Most popular methods of keeping horses.

J

J.B.Shores

New User
Joined
11 May 2011
Messages
6
Visit site
Hi all, I am currently taking a BTEC National Certificate in Horse Management at college and of the criteria i am being assessed on is my ability to analyse the ways in which owners keep their horses. I have composed a short Questionnaire and would be very greatful if you could take the time to fill one out an email it back to me. Please can those who reply leave their email address and i will prompty send you a copy of the questionnaire.
Thankyou.
 
Could you post the survey on here and we could PM or post the answers back to you, rather than emailing? :D
 
Yes i suppose i could although i am very new to this forum and i am still trying to figure everything out so it may prove a little difficult.
 
Has everyone who has requested a questionnaire recieved it as i seem not to have any replies i do have an alternate email address as the one i have sent the questionnaires from is my college email address and therefore it may block incoming private messages. My private email address is jamz93@live.co.uk
Thanks.
 
Just copy and paste the questions into a new post and we can send you the answers, I would rather this than email :)
 
How about typing the questionnaire out on here and we can just answer it then?

Not sure if posting your e mail on the forum is that good an idea??
 
Have taken to posting questionnaire online in the hope of recieving more replies [Please copy then repost]...

• Which environment do you keep your horse/horses in for example natural (outside) or stabled?



• Do you find that the environment in which your horse/horses live provides them with sufficient freedom to exhibit natural behaviour, maintain required level of grazing and a decent level of interaction with other horses if you have any?



• In your opinion why have you chosen to keep your horse/horses in this way?



• Do you have any other horses that either remain inside or are brought in at a set time?


• Have you encountered any specific behavioural problems in any of your horses?



• Are you aware of...
(Please Tick)
Box walking.
Crib biting.
Weaving.
Wind Sucking.



• If you encountered these stable vices how would you attempt to either prevent them or manage them if they were reoccurring?



• Do you already take existing measures to prevent stable vices such as providing toys or salt licks? (Please specify)



• From your experience do you think that vices could be prevented through varied management for example ensuring that horses have sufficient time turned out to ensure that vices do not occur?


• Do you encounter any behaviour in you horse/horses at a specific time of the day for example at feeding time, when horses are turned out or when you enter the area in which the horses are kept?
 
• Which environment do you keep your horse/horses in for example natural (outside) or stabled? Natural



• Do you find that the environment in which your horse/horses live provides them with sufficient freedom to exhibit natural behaviour, maintain required level of grazing and a decent level of interaction with other horses if you have any?
Yes, they have ample space, decent grazing but not too rich (natives) and interaction with each other plus others over fence.


• In your opinion why have you chosen to keep your horse/horses in this way?
Live out - due to hardy breeding. Kept together as easier to maintain and its the way livery is set up near me. it suits the ponies.


• Do you have any other horses that either remain inside or are brought in at a set time?
No

• Have you encountered any specific behavioural problems in any of your horses?
No


• Are you aware of...
(Please Tick)
Box walking. YES
Crib biting. YES
Weaving. YES
Wind Sucking. YES



• If you encountered these stable vices how would you attempt to either prevent them or manage them if they were reoccurring?
Keep horses out if possible. Give toys etc to distract and keep horse occupied. find root of problem and chat to vet to reduce the behaviour. - horse would only be inside if injured.


• Do you already take existing measures to prevent stable vices such as providing toys or salt licks? (Please specify)
Ponies get treat balls to keep them contect - although they don't have issues.


• From your experience do you think that vices could be prevented through varied management for example ensuring that horses have sufficient time turned out to ensure that vices do not occur?
not necesarily - have seen horses exhibit crib biting - even though turned out 24/7.
some instances may be down to how horse is managed but not all. some horses will naturally be stressy anyway.

• Do you encounter any behaviour in you horse/horses at a specific time of the day for example at feeding time, when horses are turned out or when you enter the area in which the horses are kept?
No - both have manners and have been taught to stand back until feed is lowered and again when entering field/stable.
 
• Which environment do you keep your horse/horses in for example natural (outside) or stabled?

Outside with access to stable.



• Do you find that the environment in which your horse/horses live provides them with sufficient freedom to exhibit natural behaviour, maintain required level of grazing and a decent level of interaction with other horses if you have any?

Currently using a track system which allows most natural behaviours, but grazing is restricted (hay provided) and as the other horse is a poor doer the level of interaction is not as much as I would like (they can groom over the fence however.)




• In your opinion why have you chosen to keep your horse/horses in this way?

Horse hates being stabled and is happier/healthier kept out but still likes to use the stable to sleep in.
Restricted grazing is necessary for health reasons, but the additional movement on a track system keeps her fitter anyway.


• Do you have any other horses that either remain inside or are brought in at a set time?
No

• Have you encountered any specific behavioural problems in any of your horses?
No



• Are you aware of...
(Please Tick)
Box walking. Yes
Crib biting. Yes
Weaving. Yes
Wind Sucking.Yes



• If you encountered these stable vices how would you attempt to either prevent them or manage them if they were reoccurring?

Provide plenty of turnout and mental stimulation when kept in, toys, mirror, companionship, different food types, treat balls, stable mirror etc.








• Do you already take existing measures to prevent stable vices such as providing toys or salt licks? (Please specify)

A haynet and salt lick is provided, but horse is only ever kept in on rare occasions.


• From your experience do you think that vices could be prevented through varied management for example ensuring that horses have sufficient time turned out to ensure that vices do not occur?

Yes.


• Do you encounter any behaviour in you horse/horses at a specific time of the day for example at feeding time, when horses are turned out or when you enter the area in which the horses are kept?

Always gallops around the track to see me as is expecting a feed, but is always polite when arrives at stable where fed.
 
• Which environment do you keep your horse/horses in for example natural (outside) or stabled? Out 24/7... usually (see below)



• Do you find that the environment in which your horse/horses live provides them with sufficient freedom to exhibit natural behaviour, maintain required level of grazing and a decent level of interaction with other horses if you have any? Yes over the summer, but in winter he suffers from mud fever and we're on clay, so I often have to bring in and turn out as and when. Also when there's not much grass in the winter he windsucks more so sometimes have to bring in for hay.



• In your opinion why have you chosen to keep your horse/horses in this way? It's how horses were designed to live, he's 16 now and works a lot so anything to keep joints going! I just feel much happier knowing he can walk around and not get stiff or suffer from respiratory problems. :)



• Do you have any other horses that either remain inside or are brought in at a set time? No, he's the only horse I have.


• Have you encountered any specific behavioural problems in any of your horses? Not really, although if he's stayed in for a day or two due to mud fever he gets VERY keen to go out to the field!



• Are you aware of...
(Please Tick)
Box walking. No.
Crib biting. No.
Weaving. No.
Wind Sucking. YES. (Has done since a 5yo)



• If you encountered these stable vices how would you attempt to either prevent them or manage them if they were reoccurring? As much turnout as poss, ideally 24/7, although I find if not sufficient grazing then the wind sucking/cribbing gets worse, and we can't easily hay in the fields at my yard, so I have to bring in.



• Do you already take existing measures to prevent stable vices such as providing toys or salt licks? (Please specify) No.



• From your experience do you think that vices could be prevented through varied management for example ensuring that horses have sufficient time turned out to ensure that vices do not occur? I think to an extent, yes, but I think I've read somewhere that some horses are more likely to develop these vices due to genetics..


• Do you encounter any behaviour in you horse/horses at a specific time of the day for example at feeding time, when horses are turned out or when you enter the area in which the horses are kept? When he's in he wickers a lot, but when he's out he's not so bothered.

Might be worth posting in New Lounge too :) x
 
• Which environment do you keep your horse/horses in for example natural (outside) or stabled?


He's in during the day and out at night


• Do you find that the environment in which your horse/horses live provides them with sufficient freedom to exhibit natural behaviour, maintain required level of grazing and a decent level of interaction with other horses if you have any?


The stables are an American barn style set up, he can see other horses, and he's at the end of the block with a view out to the fields


• In your opinion why have you chosen to keep your horse/horses in this way?

He's on full livery (the only option I have where I live)



• Do you have any other horses that either remain inside or are brought in at a set time?

It's a mixed riding school/livery yard, so there are horses and ponies in and out all day long


• Have you encountered any specific behavioural problems in any of your horses?


Not really, I bought him from the yard owner and he was one of 20+ horses, so he didn't get a lot of one to one attention. When I bought him he'd get confused as to why I was still in the stable after I'd untacked him, and he got aggressive about it... now though he loves getting all the attention I lavish on him!!


• Are you aware of...
(Please Tick)
Box walking.
Crib biting.
Weaving.
Wind Sucking.


Windsucking. I'm not sure why he does it, but clearly he's always done it (bar above the door to stop him chinning over the door), I don't think it's a pain thing, seems to be boredom related...

• If you encountered these stable vices how would you attempt to either prevent them or manage them if they were reoccurring?


I've given him a salt lick, which he doesn't seem very interested in, and I have a jolly ball which he found entertaining once, but not since. I was thinking of hanging it from a rafter so he could "chase" it around


• Do you already take existing measures to prevent stable vices such as providing toys or salt licks? (Please specify)


see above!

• From your experience do you think that vices could be prevented through varied management for example ensuring that horses have sufficient time turned out to ensure that vices do not occur?

Not really sure, it depends on why he's windsucking (in my case), I don't know when he started it, and I don't know why, but he's been at the yard since he was 3 and is kept the same way all the other horses are (with regard to feeding, riding turnout etc) none of the other horses seem to windsuck, many of them are a bit cranky and don't like to be petted, none of them bite, or kick, or display any kind of "dangerous" behaviour when ridden or handled.

I'm half wondering if it's a genetic thing - did his sire or dam windsuck? He didn't [from what I can tell] learn it from another horse on the yard...


• Do you encounter any behaviour in you horse/horses at a specific time of the day for example at feeding time, when horses are turned out or when you enter the area in which the horses are kept?


Nothing I've made note of, other than he seems to be very happy to see me when I turn up!! :D
 
• Which environment do you keep your horse/horses in for example natural (outside) or stabled?

In winter stabled at night and out as much as possible throughout the day dependant on conditions and if she is happy to be out. She seems to be happy for about 4 hrs then hangs at the gate.

In spring, summer & autumn out as much as possible ideally 24 / 7. basically if she is happy being out she stays out!

• Do you find that the environment in which your horse/horses live provides them with sufficient freedom to exhibit natural behaviour, maintain required level of grazing and a decent level of interaction with other horses if you have any?

She has approx 1.5 acres to herself and she has her 2 best pals in the next field which she can scratch etc over fence. I would love to have them out together but she kicks and my other horse died from a broken leg after a to do with them all so I have had to decide to have her on her own. Not my preference but she seems happier with her bounderies from the others. Plenty of grazing currently for her and I don't have to restrict her intake or supplement her forage at all currently.


• In your opinion why have you chosen to keep your horse/horses in this way?

It gives her the most natural life I can give a working horse on livery without buying my own land. She is healthy, gets interaction, movement and is as safe as I can make her life.



• Do you have any other horses that either remain inside or are brought in at a set time?
Not anymore but I did have a horse that literally hated turnout when I first got him and I had to educate him what turnout was. Saying that he still went ballistic if any other horse was brought in before him and he would get to the point he would colic over it if left.

• Have you encountered any specific behavioural problems in any of your horses?
Yes horse above had serious behavioural issues when I bought him (not realised at the time!) and he ended up having colic surgery. He was then diagnosed with grade 4 gastric ulcers and then continued colicing despite thousands of pounds of treatment and the best care he could have. Sadly I lost him to colic but looking back I think his behaviour / ulcer / colic cycle was really past help as these issues had been going on too long.


• Are you aware of...
(Please Tick)
Box walking. Yes
Crib biting. Yes
Weaving. Yes
Wind Sucking. Yes



• If you encountered these stable vices how would you attempt to either prevent them or manage them if they were reoccurring?
All of the above - more turn out if possible, trickle feeding haynets, toys, more exercise if possible

Look at being scoped / treated for gastric ulcers or other underlying health issues




• Do you already take existing measures to prevent stable vices such as providing toys or salt licks? (Please specify)

Toys, exercise, turn out, salt licks, herbal licks, treat balls


• From your experience do you think that vices could be prevented through varied management for example ensuring that horses have sufficient time turned out to ensure that vices do not occur?

Yes - and enough exercise!

• Do you encounter any behaviour in you horse/horses at a specific time of the day for example at feeding time, when horses are turned out or when you enter the area in which the horses are kept?

No none again as long as she has enough turnout and is exercised properly and regularly she copes with all situations. When it snowed badly and it was unsafe to get them out of the stable she turned into a lunatic.
 
J.B.Shores said:
• Which environment do you keep your horse/horses in for example natural (outside) or stabled?
Out 24/7 in summer, stabled over winter- with an hours indoor/outdoor turnout



• Do you find that the environment in which your horse/horses live provides them with sufficient freedom to exhibit natural behaviour, maintain required level of grazing and a decent level of interaction with other horses if you have any?
No, would prefer turnout over winter, but very few yards do this in my area


• In your opinion why have you chosen to keep your horse/horses in this way?
Best yard (locally) for facilities, indoor/outdoor arenas, good turnout through summer, friendly yard, etc...in fact excellent yard apart from lack of winter turnout


• Do you have any other horses that either remain inside or are brought in at a set time?
I have one horse on boxrest due to laminitis


• Have you encountered any specific behavioural problems in any of your horses?
No


• Are you aware of...
(Please Tick)
Box walking.
Crib biting.
Weaving.
Wind Sucking.
Yes, I'm aware of all of these but none of my horses exhibit any of these behaviours



• If you encountered these stable vices how would you attempt to either prevent them or manage them if they were reoccurring?
N/A



• Do you already take existing measures to prevent stable vices such as providing toys or salt licks? (Please specify)
Yes, I provide stable toys, licks, feed little and often, although my laminitic horse ignores all distractons apart from 'food ones'



• From your experience do you think that vices could be prevented through varied management for example ensuring that horses have sufficient time turned out to ensure that vices do not occur?
Yes


• Do you encounter any behaviour in you horse/horses at a specific time of the day for example at feeding time, when horses are turned out or when you enter the area in which the horses are kept?
No.
Click to expand...

...
 
Last edited:
• Which environment do you keep your horse/horses in for example natural (outside) or stabled? Natural



• Do you find that the environment in which your horse/horses live provides them with sufficient freedom to exhibit natural behaviour, maintain required level of grazing and a decent level of interaction with other horses if you have any?
Yes my horses live out 24/7 together (1 mare 1 gelding) are fed twice a day and given hay if needed. They groom each other, charge around sometimes, and seem very chilled and happy.



• In your opinion why have you chosen to keep your horse/horses in this way? Our gelding is a sec A hardy pony and prefers to be out plus he has mild COPD and therefore a stable would not suit him.
My mare was stabled at night when I first got her, but she hated being in and weaved constantly. I decided to try turning her out 24/7 and she has not weaved at all since.



• Do you have any other horses that either remain inside or are brought in at a set time?

no
• Have you encountered any specific behavioural problems in any of your horses?

weaving in the case of my mare as stated above

• Are you aware of...
(Please Tick)
Box walking. yes
Crib biting.yes
Weaving. yes
Wind Sucking. yes



• If you encountered these stable vices how would you attempt to either prevent them or manage them if they were reoccurring?
my mare does weave very badly when stabled but to combat this she lives out 24/7. as a result she is much calmer, never weaves any more and had put on weight 9she was hard to keep weight on before)


• Do you already take existing measures to prevent stable vices such as providing toys or salt licks? (Please specify)

they have himalayan salt licks in the field

• From your experience do you think that vices could be prevented through varied management for example ensuring that horses have sufficient time turned out to ensure that vices do not occur?
yes definately

• Do you encounter any behaviour in you horse/horses at a specific time of the day for example at feeding time, when horses are turned out or when you enter the area in which the horses are kept?
not really, they wait by the gate when they see me getting their feeds ready but nothing major.
 
Which environment do you keep your horse/horses in for example natural (outside) or stabled?
out 24/7 in summer , stabled at night in winter


• Do you find that the environment in which your horse/horses live provides them with sufficient freedom to exhibit natural behaviour, maintain required level of grazing and a decent level of interaction with other horses if you have any?
yes



• In your opinion why have you chosen to keep your horse/horses in this way?
it suits my horses



• Do you have any other horses that either remain inside or are brought in at a set time?
no

• Have you encountered any specific behavioural problems in any of your horses?
none


• Are you aware of...
(Please Tick)
Box walking. yes
Crib biting. yes
Weaving. yes
Wind Sucking.yes



• If you encountered these stable vices how would you attempt to either prevent them or manage them if they were reoccurring?
as much natural turnout as possible



• Do you already take existing measures to prevent stable vices such as providing toys or salt licks? (Please specify)
no



• From your experience do you think that vices could be prevented through varied management for example ensuring that horses have sufficient time turned out to ensure that vices do not occur?
yes


• Do you encounter any behaviour in you horse/horses at a specific time of the day for example at feeding time, when horses are turned out or when you enter the area in which the horses are kept?
no

J.B.Shores
View Public Profile
Send a private message to J.B.Shores
Find More Posts by J.B.Shores
Add J.B.Shores to Your Contacts

18-05-11, 04:21 PM #12
mishaspey
Schoolmaster


Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: North East Scotland
Posts: 702 Re: Most popular methods of keeping horses.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Which environment do you keep your horse/horses in for example natural (outside) or stabled? Natural
 
• Which environment do you keep your horse/horses in for example natural (outside) or stabled?
Out in Summer from morning until dark, stable overnight. In in Winter with an couple hour's turnout in the field or the school.



• Do you find that the environment in which your horse/horses live provides them with sufficient freedom to exhibit natural behaviour, maintain required level of grazing and a decent level of interaction with other horses if you have any?
Yes, they are always out as a herd when possible, and we never leave a horse turned out on his own. They have a hierarchy, they have enough room to play, but also enough room to have their own space. They get more than enough grazing! Haha.


• In your opinion why have you chosen to keep your horse/horses in this way?
The horses are in this routine, they enjoy being out with their friends, and I think they enjoy the stabling in winter!


• Do you have any other horses that either remain inside or are brought in at a set time?
We have one horse on boxrest, unknown cause. He gets turned out when the vet allows with the quiet horses.

• Have you encountered any specific behavioural problems in any of your horses?
We have one who boxwalks due to lack of exercise/ things to do, but his owner just won't change anything.


• Are you aware of...
(Please Tick)
Box walking. Yes.
Crib biting. Yes.
Weaving. Yes.
Wind Sucking. Yes.



• If you encountered these stable vices how would you attempt to either prevent them or manage them if they were reoccurring?
The horse/ horses involved would get a full MOT from the vet to rule out physical problems, then they would get more attention and exercise. If cribbing collars etc. were necessary, they would be used.



• Do you already take existing measures to prevent stable vices such as providing toys or salt licks? (Please specify)
Toys and licks are used.



• From your experience do you think that vices could be prevented through varied management for example ensuring that horses have sufficient time turned out to ensure that vices do not occur?
Yes, more time in the field with friends means less time for vices!


• Do you encounter any behaviour in you horse/horses at a specific time of the day for example at feeding time, when horses are turned out or when you enter the area in which the horses are kept?
A little weaving and door-banging during feeding time, but that's because they wind each other up!

--

Hope I helped!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top