Donating a horse to an equine centre?

My mum's mare is on permanent loan to a riding school. She is a weight carrier, slow and steady mare and they use her for beginners and hacks. I think it very much depends on the school as to what type of horse they accept. They took her after a recommendation from my RI, then they checked her out themselves, and she had a vet's inspection to ensure she was capable of the RS work.
 
It really depends on the Horse, wether he/she would be comfortable with many different handlers and riders. And if he/she could handle the workload

If you decide to go down this route I would really do your homework, you could ask to watch some of the lessons, you could then see what work your Horse would be doing. Inspect the facilities, talk to the instructors, clients, liveries (if they have any) and check up on your Horse every so often

It can be a good idea if you get a nice respectable school.
 
Shilasdair said:
Why would you go to bad riding schools? And if you haven't been to a bad riding school, why do you think horses would hate them?
Really, you should stop funding such places with your cash.
S :D
Click to expand...

I haven't been to a bad riding school...or any one in fact..not for years and years then I was too young to know if it were good or bad - severnvale is chepstow..so was pretty good I think....but if you were a horse would you really want to go around and around the school several times a day for hours..would get a bit boring dont ya think...
 
Always Blue said:
I haven't been to a bad riding school...or any one in fact..not for years and years then I was too young to know if it were good or bad - severnvale is chepstow..so was pretty good I think....but if you were a horse would you really want to go around and around the school several times a day for hours..would get a bit boring dont ya think...
Click to expand...

Ah, so you were speaking from a stance of no knowledge, and no experience. :p
I have taught in riding schools, and horses do not go 'around and around the school several times a day for hours' - they have good lives and often retirements.
In some ways they are much happier than many privately owned horses (riding school clients are often more educated than those who don't have lessons), and often more loved.
They also get to live in a more natural herd environment - and are seldom alone.
S :D
 
Shilasdair said:
Ah, so you were speaking from a stance of no knowledge, and no experience. :p
I have taught in riding schools, and horses do not go 'around and around the school several times a day for hours' - they have good lives and often retirements.
In some ways they are much happier than many privately owned horses (riding school clients are often more educated than those who don't have lessons), and often more loved.
They also get to live in a more natural herd environment - and are seldom alone.
S :D
Click to expand...

good to know thanks for sharing....:D:rolleyes:
riding school clients are often novices pulling at the reins and kicking with all their might!
just expressing my opinions of riding schools am afraid having worked at one before teaching.
 
and certainly wouldn't donate or sell my horse to a riding school...he is quite happy with being extremely well looked after well loved and in a herd environment!
 
Always Blue said:
good to know thanks for sharing....:D:rolleyes:
riding school clients are often novices pulling at the reins and kicking with all their might!
just expressing my opinions of riding schools am afraid having worked at one before teaching.
Click to expand...

Always Blue said:
I haven't been to a bad riding school...or any one in fact..not for years and years then I was too young to know if it were good or bad - severnvale is chepstow..so was pretty good I think....but if you were a horse would you really want to go around and around the school several times a day for hours..would get a bit boring dont ya think...
Click to expand...

A few contradictions there - so you 'worked at one before teaching', but haven't been to any for years and years when you were too young to know if it was good or bad.
Alrightey. :p
S :D
 
Always Blue said:
good to know thanks for sharing....:D:rolleyes:
riding school clients are often novices pulling at the reins and kicking with all their might!
just expressing my opinions of riding schools am afraid having worked at one before teaching.
Click to expand...

Not at the places I've taught at!! No one has been allowed to kick or pull, not even the most novice of novices! And the horses have always been given fab retirements as they have been valued members of the team, even if they have only been there a few months.

Saying that it doesnt suit most horses, They have to be able to tolerate constantly changing riders and a fairly set pattern of work. Everywhere I've worked has known within a couple of weeks whether a horse will settle to it or not. Those that do, generally thrive, if they don't settle then they end up hating it and miserable. There isnt any way of telling till they get there either. Its a case of suck it and see...
 
Shilasdair said:
A few contradictions there - so you 'worked at one before teaching', but haven't been to any for years and years when you were too young to know if it was good or bad.
Alrightey. :p
S :D
Click to expand...

dude what is your problem..I havet been taught in any lessons at a RS but had taught yes!!
why so petty! keep yr comments to yrself
 
It is like with anything else, there are good riding schools and bad riding schools. I've seen both. The one I use is excellent, the horses are very well treated and cared for and there are plenty of them so their workload is low. They are untacked between lessons and rarely work for more than an hour per day. Another place I tried kept the horses in bridles and saddles (Ok, it was at the weekend and their busiest time) and some were used in several back-to-back sessions.

Some horses adapt well to the environment,others learn to hate novices and to take the mickey if they possibly can. Some horses thrive on individual attention and being ridden consistently by the same person, they would hate the riding school environment. Others would be fine.
 
Before loaning or giving your horse away I would have it freezemarked on it's shoulder so that it can always be identified in the future. (Also take photos from each side and front and back).
 
Always Blue said:
dude what is your problem..I havet been taught in any lessons at a RS but had taught yes!!
why so petty! keep yr comments to yrself
Click to expand...

You seem to be digging yourself a hole here.
So, you have not observed, but actually taught novices to 'pull at the reins and kick with all their might!'
I begin to understand why your horse needs McTimony. :p
S :D
 
Do you need to give the horse away or could you put him/her out on loan?

If its the type of horse that would suit a riding school, would you consider a equine college?
I chose to put my horse on loan to college, she's been there 3 weeks now and really thriving - she is ridden once or twice a day and always has company. The benifit of having them at a college rather than a riding schools is that they get weekends and holidays off so they get a proper break.
 
I get really Mad when people start slagging off riding schools! For one,without them where do you think people would learn to ride?? Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to afford their own! Also, why do people insist on saying that riding school horses get shoved and kicked and go round and round?? You can't have been to the right type of school! Of course, there has to be a number of horses that will tolerate the novice rider- unless we are all so wonderful that we can ride naturally from the start
!However, in our establishment even our horses for novices are kept schooled by the staff to ensure they are still working correctly.
We encourage our horses to work in open order, all work on the bridle in walk trot and canter and can do lateral work correctly.They hack, hunt, compete, have regular checks from the physio, dentist ect. All, unlike private horses, are cared for by experienced, qualified people.
This is our POOR riding school horses:
amyonblue.jpg


lucyonbrandy.jpg


Vault018.jpg


20336_451258010155_657650155_109261.jpg


arti3.jpg


bee2.jpg


saffrom.jpg


As you can see, they lead a terrible life!
 
Last edited:
LOL!! Is it so bad to express ones opinion of something these days!! I dont like riding schools...and shilasdair or whatever you name is....why the rude comments, I had the physio out as a matter of routine and the poor boy was out of shapes bless him, but I have only had him 1 and a half months so not really my doing is it seen as I have ridden him about 5-6 times....???????
 
Well, its one thing that drives me mad!! In an equestrian centre enviroment most people caring for the horses have a BHS qualification, which is more that what can be said for most horse owners!
 
It doesn't matter whether the way of doing things is a joke or not, their aim is 'Horse Welfare' , if people are taught the correct way to look after horses and ponies then surely this is a much better start than no clue at all.
No, its not a problem to express your opinion but to state things before knowing what the facts are!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top