Has the discipline of horse management gone out the window in modern times???

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patch1234

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Around 30/40 years ago horse owners were incredibly more disciplined in their own management of horses. I dont mean farm horses or similar but riding horses.

For example my day was as follows:

6.00 - arrive at yard check all horses are well.

6.15 - 6.30am feed all horses and put up small net.

7.00 remove feed buckets, change rugs if necessary, skip out.

8.00 lightly groom those to be ridden

8.30 - 10.30 tack up and ride

10.30 full groom including strapping if necessary

12.00 tack cleaning

1.00 2nd feed and small net

Lunch

2.00 remove feed buckets skip out

3.00 ride those not ridden in the morning then groom

5.30 skip out 3rd feed and large hay net, change rugs, set fair

8.30 (if on evening check) check horses fill nets check all is well, skip out if necessary.

We always had to look smart, hair back no jewellery, clean clothes.

Our horses were always groomed and tidy, I hardly ever heard of colic, laminitis or back problems.

If we could turn out we did, more so in summer, but they always came in and were tidied up.

Mud fever was very rarely heard of as we kept the legs clean and dry.

Today I know people who turn up to yard at about 10am, throw them out in all weathers even if its a gale so they dont have to do the stables.

Others I know keep out 24/7 horses are covered in mud fever, rain scald.

I know this is not all horse owners but there is definately a lack of discipline these days. I know people work but there is still no exscuse for not putting the extra time into your horses.
 
I'd love nothing more than to spend my entire day at the yard (I do actually on any days off I get) but the small matter of work tends to get in the way ;)
 
I so remember all this. Taking the horses for a 30 minute trot round the roads the day before hunting as a rest day! No kissing spines then either!! Washing the horses legs was a real no, no. All heels were dried upon return from work and were kept well greased with a mixture of vaseline and protocon.
 
Fitting 8 hours at work plus travelling time is going to be difficult with that regime. Its check,fill water,feed, put hay in field ,change rugs and turnout. Go to work. After work bring in check, pick out feet
 
What's wrong with chucking horses out in all weather?
I don't always make sure mine are groomed to perfection when I ride as I don't have the time, if bridle and saddle/girth area are clean and mud free off I go.
My horses are rugged well, feed well( to their own dietary needs) and exercised. Does it matter if they don't have every bit of mud taken off and shine everyday? No it doesn't a lot of us don't really have the time to do the above.
 
merry mischief said:
When did you go to work to pay for your horse?

MM
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That was my business at that time. However when I worked in the city I still went to yard at 6.00 did the usual went to work came back and groomed. It just wasnt done to have a horse not looking well presented and as I was very proud of my horses I always did what was necessary.
 
there may have been no kissing spines diagnosis then but there were still horses sent to the knackers for behavioural problems-probably caused by pain.

there were good and bad things about ye olden days, just as there are good and bad things about the present.
 
Nothing wrong with keeping horses out, many cope just fine out without rainscald / mud fever / melting in the rain / disintegrating in a bit of a breeze :rolleyes:
 
Pmsl at fw! I too hate menial tasks, & can't be bothered putting in the extra time, so I'm one of those awful people who leaves their rainscalded & mud fevered horses out 24/7 mostly. And I'm so lazy that when they are in overnight, I turn out at 7am whatever the weather so I have even less to do in the stable. And I don't bother with the feed, cba. It's just so much easier to trudge through mud to the field in the pitch black, carrying half a bale of hay, & bring in, check over, do feet, remove rug, brush over, replace rug, turn back out, fish leaves from cold water trough etc. Far easier than skipping out & throwing a net in!
 
Wow, the rest of us are all bad, bad horses owner who take no pride in our horses then.

If they are happy, healthy and looked after does it matter if we don't spend hours grooming to perfection? ( and since idiot pony is white he spends most of the winter cream throughout winter)
 
patch1234 said:
That was my business at that time. However when I worked in the city I still went to yard at 6.00 did the usual went to work came back and groomed. It just wasnt done to have a horse not looking well presented and as I was very proud of my horses I always did what was necessary.
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Your definition of necessary is very different from mine :)

I don't find it "necessary" to scrape the mud off bits of my horses that won't be touched by tack, especially if after riding I am about to chuck them back out in a gale with their modern breathable duvet filled rugs on.

Personally I'd rather a horse was out getting freedom and fresh air in a field during the day in winter than spotless, and what's more I think the horse would too.

Times have certainly changed, and not entirely for the worse, I think.
 
FfionWinnie said:
He was a dear dear old man. Never let us girls lift a finger despite him only having one leg and a stoop. I will never forget the trip trap of him crossing the bridge to the stables every morn.
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'ere, who told you I only had one leg? Twas just was the way my breeches was! And I paid a lot of money for that stoop I'll 'ave you know!
 
Ignore previous post, I'm with you all the way. Infact I'm building a stable for my daughter Jill to keep her two ponies in, as a xmas present. Currently she keeps her new jumping pony at the riding school.
 
patch1234 said:
They still do as do Exmoors, Darmoors ect those are not what im talking about.
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Do you mean more like TBs and similar type comp horses?

(do I begin to tell about how both Reg and Bee- full TBs, both in full competition work this summer though at different levels, and Bee would still be if it weren't for an injury- are out 24/7, and the hunter is out for most of the time as well? Or just not bother?)
 
When mine used to live out I didnt even carry the haynets to the field ;)



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