Injured Horse or Injured Rider - which would you prefer?

If you don't have the farrier out as often as you should....does that make you cruel?

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Flicker

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If you had to choose between keeping a horse in through winter to protect against it injuring itself, in the knowledge that it might become very fresh and possibly send you flying (ouch - but treatable for free on the NHS) or turning it out into less than ideal conditions (winter grazing will be muddy no matter where you are) knowing it can clear its head safely, but increasing the potential of it injuring itself (vet's bills, horrendous), which would you choose?
 
Mine injured itself in October doing 'the wall of death' round the field, I was devastated and we are still only walking from the injury. She is only 5 as well. Getting back on was interesting but I would prefer to be laid up than her, she's too precious I'm not.
 
I would turn out as I hate to see horses kept in all the time. Also, I have to go to work to earn money to pay his keep and I need to look after him. I can't do that if I get too badly injured.
 
i haven't voted- a horse can injure itself just as much in the stable.

and what if they got very fresh, decked their rider and galloped home they got get hit by a car, pull in tendon in plough etc etc.

i don't think its quite as cut and dried as your poll suggests.
 
i always turn out its very rare my horses stay in unless there weather is really bad. i do try and rotate my paddocks as much as possible to reduce the amount of mud.
 
I would turn out, not to save rider injury but to save horse injury, if you keep him in he is much more likely to hurt himself when you finally let him out again.

I know that some sports horses are never turned out, but they are ridden and horsewalked two times or so every single day, so I kinda get why these are kept in, if I had a horse worth hundreds of thousands I would be a little nervious! However, lots of professionals DO turn their expensive horses out in individual paddocks - they have to have down time and keeping a horse in (unless on box rest) is like staying in bed for the rest of your life and only getting out to go to work!


ETA: Whoops forgot - you asked horse or me injured - me every time!
 
i haven't voted, because imho it's a bit of both.
i'll always have a horse out by choice, no question, even if it's muddy. mine are out daily and still being rather lively to lead around, because it's windy and they're bored and naughty!
BUT
given the choice between an injured horse and an injured me, i'll go for the latter every time... and i'm in a splint for 6 weeks at the moment thanks to young horse's high jinks!
but, this is frustrating and a bit painful, but transitory, whereas an injury to a horse is utterly HEARTBREAKING and can be career ending...
 
I didn't vote either because I'd have been a bit hypocritical whichever option I voted for.

My girl goes out and when kept in in bad weather goes stir crazy so imo it's best to turn out when possible to allow her to chill out.

However I'd rather I were injured than my horse- when we had our fall my first thought was ''Omg what if she's hurt...?''- as they don't have the NHS and can't tell us where it hurts & it can be heartbreaking.
 
I haven't voted either, because I can't choose between the 2 options.

I would be turning out, but taking all precautions to try to avoid horse injuring itself - so boots all round, individual/pairs turnout, properly fenced paddocks, turnout with hay if it's getting hungry, less time out if it's getting fed up with being in the field etc.... They can all injure themselves in the field, even the most sensible horse, so I don't think I'd keep in just to stop it injuring itself.

However, to answer your question - I'd prefer an injured rider. You can fix a broken leg in a person, but not necessarily in a horse. People are easier to keep on "box rest" and the cost is much cheaper (NHS!), and most injuries are easier to treat on a person than a horse. My views are perhaps swayed because I have a very old horse - where even a small injury could prove life threatening, because I absolutely will not compromise her quality of life for treatment (box rest etc) unless there is a 100% guarantee of a full recovery.
 
Depends, if the horse has done a tendon or something and it will make the injury worse turning out then no. If the horse aggravated a pre existing condition I would feel very guilty knowing I could have prevented it.

If however you are talking about a potential injury that might happen I would turn out.
 
Can't answer as although I would prefur an injured rider, generally, I would never think about not turning out for the whole of winter. My horse would hate being in his stable 'prison' almost constantly and would refuse point blank to go anywhere near a stable again. He lives out 24/7, and when he has had to go on box rest for a week or two in the past he has hated me for it (even though was for his own good!). If you turn out daily and provide plenty of hay the risk of injury is minimal. Whereas if you don't turn out for winter, when you do turn out your horse is going to go crazy and I would say there is a massive risk of injury then.
 
I don't think I could choose. Personally I turn out during the day and in at night. I prefer them to be able to get out and stretch, but it's easier and more secure for them to be in at night. The days/weeks when they've had to stay in they can be a bit bouncy to ride, but I wouldn't expect them to be in such a state to send me flying!

Injury wise then it depends- I'd rather I'd break my leg than the horse. However, I belong to the self preservation society, and frankly if it came down to it then I'd rather the horse had a 'major' injury than me- I could cope (over time) with losing the horse, but I don't think I could cope with something that could result in major loss of income, disability etc.

I know that with horses then anything can happen, I just minimise the risks in every way I can (and not put myself in high risk situations) and hope for the best!
 
in general, i would rather injured rider, but with the matter of turnout i think every horse should go out as injury is a risk that has to be taken
smile.gif
 
Mine always go out- if they need restricting then i make small hospital paddocks BUT when Dex and i got t-boned out hunting (whilst approaching a jump) by a horse who doublebarrelled us (after refusing the fence and was at the time being circled round to try again)
I was very relieved it was me NOT Dex who was carted off to hospital. I have permanent nerve and soft tissue damage to my lower leg but like to think the impact saved Dex from something horrible like a broken leg..If i could take Jacob's lameness from him, i'd do it in a heartbeat
 
Playing devils advocate here - say the rider is injured, who's going to look after the horse? He'll then be stuck in a stable, or worse turned out while you recouperate and you'll be too crippled to go and save him from himself.

Personally I'd figure out why he was so likely to hurt himself in the field and mitigate against it (eg reinforced fencing, field companion, less barley...!)
 
Horses are not designed to be kept in boxes.

Another angle on this for all of you who have said you would prefer an injured rider to an injured horse - most of you are referring to yourselves. How about if it was your child to be injured rather than the horse?

I know which I would prefer..........
 
Well my mare doesn't actually belong to me (I have her on loan) so I would feel AWFUL if she was badly injured while she was in my care.

Horses are much better out if at all possible. They can injure themselves jsut as easily in the summer as in the winter.
 
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