Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
Hack her more and for longer .
If you can load her up and take her places for long adventures .
Work her twice a day .
If you can load her up and take her places for long adventures .
Work her twice a day .
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
Usually I'm very against no turnout, however, it's a month. I don't know the circumstances as to why there is no turn out for a month, but if it really is a "one-off" as in something is being constructed for turnout and got a bit behind but everything will be damn near perfect after that, then I might not panic.
Also would depend on what other options there are in the area. Some people seem to think moving is easy and that there are options. Sorry, but sometimes there are wait lists, other yards actually aren't much better, or some of us simply don't have the resources to travel 1hr+ to a yard everyday. It's not so simple, but should still be strongly considered.
However, if this yard has the attitude that horses are ok without turnout, then I'd be looking elsewhere. If there is a lame reason for no turnout, then I'd be looking elsewhere. If there is even the slight feeling that turnout will be iffy this winter, I'd look elsewhere.
Many yards here don't turnout in the winter. If you're lucky you might get a small paddock which could be knee deep mud, or gravel if you're lucky. I don't understand the how and why behind a horse being stick in a box, personally. Especially those that are in light work.
So I'd think about the yards mentality and if it will actually work long-term.
In the meantime hand walking, lunging (some), long lining, and ground work (trick training, introducing lateral work, playing with objects, etc.) Sound like your only options. Some may cope better with this than others.
Also would depend on what other options there are in the area. Some people seem to think moving is easy and that there are options. Sorry, but sometimes there are wait lists, other yards actually aren't much better, or some of us simply don't have the resources to travel 1hr+ to a yard everyday. It's not so simple, but should still be strongly considered.
However, if this yard has the attitude that horses are ok without turnout, then I'd be looking elsewhere. If there is a lame reason for no turnout, then I'd be looking elsewhere. If there is even the slight feeling that turnout will be iffy this winter, I'd look elsewhere.
Many yards here don't turnout in the winter. If you're lucky you might get a small paddock which could be knee deep mud, or gravel if you're lucky. I don't understand the how and why behind a horse being stick in a box, personally. Especially those that are in light work.
So I'd think about the yards mentality and if it will actually work long-term.
In the meantime hand walking, lunging (some), long lining, and ground work (trick training, introducing lateral work, playing with objects, etc.) Sound like your only options. Some may cope better with this than others.
paddy555
Well-Known Member
LegOn
Well-Known Member
My point is that, if someone asks a question and part of the description is 'moving is not an option' - how is it helpful to torment the person, who is probably already beating themselves up enough as it as she has already admitted she is aware the horse isnt happy, she isnt happy but again 'moving is not an option'. I have to commend the owner for realising there is a problem, and doing everything within her power to change it positivity while admitting she has limitations which is that moving is not an option. Alot of people wouldnt even notice or try to fix the situation.... but just be a little kind people, who knows what this person has gone through before deciding to post this - she could have had sleepless nights, anxiety, family rows, financial problems in order to fix this situation and this her last resort - just be helpful and if you cant, dont.
I cannot tell you how lucky some people are to have a bounty of yards around them and with actual turnout, where I am - most yard have zero turnout during the winter....... its just the norm, horses are conditioned to it, not saying its right but it happens. I was on a yard where I thought it wouldnt matter that the turnout was permanently limited but I was very wrong and I moved but it really wasnt easy. If this situation is temporary and everything else in the yard is perfect for this person, they a month in the long term of a horses life is not insurmountable. If the horse had to be on box rest, then it could be in there longer than a month!
She has already said she has time off work, and she can spent alot of time with the horse - even sitting in the stable with them and bonding can be so helpful and also help a horse understand its not the worst thing in the world - maybe get a chain for the door and set yourself up a chair & a book & just sit with her, the calming company can help change her mindset too.
I just guess that everyones worlds are not perfect and we are all trying out best - I just feel is a very futile exercise to beat someone with a stick when they are already doing that to themselves, kindness costs nothing and means everything.
I cannot tell you how lucky some people are to have a bounty of yards around them and with actual turnout, where I am - most yard have zero turnout during the winter....... its just the norm, horses are conditioned to it, not saying its right but it happens. I was on a yard where I thought it wouldnt matter that the turnout was permanently limited but I was very wrong and I moved but it really wasnt easy. If this situation is temporary and everything else in the yard is perfect for this person, they a month in the long term of a horses life is not insurmountable. If the horse had to be on box rest, then it could be in there longer than a month!
She has already said she has time off work, and she can spent alot of time with the horse - even sitting in the stable with them and bonding can be so helpful and also help a horse understand its not the worst thing in the world - maybe get a chain for the door and set yourself up a chair & a book & just sit with her, the calming company can help change her mindset too.
I just guess that everyones worlds are not perfect and we are all trying out best - I just feel is a very futile exercise to beat someone with a stick when they are already doing that to themselves, kindness costs nothing and means everything.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
It's not easy but there are always options especially with an unbroken horse who won't be in work. It would save money to be at grass all winter even if there were transport costs involved to a more remote place.
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
I mean, yeah, personally, I would also likely be keeping my horse at grass all winter if the horse were unbroken.
Sometimes it's not about the transport costs, which is why I said resources because it also comes down to time for some. If the grass is further away and requires you to be there once or twice a day for feeding/checking/poo picking/whatever, then it really may not be doable based on your work schedule. However, there are options such as free-lancers and coordinating with others who have their horses on grass too, I suppose.
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
well that should be an exciting solution to the problem.
she's not broken.
Sorry everyone
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
There are loads of retirement/rehabilitation places in the UK where no visit is needed and some where the horse can be visited but not brought out of the field and some where no visits are even allowed. While I would hate to send away a horse of mine and not see it, I'd do it rather than stable an unbroken horse for the majority of its time.
I know it's not an easy choice, but the welfare of the horse trumps that, I think.
.
Orangehorse
Well-Known Member
Well it isn't ideal, but some horses have to stay in, what about "box rest" for injuries.
OP you don't just have to do lunging, you could do ground work exercises, Horse Agility things (although moving the aparatus can be an effort). Tellington-Touch horse exercises like the zig-zag poles, all sorts of things that are used in Trec that are interesting for the horse and make the trainer think how they are going to train and introduce them to the horse. Some horses even learn to fetch and kick a football around.
Or do in hand schooling, you can (apparently!) school a horse up to a high level in hand and never get on their backs, although it would probably need someone experienced in that discipline to show you how.
But really, work is the key.
OP you don't just have to do lunging, you could do ground work exercises, Horse Agility things (although moving the aparatus can be an effort). Tellington-Touch horse exercises like the zig-zag poles, all sorts of things that are used in Trec that are interesting for the horse and make the trainer think how they are going to train and introduce them to the horse. Some horses even learn to fetch and kick a football around.
Or do in hand schooling, you can (apparently!) school a horse up to a high level in hand and never get on their backs, although it would probably need someone experienced in that discipline to show you how.
But really, work is the key.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
paddy555
Well-Known Member
I double checked this thread in case I had missed a whole lot of posts. I thought the situation OPs question was she had to keep the horse in for a month due to reasons that would then cease and how could she enrich it's life. Unfortunate for both her and the horse but not insurmountable then there just seemed to be a lot of posts criticising.
paddy555
Well-Known Member
I don't see a problem in stabling a 6yo unbroken horse at night.
as for the rest of your first para about visiting and sometimes no visits are even allowed then 2 words spring to mind. Katie Greenhalgh. I would rather my unbroken 6yo was alive to send to the breakers next Feb.
what's the difference between being broken or not if it has TO in the day time? Many working people are unable to ride their horses every day.
Pinkvboots
Well-Known Member
I would lunge to take the edge off then do some ground work and teach her how to long rein it should be doable for a month, you could even do some pole work and some de sensitisation with tarpaulin umbrellas then hopefully once she is backed she will be used to everything and be a very easy horse!
Pinkvboots
Well-Known Member
As much as I like my horses to be out as much as possible a month in will not really permanently damage the horse in the long run, as long as you have a bit of a plan and do enough everyday I think its not the end of the world.
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
There is so much you can do in this situation. If I were you, knowing what I know now, I would be introducing some stimulating activities. Lunging and having a run a round in the school supervised sounds great, as does the in-hand walking.
Have you thought about in-hand work? You could begin her education on the ground. There are some great books on in-hand classical riding if that's what you want, also some ground-work stuff which is more western but still uses similar principles with the basics. So many books and youtube videos!! You could even create a course and do some in-hand le-trec maybe? You could spend at least an hour or two having fun like this and it's brain stimulation too so she will be tired out thinking. It is a bit dog-agility but for big dogs. You could train ground tie - really useful and it works a treat!
You could get her used to plaiting, clipping, going on a trailer or lorry if there is one.
You could cut down some hazel or ash branches (if you still have any ash trees!) or even some hedge (tree hay as they used to call it) for some enrichment. I put a log of ash once in my youngsters stable when she had to have boxrest... chewing wood is actually good for them and does not encourage cribbing - it hasn't affected mine and they all have a bit of wood in their stables. A mirror might help and you could hang some turnip and swede. Chuck in some fallen apples maybe too if there is any.
You could even give zoopharmacognosy a try or some aromatherapy - horses absolutely love it!! I've seen so many at a friends stable go all gooey over certain smells and herbs. You could try some therapy too like Bowen or McTimony - always chills my horses out.
Have you thought about in-hand work? You could begin her education on the ground. There are some great books on in-hand classical riding if that's what you want, also some ground-work stuff which is more western but still uses similar principles with the basics. So many books and youtube videos!! You could even create a course and do some in-hand le-trec maybe? You could spend at least an hour or two having fun like this and it's brain stimulation too so she will be tired out thinking. It is a bit dog-agility but for big dogs. You could train ground tie - really useful and it works a treat!
You could get her used to plaiting, clipping, going on a trailer or lorry if there is one.
You could cut down some hazel or ash branches (if you still have any ash trees!) or even some hedge (tree hay as they used to call it) for some enrichment. I put a log of ash once in my youngsters stable when she had to have boxrest... chewing wood is actually good for them and does not encourage cribbing - it hasn't affected mine and they all have a bit of wood in their stables. A mirror might help and you could hang some turnip and swede. Chuck in some fallen apples maybe too if there is any.
You could even give zoopharmacognosy a try or some aromatherapy - horses absolutely love it!! I've seen so many at a friends stable go all gooey over certain smells and herbs. You could try some therapy too like Bowen or McTimony - always chills my horses out.