New horse, new owner- tips and advice!

[hayleymyles]

Hello, bought my first horse a few months ago and was just wondering if anyone had any useful tips?! Obviously I know the basics but have a few questions that I feel stupid for asking:

1- can you ride your horse with a loose shoe? What's the common opinion?
2 - I have a stable but on grass... What's the best bedding to use? Any tips?
3 - how to keep the horse AWAY from the tack room?! Makes it impossible to do anything when she follows me EVERYWHERE!
4 - when stabled in winter (I have a standard sized wooden stable on grass at the mo) will they NEED stable rugs? I've got turnout rugs but unsure whether the stable will be enough?
5 - any tips for stopping her tipping food everywhere? (She clears it all up mind!)
6 - unsure whether there's any advice on stopping water ice over in winter? (Am only little)
7 - also ideas on how to make her stand while mounting? (Ex racehorse)

Other than that we're getting on like a house on fire, she's a dream in everyday with a huge heart!! Dream come true.

 

[DIESELSUPERSTAR]

1- Its not going to hurt your horse to have a break whilst you get the farrier out. I would not ride as it wouldn't take much for the shoe to twist and then you will get yourself in all sorts of trouble!
2. do you mean the inside of the stable is grass- like there isnt a solid foor? Ive no idea, I suppose you could put straw down just for a comfy night sleep, depends on how cosy you like them to be, its not terrible for them to lie on the grass if needs be.
3. She seems like a sweety!! Put a chain or make shift door across so she has to wait outside!!
4. No horse NEEDS a stable rug, if you clip them then yes. You can always use their turnouts as rugs anyway, especially if it has rained i always find it better to leave their rugs on and just turn the neck down otherwise the water soaks right through - with rugging it depends on how you treat them, dont rug her untill she starts getting a little chilly as then she will grow a thick winter coat and not need to be kept warm with rugs.
5, you can get buckets that are designed to stop this, or maybe put her bucket in a tyre. She sounds like shes enjoying life and aslong as she eats it all id say its not a problem!!
6. put a tennis ball or football in the bucket/trough and then in the morning you can lift the ball out and they can get access to water.
7. my new boy was naughty for standing still. persistance is key, hold on to the right rein so they cant walk away from you and spin, get someone to hold her for you and teach her to stand untill you ask to move. make sure if she walks off stop her a few steps later, wait a few seconds and then ask her to move. if she stands for you to get on, ask her to move on as soon as your on and then stop her again and eventually she will wait to be asked to move instead of doing it of her own accord!! hope that makes sense! it does work, my boy is perfect after about a month.

Good luck with her, sounds like your doing a good job and she sounds like an absolute darling!! xx

 

[WelshD]

I think rubber mats may help with the stable on grass, this would make bedding last longer and give you more choice on bedding options

I use feed buckets placed in tyres to stop the buckets getting tipped up - you can get special buckets that fit tyres but i just get the normal low buckets

You can use turnout rugs in stables no problems but do use a rug rather than no rug as standing still can make a TB chilly!

Really the only way to keep the horse away from the tackroom would be to build a little pen around the door to keep them back. A stall guard across the door would help if thats not possible

I wouldnt ride with a loose shoe personally but know people do

 

[hayleymyles]

1 - Yeah I have been resting her and putting my I WANT TO RIDE NOW feelings to the back of my mind! Ha good to get an opinion that i'm doing the right thing tho, thank you
2 -Yes was thinking straw - phew! Just worried it will get muddy?
5 - we have plenty of tyres around thank you for that!! Really appreciate your advice
7 - Thank you its very frustrating, when a friend of mine is hanging half on while elsie walks off.. hahaha entertaining for me though i must say!!

Thank you, shes just a saint of a horse, with so much heart its unreal! I really appreciate your help thank you