HHO - what have you done to me?!

NiceChristmasBaubles

NiceChristmasBaubles

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Was Surrey, now West Berkshire
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This time last year my horse and pony were tucked up in layers of rugs in their full livery stables, not able to go in their fields because of the snow and ice.

Today, my ponies have been out, naked!!, in a snowy field.

Now to be fair, my old girl (34 yr old 3/4 TB) is still in full livery with my friend and is (I hope) tucked up in her stable with cosy rugs on. But my ponies are now at home. The one we bought fully shod this year is now unshod (the other was already unshod), and they are both being turned out during the day without rugs at the moment, as with the extra haylage due to the snow, I really don't want their waistline increasing.

And I feel quite proud of myself for letting my ponies be ponies, not glass ornaments. If it hadn't been for HHO, and the opportunity to read posts and learn from other forum members, I'm not sure I would be so comfortable about this. I really value this forum as a place to learn, post queries and receive support and helpful responses. Yes, there are responses that are less than helpful, and those who would accuse you of neglecting your horses just because you ask a question. But on the whole, most people have something to add. I don't necessarily agree with all the opinions posted on here, but isn't it great that we can read all those opinions, filter them and decide what works best for us and our horses?

Thank you HHO forum members, you have certainly added to my year in a very positive way! xx :)
 
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What a lovely thread! So nice to read something nice :) I'm a 'newbie' but have been lurking around for a couple of years and have to say I've read some good advice on here too, can I hijack and say thank you to everyone too?
 
I firmly believe that whilst there is SOME good advice here, its also pays to listen to 'real' people and to yourself. My babies are in with 4/5 turnout as im not going to have mine breaking anything. There have been 3 horses in the last 6 days whom have been pts through broken legs and numerous with laminitis due to the strength of the grass and the snow impactation in the hooves.

For me personally I would rather be safe than sorry and as my pair are much happier and want to go into their stable thats what will happen until the conditions become safer.
:)
 
LOL I love this forum - slowly you learn who talks sense and i have learnt and felt comftable with advice given - you take or leave it lol but seriously to all who have given me advice help and more importantly a shoulder to you all I wish you the best for the new year - I hope all youre dreams come true xxx
 
mollylolly said:
I firmly believe that whilst there is SOME good advice here, its also pays to listen to 'real' people and to yourself. My babies are in with 4/5 turnout as im not going to have mine breaking anything. There have been 3 horses in the last 6 days whom have been pts through broken legs and numerous with laminitis due to the strength of the grass and the snow impactation in the hooves.

For me personally I would rather be safe than sorry and as my pair are much happier and want to go into their stable thats what will happen until the conditions become safer.
:)
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Yes Mollylolly, that suits you and you are more than entitled to do what you want with yours. If I had valuable youngsters then I would probably be paranoid. But mine are middle aged native/native crosses who will likely get colic/lami/cabin fever if I keep them in, so I turn mine out. I'm not judging you, so please don't judge me. It doesn't mean I love mine any less.

babymare said:
LOL I love this forum - slowly you learn who talks sense and i have learnt and felt comftable with advice given - you take or leave it lol but seriously to all who have given me advice help and more importantly a shoulder to you all I wish you the best for the new year - I hope all youre dreams come true xxx
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Yes, babymare, that 'shoulder of support' is all too important - happy new year!
 
Hehe. It's like a cult! But a good cult with happy horses in :)

Mine are in at nights but have been out every day apart from Christmas (there is only so much you can expect your mate, who is doing them for free, to do after all)

And one is a TB with legs like cocktail sticks. Even she has survived!
 
nikicb said:
Yes Mollylolly, that suits you and you are more than entitled to do what you want with yours. If I had valuable youngsters then I would probably be paranoid. But mine are middle aged native/native crosses who will likely get colic/lami/cabin fever if I keep them in, so I turn mine out. I'm not judging you, so please don't judge me. It doesn't mean I love mine any less.



Yes, babymare, that 'shoulder of support' is all too important - happy new year!
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Hi i think you misunderstand, I do not judge, I believe no one has the right to judge anyone, and I certainly do not imply that you dont love yours any less.
I make the point because whether it be my old timer or my babies or anyones horse - i dont want any of them to hurt themselves or to be out pts due to a break. I take advice from my different sources, including real life people like my vet and my farrier. No offence intended.
 
mollylolly said:
Hi i think you misunderstand, I do not judge, I believe no one has the right to judge anyone, and I certainly do not imply that you dont love yours any less.
I make the point because whether it be my old timer or my babies or anyones horse - i dont want any of them to hurt themselves or to be out pts due to a break. I take advice from my different sources, including real life people like my vet and my farrier. No offence intended.
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Please Mollylolly, this was meant to be a happy post. As I said, my oldie is in. I DO take advice from real people, but most of all I do what I want to do with MY horses, based on what I read and know from past experiences. And everyone else can do what they want with their own (cruelty excepted obviously). This was meant to be a celebration of the fact that we have this forum. Maybe I shouldn't have posted, but I wanted to say thank you to everyone for sharing their ideas.
 
I agree with you, I have had so much helpful advice from people on here, mainly 'just' horse owners who have learned from experience and are willing to share that with others. I know you have to filter through the advice and ignore anything that doesn't fit with your own morals occasionally but on the whole most of it is well worth having. Sometimes, a fresh pair of eyes looking at a problem can give real results and some of the ideas put forward for general care are really good too.
 
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