Feeling Guilty....

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Aoibhinn

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Hey guys, sorry but I just needed somewhere that I could express myself. Some of ye may know that I bought a new horse about 2 months ago, my sister also broke her heel and has been out of action for the last 6 weeks (and for the next 4) so I was totally snowed under what with 4 horses, school, studying and football.

Last weekend I rode the horses and on Sunday I finally let the new mare out with the other 3. Everything seemed good and they were all happy. It was cold so I left on the two girls rugs as they have full clips. Exams started Wednesday so I was studying like mad, hence, didn't get to the horses all week. Went over this morning to realise that they still had their heavyweight winter rugs on.....wow do I feel bad :(

Not only that, the new mare is after kicking the s**t out of poor Copper! Mainly his front legs by his elbows. She gave him an almighty double barrel while I was there and I almost keeled over with shock. She also just got new shoes on Tuesday. So now I'm feeling like I'm on the verge of having a meltdown. I know I should have been over keeping an eye on them and now I feel terrible. My poor boy has taken the brunt of my neglect :(

Rant over! Tea and biscuits for anyone that made it this far without feeling like strangling me....!
 
Are the horses not checked everyday? Check his legs thoroughly, if she's kicking him properly on bone then he could quite easily have fractured.
 
Maybe they did not have their heavyweight rugs on all week? Who sees to them on a day to day basis? I would ask them what rugs they have had on. If they have been in heavyweights all this time I would reconsider who looks after my horses!
 
Surely you took back shoes off before introducing her to the rest? Do they not get checked every day? Sorry you're busy but it doesn't take that long to check and change rugs. Horses come first, if you haven't got time then drop something else for a few weeks
 
So are you saying no one has checked those horses since last Sunday?

If so that is unacceptable and yes you should fee guilty!

apologies if I have got that wrong and someone has been checking on them
 
You should check horses twice daily without fail no matter what else is going on in your life. If you are unable to do this then someone else should. Obviously as a responsible owner you would have made sure someone else was doing this such as the yard owner. If so, then they have not been doing their job and are responsible for letting you and your horses down. I would be furious. I do hope you are not saying that you left them unattended for over 5 days?
 
If I remember rightly, op is only young and getting no help from parents and siblings with these horses.

Op, you need to tell your parents you need their assistance with this. You're taking on too much and sadly it seems the horses are ending up with the sharp end of it. I feel for you that you've had this situation put on you while trying to do exams as well. Your parents need to pick up some of the responsibility and help you out.
 
PonyIAmNotFood said:
If I remember rightly, op is only young and getting no help from parents and siblings with these horses.

Op, you need to tell your parents you need their assistance with this. You're taking on too much and sadly it seems the horses are ending up with the sharp end of it. I feel for you that you've had this situation put on you while trying to do exams as well. Your parents need to pick up some of the responsibility and help you out.
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This, completely.
 
how many of the horses are actually yours, not your sisters or anyone elses?

I know you are young from a previous post and I guess you don't drive yet?

sounds like you need to get rid of some horses, I guess your parents pay for the horses? if they have not been checked since last weekend then they really are not getting just the most basic of care-what if one had colicked on monday and was still just hanging on today and your first thing was calling the vet to put the horse to sleep.

the position you are in does not sound like it is of your own doing but if you cannot get support from someone else actually going to check on the horses when you can't then the horses need to go
 
I agree with the others, too many ponies and they really do need checking every day! Big hugs and you do sound responsible, just snowed under. Are there any local horsey people who can help you out? I would offer to check on them if they're near me.
 
PonyIAmNotFood said:
If I remember rightly, op is only young and getting no help from parents and siblings with these horses.

Op, you need to tell your parents you need their assistance with this. You're taking on too much and sadly it seems the horses are ending up with the sharp end of it. I feel for you that you've had this situation put on you while trying to do exams as well. Your parents need to pick up some of the responsibility and help you out.
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My dad has been looking after them during the week. However, he doesn't really understand 'horse' as he is a dairy farmer. He checks to make sure that they're all still sound, have water and that the rugs aren't askew. More of a 'sure they'll be grand!' mentality I'm afraid! He does help me an awful lot though and looks after them a good bit during the winter. My exams are finished Wednesday so not too long thankfully
 
twiggy2 said:
how many of the horses are actually yours, not your sisters or anyone elses?

I know you are young from a previous post and I guess you don't drive yet?

sounds like you need to get rid of some horses, I guess your parents pay for the horses? if they have not been checked since last weekend then they really are not getting just the most basic of care-what if one had colicked on monday and was still just hanging on today and your first thing was calling the vet to put the horse to sleep.

the position you are in does not sound like it is of your own doing but if you cannot get support from someone else actually going to check on the horses when you can't then the horses need to go
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2 horses are mine and the two ponies belong to my two sisters. Should have made myself clearer, they HAVE been checked every day, just not as thoroughly as they should have been unfortunately...
 
Pigeon said:
I agree with the others, too many ponies and they really do need checking every day! Big hugs and you do sound responsible, just snowed under. Are there any local horsey people who can help you out? I would offer to check on them if they're near me.
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Thank you for the offer! Appreciate it but I'm in Ireland, still like to do it? ;) I wouldn't go without checking them every day, they have been but my dad has been doing it. We live away from the farm so he sees them 5/6 times a day when he drives in and out the lane. He would notice anything obviously wrong with them like colic or laminitis
 
Try not to feel guilty, Aoibhinn, I bet theres plenty of other people who leave others to check on their horses! Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but totally useless, what you 'should have done' or other people think 'you should have done' is neither here nor there.
Neither of the rugged horses suffered, did they? They wont be scarred for life- it doesnt really matter they might have been a bit hot. You've seen to them now.
And kicks happen, especially when new horses come into an existing herd. Hopefully no one was seriously injured, they do it because theyr sorting out their pecking order. Hopefully theyve now got it sorted and they will be OK now. :)
 
stormox said:
Try not to feel guilty, Aoibhinn, I bet theres plenty of other people who leave others to check on their horses! Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but totally useless, what you 'should have done' or other people think 'you should have done' is neither here nor there.
Neither of the rugged horses suffered, did they? They wont be scarred for life- it doesnt really matter they might have been a bit hot. You've seen to them now.
And kicks happen, especially when new horses come into an existing herd. Hopefully no one was seriously injured, they do it because theyr sorting out their pecking order. Hopefully theyve now got it sorted and they will be OK now. :)
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Thanks very much Storm :) yes isn't hindsight brilliant.... I assumed that the new mare would be easy going like her mammy but she decided that she wanted to be top dog. Seems that they have it figured out now and copper is fine, just some superficial cuts and no lameness which is a relief. X
 
Thanks for clearing it up OP - next time be a bit more specific (not said in a harsh way :-) we just want the best for our horses on here :-)

Hopefully once your exams are over things will get back to normal exams eh ! My stepson has just informed me he had finished 14 10 more to go eeek ! Very stressful time and your education is very important. Good luck with the exams and the horses :-)
 
Aoibhinn said:
My dad has been looking after them during the week. However, he doesn't really understand 'horse' as he is a dairy farmer. He checks to make sure that they're all still sound, have water and that the rugs aren't askew. More of a 'sure they'll be grand!' mentality I'm afraid!
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Most of the farmers around here (also Ireland) have a Connemara broodmare or two and look after them like this. Its not how I would look after my horses but they all seem healthy and reasonably happy (some are kept alone so not perfect). Putting a rug on or taking it off is seen as more of a seasonal rather than daily thing (i.e. put it on start of winter and take it off start of spring, with daily checks but no changing wet rugs or adjusting due to current temperature).

I would consider taking the mare's hinds off for a bit, even if things seem to have settled, given that you have seen her really kicking. It doesn't sound like you will have time to be working her very hard for the next few weeks anyway.
 
Princess16 said:
Thanks for clearing it up OP - next time be a bit more specific (not said in a harsh way :-) we just want the best for our horses on here :-)

Hopefully once your exams are over things will get back to normal exams eh ! My stepson has just informed me he had finished 14 10 more to go eeek ! Very stressful time and your education is very important. Good luck with the exams and the horses :-)
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Thanks Princess, I know, I really should be more specific instead of assuming people know what I'm talking about! Lol :D I have 5 left so not too bad hopefully!
 
laura_nash said:
Most of the farmers around here (also Ireland) have a Connemara broodmare or two and look after them like this. Its not how I would look after my horses but they all seem healthy and reasonably happy (some are kept alone so not perfect). Putting a rug on or taking it off is seen as more of a seasonal rather than daily thing (i.e. put it on start of winter and take it off start of spring, with daily checks but no changing wet rugs or adjusting due to current temperature).

I would consider taking the mare's hinds off for a bit, even if things seem to have settled, given that you have seen her really kicking. It doesn't sound like you will have time to be working her very hard for the next few weeks anyway.
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Yes that's exactly it, he doesn't understand why they need to be checked all the time 😂 should be back to normal by Wenesday so I will probably keep them on her. Have them seperated for the time being as she's after getting a bit fat (aware that this is due to lack of exercise!) so she is in a smaller paddock with the small pony who is as far as he is tall as well! Eek!
 
If you know you're not going to be around for a few days and your dad wont know to change rugs, it might be better to just leave them without from now on. I tend to work on the basis that they it is better for them to get a bit chilly without a rug than to get too hot with one, especially going into summer. if I have someone else doing my ponies I just leave rugs off or just lightweights if the weather is due to be absolutely foul, I would worry about them being in anything heavier for any length time at this time of year. Good luck with your exams!
 
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