'll be ok. All was fine, went up to a canter and she went doo-lally excited, threw me off and broke my ribs :-( confidence is still scarred from that.
Where people may give up, I rode her every day from November to May after work no matter what the weather. She became absolutely brilliant - so responsive and quick. I played some brilliant polo games on her - so proud!
However, I did sell her in the end. That was during my gap year, and I was off to Uni and there was no way I would have the time let alone the money to do that everyday.
I sold her to a lovely girl very similar to me, but last time I saw my pony I was horrified to find she had slipped back into her rearing ways :-( I told the girl specifically how to keep her behaving, but alas, people do not always take the time. I know the girl can do it but she needs to keep at it!
She still has her and luckily she is on a yard with a lot of very experienced people to hand - so she will be ok.
Always Henesy
Well-Known Member
Sorry - but it doesn't matter how experienced we all think we are - you never know it all.
I have had horses for 30 years from my Thelwell welsh mountain pony that I used to charge everywhere bare back and jump over every log or drain I could find to my current very talented TB
I do not claim to know it all - I still learn something new every day.
It doesn't matter what you do in life - you never stop learning and to pretend otherwise is potentially a disaster.
Isn't that what this forum is for? To share different experiences and get some advice? We all experience different problems and therefore support each other?
I am off back to my text books now
I have had horses for 30 years from my Thelwell welsh mountain pony that I used to charge everywhere bare back and jump over every log or drain I could find to my current very talented TB
I do not claim to know it all - I still learn something new every day.
It doesn't matter what you do in life - you never stop learning and to pretend otherwise is potentially a disaster.
Isn't that what this forum is for? To share different experiences and get some advice? We all experience different problems and therefore support each other?
I am off back to my text books now
JFTDWS
Well-Known Member
Interesting post...
If you look hard enough, you'll always find something wrong. None of us our perfect, and if your horse isn't showing signs of a problem, which can't be cured by correct riding, it probably doesn't have a "real" problem
1. none of this H&S liability nonsense there is now. Dangerous, but it did make life easier, I think
2. Massive fan of this school of thought - giving a horse space to work off steam is essential - and I think this is something certain schools of thought forget
3. Oops, I'm no pro, but I back my own
Terrifying
Is it just me or are there more flash horses on livery yards these days? All very well if you can ride it, but so many (IME) don't seem to be able to handle them
Agreed - some of the most terrifying practices aren't performed by the novices at all.
Also agree.
At this point, I got bored of reading replies and decided to add my two penneth worth.
I think the marketting of big equine products has a lot of responsibility to take for the state of equines. I'm thinking of feed companies and "good doer" type feeds for horses who would do better without feed at all, adverts for feeds with obese horses, obese horses in adverts / photos in magazines etc, heavy weight unclipped horses in hw rugs (some may need them, but why make it appear the norm), the tendancy of livery yards to overstock for greater profit and massively restrict turnout, the expectation of rich grass in fields at livery yards (the last thing many hobby horses need!) etc.
But that comes from the perspective of someone with natives and a hatred of "ruining" animals by obesity. It's not the only problem out there, but it's definitely one of them. A novice may be more swayed by the advertisements suggesting fluffy cobbles needs a thick heavy rug and a big dinner, but it's not their "fault" per se - and I've seen very experienced owners influenced by the same
If you look hard enough, you'll always find something wrong. None of us our perfect, and if your horse isn't showing signs of a problem, which can't be cured by correct riding, it probably doesn't have a "real" problem
1. none of this H&S liability nonsense there is now. Dangerous, but it did make life easier, I think
2. Massive fan of this school of thought - giving a horse space to work off steam is essential - and I think this is something certain schools of thought forget
3. Oops, I'm no pro, but I back my own
Terrifying
Is it just me or are there more flash horses on livery yards these days? All very well if you can ride it, but so many (IME) don't seem to be able to handle them
I haven't read the other answers but its not NOVICE owners that do the harm but IGNORANT ones
Agreed - some of the most terrifying practices aren't performed by the novices at all.
Also agree.
At this point, I got bored of reading replies and decided to add my two penneth worth.
I think the marketting of big equine products has a lot of responsibility to take for the state of equines. I'm thinking of feed companies and "good doer" type feeds for horses who would do better without feed at all, adverts for feeds with obese horses, obese horses in adverts / photos in magazines etc, heavy weight unclipped horses in hw rugs (some may need them, but why make it appear the norm), the tendancy of livery yards to overstock for greater profit and massively restrict turnout, the expectation of rich grass in fields at livery yards (the last thing many hobby horses need!) etc.
But that comes from the perspective of someone with natives and a hatred of "ruining" animals by obesity. It's not the only problem out there, but it's definitely one of them. A novice may be more swayed by the advertisements suggesting fluffy cobbles needs a thick heavy rug and a big dinner, but it's not their "fault" per se - and I've seen very experienced owners influenced by the same
JAGER BOMB :)
Well-Known Member
in a word YES. i think alot of ppl now (novices) buy a horse/ pony far to soon when they dont have the experience or understanding of just how much work goes into the day to day care of a horse or the riding side of things.... example: a woman i know who had been riding for 6 months (1 lesson a week ) still not cantering bought a 14.2 hh 3yr old who had been backed and broken but needed bringing on. she got it to the yard and after 5 days she had a big problem. it had no manners and she had no idea what to do with it, she didnt know how to lunge, long line, and even how to tack up!!!! 1 yr down the line, the horse is the same. it will not hack out, it doesnt understand any leg aids it evades the bit , it naps , rears, bolts she has no control. she blames the horse saying it is just dangerous, but the yard owner took over and started educating it and she is now starting to be a very nice little pony ... moral. in my opinion if you want a horse learn how to own one before you buy one. learn the day to day through to the training, riding and everything else! so yes ponies and horses are getting spoilt now more than ever. and it is such a shame x
hula
Well-Known Member
The problem is, that its an easy thing to say "I can ride".
Yes maybe you can, but what does that include? Can you do rising trot?
I've been riding since I was 9 (in RS), but probably only started riding "properly" at the age of 14ish (hacking out, started riding for a livery and YO, rather than going round and round in an arena). I'm now 23, I've had an accident that put me out of the saddle for a considerable period, I've competed, I've hunted, I've even helped (under supervision) train point to point horses... but I'd still consider myself a novice.
I've never owned by own horse.... shared, helped, groomed, ridden other peoples yes, but never owned one. I "borrow"/everything but own an elderly cob atm, but whatever I do with him, I run it past the owner and past the YO. I like collecting knowledge, and quite often sit to talk to more of the more experienced of the horse world rather than get into yard politics. I have been at the end of alot of snobbery, and awful comments, but I ride because thats my hobby and thats what I enjoy.
I do feel that some people are far too confident too soon. I used to run a riding club for a certain uni, and on a weekly basis had to split people into novice, intermediate and advanced lessons. Novice - people who could not rise in trot properly/canter confidently, Intermediate - could walk, trot, canter confidently and were learning to jump/could pop a small simple course, Advanced - those that could perform a dressage test, jump, etc. It was an utter nightmare, I had girls moaning that the should be in advanced and that they could jump so they should be in advanced, they had no respect for the people who let us use their horses for competitions. They honestly did not realise how dangerous it can be to over estimate your abilities. The club irritated me, and showed the selfish side of people, I can quite easily see how people with money (rather than students) could go out and buy and horse and find themselves completely out of their depth... without actually ever admiting it....
Have I just made myself a snob
Yes maybe you can, but what does that include? Can you do rising trot?
I've been riding since I was 9 (in RS), but probably only started riding "properly" at the age of 14ish (hacking out, started riding for a livery and YO, rather than going round and round in an arena). I'm now 23, I've had an accident that put me out of the saddle for a considerable period, I've competed, I've hunted, I've even helped (under supervision) train point to point horses... but I'd still consider myself a novice.
I've never owned by own horse.... shared, helped, groomed, ridden other peoples yes, but never owned one. I "borrow"/everything but own an elderly cob atm, but whatever I do with him, I run it past the owner and past the YO. I like collecting knowledge, and quite often sit to talk to more of the more experienced of the horse world rather than get into yard politics. I have been at the end of alot of snobbery, and awful comments, but I ride because thats my hobby and thats what I enjoy.
I do feel that some people are far too confident too soon. I used to run a riding club for a certain uni, and on a weekly basis had to split people into novice, intermediate and advanced lessons. Novice - people who could not rise in trot properly/canter confidently, Intermediate - could walk, trot, canter confidently and were learning to jump/could pop a small simple course, Advanced - those that could perform a dressage test, jump, etc. It was an utter nightmare, I had girls moaning that the should be in advanced and that they could jump so they should be in advanced, they had no respect for the people who let us use their horses for competitions. They honestly did not realise how dangerous it can be to over estimate your abilities. The club irritated me, and showed the selfish side of people, I can quite easily see how people with money (rather than students) could go out and buy and horse and find themselves completely out of their depth... without actually ever admiting it....
Have I just made myself a snob