Tears before bedtime?

J

JACQSZOO

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I have just got back from the yard, where I have just met a new livery. Seems a nice enough woman. Nothing suprising there you might think and perhaps it is'nt that suprising but I find it quite unbelieveable.
The new livery is a novice, actually a very novice novice. She has had three riding lessons. Nothing wrong with that in principal, after all, not everyone that owns horses wishes to ride (she does but by the by) This woman cannot even put a headcollar on. I kid you not. She has no idea on the basic care of the horse. She has never picked a foot out, didn't actually know that you had to do it. She cannot tack her horse up. Bascially she has'nt got a clue.
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I suppose really I should be thankful for small mercys, this horse is apparantly her second, her first horse that she owned several years ago, was a section D, so what? I hear you cry - a section D 4 year old stallion!
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He was sold when he dragged her and her husband through several hedges
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So what has she got now? A six year old mare, supposedly from Ireland, I say supposedly because it has no passport.
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Her only saving grace as far as I can see, is that she admits she knows nothing, she is under no illusions on that score, even if she is totally out of her depth. She has come on DIY but thankfully my YO is a helpful chappie so fingers crossed all is not. But really why do people do it?
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Tell the yard owner to make sure their business insurance is fully functional!! Seriously! People like this are an absolute liability.
 
sounds like an opportunity for an enterprising instructor to make some money teaching her the basics of a horse owners course ;-)
 
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OOOoooh....hope you are on a helpful yard.
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Well not really no. The YO breeds and he also has the livery business. There are now 5 liveries in total. Myself and my best mate, a young girl of 14, another woman whom only comes at weekends (horses on full livery) and another woman who is heavily pregnant and her horse is retired and comes at odd hours due to childcare and basically just checks her fella over. So to be honest, there is only myself and my friend around most of the time and without wishing to sound really stuck up and selfish, we came to this particular yard as we were both fed up of the "livery yard syndrome" as we call it and like to keep ourselves to ourselves. I have helped her tonight, picked her horses feet out and shown her how to put a headcollar on but I don't have the time (or inclination if I am brutally honest) to spend the little "me" time I do have teaching someone else the basics. That doesn't mean to say I wont help as and when I can, but this woman really does not have a clue.
 
Have you got a spare gaggle of teenage girls? I used to team people like this up with the girls who had worked weekends on the yard for a few years - they were happy to work for rides, and bossy and self confident enough to tell the person how things were supposed to be done!
 
I know D: I had to ride for seven years, before my parents even considered getting a horse, and I was working at a RS by that time, looking after naughty shetties, who really were a test for patience! xD

I pity her mare though - She'll surely ruin her! Does she get mucked out and cared for properly? Groomed before tacking up and such?

Deary deary... Perhaps you could suggest to her that an old, gentle cobby sort might be a better option? Sell the mare, and buy an ex-RS pony? D: Or maybe give the owner a PC Manual of Horsemanship, and get her to read it cover to cover? Or even better, sell the mare, have a year of riding lessons, perhaps an own-a-pony day at the riding stables (LOL!) and re-consider. A six year old though!!! What's she like? The horse, I mean? Very green?

edited because of spelling
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IGroomed before tacking up and such?


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That is not going to kill a horse though is it?
If those are your main concerns then surely she shouldnt have any horse, or are 'gentle cobby sirts' not worth the effort?
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At least she is nice enough to admit things and accept help.

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I agree totally. There is othing worse than a "novice" owner thinking they know everything, IMO thats when things get well out of control. I have had horses for years but I still run to my YO screaming help help when I feel out of my depth or I come on here and ask advice. I have soooooooo much more to learn. We had one at our old yard, first horse, did'nt have a clue. Another livery showed her how to poltice, a week later this novice was telling a very experienced livery that she was polticing incorrectly. That was just one example, the worst I can remember is her deciding that her horse did not need to finish the course of Anti B's that the vet had prescribed after finding a rusty nail in her foot.
 
A gentle cobby sort shouldn't panic if she gets tangled up in a bridle!
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No, just worried about stuff under the saddle, grit and things.
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DOn't get me wrong - Cobbies are the best
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Specially ones with roman noses. Luv roman noses
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Ok here are my two cents



I think every person has to start somewhere.

She obviously has interest in horses and I commend her for keeping at it
she realsied she made a mistake with the staillion and has now moved on to (hopefully) a better fit

I also commend her for admitting she knows nothing. That is JUST the type of person that will seek help and continue to learn.

I suppose we can all feel badly for the horse, but tbh there are far worse cruel neglectful homes out there by EXPERIENCED people.
The fact that she appears to want to do this must mean she cares somewhat for the animal and I hope that she is not that big of a moron that serious neglect will happen.
If it does I suppose I would suggest someone turn her in. I doubt they will take a horse away though for how long it takes and owner to tack it up while fumbling.
I am sure the yard has plenty of people that will point out mistakes to her (people love to do that)
and hopefully some will take a moment out of their busy day to maybe even help her a bit.
we ALL need advice and help with our horses from time to time after all.

I am gald she is sticking to it even after a bad experience.

what a dry life it would be if none of us tried something new and jumped right into something knowing nothing at least once.

I wish them luck
wheather it all turns out good or bad
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I know D: I had to ride for seven years, before my parents even considered getting a horse, and I was working at a RS by that time, looking after naughty shetties, who really were a test for patience! xD

I pity her mare though - She'll surely ruin her! Does she get mucked out and cared for properly? Groomed before tacking up and such?

Deary deary... Perhaps you could suggest to her that an old, gentle cobby sort might be a better option? Sell the mare, and buy an ex-RS pony? D: Or maybe give the owner a PC Manual of Horsemanship, and get her to read it cover to cover? Or even better, sell the mare, have a year of riding lessons, perhaps an own-a-pony day at the riding stables (LOL!) and re-consider. A six year old though!!! What's she like? The horse, I mean? Very green?

edited because of spelling
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No idea what the mare is like ridden. Its only arrived today and I have only seen it in the stable. It was a bit nervy but that is to be expected on a new yard. Was'nt to keen on letting me pick its feet out initially but was'nt any trouble. Can only hope and keep our fingers crossed I suppose.

After coming home and sitting and thinking about it, they have bought a load of new tack for the mare, the girth apparantly didnt fit, but I have just suddenly thought, they had a brand new saddle, which has not been fitted.
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Ok here are my two cents



I think every person has to start somewhere.

She obviously has interest in horses and I commend her for keeping at it
she realsied she made a mistake with the staillion and has now moved on to (hopefully) a better fit

I also commend her for admitting she knows nothing. That is JUST the type of person that will seek help and continue to learn.

I suppose we can all feel badly for the horse, but tbh there are far worse cruel neglectful homes out there by EXPERIENCED people.
The fact that she appears to want to do this must mean she cares somewhat for the animal and I hope that she is not that big of a moron that serious neglect will happen.

I am sure the yard has plenty of people that will point out mistakes to her (people love to do that)
and hopefully some will take a moment out of their busy day to maybe even help her a bit.
we ALL need advice and help with our horses from time to time after all.

I am gald she is sticking to it even after a bad experience.

what a dry life it would be if none of us tried something new and jumped right into something knowing nothing at least once.

I wish them luck
wheather it all turns out good or bad
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I agree with you too. But that is half the problem. This is a very small yard, apart from myself and my friend, there is no one else who spends any time at the yard, other than the YO - whom, in fairness does have a buisness to run.
 
Dx

What, they just went out and chose one? Hm, perhaps just hint that paying an instructor (or anyone they can get hold of really) for a little bit of time, just to show them the basics would be a good idea? I can understand how you feel, sort of pressured into helping because otherwise things will continue to be done incorrectly?
 
Its awful really. She seems a really nice lady - just misguided I suppose. But yes, you do feel responsible dont you? My worst fear is her asking if she can come out hacking or something with us, not because I have a problem hacking with anyone, but I do not want to spend the entire ride worrying about something going wrong and the owner not being able to deal with it. I suppose at the end of the day, what I'm saying is, yes I will offer advice when asked for it, yes I will help when I can, but I don't want to be a babysitter. Thats probably a very selfish attitude to have, but this is my hobby a very expensive one at that, one which I want to enjoy and spend what little time I do have with my boy. Am I wrong to feel like that?
 
Hmm its a shame she doesnt have an experienced friend to take her under her wing, some books would surely help her.

She sounds nice enough and under no illusions but if she doesnt even know how to put a headcollar on or pick feet out then what if the horse had colic etc, would she realise?
 
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Could you perhaps recommend her a few books on basic horse care/management?

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Yes I could try, I might even have some here she could borrow. Trouble is she is so very very nervous around the mare, other than her previous horse, who she did'nt have long and scared her half to death she has never ever been around horses.
 
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Hmm its a shame she doesnt have an experienced friend to take her under her wing, some books would surely help her.

She sounds nice enough and under no illusions but if she doesnt even know how to put a headcollar on or pick feet out then what if the horse had colic etc, would she realise?

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No probably not. But then the YO is on site 24/7 so TBH I would hope he would notice pretty quick if something was going badly wrong.
 
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Yes I could try, I might even have some here she could borrow. Trouble is she is so very very nervous around the mare, other than her previous horse, who she did'nt have long and scared her half to death she has never ever been around horses.

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Have you asked her why she has bought one then?
 
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Yes I could try, I might even have some here she could borrow. Trouble is she is so very very nervous around the mare, other than her previous horse, who she did'nt have long and scared her half to death she has never ever been around horses.

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Have you asked her why she has bought one then?

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Her father had horses for years, he has just moved into the area and has bought the horse for her. He never let her get involved with the horses apparantly
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as she was the baby of the family.
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Hi

In my opinion this should be illegal. Too many people think horses are "cute" they, in fact need a lot of care and training to be fun and safe.

So she intends to pay DIY but use other peoples knowledge and services as she doesn't know a thing? I wouldn't have it on my yard if I had one, Full livery or nothing.

Diana
 
I'm trying hard to remember how I felt when on taking up riding again as an adult I finally got my new mare in the stable on my own!! Have to admit...i was pooing my pants. I was lucky my YO at the time (who also sold me the horse, funnily enough) was very helpful to start with but as soon as she started getting busy with the school and LOTS of new liveries I was preTty much left to it. I enerolled on the BHS horse carers course ( went on to do stage 1&2 for fun!)
The people around me were great because we were all in the same boat ....most of them Mums with daughters first pony, we helped each other, That was years ago and those people are some of my closest friends!!
I do sympathise with you tho cos I am now at the stage where time is precious and really this women appears to have had very little/no advice so far.
 
O and forgot to say. She is having the vet tomorrow (no she hasn't had the horse vetted
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) to give it the once over and gets its jabs done and get a passport. Apparantly the dealer is sending his own vet to do this. <sigh>
 
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