Too many people don't know the basics! Rant!

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rolsterlady

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I've been talking to so many people lately who don't seem to know the basics of horse care/management, yet go and compete every weekend.

Examples:
Don't know how to bandage
Don't know how to plait
Don't know how to take horses temperature
Panic when horse gets a small cut, and don't know how to treat it.
Change horse's feed every week (whenever a new feed/supplement comes out)
Change horse's bit every week to 'improve schooling'
Etc, etc, etc.

I understand that people have to start somewhere but most of them have been riding for years, have owned horses for years and compete very often. Surely people should learn the basics first, or am i just being picky?

I am by no means a perfect rider but I do admit to having learnt the basics (of care, schooling, field management, worming etc etc) which is think is more important personally!
 
I think the "don't know how to plait" point is irrelevent. I learned many years ago, but don't expect to ever use the skill as I've no interest in showing and for what other reason would I do it?

The other points are valid though.
 
I don't think you're being picky at all :)

I've seen terrible things on livery yards that would make your toes curl, some people just dont have a clue or kill their horse with kindness. Last year a horse at my livery was overfed cereal, not worked enough then taken out to hunt at weekends. The horse gave them a warning by tying up then a couple of months later it just survived colic, they didn't know what either of the mentioned conditions were. I could go on but I agrre with you that everyone should have their horse management.
 
I don't know how to bandage, plait or what to feed horses. But I've never owned my own horse. If I was to finally buy my own horse, I would knuckle down and learn EVERYTHING I can possibly cram into my head.

I don't need to plait right now, since the horse I ride has no mane to speak of and I don't compete him, other than little local shows. I've never fed him, other than making a hay net or two when his owner has told me to. As far as bandaging goes...I'm going to learn shortly, because untill recently I didn't really need to know.
 
Sorry, looking back at that the plaiting part is irrelevant really. When i wrote it i was thinking of a particular person who had been showing for years but never learnt to plait and had to rely on others (including me) to do it for them, but wouldn't bother learning themselves.

It concerns me more that people don't know the basics of care or have a basic understanding of veterinary knowledge.
 
I couldn't care less tbh, I have a lovely private yard and so perfer it to livery yards where bitchy people start all the time. Does it matter if they can't plait? NO does it matter if they can't bandage? NO does it matter if they can't take a horse temp? NO. Does my head in this sort off thing, if the horse is fit and healthy just let them get on with it and enjoy their horse. Does it really matter.
 
Whilst I agree with the basic premise of your 'rant', and concur that many people don't have any idea of basic horse care as is so obvious from some of the posts here. Where do you start?

I presume that basically everyone wants a healthy happy horse, but we all have different ideas on what makes a healthy happy horse, thats before we go down the route of management, training etc.

Personally, I feel if people just learned about horses, how they evolved, what makes them tick and why they do what they do would be an excellent place to start.

How they have been forced to fit in with our lifestyle would probably be very different if people looked at things from a horses point of view in the first place.

Every day I see scores of horses round and about and I'm sure if they could, must be thinking 'How the hell did we end up like this.'
 
Some people just aren't good at plaiting though - like me for instance, I completely suck at it so I get my friend to do it.

I agree that people should learn basics - I did a horse management course immediately before buying my first horse so that I could do things like bandage, and take a temperature and treat a minor wound and recognise signs of illness/lameness. Im still learning after 6 years of horse ownership though - I dont think you ever stop learning really but for me it was important to know the basics
 
Maybe the points you used are a little picky, but I totally understand your point! My theory is that it is too easy to own horses now, and too difficult to ride at a good riding school (insurance!)

When I was a kid we spent all summer helping out at the riding school to learn all these things, and owning a horse was something we had to earn...and even if we did, chances are it was too expensive anyway!

Not that I'm saying that any rider who hasn't done what I did shouldn't own, far from it, but owning a horse is definitely more attainable these days.

I see many novice owners who ask for help, and want to learn, I also see many novice owners who think they don't need to know, and they don't bother even attempting to learn!
 
Tr0uble said:
Maybe the points you used are a little picky, but I totally understand your point! My theory is that it is too easy to own horses now, and too difficult to ride at a good riding school (insurance!)

When I was a kid we spent all summer helping out at the riding school to learn all these things, and owning a horse was something we had to earn...and even if we did, chances are it was too expensive anyway!

Not that I'm saying that any rider who hasn't done what I did shouldn't own, far from it, but owning a horse is definitely more attainable these days.

I see many novice owners who ask for help, and want to learn, I also see many novice owners who think they don't need to know, and they don't bother even attempting to learn!
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You worded it much better than me! But this is exactly what i was trying to say... :) I don't think it's right that anyone can go out and buy a horse without knowing a thing about how to look after them.
 
Well no your not being to picky, things like worming, field management, feeding etc yes should be learnt before they get their horse but I just think you used the wrong examples by plaiting etc.
It is shocking what you see on some livery yards hence my own yard and I love it.
Re the small cut, I would rather a novice called the vet than mistake a small cut for a small but deep puncture wound. And with bandageing would rather they left alone or asked for help than try themselves and do more damage. Thing is there is so much with horses to know that although you can know the basics and beyond. the more knowlege to some is dangerous.
 
rolsterlady said:
I've been talking to so many people lately who don't seem to know the basics of horse care/management, yet go and compete every weekend.

Examples:
Don't know how to bandage
Don't know how to plait
Don't know how to take horses temperature
Panic when horse gets a small cut, and don't know how to treat it.
Change horse's feed every week (whenever a new feed/supplement comes out)
Change horse's bit every week to 'improve schooling'
Etc, etc, etc.

I understand that people have to start somewhere but most of them have been riding for years, have owned horses for years and compete very often. Surely people should learn the basics first, or am i just being picky?

I am by no means a perfect rider but I do admit to having learnt the basics (of care, schooling, field management, worming etc etc) which is think is more important personally!
Click to expand...

Well, I don't know how to plait (in a tidy manner!), I don't know a great deal about feeding and would probably ask for advice (mine live out all year and are good doers, salt/mineral licks only), I would worry if my horse was injured in any way, and I asked a yard friend to check my bandages were correctly put on - but I don't think I'm a bad owner. I believe I'm fit to have my horse, and that she is well cared for.

You seem to think that competition owners should be set above the rest of us? I think the old addage "each to their own" applies. There's more than one way to skin a horse, or manage it for that matter.
 
AT the riding school we were b*locked if poo picking was not up to par, the smallest flake of poo missed and wow did you know about it! yards were swept, gravel was raked, buckets were cleaned, stable beds were squared, tack was cleaned every day, bits were washed every ride....

Every aspect of horse care was taught to that kind of standard, and I really notice the people around me who didn't have this kind of upbringing.

Attention to detail is one of my favourite parts of horse ownership!
 
thatsmygirl said:
Well no your not being to picky, things like worming, field management, feeding etc yes should be learnt before they get their horse but I just think you used the wrong examples by plaiting etc.
It is shocking what you see on some livery yards hence my own yard and I love it.
Re the small cut, I would rather a novice called the vet than mistake a small cut for a small but deep puncture wound. And with bandageing would rather they left alone or asked for help than try themselves and do more damage. Thing is there is so much with horses to know that although you can know the basics and beyond. the more knowlege to some is dangerous.
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I agree and now wish i'd thought before i typed.... i used really bad examples. :rolleyes:
 
Yes, agree with you thatsmygirl.

Everyone has to start somewhere and a lot of novices choose to be on full/part livery with experienced people to help with them out.
Okay's ome don't and that can be a problem.
 
Attention to detail :)
I hate other people riding mine as I'm so fussy, feet must be picked out before the horse leaves the stable, will not except bedding dragged across the yard. I hate girths left attacted to saddles after rides and bent over the saddle must be taken off properly and I like the bridles to be left hung outside the horses stable with the reins and martingale put through the thoat lash to keep it all tidy. Just a couple off my pet hates.
 
thatsmygirl said:
TROUBLE, worded well, SPOT ON. Oh how the loved the old days off helping out at the riding school.
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I have such fond memories and although it was pure slave labour, and really hard work, I wouldn't change a second of it...we stillmpaid for our lesson and our only payment was, if we were lucky, riding the ponies back down to the fields bareback...was a real honour if you were considered good enough to ride one and lead another!

Also in the winter, all of us piling into the riding school owners living room to eat our sandwiches...occasionally there would be big horsey events on TV to watch...good times!

We used to het there at 7am, and often worked till 7pm, loved it!
 
rolsterlady said:
You worded it much better than me! But this is exactly what i was trying to say... :) I don't think it's right that anyone can go out and buy a horse without knowing a thing about how to look after them.
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I agree that it's not right, but the same can be said of any animal. Look how many totally ignorant dog owners there are, of course people should know as much as they can about owning any animal. Unfortunately, thats not how it works in our society. If you have the money someone will sell you what you want.
 
You never stop learning,every horse can teach you more skills,provided you have common sense and an open mind.
I do feel that there is a need for a basic level of knowledge before having a horse of your own.
A good yard can help an owner build their skills and knowledge as they come across new challenges,however some of the posts on this forum show how this can not be relied upon.
I met a teenage girl not long ago,she wanted a horse of her own and was at a local RS,she did not know how to tack up,let alone anything else,yet wanted to keep the horse at home.I suggested that she maybe would benefit from some lessons in stable management before getting a horse,her reply I am not going to buy one I will loan and learn on that,then buy when I know what to do.I was speechless,the idea of using someone elses horse to make the mistakes with, not her own.It was meant in that way,not just me taking it the wrong way.
I think you should be able to take a horses temperature,it may be important one day and is hardly difficult.
A bandage, correctly applied is another useful skill.
Plaiting is not really a basic, I think your friend is probably taking advantage as you do a good job and she does not have to,I would suggest some help over the winter showing her how to do it herself.
 
I wouldn't call bandaging a basic IMO.

Considering it is part of the pony club B test, it is far from a basic, but I can see where you are coming from, it is essential for horse care but something that is very easy to get wrong and damage the leg.
 
be positive said:
You never stop learning,every horse can teach you more skills,provided you have common sense and an open mind.
I do feel that there is a need for a basic level of knowledge before having a horse of your own.
A good yard can help an owner build their skills and knowledge as they come across new challenges,however some of the posts on this forum show how this can not be relied upon.
I met a teenage girl not long ago,she wanted a horse of her own and was at a local RS,she did not know how to tack up,let alone anything else,yet wanted to keep the horse at home.I suggested that she maybe would benefit from some lessons in stable management before getting a horse,her reply I am not going to buy one I will loan and learn on that,then buy when I know what to do.I was speechless,the idea of using someone elses horse to make the mistakes with, not her own.It was meant in that way,not just me taking it the wrong way.
I think you should be able to take a horses temperature,it may be important one day and is hardly difficult.
A bandage, correctly applied is another useful skill.
Plaiting is not really a basic, I think your friend is probably taking advantage as you do a good job and she does not have to,I would suggest some help over the winter showing her how to do it herself.
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I'm glad you can see where i'm coming from, i started to feel like i really shouldn't have put this post up :(
 
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