Leaving a saddle on a horse loose in stable.

[vieshot]

Not just for a few minutes while you grab a bridle, but for a long period of time. In between lessons at a riding school, plenty of time to have a lay down etc. Apparently this is the norm?

So is it okay or is it not?

 

[pippixox]

unless the horse is tied up and only for a few minutes you are asking for trouble, a saddle could be ruined if they decided to lie down or even have a rub on a wall with it on

 

[slumdog]

When I helped at a riding school when I was a kid we had to tie the ponies up in the stable with a haynet between lessons.

Guess its ok if you don't mind them rolling on it?? Would it make any difference to them getting cast?

 

[Grumpy Jewel]

I was brought up in a riding school and this was a big no no! I can't remember which way round it was, but we where told the horse could lay down and roll damaging their back and breaking the saddle. I like to think the main concern was the horses back, but forking out for a new saddle would not have gone down well!

 

[Purple18]

personally no it only takes a few seconds for bad to something to happen

 

[3Beasties]

I personally wouldn't, why risk your horse and saddle by leaving it on when it only takes a couple of minutes to remove/put back on.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I wouldn't, mostly cos the boy tries to run away from me if I tack up in his box or I get presented with his bum

I remember a horse being left and rolling in his box, not nice, scared the crap outta him. However, the riding school horses seem fine when left tacked up.

 

[Hen]

I do this all the time but then my horse is perfect

So perfect I can also wonder off for several minutes leaving the stable door wide open and she'll stay happily in her stable and not step off the mat, saddled or not.

Since most horses are not perfect I would not do this with another, takes just a few seconds to put on a headcollar. Missy just doesn't approve of being micro-managed

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

Used to leave the horses tacked up at the riding school all the time and never had an issue. However they weren't on bedding, only rubber mats so rarely laid time tackless, let alone with a saddle on

I leave Nugz's saddle on with its cover on for about an hour as I get him in and put it on before I go to work with his bridle outside and then he is schooled by my friend after she has done the other horses she rides.

I have more issues with a bridle being left on a loose horse in a stable tbh.

 

[ladyt25]

Oops, I put yes and then I read what you meant! Why would you for a long period? It takes al lof 2 mins to put a saddle on so no need to leave it on for a sustained period to 'save time'. I may have to do this with my youngster though when I try getting saddles back on him again as he flipped out big time (seemingly causing him back pain). we have sorted the back, will not be using the same saddle but, he may 'remember' and react and the safest place is possibly the stable.

 

[ladyt25]

I do this all the time but then my horse is perfect

So perfect I can also wonder off for several minutes leaving the stable door wide open and she'll stay happily in her stable and not step off the mat, saddled or not.

Since most horses are not perfect I would not do this with another, takes just a few seconds to put on a headcollar. Missy just doesn't approve of being micro-managed

ha ha, yeah my horse is NOT perfect at all, by any means! so, yeah he wouldn't roll in his saddle but he can't possibly stay in a stable if the door is open!

 

[TarrSteps]

I wouldn't. If I have to leave them tacked up, then they are tied up.

A friend of mine got a great sponsorship from a saddle company. Virtually the first week she had her fancy new custom saddle she left a horse loose with it on "just for a second" . . .guess what happened next? The joke was she had to keep promoting the company whilst continuing to ride in her old, clapped out saddle.

 

[vieshot]

I'm glad it's not just me then! Riding school in Cornwall trying to tell me that I must not have ever worked with horses because if I did then I wouldn't ask why they leave their saddles on their horses between lessons.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

clicked no as generally.

Though I have and do sometimes with my boy as he stands quite happily with it no problem.

 

[ester]

Spent all teenage years at RS had 3 sessions in morn and 3 in pm if horse used for end 2 of session was left tacked up with girth loosened and never had an issue. All untacked over lunch. Lots of old replaceable saddles is suppose though

 

[hula]

Yup. We used to start tacking the horses up 30 mins before lessons started. Often just the 2 of us to get around 10-16 horses and ponies ready (very large school yard with 2 arenas of lessons on the go at once). If an hour off between lessons they used to get left in stables with girth loosened and reins twisted in throat lash. Tack was ancient mind!

This was on YO orders.

 

[wench]

Never had a problem with it, esp RS horses. Better the saddle put on once properly than on and off the horse all day long

 

[MerrySherryRider]

I do with my own horses but when saddled they're in work mode, so stand patiently.
Wouldn't leave a bridle or head collar on though, unless tied up. Too risky if they have an itch.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I know this happens in riding schools. TBH whilst I don't think its the best possible practice, its understandable if people are pressured re. time/staffing issues.

I would suppose that in a riding school the tack they use isn't perhaps the best and therefore they'd not be as fussed if something happened to it, got scratched or whatever, it would just mebbe be regarded as wear and tear and no-one would worry.

However if I had my horse on working livery at such a yard, I wouldn't be very happy if my horse was left standing around with MY saddle on! But know that it happens to WL horses, not necessarily with the owners knowledge either!

Whereas most of us in private ownership have paid a great deal for our saddles and want to look after them well. I've got brand new saddles for my two and so am totally anal about protecting them (have even got waterproof ride-on covers for when its raining).

I have to confess though, that I DO sometimes do it, but its only for 10 minutes max say, the circumstance being that I often ride out with a friend and if one of us gets to the yard first, we'll crack on and groom & tack up until the other person arrives. But they're never left unsupervised with their tack on, and if they were ever left, they'd be tied up definately.

 

[Undecided]

Never have and never will, I work hard to be able to afford nice things for my horse such as his saddle which I adore, and I would cry if it got so much as a scratch on it!

 

[Cortez]

Used to run a very busy riding school and hacking/hire stable in the US. Horses were all tacked up in the morning and left fully tacked up and loose in a corral all day. Never had a problem, but the tack was very old and dingy...............

 

[FfionWinnie]

No I can't afford it to be scratched off/rolled off or other wise remodelled as they see fit!

 

[smellsofhorse]

No.
If horse is tied up then its saver.
But even this could be asking for trouble.

 

[littlemare_]

No.
Unless its just going to get her boots or something, i would tie up.
In our local riding schools horses are tied in standings so dont roll and tbh they arent usually left in tack for more than hour. They all go out at night and go in stables if not. Seems common here as all ive been at have been the same, the day plans mean they get untacked or arent waitin too long

 

[Spring Feather]

An offshoot of my business used to be a trail riding business. Our horses were tacked up and tied for however long it needed to be. They'd stand there all day if I had wanted them to, I never left them all day of course, but they would have with no problems at all. My guys would/will stand for hours with tack on and not think to roll in them so I don't see a problem with it with horses who are used to working. Perhaps pet horses would be more of a problem though.

 

[poiuytrewq]

No I don't even leave mine to run for gloves or something- well one of them I would but the other would definitely cause some sort of trouble!

 

[MrsNorris]

No, when I was in college a student put a sweaty horse in a stable after her lesson and just rushed off to chat to her friends!
The horse went down and managed a proper roll before I could grab him, (just happened to be standing nearby and heard him go) saddle was mashed, reins snapped, there was hell to pay.
Not worth the risk IMO.

 

[Jill Crewe]

I saw the post on fb and was surprised too. I wouldn't do it either as would be worried about horses back (and my tack) but I'm no back expert so...