Very "knowledgeable" people- but they are wrong!

[Amaranta]

Smile and carry on!

I had all that last year when my pony had laminitis and the vet made me starve her (1% bodyweight soaked hay). I didn't like it but the bottom line was I trust my vet so I did it and my pony made a full recovery. Other liveries were telling me how cruel I was, stomach ulcers, and trying to sneak her extra hay when I wasn't there despite me putting up signs! I'm sorry but if you think you know more than my vet than off you go to university, get your vet degree, publish some groundbreaking research on laminitis and when you show it to me I will be really interested to hear what you have to say. Until then, my horse is sick and this is quite hard enough. Either support me or go away.

Actually starving a laminitic of fibre IS wrong and goes against all the latest laminitis research. So, I disagree with your vet. I thought vets had stopped giving this advice tbh. The reason you need to keep the fibre up is because you need to keep the hind gut moving and healthy, you cannot do this unless the pony has enough fibre. If the hind gut becomed compromised, toxins can leak out into the system and trigger laminitis. It is much better to feed hay soaked for 12 hours as you can feed more of it and therefore help the hindgut.

Vets are NOT nutritionists and only do about 6 hours of nutrition in their training (this came from a vet).

However, glad your pony recovered, and I agree, other liveries should not have interfered.

 

[Amaranta]

The worst thing i've heard is shut your horse in the stable , top door as well if it has separation anxiety , so it'll get used to being alone, safely , whilst you ride your other horse .....just cruel and ignorant .. sometimes people say that old horse methods are the best , but some seem barbaric to me.

Ahh so it is less cruel to let it break it's own neck then?

 

[Pipkin]

my shoddy advice

Roxy didnt enjoy having her feet washed when we first bought her, some tool at the yard told us to get a pressure washer on her and gave us an example on a donkey

To cure ayla`s seperation anxiety which made her rear is stable...put up a beam with a few nails in it "she`ll soon stop"

 

[only_me]

You know what I find really scary?

People who think all experts know nothing. They don't know it all granted, but everyone can learn from everyone

 

[SonnysHumanSlave]

I was told last year by a lady who had owned and showed and bred Arabs years and years ago.

That my pony did not need a fly rug on, that She would end up with complaints fro
The RsPca, and that after I told her that he suffers with terrible sweet itch.... She then went on about the fact that sweet itch us some made up condition and that certainly there would be no midges in April to cause this.

Arghghhhhh I moved yards in the end.

 

[lilaclomax]

Wow - it is amazing that some people believe these are the right thing to do...

No-one is an expert in everything but as the OP says some are more knowledgeable than others in their chosen subject area... but we are all human and all make mistakes.
Personally, I try and learn something new everyday, not always something I will use but each piece of knowledge helps make us better people

I have heard some things I would never consider doing to Shadow and sometimes I find myself doubting what I believe I am doing is the right thing... I like to believe I am doing the best for him but when I reflect back on things we have done together there are times when I wish I had done something different!

 

[brighteyes]

That 'dairy cow' pasture is perfectly safe to turn ponies out on as once they are used to it, they don't get laminitis. One pony did succumb and actually 'shed' a hoof, but I was assured that this nothing to do with the grazing...

 

[Georgia-allyn]

I got told by a old man once that to make my horse pick his legs up when jumping whip them with barbed wire untill they are saw then jump him so he hurts his legs and dont wanna do it again ! harsh or what ! people can be strange hey .

 

[Wolfie]

I am also at work told to pick off ALL scabs?? surely the scab is to protect healing skin? I thought that nowadays even mud fever scabs are not to be picked?

I may be wrong myself on that one but i never pick off injury scabs and they heal fine?

Picking off scabs is one of the ultimate pleasures of owning an accident prone horse! That and squeezing out the pus!

 

[Dolcé]

Scary isn't it! You know what they say about a little knowledge being dangerous! A lot of these are actually blurdy cruel, it is awful that some people may follow this advice, poor horses!

 

[superted1989]

To own up..................
Many years ago, I sold my small horse to my 'bestest' friend as I needed a bigger horse (these days I have a 14.1 cob!). Lovely little mare, did riding club level everything, but had a very, very wispy forelock.
Leap forward about 25 years, mare been departed about 10 years but bestest friend still bestest friend, both of us had a bit of a break from horses, breeding children.
On a horse hunting mission my friend recoiled in horror at the sight of a feedbowl that had cabbage in it.
Apparently, I'd told her that our old mare had a thin forelock from eating cabbage! I have no recollection of it, but she had been vigilant about cabbage for all those years!
She'd taken as gospel as I'd recently taken my AI................God only knows what other leg pulls I may have said that she's taken as gospel!

 

[Tnavas]

McNAlly - I am also at work told to pick off ALL scabs?? surely the scab is to protect healing skin? I thought that nowadays even mud fever scabs are not to be picked?

You are definately right about not picking off mud fever scabs as that can result in allowing bacteria into the damaged area.

Scabs in general - if when you wash a wound the scab comes off then the wound is most likely infected and the scab keeping the muck in. If the scab is tight then leave it.

I cover all wounds as they heal better in a moist environment so long as they are clean. Wouonds that can't be bandaged need a fly repellant around them to keep the flies away. Salt is very good for this, just press some salt grains directly onto the wound or apply 'Active Manuka Honey'

Being one of the oldies! I can say that there are a hell of a lot of unhealthy horses around nowadays as there are many people who sadly have minimal basic horsemanship knowledge.

Many of us learnt from those that relied on the horse for their transport and livelihood. My first real instructor was an ex cavalry officer - and he really knew a thing or two about horses.

Horses have not changed in how they need to be cared for - but what has changed is the ridiculous feeds that are being marketed, full of soy, bran and peas - the people who own them that feed them regardless of the fact that most horses that live out do not need feeding unless in hard work. They keep them cooped up behind electric fences and wonder why they get bucked off or run away with. They are covered to the eye balls leaving them uncomfortable, hot & sweaty. In years gone by we rarely ever rugged a horse that lived out - unless we had clipped it - trace clip. How many of you have more than one thin saddle blanket under your saddle.

I still don't use one - have no trouble fitting saddles and have no trouble with sore backs. The kindest thing against a horses skin is well maintained leather. It allows air to flow freely through the gullet allowing the back to stay cool.

TBH a horses lot has not improved over the years.

End of my rant.

 

[hairycob]

The worst I ever had was from a woman in her 60s who kept telling me that HP was far too thin for a cob & he was losing his coat through lack of nutrition. He was fit for going out jumping & it was late March, he was shedding his winter coat! Her view was that cobs SHOULD have apple shaped bums & deep gutters down their spine. Of course it was just bad luck that all hers kept getting laminitis.

 

[dooble]

Mine come from friends who have obviously been 'eventing' for years (the very same people who don't seem to realise their records are online! In the last fifteen events, without fail, they have come last, got a big fat E, or retired) It's hardly any wonder, as they don't ride all winter - from Sept to May, drag the horse out the field once a week to ride, and then take it eventing. Apparently, all their horses keep themselves fit by running round the field.
It seems no one has made the connection between unfit horses being ridden too hard and the ensuing vet bills. Happens every time.

 

[pricklyflower]

Can't think of any others at the moment, but I must have loads - there was one on here the other day about cow parsley being poisonous though

With respect, it was me that said it burnt until I realised that what I thought was cow parsley wasn't, no mention of it being poisonous in that thread at all unless I missed something and I was very humbled that the good old HHOers taught me something!

 

[SavingGrace]

eg- I have been told my fat pony should be left in all day with no hay to loose weight then turned out over night to gorge himself as he's starving- I know this is not the correct thing and give him soaked hay instead.

My friend has had her VET of all people tell her to do this I was beyond shocked as I have seen firsthand what the damage of leaving horses for several hours with absolutely nothing to eat can do

 

[NOISYGIRL]

I was told to do this a few days ago, pony isnt fat but was told to do it to avoid laminitus. Was told it by my YM, apparently she does it with all the school ponies, as she is much more knowledagble than me I assumed she was correct! So I should give him soaked haylage instead? Hate people giving me bad advice I didn't ask for!

That indeed has been found to be the wrong thing to do, apparently restricting the grazing like that has no effect as they can cram in the same amount in the hours they are out as a pony out 24/7.

Defo soaked HAY not haylage and a muzzle would be a good idea

 

[brigantia]

My friend has had her VET of all people tell her to do this I was beyond shocked as I have seen firsthand what the damage of leaving horses for several hours with absolutely nothing to eat can do

The yard I used to be on, the "Turn out is overrated because all they do is stand around yard," made you bring in your horse and leave them in without food and turn them out again in the evening, supposedly to prevent laminitis, sunburn, and fly bites.

I am no longer at this yard . . .

I think the grain of truth in this approach is that sugars in the grass are highest during the day when the sun is shining and that overnight, the sugars in the grass are lower. But with our long British summer days, I don't think you can make a horse stand inside without food all the daylight hours.

 

[McNally]

Picking off scabs is one of the ultimate pleasures of owning an accident prone horse! That and squeezing out the pus!

BBlleeuurrghh- thats just very very wrong ;-) - the particular horse i was told this one had several tight on scabs from cuts and the person showing me scraped (really hard) with her long nails then asked me to to do the other legs, ewww

Evelyn, I'm not sure by your reply if i have offended you? The reason i have had so many of these weird pieces of advice is that i ask constantly, there are many horsey people both younger and older than myself who i respect their opinions hugely or i wouldnt bother asking- my thread was mearly wondering how other people handle this sort of situation.
I'm also not saying i believe all the "old" ways are outdated and wrong, although some certainly are but thats just my opinion!.
One of the worst people for "advising" me is in fact a teenage girl at my current yard who competes therefore knows all there is to know about horses, and i as a "hacker" knows nothing (although i have owned horses since she was a tiny baby!)

 

[Lanky Loll]

BHS AI (Judge) at local show - "Your horse is lame"
Me: "He's tölting"
BHS AI: "Your horse is still lame"
Me: "He's pacing"
BHS AI: "I don't understand these gaits"
Me: "Ok, ok, I'm leaving"

We hear that a lot with the standardbreds. That and "horses have to be forced to pace it's not a natural gait and you HAVE to tie their legs together to do it".... yes that's why we do almost all their work at home without hopples and they pace in the field as foals before they're ever handled

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I was greeted on the yard by the resident 'Know it all' saying that my horse has been windsucking! I asked her a bit more about it & she said she's been watching him sucking on a post in his field.

This was all new to me, he'd showed no signs of doing this in his stable. He was one of these horses that will lick a wall when he's tied up. He'll chew & play with the end of his lead rope. he'll lick & play with the tie up ring etc.

Anyway this 'Know it all' spoke to the YO, who knew nothing about horses & just was in it for the money, & she took everything on board as if it was gospel from her friend the 'Know it all'. I decided that this was ridiculous so I phoned & spoke to my vet. He is an eminent equine vet, write columns in H&H, & was vet of the year a couple of years ago. I'd only said a few things to him & he told me that I certainly didn't have a wind sucker. I'd just got a horse that was into everything & was a messer but certainly wasn't a crib biter or sucker.

I told the YO & the 'Know it all' & you know the YO decided that her friend the 'Know it all' knew better than the vet & believed her rather than my vet....... what an idiot. They had me double fence the paddock to stop my horse 'Windsucking' as they claimed that it is copied by other horses........this is a widely held belief but again this is also false, my vet told me.

Needles to say I moved my horses as soon as I could as I couldn't put up with the crap anymore! Now at a lovely small yard, everyone is friendly & can't help each other enough, but no one is in anyone's pocket...it's great & I should have moved 12 months before.

 

[skint1]

My old YO believed that windsucking could be copied and made our horse wear a collar because of damage to fencepost which was fine but she then tried to blame our horse when others were seen chewing fenceposts and made our lives really difficult because there was nothing we could do about it

My old YO also believed that if you left your horse's overnight rug on during the day and it got warm that was ok because the horse could drink water to cool itself off

She also believed that if it was snowy, horses could get their fluid intake from eating snow.

 

[McNally]

skint, similar to your rug thing! My boss (who i really do respect and go to first with problems..) made us put thick full neck under rugs, king size duvets (thicker that on my bed in winter!) and heavy weight stable rugs on........BEFORE it gets cold so they can acclimatise themselves??? really?? I questioned this theory and was made to feel stupid!

Also then when one of the above horses is not being worked hard anymore you can just go down to one rug- they dont need the extra 2 as horses not in work dont feel the cold! uumm, i disagree i bet after getting used to that level of warmth (far too much in the first place) they sure must feel the cold when with no warning they loose it all, often just as it does actually become cold!
Yet all can be t/o in any temp with a summer t/o????????????

 

[glamourpuss]

The one that makes me chuckle time and time again:
"but you CAN'T event a horse that's out 24/7 because you can't get it fit enough"

 

[charleysummer]

oh god where do i begin...

'wtf are you doing with that horse, if you want it to load its all about dominance- you must make it know it has to go in the trailer like it or not' * proceeds to run up shouting and waving arms* me : '**** off..'

'I feed my horse lots of oats to calm it down, if i give him cool mix he compensates for it and goes nuts'

'If you hold onto the horses mouth long enough she will eventually tire of fighting and drop her head into an outline for you'

me: 'Oh he looks young (at pony in stable)
lady : 'yes we are weaning him, he's been in there for a week (solid not been let out at all and pacing- never been stabled before)
me: 'oh.. (dont know anything about weaning but thinking this seems very stressfull)
lady: im going to let him out now into the menage' *enters stable and cant catch him (never worn a headcoller) *lady starts chasing him ROUND THE STABLE and shouting at him
told her what i thought and i got a very abusive reply. never went back!

im sure i can remember quite a few more i have met some complete idiots...

 

[BMA]

where to start...

"synthetic saddles are one size fits all - they we actually referred to as 'ann summers saddles'"

"you need to bring a sledgehammer down on a horse that rears" how would you lift it to swing it?!?

"you can't keep shoes on a horse with white feet"

my favourite - "if a horse is slightly lame you 'oat it up' that well they are forward thinking and forget about their leg!

"you shouldn't bath them - strips their coat and it will end up dull"

"numnahs give horses saddle sores"

"to make shoes last longer you put weld on them then you don't have to have them shod so often"

"if the horse coughs in the stable on a straw bed you are to water the bed to get rid of the dust"

"rugs are dangerous - their legs get tangled in them and then they break their legs"

 

[Tnavas]

Evelyn, I'm not sure by your reply if i have offended you? The reason i have had so many of these weird pieces of advice is that i ask constantly, there are many horsey people both younger and older than myself who i respect their opinions hugely or i wouldnt bother asking- my thread was mearly wondering how other people handle this sort of situation.
I'm also not saying i believe all the "old" ways are outdated and wrong, although some certainly are but thats just my opinion!.
One of the worst people for "advising" me is in fact a teenage girl at my current yard who competes therefore knows all there is to know about horses, and i as a "hacker" knows nothing (although i have owned horses since she was a tiny baby!)

Teenagers! They always know everything

No you haven't offended me at all I was annoyed at someones comment that the old ways are rubbish... I'm a few months off 60 and I still look after my horses the way I was taught. My horses are extremely healthy, and my vet has only visited to give annual vacinations for the past 24 yrs or more, bar one time when I gave in to modern medicine and gave one of my horses Founderguard - it nearly killed him, and another when a school pony developed a 'Piturity Adenoma' now known as Cushings. I've looked after yards of 100+ horses with minimal vets visits - and all have been looked after the traditional way, fed straight feeds, licked a mineral block - no extras added. Some of the best remidies I have in my medicine chest are from old stockmen and they work better than the commercial ones. My medicine chest holds a container of salt and a jar of 'Active Manuka Honey' - no Iodine, Hibiscrub and all the other things that the modern horse owner collects.

Some of the modern thinking is crazy - my ponies live out, eat grass and don't get laminitis because they are worked accordingly and not hard fed. I don't soak hay as most horses hate it soaking wet. I don't feed commercially prepared foods as it is not natural for horses to eat such stuff as Soy - which has some terrible side effects. Advance Google 'Soy' 'negatives' to see. Horses are suffering from metabolic problems that were never in existance prior to commercial mixes.

I was lucky to have learnt from some of the best people - I drove everyone insane with my questions and read every book I could - especially those written by qualified people. My bible for a long time was 'The Horsemasters Notebook' by Mary Rose. I'd read and ask. I added to my knowledge by working my way through the BHS exams.

There have been some exceptions ; One 'top' trainer I worked for would worm religeously 6 weekly, but not all the horses at the same time. Consequently when the horses were turned out - in pairs - one may have been wormed but not the other. We brought in two youngsters to start their breaking, wormed them and the next day the dung climbed into the barrow on its own - I'd never seen so many red worm in my life.

Another that told me to give a horses normal feed of oats when it is barely able to move from 'tying up'.

 

[indiat]

Um, can some one tell me how you WELD shoes to a horses hoof? Anyone seen it done or done it and lived to tell the tale?

 

[Tnavas]

Um, can some one tell me how you WELD shoes to a horses hoof? Anyone seen it done or done it and lived to tell the tale?

The weld refered to is added to the toe of the shoe to increase the durability of the shoe

 

[ginabella]

Teenagers! They always know everything

No you haven't offended me at all I was annoyed at someones comment that the old ways are rubbish... I'm a few months off 60 and I still look after my horses the way I was taught. My horses are extremely healthy, and my vet has only visited to give annual vacinations for the past 24 yrs or more, bar one time when I gave in to modern medicine and gave one of my horses Founderguard - it nearly killed him, and another when a school pony developed a 'Piturity Adenoma' now known as Cushings. I've looked after yards of 100+ horses with minimal vets visits - and all have been looked after the traditional way, fed straight feeds, licked a mineral block - no extras added. Some of the best remidies I have in my medicine chest are from old stockmen and they work better than the commercial ones. My medicine chest holds a container of salt and a jar of 'Active Manuka Honey' - no Iodine, Hibiscrub and all the other things that the modern horse owner collects.

Some of the modern thinking is crazy - my ponies live out, eat grass and don't get laminitis because they are worked accordingly and not hard fed. I don't soak hay as most horses hate it soaking wet. I don't feed commercially prepared foods as it is not natural for horses to eat such stuff as Soy - which has some terrible side effects. Advance Google 'Soy' 'negatives' to see. Horses are suffering from metabolic problems that were never in existance prior to commercial mixes.

I was lucky to have learnt from some of the best people - I drove everyone insane with my questions and read every book I could - especially those written by qualified people. My bible for a long time was 'The Horsemasters Notebook' by Mary Rose. I'd read and ask. I added to my knowledge by working my way through the BHS exams.

There have been some exceptions ; One 'top' trainer I worked for would worm religeously 6 weekly, but not all the horses at the same time. Consequently when the horses were turned out - in pairs - one may have been wormed but not the other. We brought in two youngsters to start their breaking, wormed them and the next day the dung climbed into the barrow on its own - I'd never seen so many red worm in my life.

Another that told me to give a horses normal feed of oats when it is barely able to move from 'tying up'.

ive read this with much interest. Can you tell me what you use the manuka honey for?
Ive heard it mentioned before but your reply has really interested me as i do believe that many times the old ways are the best