License to have a horse

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Wan2bEventer

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Do you reckon owners should have to carry a license to be a horse owner? Similar to how you used to have to be licensed to own a domestic dog!

I have encountered too many stoopid horse owners in my day, who know nothing about the welfare of their horse and have no interest in learning anything. A lady at my friends yard has a hopping lame horse, but is convinced he is fine because 'horses who are lame don't want to leave their box'. She is still riding him! I have an endless list of owners I have encountered who behave inappropriately. Others probably have the knowledge to care for their horse properly, but just don't put in the time and the poor horse is near neglected!

Just a rant!
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I swear one day ignorant and poorly educated horse people will be the death of me, they stress me out so much- that is why mum closed the livery yard. One evening a livery fed her horse whole unsoaked sugar beat and it very nearly died, it took monthes to recover- to me this is the equal to having a shot gun with no licence- potentially life threatening, and an animal welfare risk.
I know how you feel, I am confident I know what I am doing, and where my knowledge is thin I have some real horsey people in the know, including my mum, who can always give me the reassurance- some people will never have that, which is scary.
 
I think the practicalities of implementing something like this would be immense and even assuming it was managed somehow, you'd just get a black market in equine licenses anyway.

Also, due to the amount of work it would take to implement it, you can assume that horse owners would be shouldering the costs of their licenses.

You always get less skilled people in every walk of life. It's sad when animals suffer at the hands of them however. Im more of the opinion that yard owners should be taking responsibility for ALL animals on their property (as per the new laws anyway) and that in itself will help to tackle incidents like this.
 
I agree or that anyone not experienced would have to take their horse to dedicated yards where they have to pay a premium to be educated alone side riding/looking after their own horse.

When I got pickle I wasn't overly experienced but had loaned a pony for 3 years so knew the basics. I was incredibly lucky to have such an amazing YO who has helped me along the way and taught me everything I know.
 
I completely understand that everyone has to start somewhere, it is an exciting period in anyone's life and even experienced horse owners will remember their first fondly! And all their silly mistakes! But responsible owners (however experienced) always have a thirst to know and understand more, and improve their horses life. Reading magazines, books and talking to anyone you can get your hands on! Esp HHO!
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I am talking more about those ignorant, unexperienced owners who aren't interested in learning anything more and think they 'know it all' about horses. I have one horse owner and horse in mind when I say that her inexperience and lack of skill is putting other yard horses and members of the public at risk of their health. She is a danger to all around her!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
 
Suggestion - that Yard Owners advise new owners attend at BHS Horse Owners Certificate course. These are run by local BHS committees, riding schools, etc.

From Level 1 which is quite basic and easy, right to Level 4 which is very hard.
 
but we're all horse people here and think 'horse' so yes in theory some training or other should be done to get people to be competent but.

..so should it be for other pets who are all equally deserving of proper care - everything from goldfish to golden retrievers

tbh I wonder what will get taxed to death when the revenue from having demonised motorists, smokers and drinkers runs out ?? - horses, golf, flying

anything like this could turn into the next 'stealth tax' for lots of sports
 
Think of it this way.....

EVERYTHING you need a licence for....is in some way direct or indirect linked to TAX...tax and more tax.

Ace, let's licence all horse owners, we can charge for the licence, then when it's become law, we can charge em for whatever we can invent.....then we'll tax em for polluting with horse muck which gives of Co2, and then we'll consider the carbon footprint and tax em for that...... I know....they have a licence so ....let's tax em for road use, and make new insurance for road riding a law...then we can tax em like vehicle owners....
 
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Do you reckon owners should have to carry a license to be a horse owner? Similar to how you used to have to be licensed to own a domestic dog!


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So people would have to go to the post office, tell the cashier that they want a horse licence, pay some ridiculous sum of money and walk out with a Licence? Sorry but I can't see how this would help anyone except the government gain yet another tax from horse owners....
 
AND it's a great way of knowing who you are, where you are....
next it'll be....you have a horse, you must have money..... let's investigate and up the tax band...
who needs national id cards, lets just have a licence for everything!!!
 
Why stop at just pets, why not have a licence to have children? Why not let the government decide every single thing we can and can't do and avoid ever having to think for ourselves. Then when it all goes wrong we can all blame "someone else". Some people will still think this is a good idea!
 
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Why stop at just pets, why not have a licence to have children? !

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I wish there was a license for people to have kids....
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I think the idea is great but sadly is in no way practical (horse licenses, not kid licenses...)
 
I have met many experienced horse people over the years, most of which have the horses welfare at heart. The owners who are a danger to themselves and everyone around them are the ones without an ounce of common sense - and there is a difference. One girl tied a horse directly to a 10ft sq. sliding metal barn door - it very nearly killed itself. Same girl led her horse down to its field from her car window on a very narrow track. One BHSI thought it was OK to turn her horse out with others still wearing studs - it did kick and fractured another horses leg. There is no hope for some.
 
Whilst I wish all cruelty to animals, whether intentional or unintentional would stop, I don't think that mandatory licensing for horses is the answer. Also, in my experience, most novice owners are more than willing to ask for advice from more experienced horse owners. I probably drive my YO mad with all my questions even though I've had horses for several years now. I am humble enough to realise that I still have an awful lot to learn about horses and their care.

I agree with Llwyncwn when she says that the worst owners are those without a shred of common sense. All the licenses in the world wouldn't help them to become sensible would it?
 
I think you could stop alot of problems if the Government sorted itself out with a proper livery yard licensing scheme. I know that there are BHS yards out there that aren't great but some kind of inspection is better than none at all. YOs need to be held accountable if they let horses by neglected on their property rather than just turning a blind eye
 
Where would the owners of horses kept at home fit in with this?

It would also be like anything else, the decent people would pay up, the others would not buy a licence and continue using their lack of knowledge in caring for their horses.
 
Ah yes, the old "other people are responsible" chestnut. No, the owners are responsible ... end of story. If anyone is to be prosecuted then it should be the person ultimately responsible for their belongings .... the horses owner.
 
re tierra
I agree with what has been said but what about diy yards like ours were the yard owner knows nothing about horses.The licence wont solve the problem with land owners rather than proper liveries.
 
Cellie - YO's are now equally liable for the welfare of any horse on their property. If a YO has no interest/experience, it would be in their own interest to employ an experienced YM to manage the yard on their behalf.
 
The stupid ignorant ones would be the ones who would not have a licence anyway, same as it used to be with dogs.


NOW I think that people should have a licence to breed....... themselves.

Think of all the idiots that spawn kids like fruit machines shoot out money!!!! If we could stop them breeding then then the country would be a far better place!!!!
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Ah yes, the old "other people are responsible" chestnut. No, the owners are responsible ... end of story. If anyone is to be prosecuted then it should be the person ultimately responsible for their belongings .... the horses owner.

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I agree absolutely that the owners are responsible. If people can't look after their own horse then they should be prosecuted and banned from keeping horses for life if necessary. I do think though that YOs should not be allowed to turn a blind eye. Taking money from someone who is causing their horse to suffer rather than trying to rectify the situation or reporting them to the authorities makes you complicit in that horses' suffering
 
I think everyone should be required to take the BHS horseowner courses before having a horse.

I know I will be taking them.
 
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