Hilly Grazing - do horses get used to it?

D

Dovorian

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 December 2003
Messages
1,368
Location
under my umbrella
Visit site
We have had such wet weather all of our 'flattish' grazing is out of bounds. Fortunately we have quite a few acres of chalk downland which is useable most of the time. Unfortunately my horse doesn't seem to be able to use much common sense and keed careering down the steep bits totally unecessarily. frequently pulled off shoes and a few heart attacks for me when I see him skidding towards me.

There are flat areas but this Dutchman thinks that banks are there for him to try to kill himself on, his companion is very sensible and just watches the fiasco unfold!
 
when I put my mare on hilly welsh land she did the same thing, galloped up and down the hills at 100mph. She had never seen hills before as Texas is quite flat!!!

I think to her it was a game, she loved it. She had a little circuit that took her over a stream, up through the trees, along the flat and back down the slope. You could see her grinning.... Thankfully she never hurt herself and she is now on nice flat grazing, but enjoying hunting and eventing :-)
 
I would say they do get used to it, it is a pain if he manages to lose shoes, but otherwise you need to turn him out and walk away. My field is very undulating, some days my Mare goes around it at 100mph and how she doesn't fall over I just don't know. I can't bear to watch.
 
I think they learn how to not fall over, although you wouldn't think so to see ours running around some days. They always want to go and stand on top of a wall we have too (has a bank running along beind it). I have no idea why - they have so much more space, but apparently a 1 foot wide path is far more appealing
tongue.gif
grin.gif
 
H was never sounder than when she was fielded on hilly uneven ground as her joints had to work all the time and this (IMHO) helped to keep her sound!
smile.gif

It's a bit hairy-scary to watch but they're fine!
smile.gif

Kate x
 
Yes, they do get used to it and it does them the world of good as it helps build muscle tone.
 
My horses live out on a 6 acre hill. If they are at the bottom when I call they have to stop several times before they get up to me at the top. They zig zag.. Apart from that they have no problems...it keeps them ticking over fitness wise. I think they find going down harder than coming up especially as they go through the mud..
 
Mines on a hill too, the difference in her fitness this year is amazing compared with the last year when she was in a flat field. Mind you she is another who thinks the hill is to be raced up and down.
 
If Sunny was out on good grass he wouldn't care if he needed crampons and an abseiling kit! Thinking about it, he'd probably just lie on his side and eat what he could reach then get up and move a bit then lie down again. Sunny is the yard "barometer" for grass levels in a field. When he squeezes round/through/over/under hedges/fences/streams it's time to move the horses. Of course, this has earned him 4 ASBOs to date and I think 5 will get him a prison sentence!!!
 
They love it, and its great to improve their coordination and balance, esp for eventing, if your worried stick boots on...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top