I am a mean mean mean mean mean mummy!

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Brambridge04

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After saturdays "Miss Fizzy/reary/galloping in circles" episode, when i lost my rag, she literally got dragged back from paddock, rug on and out in field, no cuddles/grooming or DINNER!

Sunday, we followed another horse round the village for the first time ever and she was an angel....

So the last couple of days her "dinner" has literally been a 1 and a half handfuls of alfa a chaff, and a chopped carrot.

The look of pure disgust i got tonight.......and she refused to go back into field, normally, just stood there planted to the spot looking at her empty bucket!
 
Lol they have 2 water bath / trough things that fill up from the mains......they also have grass and hay in the field, all she didnt get was her grass nuts and chaff, which a native shouldnt really be needing at this time of year, in fairly light work! it was to much andrecently has been very fizzy and since cutting her right down she has been a much politer nicer horse.
 
She was fine on it all winter, but with the new grass coming through she suddenly became very hyper and edgy! least it means summer is on its way!!!!:D
 
Oh joy, a troll! Definitely need to cut down on the feed. Ours are getting a bit fizzy now they're back out on grass, and so am bringing the feed levels down.
 
HuntingPink said:
Sorry but withholding feed (or water) as punishment is wrong. You're not just mean, you're clueless.
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Not really, mine learns from not having his tea when he's in the bad books, next day he's an angel. Not all horses need hard food, mine is basically a reward an he's spoilt :o yes, anyone would be clueless to leave a horse without water, but the OH clearly states she was let out to grass so it's not exactly starving the horse is it?!
 
No, not mean but very sensible to cut out the hard feed.

Your horse obviously didn't need it. Grass and access to water will keep her healthy. I would be tempted to give her Hi-Fi rather than Alfa A as it will be lower in protein.

Obviously she doesn't equate her not being given a hard feed with her bad behaviour but as long as you get the right result that doesn't matter. I don't think a horse needs, or should have, cuddles but they do need to know when they have done right or wrong.
 
eggs said:
I don't think a horse needs, or should have, cuddles but they do need to know when they have done right or wrong.
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Why do you think a horse shouldn't have cuddles?????

OP, I think you were fine! As you say, if they have excess energy and are a good weight they don't need hard feed. In fact, given the spring grass is coming through, if I were you I would be tempted to cut it all together.
 
DanniHignett said:
Not really, mine learns from not having his tea when he's in the bad books, next day he's an angel. Not all horses need hard food, mine is basically a reward an he's spoilt :o yes, anyone would be clueless to leave a horse without water, but the OH clearly states she was let out to grass so it's not exactly starving the horse is it?!
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How on earth can a horse equate having no tea with having previously behaved badly?? Or not behaved as you wanted him to and he's in your 'bad books'? If you are going to reward a horse for being good you do it straight away, not later at feedtime. Your horse must very confused...
 
I think that the OP isnt using food as a punishment - just withdrawing food and somewhat anthropormophising the horse. Which we're all guilty of!

Bloody hell, people, was a light hearted post....!!
 
I didnt expect her to learn from not having eaten, and she was put out so abruptly as her behavior, stood rearing, kicking my grooming box, pawing ground, squealing etc was to much and there where other horses and owners around so she went straight out.....i noticed the change in her the next day and cut her feed right down for a couple of days and she is back to her lovely sweet self, but looks so disgusted at her meagre portion it made my giggle a bit, i bet she thinks i mean!
 
I really do think that many horse owners should go back to keeping Breyer horses. The ignorance surrounding all things equine is becoming the norm instead of the exception. Where will it end?
OP, you did well in removing hard feed, most natives (also most ridden horses) do very well on hay only. Far too much overfeeding going on.
 
gala said:
How on earth can a horse equate having no tea with having previously behaved badly?? Or not behaved as you wanted him to and he's in your 'bad books'? If you are going to reward a horse for being good you do it straight away, not later at feedtime. Your horse must very confused...
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I don't know, ask the horse if your that concerned, but it seems to work. Maybe just because he hasn't got as much energy.
Of course I praise him when he's good straight away, I'm not some horrid owner you know. 'bad books' is a figure of speech FYI.

I'm sorry but this post is no place for a rant, she was only stating what she did, and IMO nothing wrong with what she did, ior what I did!
 
QR - not read all the replies.

There is s huge difference between cutting down on feed, gradually and punishing a horse by not feeding it. Personally any changes to either of my horses' diets are thought out and planned. Quick changes = colic in my opinion, changes should be introduced slowly.



FDC
 
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Ive had to reduce my sec D's feed to a small scoop of chaff and a few nuts as he has been acting daft. I wish I could blame the spring grass but mine seems to be a little behind in coming through. Wish I could cut it out all together but it is just a bit to early and he has to have a little bit as a token while my poor doers have theirs other wise he becomes Houdini and takes him self to the food. I wouldnt say he was a good doer either, it keeps him just right.

Think its just the spring air and warm weather. Theyve all got a new lease of life.
 
Lol!
Funnily enough my mate did the same with her mare. Her mare is usually a star like mine but she has been a devil on and off lately.
She bucked and reared and was a right little sod on saturday when we rode, so she too got chucked out with no dinner or extra hay! Then on sunday we had a terrific ride, her mare was impeccable, we had some lovely canters with no naughty business....
 
I'd have to agree that the first thing I do if mine starts acting like a plonker is review what he's getting to eat.

I have started cutting him down gradually now in preperation for the spring and 24/7 turnout.
 
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