Horses - treat them like horses or treat them like kids?!

Binky01 said:
Ditto this thinking about it!

Though I do adore my horse...I think it's just learning when things are serious and need attention and when smaller incidents that happen, aren't as serious.
Or experiencing enough serious things happen that you get used it and not panic as much as previous?
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Ditto this completely.

Also, I'm lucky enough to keep them at home so can do as I please but I hate to hear that others on a yard disagree with how you are keeping your horses and almost bully you into a guilt trip to change. If you're looking after your horses well, what business is it of theirs that you're not mollycoddling but treating your horse like a horse?
 
I treat my boy like a horse although I admit I felt neglected yesterday. The YO has turned them all out for the summer 24/7 yesterday so instead of running to me as normal he ran away! Naughty boy!

My friend treats her girl like a child. She's constantly worrying about if she's too hot / too cold and is always buying her new numnahs/rugs etc.
 
LaurenM said:
I treat my boy like a horse although I admit I felt neglected yesterday. The YO has turned them all out for the summer 24/7 yesterday so instead of running to me as normal he ran away! Naughty boy!

My friend treats her girl like a child. She's constantly worrying about if she's too hot / too cold and is always buying her new numnahs/rugs etc.
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I don't really understand why worrying about whether a horse is too hot/cold is akin to treating it like a child? The minute you choose to rug a horse it is your responsibility to ensure it isn't suffering. You cant just throw any old rug on it with no thought for it's comfort or welfare.
 
I am afraid my horses are my children, there isn't anything I wouldn't do with them, they are more then "just" a horse to ride, they are part of my family and always will be.
 
Ron's awesome, really he is. But he is a horse at the end of the day, and I totally agree with OP... treat a horse like a horse. It's treating them like kids IMO that turns them into nippy, pushy, bargy little ****s... I know not every horse is like that, but too many are.

My sisters horse, Tom, was hand reared through no fault of his own, but the lady who reared him treated him like a kid. As a result he's the stroppiest, nosiest, most in-your-face horse I know. It's drives me bonkers that half his behaviour is because he thinks he should be the centre of your world.
 
It is certainly not uncommon for hand reared foals to be more opinionated than most. Most mothers will not put up with over boisterous behaviour from their foal and will give it a quick nip.

I am strongly of the view that a horse is a horse and whilst it is my duty and honour to provide the best care I can, I won't be doing him any favours by ascribing human characteristics to him.

On the rugging issue, I am with the 'it is better to underrug than overrug" brigade. Don't forget your horse has been outside - and I include being stabled as being outside - and not in a centrally heated house/office/car, etc.
 
My two are so spoilt that our tack shop owner and his staff have told me that they want to come back as my horse in their next life!!! Joking aside, I adore my two and would do anything for them, but they are horses and although they are spoilt materially, they are not molly coddled by me in any respect. They dont give a dam about the new rugs, tack and saddle cloths, plus lotions and potions I spend vast quantities of my salary on. As long as they have regular turnout, exercise, good food, adequate workload and equine company, oh and a cuddle from mum, plus a carrot or two,they are happy. I wonder sometimes who we really do this for? Our horses or ourselves?

Hell, its fun spending the money on them though.
 
On the rugging issue, only one of mine is rugged. He has one rug,and it is either on, or it is off, i am a baaaad person.
Horse are horses.
 
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