Horsey Myths

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E_Lister

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I read the myth busting section on the breeding forum the other day, and it got me thinking about myths I have heard in the general horsey world...

Can anyone say if they are true/false/unknown:

Chestnut mares do actually have a more unpredictable temprament.

White hooves are "weaker" than black hooves.

Riders should not plait their hair to ride as if you fall off it is possible your hair gets caught and it will scalp you. (EEK!!)


(Disclaimer: I don't have an experience with horses with white hooves OR chestnut mares, I have been told that both these myths are untrue but I am curious about any evidence there might be to back this up. I have always followed my third as I am too scared of being scalped to do otherwise, although it is possible the girl who told me it was just winding me up!)

Anyone have any other myths they want busting too?
 
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That was my approximate reply too... I have lived in fear for about 8 years now! I only ever ride with my hair in a loose pony tail just in case :P
 
:-D

I have a coloured and I have been told by multiple people (inc vet and farrier) that his "multi coloured" hooves are as strong as all black ones.....

And I have no idea about the chesntut mare myth... have known some lovely ones?!
 
Chestnut mares do actually have a more unpredictable temprament.
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No idea, but "they" say the same thing about red haired women!!

White hooves are "weaker" than black hooves.
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Not true. Well I asked a farrier once and he said it was rubbish, there was a horse on our yard with 4 white feet and he said they were among the best hooves he'd ever shod.

Riders should not plait their hair to ride as if you fall off it is possible your hair gets caught and it will scalp you. (EEK!!)
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Never heard that one! I was told not to wear my [long] hair loose or in a pony tail for safety reasons

I was also told never to use metal hair accessories (slides, grips etc) in my hair when riding as they might snap if you fall off and stab you in the head!
 
I've known more horrid/mad chestnut mares than normal ones, so I believe that one. :D However I have met some lovely ones... Mares are just nutjobs in general.
 
Lobelia_Overhill said:
Never heard that one! I was told not to wear my [long] hair loose or in a pony tail for safety reasons
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How are we meant to wear our hair then? Riding is soo confusing!

I was also told never to use metal hair accessories (slides, grips etc) in my hair when riding as they might snap if you fall off and stab you in the head!
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That is ok, I don't anyway because they are uncomfortable under my hat!
 
Don't know about that Domane, I had heared that blue eyes were more sensitive to bright light, don't know if their eyesight is any better/worse that dark eyed horses though.
 
About chestnut mares.... well, it's definitely true for us ginger mares, so I assume it's the same for horses! :p

I honestly cant think of any right now but have heard plenty!
 
E_Lister said:
White hooves are "weaker" than black hooves.
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I've always read that this is untrue however my lad has one white front hoof and one black one. The black one always looks fine but during dry weather he often gets small splits and cracks in the white one. Sisters gelding also has two white feet (one front, one hind) and although he has good feet if there ever are any cracks they're in the white ones. They're possibly more obvious because of the white colour but I do keep a close eye on my lads as they were in terrible shape when we got him so it has made me think there may be some truth in this one!
 
Chestnut mares do actually have a more unpredictable temprament.
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I think that chestnuts in general are bit evil! I have honestly never known a very well behaved chestnut at all :D But of course there are exceptions, as many forum users could tell me :)

Riders should not plait their hair to ride as if you fall off it is possible your hair gets caught and it will scalp you. (EEK!!)
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I HOPE NOT!! :eek: I have really long hair, so I have to 'plait up' otherwise I look like a shetland in mid-winter :D I've never heard this one, so hooves crossed it isnt true :p
 
on from ginger mares, i once got told that you never get a bad dun!....the only dun i have known was petrified of any thing that was yellow!
 
The last chestnut mare i owned was one of the most placid creatures i've known and my current bay mare is much moodier. On the other hand i'm a redhead and i've probably got one of the shortest tempers amongst all of my friends so there could be some truth in that one! :p
 
My TB chestnut mare was the nicest horse you could ever want. Always reliable, tried her hardest, keen but never in a naughty way.
 
Don;t agree with chestnut mares - any horse can be tempermental IMHO.

What I have experienced is that any horse with a 'piggy eye' is less genuine than that of a horse that has a 'solid' eye. (Some of you will tell me otherwise!!)

Regarding the white hoof, I think the hooves themselves are much the same as any black or stripey hoof BUT the pale skin/white hair marking on the leg such as a sock IS different to a black/dark leg in such a way that the hair is coarser and yet more prone to skin infections such as mud fever.

Blue eyes don't do it for me (each to their own) so I have not experienced any horse with sight restrictions. I do think horses have a favourite colour mind!!

Plaited hair - never heard that one before, but I guess it kinda makes sense as palited hair will be stronger so if caught during a fall - it would hurt!! (Have not got long hair and won't again, so it shouldn't affect me!!)

Is it true that a horse with a good walk automatically has a good canter?? Is there any reason to assume this is true or not?

Big ears = fast horse??? (just to add another).
 
White hooves are just the same as black ones. However, the pink skin on the socks that are attached to the white hooves can be more sensitive and a pain to deal with for rubbing/mud fever/photosensitisation so maybe that's where the old wives tale comes from.

After having a nightmare of a time dealing with sensitive pink skin on our grey's two white legs, I vowed never to have a horse with white legs again. So of course I've gone out and got one with four white legs.....
 
One of mine has 4 white feet, never a problem. Same horse walks out brilliant but can not canter very well at all!!! is all disunited, is a trotter x
 
What about:

If you ride out with your keepers undone it's unlucky.
It's unlucky to put the saddle on before the bridle.

I always now check my keepers before I get on and NEVER but my saddle on before the bridle!!
 
I always put saddle on before bridle so the girth goes up a bit at a time- once on, after bridle and again before i get on (and often again after i'm on). I don't think i have any worse luck than anyone else lol, and the horses are happier.
 
thelwell_girl said:
I HOPE NOT!! :eek: I have really long hair, so I have to 'plait up' otherwise I look like a shetland in mid-winter :D I've never heard this one, so hooves crossed it isnt true :p
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I used to have a similar length hair to you (judging from your pictures) and so that I didn't "go thelwell" my way was to have my hair in a pony tail and then another two bobbles about 1/3 and 2/3 of the way down the hair. I looked like a moron but if anyone commented I said that I would look like more of a moron without a scalp!!

I have never heard of the tacking up in a particular order myth, like Somethingorother I tend to put the saddle on first because then I can do the girth more gradually. As for the keeping the parts of the bridle in their holders, I do that because I am a neat freak more than anything else!
 
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Ah, thats a good point about the hair. I might do that, i always look like a moron when i'm around the horses covered in snot and pooh, so it shouldn't be too noticable! I can see the point about plaiting hair, but i have so much of it that i have to keep it out of the way somehow. My problem is that i always end up with a massive lug along the base of my neck, from my collar i think. Have been considering using a hairnet whenever i ride- now that would make you look like a moron lol.
 
Ruthnmeg said:
Is it true that a horse with a good walk automatically has a good canter?? Is there any reason to assume this is true or not?

Big ears = fast horse??? (just to add another).
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I was at tattersalls one year and was told this.... has never let me down when having a dabble on the grand national!! lol
 
Ruthnmeg said:
Big ears = fast horse??? (just to add another).
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Hehe surely then if that had truth to it race horse breeders would soon be focusing on producing big ears :p Haha,imagine it, meet the new part donkey cheltenham cup winner :p



race1-donkey-derbies.jpg
 
Ruthnmeg said:
Is it true that a horse with a good walk automatically has a good canter?? Is there any reason to assume this is true or not?

Big ears = fast horse??? (just to add another).
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My gelding has a fairly decent walk in my opinion, and his canter is awful! Not sure if that's just entirely down to his balance issues though... xD

He also has big ears... and can shift.... but only when he wants to! :D
 
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