Good old fashioned quartering

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Silverspring

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You know I feel that quartering has gone out with thatching. So many people turn up at the yard, pull horse from stable and remove all rugs even though the horse has a hunter clip and there is ice on the ground.

I was always taught to quarter a horse, roll rug back, brush, roll rug forward, brush, roll rug back saddle on, remove rug and replace with exercise sheet (or not if it's not blinking freezing) bridle on and go. Not bridle on mount then stand sit there discussing where to go, it's a horse not a sofa and it's feet are getting cold as you stand there deciding.

Then they come back from the hack, horse is a bit hot maybe a tad steamy as they have done fast work, yeah leave it standing in the cold with no cooler, no rugm no nothing on for 15 minutes then feed it...good idea!

Ok rant over
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I still quarter and all the kids at the RS where I work are showed how to when it is very cold. None of the horses wear exercise sheets though.
 
I feel exactly the same - i hate it - i always keep his rug on and 'quarter him' whilst brushing - dont often ride in exercize sheets though and when i finish riding he has rugs straight back on - infact I don't think anyone on the yard has seen him naked for ages. hes permanately covered up, even at shows!
 
When really cold I like to warm the bit first - waddling around with bridle stuck between my fat thighs.
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OH does the same but he has nice big hands instead to warm up.

I then put on bridle, take off rug, immediately put on exercise blanket, then saddle, which I leave for a minute to warm up before tightening girth, then on and get moving.

On return, saddle and bridle off, then exericse rug and immediately rug up.

However, even if it freezing cold, mine do have 10 mins a day to stand grooming each other without rugs and give their skin a quick air. However, they are in the indoor school so out of the wind.

I have reminded youngsters on the yard about not leaving clipped ponies standing without rugs on cold days, ie get off, remove tack and rug straight on - common sense?
 
I quarter, but just do one half of the front at a time, so just fling the front at one side up if that makes sense? If its very cold, I'll put the exercise rug on his neck with the end of it on the front of his stable rug, pull the stable rug off and hey presto exercise rug is on
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When I get back, horse is not sweaty due to full clip and always walking the last bits home, so i put nz rug on over his exercise sheet, do it up and then pull off the exercise sheet like the tablecloth trick - keeps me amused! I always turn out after riding, so I never worried about him getting a chill due to his walking around/eating hay
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I posted this last year as I was getting very odd looks from some others!

I wouldn't want to get out of bed and then get stripped naked! (Well maybe now and again!)

I think it is just courteous and shows respect and compassion for your neddy.

Jo
 
I quarter too, i would never just whip their rugs off in the freezing cold when they are all warm and cozy. I am not the only one on my yard who does it, so nobody thinks i am weird...well, maybe they do but not because of that.
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I wouldn't want to get out of bed and then get stripped naked! (Well maybe now and again!)


[/ QUOTE ]

Heehee I like it! Glad it's not just me then, it's been a while since I've seen anyone else do it and I was starting to think I was being old fashioned. Not that I care, my girl drops weight at the mear mention of cold weather so I try to keep her warm enough that she doesn't realise it's winter.

My exercise sheet is a luminous yellow polar fleece (very fetching) keeps her bum warm but not too hot and means we get seen by drivers miles off.
 
I still quarter my horse, whether being ridden or not.
When changing rugs in the mornings I take off top rug then fold under rug back over bum, pop TO on front end, remove under rug and fold TO over bum.
So many people turn up in the mornings and whip there horses rugs off, even in the freezing weather - in that type of weather my horses under rug stays on under her turnout I just undo belly straps and re adjust rug before popping TO on top.
 
Me too! Though if not clipped I'll just take rugs off if it's not too cold. Always a cooler on if they get very warm or hot, then that comes off and dry rugs go on.

Felt mean for taking Diz's rug off to trot her up today
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But had to see what her bum was doing (what a way to spend my life lol).
 
I do it too. I always want to tell others they should but don't think they'd take it kindly. Just ignorance I think on their part.

I was in the Pony Club & I think it teaches you so much. Where do people learn stable management now? I'm not sure if many riding schools cover that side of things.
 
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