Equestrian Pet Peeves/Foibles?

Tillypup

Tillypup

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 January 2011
Messages
492
Location
Sudbury, Suffolk
www.valleypoint.co.uk
Do you have any pet peeves or foibles, things that you hate or must do?

Mine is that I must tuck all the straps on my tack in, I always go around and do a double check before I get on now. I looked at some pictures of me riding Wink and all I could think about was how the girth straps were untucked :rolleyes::rolleyes: so now, it all gets tucked in and double checked!!
 
Leaving headcollars or bridles on unattended horses in stables. It makes me tense. I only ever leave a fieldsafe headcollar on in field and even then only for a day or two until I know they can be caught.

I think it stems from an incident as a child where I walked round a corner and startled a horse who pulled back and had his headcollar caught on the door. Luckily I was close enough to push it up and off the door but it did frighten me.
 
probably too many to list! but here's a couple

* leaving the school gate open when riding in it
* hanging haynets too low (OH is always doing this and drives me mad)
* seeing people out hacking with no hi-viz on
* when OH puts water/feed buckets in the wrong place (for some reason he always puts it UNDER the metal hayrack in the corner, and i'm paranoid that 16h gingerone will whack his head if he's startled)
* loose dogs on yard
* beds have to be JUST RIGHT
*when putting up electric fencing it has to be in perfect straight lines - hate looking back and seeing posts out of line!

Many many more that i can't even remember..... lol
 
The things that annoy me are people stroking my pony when shes tied up and I go to fetch grooming kit/tack/whatever I need from my tackroom, leave her alone!! Also people riding in dirty tack and numnahs/saddle cloths. And people bringing friends with babies or children down to the yard, so irritating!:rolleyes:
 
Hi - vis is a major one for me, i hate seeing people without it, and its annoying because everyone at the yard owns some, but i'm the only one that actually wears it, and i have to have some on both me and my horse..

Also i have to make sure things are tucked in when ridden into keepers so things are all neat when i ride and that she's relatively clean and always have to pick feet out before riding if nothing else.
 
alj7 said:
probably too many to list! but here's a couple

* leaving the school gate open when riding in it
* hanging haynets too low (OH is always doing this and drives me mad)
* seeing people out hacking with no hi-viz on
* when OH puts water/feed buckets in the wrong place (for some reason he always puts it UNDER the metal hayrack in the corner, and i'm paranoid that 16h gingerone will whack his head if he's startled)
* loose dogs on yard
* beds have to be JUST RIGHT
*when putting up electric fencing it has to be in perfect straight lines - hate looking back and seeing posts out of line!

Many many more that i can't even remember..... lol
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Joining the OCD club ;). I agree with most of yours and will add a few.

- Leaving girth attached to saddle on one side and just flipping over - mucks up the saddle flaps and is the height of laziness - just undo both sides
- Leaving latches on doors, etc. sticking up - I always fold everything down flush so that horse (or anyone else for that matter) can't get something caught
- Leaving stable doors open when horses are not in there - I ALWAYS shut the door - not sure why, just think it looks neater
- Not closing gates behind - if a gate is shut when I walk through it, I shut it after me - bugs me when people don't do the same
- Headcollars left on field fences - looks untidy, always seems to be to be an invitation for someone to steal (either horse or headcollar) and I really don't appreciate my nice leather headcollar being left out in the rain
- An untidy/unswept yard - and people who don't either pick their horse's feet out before bringing them out of the box, or then (if they haven't) go back and pick up all the "droppings"
- People who don't pick up their horse's poo - grrrrrrrrrrr - obviously doesn't apply out hacking, but if you're riding in the field/in the school/on your way back from the school and your horse "deposits" go back later and pick it up!
- Feed buckets with (metal) handles left in stables - an accident waiting to happen
- Barn aisles cluttered up with "stuff" - don't need trip/stab hazards when horses are about - pull the flipping wheelbarrow into the box while you're mucking out so the rest of us can get past

Me - difficult to share a yard with? Naaaahhhhhhh ;)

P

P.S. I have to put a caveat here and say I don't actually moan AT people for doing all this stuff - these are just things I make sure I do and would irritate me if they did any of this stuff to me/my belongings
 
I seem to have minor OCD when it comes to tidiness and everything having its place at the yard. Shame it doesnt extend into my home life :o :D
 
People riding with no hivis (selfish morons)
All straps tucked in including headcollars
Forelock straight under headpiece of bridle/headcollar

Sure I'll think of some more soon!
 
Cop-Pop said:
I seem to have minor OCD when it comes to tidiness and everything having its place at the yard. Shame it doesnt extend into my home life :o :D
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My hubby refers to me as Monica (from Friends) I even have to make sure that clothes hung on the line have the same peg! Why it didn't occur to me to just by one colour/type of peg is beyond me!!

"It it's not a right angle it's a wrong angle";)
 
Before i leave the yard at night i always need to check each of my stables for
Clean bed ( skip out before i go )
Water
Haylage
Bolt accross
Bar accross
Clip on the door
Once ive seen all thats in place im happy to go home.
I also need to have a wee brush at the tap to clean buckets, and it bugs my happiness when people take it and dont put it back.
My real pet peeve is folk asking to use my electric fencing and either just leaving it when theyre done so i need to take it in,or just dumping it at the side of the field when finished with as they cant be arsed to carry it back to the store room ...then they wonder why you dont let them use it again, like youre the bad one in the story.
I could go on but wont as itll just put my hackles up:D
 
Phoebe+Sophie said:
The things that annoy me are people stroking my pony when shes tied up and I go to fetch grooming kit/tack/whatever I need from my tackroom, leave her alone!!
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Why?

I think I have to join the OCD list too:
Girths have to be removed from saddles properly and cleaned before being put away, even if the saddle itself doesn't get cleaned every day, the girth has to, to prevent girth galls.
Bridles get hung up in the tack room and headcollars outside stables. Headcollars should never be put away properly in the tackroom in case there was a fire, you might need them.
Beds have to be skipped out before you go home - I cannot go home if there is poo in the stable (lucky I only have one horse and not a whole yard to do then...)
My bed has to be poo picked every day.
I also can't go home if my horse isn't groomed properly (unless she's sleeping in the field in which case it's fine).
When you hang up rugs the straps have to be tied up and the rug has to be folded properly, it can't be just thrown on the rack any old how with the straps dangling.
Water buckets have to be scrubbed out every single day.
That knot in the string of the haynet - that has to be in the middle of my quick release knot. Or something bad will happen. And unlike everyone else in the world, I like to hang haynets as low down as I can get them because my pony is short and I'd rather she was eating from the floor but she's not allowed ad-lib. I hang high for other people's horses though.
I cannot ride a horse with shavings in its tail.
People without high-viz upset me. Horse riders and cyclists.
Kids should not be allowed to leave jumps on the track in the school.

I am sure there are more but I just can't think of them right now. I'm not that bad to share a yard with really!
 
I am ridiculously OCD!

Pet peeves -

Badly fitting nosebands - too high/low/ too tight/loose esp with a flash when the flash strap pulls down the cavesson part of the noseband into a v shape! argh.. poss just me with that one tho :rolleyes:

People who leave loose fitting headcollers on horses in fields/stables.. ive seen so many accidents from this :(

Those who leave a trail of bedding from barrows/ horses hooves across my just swept yard :/

I too am a stickler for straps in keepers on all tack!

Low hanging haynets !! :mad: I have a big thing about them! Lost a lovely shettie at my old RS as someone didn't tie a haynet short enough and he caught his leg in it and fell. He broke his leg and had to be PTS. Also at a livery yard I worked at a pony had caught both front legs in a haynet tied stupidly low he had both front legs twisted up in it all night, luckily he was chilled and didn't seriously hurt himself!
 
unbalanced said:
Why?

I think I have to join the OCD list too:
Girths have to be removed from saddles properly and cleaned before being put away, even if the saddle itself doesn't get cleaned every day, the girth has to, to prevent girth galls.
Bridles get hung up in the tack room and headcollars outside stables. Headcollars should never be put away properly in the tackroom in case there was a fire, you might need them.
Beds have to be skipped out before you go home - I cannot go home if there is poo in the stable (lucky I only have one horse and not a whole yard to do then...)
My bed has to be poo picked every day.
I also can't go home if my horse isn't groomed properly (unless she's sleeping in the field in which case it's fine)When you hang up rugs the straps have to be tied up and the rug has to be folded properly, it can't be just thrown on the rack any old how with the straps dangling.
Water buckets have to be scrubbed out every single day.
That knot in the string of the haynet - that has to be in the middle of my quick release knot. Or something bad will happen. And unlike everyone else in the world, I like to hang haynets as low down as I can get them because my pony is short and I'd rather she was eating from the floor but she's not allowed ad-lib. I hang high for other people's horses though.
I cannot ride a horse with shavings in its tail.
People without high-viz upset me. Horse riders and cyclists.
Kids should not be allowed to leave jumps on the track in the school.
I am sure there are more but I just can't think of them right now. I'm not that bad to share a yard with really!
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Omg the knot in the middle of the haynet, i forgot about that one, lol yes im in touch with that one as well
 
Mine are:-

*People not tidying up behind them - feed, hay and straw all over floor and headcollars/bridles etc left on floor
*People not shutting doors and gates, or turning lights off when they leave at night
*People not coming to yard for days on end to check on their horses - just assume someone else will do it for them
*People 'borrowing' my stuff without asking and then not returning it to where they found it

I'm sure there are a load more but these really wind me up!
 
Dirty tack (I have been known to randomly clean other people's if I have the time and I know they'll be okay about it!)

People that only ever brush off the saddle/girth area before they ride, then bath before going to a show (usually followed by the use of expensive products, then they win turnout comps, grrrrrrrr)

'Borrowing' my stuff, in particular stuff I don't use often, and not returning it in the condition they found it (if it's returned at all and I haven't had to track it down)

Comments such as 'I couldn't be doing with riding a common, hairy' whilst they are riding overweight warmblood types with gag bits on the bottom hole and a flash noseband done up so tight it leaves a dent (couldn't ride my hairy as he's a fit cob, ridden in a snaffle, could trot all day and they wouldn't know what to do as they'd be far too out of breath after 5 minutes trotting!)

Loose young children on the yard, or, worse, same young children going into my chap's field unattended ( he's not dangerous but not adverse to barging through the gate, he wouldn't even notice if a small child was there)

And

People that look immaculate the whole time they're around horses, even after battling the wind and weather and strapping big hunters and look long legged and graceful when they ride..............I always look like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards and have legs like a Shetland pony!
 
superted1989 said:
Dirty tack (I have been known to randomly clean other people's if I have the time and I know they'll be okay about it!)

People that only ever brush off the saddle/girth area before they ride, then bath before going to a show (usually followed by the use of expensive products, then they win turnout comps, grrrrrrrr)

'Borrowing' my stuff, in particular stuff I don't use often, and not returning it in the condition they found it (if it's returned at all and I haven't had to track it down)

Comments such as 'I couldn't be doing with riding a common, hairy' whilst they are riding overweight warmblood types with gag bits on the bottom hole and a flash noseband done up so tight it leaves a dent (couldn't ride my hairy as he's a fit cob, ridden in a snaffle, could trot all day and they wouldn't know what to do as they'd be far too out of breath after 5 minutes trotting!)

Loose young children on the yard, or, worse, same young children going into my chap's field unattended ( he's not dangerous but not adverse to barging through the gate, he wouldn't even notice if a small child was there)

And

People that look immaculate the whole time they're around horses, even after battling the wind and weather and strapping big hunters and look long legged and graceful when they ride..............I always look like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards and have legs like a Shetland pony!
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Oh I relate to so much of this! This will sound judgmental, but why on EARTH would you not clean your tack? Kal has two saddles, two bridles, associated girths and bits and bobs and a set of leather side reins - I make sure they are all cleaned and conditioned on a rotating basis b/c I can't stand putting crusy, nasty tack on him (plus I paid good money for much of it).

Also (probably b/c he is grey), Kal is always groomed properly before being ridden (darned near every day) and bathed (weather permitting) once a week. In the winter he gets a warm water spot wash to remove stubborn poo and mud stains. Why would I risk dirt and sweat rubbing him and causing discomfort?

If you borrow my stuff, I don't mind - as long as you put it back in the same condition as I left it - if it's dirty, clean it - if it's broken either repair or replace it.

And your last one? Hate them bitches (kidding!) . . . one of my good friends always looks immaculate, while I always have mystery stains, hay/straw/bedding in my hair, dirt under my fingernails and a marked "aroma" when I'm on the yard (not in my professional life - I do bathe, honest).

P
 
Some of you would hate sharing with me then!

I strongly believe that those people who won't ride a horse not fully groomed have never owned a grey/white horse with an attraction to mud! I always thoroughly groom the parts that tack touches but I'd never have time to ride if I had to do a full groom!

Not wearing HiViz also niggles me. It's so easy to do and can make so much difference. Why put all manner of boots and thick saddle pads on to keep them comfy and protected and then put them at risk on the roads by not wearing hiviz???

I'm rubbish at having time to clean tack! I ALWAYS rinse the bit as i hate to see crusty bits but that's about it. My saddles are both synthetic and always look clean but I really must clean my bridles more and wash my girth sleeves, etc, more regularly.

I like people patting my horse over the stable door - so long as they don't feed him. He enjoys the fuss and I like to see people admiring him.

I don't clear out every poo in stable when I leave - I move it to the side and every few days, or if I have time, I clear it out. my horses all live out and just go in there for a couple of hours or so. I don't have time to be obsessive about it and they're not standing in it so why bother. My time is better spent with them than being OCD about stables and beds (no bed, just rubber matting and a sprinkling pf bliss on top).
 
I have a few, most similar and many just basic care really.

water buckets have to be immaculate and no bits of hay in them.
my area has to be swept perfectly before i leave. I don't care how anyone else keeps their part of the barn but mine needs to be swept properly.
bed has to be squared off and no stray bits of straw sticking out.
bankings all even.
horse has to be immaculate before i ride, hate to see bits of dirt on her. even if i don't ride, she is groomed properly daily.
pet hate is if i have just swept the barn (communal area) and someone waltzes through with a pile of hay under her arm dropping loads in her wake. thankfully she has gone now to another yard :-)
I don't get too wound up about what others do (unless it is lack of care) life is too short.
 
I have many.
Don't mind people borrowing things - just put them back!
Making sure all the straps on the bridle are in the keepers.
People with incorrect fitting tack, a bit too high is just as bad as one too low!
Hacksaw hands.
People who love horses who "buck and rear and bronk and nap" when infact they pee themselves if they turn their head the wrong way :o
Beds ALWAYS have to have nice square banks :D
People who don't pick feet out.
Not sweeping outside their stable when they have mucked out and made a mess.
Not turning a horse around in the gateway to turn them out. If you let them stand facing the field and they just gallop off and buck you could get kicked int he face! if they are turned around and spin, their back end is alot further away!!
Wrapping leadropes around your hands

I could go on all day :D
 
oh, 1 to add. lead reins with knots at the end. I have a deformed looking finger after horse spooked, ran forwards and drew the rope thro my hand and the knot dislocated and broke my middle finger as it was pulled thro. ouch! put it back in myself and then strapped it with vet wrap, we are a hardy lot lol
 
unbalanced said:
That knot in the string of the haynet - that has to be in the middle of my quick release knot. Or something bad will happen.
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see, i cant stand this. The knot has to be pulled all the way around so that its right by the rings on the haynet, so that the whole string is 'clean' and slips through when i do a quick release knot. Really really irritates me when other people do my nets, if someone else has to do the horses for me i either make up enough nets before i go or tell them to just fill his hayrack instead! lol
 
I hate it when people tie the headcollar round their horse's neck and leave the leadrope done up! Don't they realise how easily their horse could break its neck if it panicked?! :mad:
 
I think I can understand why people don't want their horses approached when they're tethered. Horses tend to read their owners' body language very well and instinctively know whether you're leaving them to collect something or you want them to follow you. They don't have the same understanding with others and I've often seen a horse try to follow a stranger who's touched them and walked away. The horse then reaches the end of the rope and gives himself a bump.
The other thing is random people who insist on giving treats to a horse over the stable door and then wonder why they end up with a yard full of horses kicking their doors whenever they see someone.
 
I have too many...

People who leave buckets, brushes, forks, feed bowls and everything else they use littering the yard. Especially next to the hose pipe so when I go to hose my horses feet he is more interested in investigating them! I put everything away..

People that don't sweep up after themselves so all their **** ends up down my end when the wind blows! or when people tie up outside my stable for the farrier and don't clean up

When people whistle instead of voice commands.. when they lunge all I can hear is different whistles which are used instead of "walk" "trot" etc. Its just irritating

I could carry on and on but they are my top 3 annoying me at the moment
 
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