Echo24
Well-Known Member
A friend's horse was suffering from colic a few years ago and someone on the yard told her to keep it lying down by sitting on top of it 
"Horsey people" that havent got a clue!
- Thread starter Hoof_Prints
- Start date
slumdog
Well-Known Member
"The ignorance is astounding. I find it hard to believe that there are so many people who think its ok to drive a badly maintained horsebox."
In fairness, you would think that about mine if it drove past! It's 900 years old and previous owner has painted it in some kind of house paint that is falling off so to look at she's not the prettiest. But, she flew through her mot and is solid as anything. Good old Betsy!
In fairness, you would think that about mine if it drove past! It's 900 years old and previous owner has painted it in some kind of house paint that is falling off so to look at she's not the prettiest. But, she flew through her mot and is solid as anything. Good old Betsy!
Auslander
Well-Known Member
A friend's horse was suffering from colic a few years ago and someone on the yard told her to keep it lying down by sitting on top of it
Sitting on the neck is actually a very effective old school tactic to keep a horse down and quiet!
natalia
Well-Known Member
Your completely correct to sit on a horse who is down with colic. It stops them thrashing about and if they are just down laying still its the best thing to do! Sitting on top of neck/ head stops rolling and getting up. I've been taught keep them up and moving or down and still.
Hoof_Prints
Well-Known Member
I haven't seen her for a couple of years now, she was a well meaning lady but was dangerously optimistic about her pony's problems- which did him no favours! Unfortunately the Shetland pony did end up having to be PTS after months and months of being shut inside and hobbling around in hoof boots
the vets kept telling her to put him to sleep but she said they were just being cruel.
ShadowFlame
Well-Known Member
I remember one yard years ago, a guy who claimed to be fairly competent went out and bought a "posh" new rug for his 8yo TB. Does-the-works-indoor-outdoor-whatever-you-will kinda rug. Turns out it was a HW stable rug, but they left it on indoor, outdoor, cold, rain, burning sun... the works, despite being told it wasn't suitable and despite people taking it off for him.
Horse was found dead in the field around a month later, mid winter. They claimed it was colic, but there were no signs of any thrashing / rolling. "Not having a clue" can be pretty funny in hindsight, but it can be downright disasterous aswell.
On a lighter note, we had a lady move onto our yard last year with an unbroken TB... they were going to learn together as she wanted a baby. She had no idea about rugs, put him "to bed" at 2pm one afternoon, to come back and find him in a state at 3pm the following day, couldn't put a headcollar on, found rising trot nigh on impossible...
Thankfully the guy she'd hired to back him gave her a stern talking to, and she moved off shortly after that. No idea if she kept the horse, but it was an accident waiting to happen.
Sleipnir
Well-Known Member
When I bought my gelding from a yard I used to work and take lessons at, a lady who was supposed to be the most experienced instructor, gave me a parting advice - never spend more than three hours in a row with your horse, because then he will become unable to live without a human and vicious in interaction.
Wait, what did you sell me again - a horse or a gremlin that is not to be fed after midnight?!
The yard itself was a scary place. The YM would postulate that any supplements cause laminitis, the YO taught that horses should be ridden on the forehand so that they are unable to take off or be too fast, and they thought their young breeding stallion wasn't self-conscious enough, so they put him in a small pen with an older gelding and let him beat the gelding to pulp. And that's just some of the things... It was my first lesson yard and I knew no better back then, but moved away and took my favourite horse with me as soon as I understood what was going on.
Wait, what did you sell me again - a horse or a gremlin that is not to be fed after midnight?!
The yard itself was a scary place. The YM would postulate that any supplements cause laminitis, the YO taught that horses should be ridden on the forehand so that they are unable to take off or be too fast, and they thought their young breeding stallion wasn't self-conscious enough, so they put him in a small pen with an older gelding and let him beat the gelding to pulp. And that's just some of the things... It was my first lesson yard and I knew no better back then, but moved away and took my favourite horse with me as soon as I understood what was going on.
Embo
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately, there are a few people like this at my yard.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with not knowing it all, we all have to start somewhere. If the person is willing to admit they need help and willing to learn, then great.
It's when you get the know-it-alls who have ridden only a handful of times, yet they obviously know more than the people who have had horses for many years... they are just downright dangerous.
I will admit, I almost put my horse's boots on the wrong way... it was an early morning lol but luckily I remembered after only putting one on that the straps do up on the outside of the leg! Whoops!
There's also a lady on my yard who has two rescue horses that cannot be ridden. She literally just looks after them, which is really nice in itself. But she once rented a third stable for a time and filled it with sand and pebbles so that it resembled some sort of beach... and both horses were each made to stand in the sandy/pebbly beach thing for an hour a day.
I'm not sure for what purpose as this happened before my time at the yard but the sandy-stable is no more.
Very odd.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with not knowing it all, we all have to start somewhere. If the person is willing to admit they need help and willing to learn, then great.
It's when you get the know-it-alls who have ridden only a handful of times, yet they obviously know more than the people who have had horses for many years... they are just downright dangerous.
I will admit, I almost put my horse's boots on the wrong way... it was an early morning lol but luckily I remembered after only putting one on that the straps do up on the outside of the leg! Whoops!
There's also a lady on my yard who has two rescue horses that cannot be ridden. She literally just looks after them, which is really nice in itself. But she once rented a third stable for a time and filled it with sand and pebbles so that it resembled some sort of beach... and both horses were each made to stand in the sandy/pebbly beach thing for an hour a day.
I'm not sure for what purpose as this happened before my time at the yard but the sandy-stable is no more.
Very odd.
Meowy Catkin
Meow!
I'd love to have something like this, but as part of a track system. It would be great for BF/unshod hooves. Don't forget that filling a stable with pea shingle is sometimes advised for horses with acute laminitis.
I would guess that as her horses were unshod and retired, she was putting them in there each day to give their hooves stimulation and to help keep them in good condition.
NellRosk
Well-Known Member
A lady has come to our yard this weekend after buying a pregnant gypsy cob at a local sales. She has never ridden a horse before and has nothing for the horse or any riding clothes/ boots for herself. This cob is 8 and has never been broken and she hopes when it has had the foal that she can just get on it and go. Unbelievable, I feel so sorry for the poor horse and for her when she inevitably has an accident
Hoof_Prints
Well-Known Member
I am worrying now about the amount of idiots I know so I am getting reluctant to post but here goes.. I have a couple more.
I was hacking out past a some fields where a chap keeps a collection of horses he's picked up from sales (varying from welsh 2 year olds to ex racers to retired eventers). I saw him sending a horse round in canter, on the wrong leg with two lunge lines both tangled around its legs- I was just passing when the guy called over that it was natural horsemanship
I assume he'd just watched The Horse Whisperer or something and decided to have a go 
I stopped my horse and remarked that the horse was very tangled up, unbalanced and looked a bit scared, apparently he was gaining respect at this point. I then turned to leave when the chap said 'you can have this one if you want, just take him, he's free' In all seriousness ! he wanted me to take the horse then and there.
A few years ago when my pony went lame after a tendon injury, I was asked to ride someone's horse who was talented, well bred and absolutely stunning. When I arrived the horse was stabled, and apparently he had been all week! The owner proudly stated how much he horse loved him because he was so happy to see him at weekends. The horse was locked up all week and cared for by the YO until he got back from his lorry driving job at weekends and the horse was sooo pleased to see him
. I got on the horse and the bloke hardly gave me a chance to ride because he was too busy telling me how he'd impressed Tim Stockdale at a show by telling him how to get a horse on the bit ! I then got told that you should NEVER start a horse with a snaffle, you should only use a Pelham on the bottom ring or else the horse will never learn how to go in an 'outline'. Anyway I was just dismounting and getting ready to leave when I hear a scream- the YO had decided to turn out her youngster who had also been left in all week she was in the stable throwing brushes at it and screaming because he didn't want to have a headcollar put on. The bloke went over and put a lead rope on its neck (once it had stopped rearing in the stable and charging at the door), then got dragged across the yard while it reared and kicked out before breaking off and charging towards it's mates in the field.
I tried for a while to buy the horse from the bloke but he was having none of it, apparently the horse wouldn't cope without him as it loved him so much. OH and I also asked if he was this competent show jumper who impressed Tim Stockdale, why he didn't ride the horse- his answer? Because he rode in wales once and it was such a nice place to ride, he couldn't bear to ride back at home.
but here goes.. I have a couple more.I was hacking out past a some fields where a chap keeps a collection of horses he's picked up from sales (varying from welsh 2 year olds to ex racers to retired eventers). I saw him sending a horse round in canter, on the wrong leg with two lunge lines both tangled around its legs- I was just passing when the guy called over that it was natural horsemanship
I assume he'd just watched The Horse Whisperer or something and decided to have a go I stopped my horse and remarked that the horse was very tangled up, unbalanced and looked a bit scared, apparently he was gaining respect at this point. I then turned to leave when the chap said 'you can have this one if you want, just take him, he's free' In all seriousness ! he wanted me to take the horse then and there.
A few years ago when my pony went lame after a tendon injury, I was asked to ride someone's horse who was talented, well bred and absolutely stunning. When I arrived the horse was stabled, and apparently he had been all week! The owner proudly stated how much he horse loved him because he was so happy to see him at weekends. The horse was locked up all week and cared for by the YO until he got back from his lorry driving job at weekends and the horse was sooo pleased to see him
. I got on the horse and the bloke hardly gave me a chance to ride because he was too busy telling me how he'd impressed Tim Stockdale at a show by telling him how to get a horse on the bit ! I then got told that you should NEVER start a horse with a snaffle, you should only use a Pelham on the bottom ring or else the horse will never learn how to go in an 'outline'. Anyway I was just dismounting and getting ready to leave when I hear a scream- the YO had decided to turn out her youngster who had also been left in all week she was in the stable throwing brushes at it and screaming because he didn't want to have a headcollar put on. The bloke went over and put a lead rope on its neck (once it had stopped rearing in the stable and charging at the door), then got dragged across the yard while it reared and kicked out before breaking off and charging towards it's mates in the field.I tried for a while to buy the horse from the bloke but he was having none of it, apparently the horse wouldn't cope without him as it loved him so much. OH and I also asked if he was this competent show jumper who impressed Tim Stockdale, why he didn't ride the horse- his answer? Because he rode in wales once and it was such a nice place to ride, he couldn't bear to ride back at home.
RLS
Well-Known Member
"A woman who turned her horse out in high vis so that the other horses wouldn't accidentally bump into it."
Dab Dab, at my old yard the yard owner/ manager and another livery refused to put the horses out one day as it was a bit foggy and they might bump into each other!
Dab Dab, at my old yard the yard owner/ manager and another livery refused to put the horses out one day as it was a bit foggy and they might bump into each other!
FubsyMog
Well-Known Member
Some of these are priceless! And also terrifying It does sort of give me hope though - as a RS rider, my knowledge is fairly limited but I'm confident I wouldn't get myself into some of the situations described here! I think I also know what I don't know, which is probably useful
It does sort of give me hope though - as a RS rider, my knowledge is fairly limited but I'm confident I wouldn't get myself into some of the situations described here! I think I also know what I don't know, which is probably useful
DabDab
Thinks the luddites had a point...
What, and they didn't think of high vis - how unimaginative!
Love the Tim Stockdale man story, particularly his reason for not riding
RLS
Well-Known Member
What, and they didn't think of high vis - how unimaginative!
Yes, I know! I think I should text the YO and suggest the high-vis. A very good idea, thank you.
Mistywoo
Well-Known Member
We have a few "All the gear and no idea" types in this area. One lady was recently hacking out on her horse who had on very expensive brushing boots all round, hock books, knee boots and over reach on his hindlegs as well as the fronts. He also had a saddle cloth, a numnah and a prolite underneath the saddle -which probably did fit before the addition of all that, a breastplate with both running and standing martingale attached to his flash and chelt gag bridle, which of course was ridden with two sets of reins. And a crupper. I just kept my mouth shut as we passed other than to say good morning and tried not to stare. It was almost like she brought every single piece of tack going and put it all on him!
We also seem to be an area for clueless horse care. If your horse isn't hugely overweight you need to feed conditioning foods as they are under weight. And the amount of people who put the saddle far to far forwards beggars belief. Lots of people seem to ride on the neck. Oh and the epitome of being a good horse person around here is having a horse who is virtually un-rideable and tries to kill everyone. Clearly you have to be super skilled to handle such a beast, and anyone who has a well behaved, calm and obliging horse has brought a 'dope on a rope' because they are very novice-y!
It was very hard when we first moved here as we are definitely the odd ones out, after 8 years it's now water off a ducks back. We don't boot unless we need to, we use the minimum tack possible -saves me lots of un-necessary cleaning, we ride on our horses backs and not on their necks and all our horses are the right weight. We also treat our horses like horses, which means feeding and handling them appropriately so they are nice and enjoyable. If that makes us look like novices then that's just fine with us!
We also seem to be an area for clueless horse care. If your horse isn't hugely overweight you need to feed conditioning foods as they are under weight. And the amount of people who put the saddle far to far forwards beggars belief. Lots of people seem to ride on the neck. Oh and the epitome of being a good horse person around here is having a horse who is virtually un-rideable and tries to kill everyone. Clearly you have to be super skilled to handle such a beast, and anyone who has a well behaved, calm and obliging horse has brought a 'dope on a rope' because they are very novice-y!
It was very hard when we first moved here as we are definitely the odd ones out, after 8 years it's now water off a ducks back. We don't boot unless we need to, we use the minimum tack possible -saves me lots of un-necessary cleaning, we ride on our horses backs and not on their necks and all our horses are the right weight. We also treat our horses like horses, which means feeding and handling them appropriately so they are nice and enjoyable. If that makes us look like novices then that's just fine with us!
Dunlin
Well-Known Member
Most of these are hilarious but some are truly worrying!!
A friend of mine was helping me give my horse a bath before a DR comp later that night, she had gained interest through me and had only had a few lessons at that point. Quite simple instructions, wash his face then body with yellow sponge, then last thing wash his bum with pink sponge. She used the pink sponge for his bum, then sheath, then body then face. When I asked why she completely ignored what I said and risked giving him an eye infection she said "you shouldn't pamper him like this, you need to be the boss". Fast forward 15 years and she's just had her first baby... I worry!
A friend of mine was helping me give my horse a bath before a DR comp later that night, she had gained interest through me and had only had a few lessons at that point. Quite simple instructions, wash his face then body with yellow sponge, then last thing wash his bum with pink sponge. She used the pink sponge for his bum, then sheath, then body then face. When I asked why she completely ignored what I said and risked giving him an eye infection she said "you shouldn't pamper him like this, you need to be the boss". Fast forward 15 years and she's just had her first baby... I worry!
Antw23uk
Well-Known Member
I must confess to my 'All the gear ... No idea' moment last night because sometimes I do actually feel like a complete no nothing!
My new horse seems to really dislike the flash noseband and although it does its job for me I just feel horrible riding him in it so I'm taking steps to rectify this by trying a Grackle on him so I fanny about with this grackle last night before a hack and ive got two other riders sitting on horses waiting to go ... then the new martingale I have is twisted so im faffing about with that all the time Gizmo's head is getting lower and lower to the ground and the yawns are getting bigger and bigger ... Thanks mate!!
I then decide that sod it, im now running so late i will take the nsoeband off and remove the martingale ... im now riding an ex racer with a simple no nosband bridle
so thats not a good idea because he is so fresh at the moment so I then thread the flash back on without taking said bridle off and eventually get a saddle on and mounting .... so i started off tacking up the horse with a flash noseband and after all that messing about he ends up tacked up exactly like he always is which was soon pointed out by my friends
Last night I just felt like a total dunce. I could just not get my bum in gear so I must confess ... I'm a bit of an 'all the gear ... no idea' kinda guy sometimes
My new horse seems to really dislike the flash noseband and although it does its job for me I just feel horrible riding him in it so I'm taking steps to rectify this by trying a Grackle on him so I fanny about with this grackle last night before a hack and ive got two other riders sitting on horses waiting to go ... then the new martingale I have is twisted so im faffing about with that all the time Gizmo's head is getting lower and lower to the ground and the yawns are getting bigger and bigger ... Thanks mate!!
I then decide that sod it, im now running so late i will take the nsoeband off and remove the martingale ... im now riding an ex racer with a simple no nosband bridle
so thats not a good idea because he is so fresh at the moment so I then thread the flash back on without taking said bridle off and eventually get a saddle on and mounting .... so i started off tacking up the horse with a flash noseband and after all that messing about he ends up tacked up exactly like he always is which was soon pointed out by my friends Last night I just felt like a total dunce. I could just not get my bum in gear so I must confess ... I'm a bit of an 'all the gear ... no idea' kinda guy sometimes
tiga71
Well-Known Member
I also confess to some complete muppety moments. When I got Izzy I was very, very novicey but that's why I had him on part livery.
Have had to get people to help me with his bridle when i have put it together wrong after cleaning it. Usually when it is halfway on his long suffering head
The other day I was putting his magnetic rug on and did up the neck and chest fastenings, then someone came to chat and asked me to look at something. So I wandered off, then went and got diesel in the lorry etc. Came back to get Izzy to load for our jumping lesson and he was standing there looking a bit confused as to why his magnetic rug was around his feet, hanging from his neck. Note to self: Must do straps up and not get distracted! Good job he is such a good pony and just stood waiting for me to rescue him.
I am generally much less numpty but do still have my moments.
Have had to get people to help me with his bridle when i have put it together wrong after cleaning it. Usually when it is halfway on his long suffering head
The other day I was putting his magnetic rug on and did up the neck and chest fastenings, then someone came to chat and asked me to look at something. So I wandered off, then went and got diesel in the lorry etc. Came back to get Izzy to load for our jumping lesson and he was standing there looking a bit confused as to why his magnetic rug was around his feet, hanging from his neck. Note to self: Must do straps up and not get distracted! Good job he is such a good pony and just stood waiting for me to rescue him.
I am generally much less numpty but do still have my moments.
Pigeon
Well-Known Member
Yes!! Seen people tie up their horses by the reins, and put bits in upside down or back to front. I'll admit it has given me a paranoia so I google every new bit of kit before attempting to attach it to the horse!
Also the standard following of the Parelli Guide to a Headshy Horse...
I'll admit I often realise halfway through a ride that my saddle is too far forwards He has no shoulders to speak of so it slips a bit when we go downhill...
Also the standard following of the Parelli Guide to a Headshy Horse...
I'll admit I often realise halfway through a ride that my saddle is too far forwards
He has no shoulders to speak of so it slips a bit when we go downhill...
LaurenBay
Well-Known Member
Some of these are scary!
We had a bloke at my livery who bought a Horse just because his ex had them. He couldn't tell one end from the other. We went to pick him up, he couldn't tell us any of the Horses details apart from "it's a boy" and his name. Had no idea what we were turning up too. It turned out to be a well mannered 18YO 16.1 Liver chestnut WB. Owner caught him, with headcollar on upside down and gave me a set of travel boots and said "someone said I should put these cushions on him" so I did the boots and corrected the headcollar, owner lead him out to the trailer, dropped the rope and then tried to push the Horse in. Luckily his Horse has the patience of a saint.
He did improve loads at my yard, we all helped him and YO even gave him lessons on her School mistress and brought his Horse back into work. He did so many stupid things though, my fav was when his Horse was lame and rather then hold the hose, he tied it to his leg with twine and walked off. He did this twice a day for 20 minutes each time, til I caught him and told him how dangerous it was.
He also said that the dominant Horse kept biting his Horse because he didn't like the owner and wanted him to pay out more lol.
He left to go onto grass livery now.
We had a bloke at my livery who bought a Horse just because his ex had them. He couldn't tell one end from the other. We went to pick him up, he couldn't tell us any of the Horses details apart from "it's a boy" and his name. Had no idea what we were turning up too. It turned out to be a well mannered 18YO 16.1 Liver chestnut WB. Owner caught him, with headcollar on upside down and gave me a set of travel boots and said "someone said I should put these cushions on him" so I did the boots and corrected the headcollar, owner lead him out to the trailer, dropped the rope and then tried to push the Horse in. Luckily his Horse has the patience of a saint.
He did improve loads at my yard, we all helped him and YO even gave him lessons on her School mistress and brought his Horse back into work. He did so many stupid things though, my fav was when his Horse was lame and rather then hold the hose, he tied it to his leg with twine and walked off. He did this twice a day for 20 minutes each time, til I caught him and told him how dangerous it was.
He also said that the dominant Horse kept biting his Horse because he didn't like the owner and wanted him to pay out more lol.
He left to go onto grass livery now.
Pigeon
Well-Known Member
That's the thing I find funny, often the clueless ones end up with absolute darlings of horses who put up with everything without batting an eyelid!
Horse*
Well-Known Member
My favorite was from a young boy 'the best way to cool a pony down is to gallop it around so it gets the wind in it's face'
I'm sure we've all had many of theses silly moments, we've just been luckily enough to have knowledgeable people around to correct us.
I'm sure we've all had many of theses silly moments, we've just been luckily enough to have knowledgeable people around to correct us.
Pinkvboots
Well-Known Member
A friend of mine works in a livery yard well a new family turn up with there new pony, the two teenage daughters come and find my friend to say the pony was on its way being delivered they had only just bought it, so my friend says have you got his stable ready, they reply oh yes, she walks round to have a look they had put one section of straw on the floor as a bed, so my friend goes to find them to explain its not enough so she shows them by putting a few bales down, she then says wheres his hay, one of the girls says there pointing to a handfull of hay in the corner, seriously how can you buy any animal and not have a scooby about how much it needs to eat, think they thought it would be like feeding a rabbit, luckily they have had loads of help and the pony is an angel they would only ride him on a lead rein at first but now one of the girls is cantering and hacks him out, thank god for livery yard workers I think.
LaurenBay
Well-Known Member
I just thought of another. Same bloke. This is before my Yo's lessons, so he had never sat on a Horse before and his Horse hasn't been ridden in almost a year. He decided one day when bringing in he was going to get on him, so he climbs on from fence and sits on him. No hat, tack etc. Not knowing how to ride he didn't have a clue what to do, so booted his Horse hard. His Horse was a saint on the ground, but sensitive to ride. I got to the yard just in time to see him fall off onto the concrete.
chaps89
Well-Known Member
This wasn't in Leicestershire was it?!?!?! Sounds quite scarily similar to some-one I used to know.
Hoof_Prints
Well-Known Member
Will PM you!
Antw23uk
Well-Known Member
This is so me and Gizmo, he puts up with me without thinking twice and has the patience of a saint ... He gives it away with a big sigh or a yawn every now and then though but how can I blame him for that with an owner like me, hahaa
fatpiggy
Well-Known Member
Stories like this are one of the main reasons, having lost my old girl last year, are why I will NEVER have a horse again - I've seen so many examples of stupidity, neglect and downright cruelty I don't want to be associated with the horse world any more. At the first yard I was on was a really weird family. I'm sure they took it in turns to have the brain cell for the day. One had had several horses over the years but was prone to copying what other people did and clearly didn't have an original thought in her head. I put my impetuous mare into a 3 ring Dutch gag with double reins, so she went and bought the same. I hacked out in brushing boots so she started doing the same -with the striking pad on the outside of the leg, buckles to the inside (WTF?) and having seen me put on overreach boots, went and borrowed a pair and fitted them ABOVE the fetlocks. I made the mistake of mentioning in her presence that I was adding some oil to my horse's feed and a couple of day later I noticed her lovely arab mare with a bucket of food on the door but not eating. I went and took a look - it was like an oil slick. She must have put half a litre of cooking oil in, the poor poor pony. She also thought that a single pad of loose hay chucked over the door was sufficient for a 14hh-er at night. Then there was the family that turned up (a work colleague phoned and warned me they were likely coming our way) with a lovely purebred Connie, the daughter having had precisely 7 lessons. They had no idea how to tack up, even put on a headcollar or use a hoofpick, no idea what ponies ate or where to go to buy it. In fact, no idea about anything. Fortunately they didn't last too long and moved to another yard. Then on my last yard there was the novice owner, first horse who was actually pretty scared of the animal, which knew it, and thought it was fine to leave the shoes on for at least 20 weeks or until they fell off, fine to clip it fully then leave it out all night in a November storm with no rug on, or go away in July (without telling any of the other owners) leaving the horse with a heavyweight waterproof on. The temperatures were in the high 70s. We took the rug off.
Yep, that's me well out of it and as far away as possible
Yep, that's me well out of it and as far away as possible
chaps89
Well-Known Member
Hoof prints - sounds intriguing. It certainly sounds a very familiar story altho with some slight differences to the variation of story I got