What are the basic basics? Horsey knowledge

Spudlet

Spudlet

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As per the title really - what are the basics a person should know before getting their first horse?

I do think that it's fine to learn some things as you're going along provided you have good support available - but some things you should know! My list is:

How to catch
How to put on and take off a headcollar
How to lead safely
How to tie up safely
How to turnout safely
How to fit a rug
How to tell if a horse needs a rug
How to groom and pick out feet
How to mix a feed and the basic principles behind feeding
How to fill, soak and hang up a haynet safely
How to muck out and poo pick
The priciples of worm management and why it is important
For a ridden horse - how to tack up and untack and how to tell if tack fits, although you should of course get a saddler in to fit new saddles
Basic first aid
How to condition score and use a weigh tape
How to control poisonous plants
What a safe yard / turnout looks like
Signs of good health and signs of conditions like laminitis and colic
How to wash off a hot sweaty horse
How to take a resting pulse rate and respiratory rate, and take temperature
How to take a digital pulse
How often things like vaccinations, farriers / trimmers, dentists, saddlers etc are needed
How to tell when a horse is in pain or discomfort and what to check (teeth, back, tack etc)
When to ask for help!

Of course there is lots more to know, but that would be my list of the basics that you should have an idea of before you bring a horse home.

Any additions needed? I am typing this while doing my car insurance so it is possible something has been missed out:D
 
I have 40+ years of horse knowledge and there are things on that list which I would not know how to do, but I do know when to ask for help. It is a good starting point and if people made a list of what they felt they should know it might put them off making an inappropriate purchase, or taking on a horse with all the gear and no idea. I don't suppose that is particularly helpful advice. Top of my list is am I prepared to put my horse over anything or anybody else 24/7 regardless of the weather. The answer should be yes! - Ask my family.
 
I def think those things are important, but I also think it is really important to know how to handle a horse on a day to day basis and not get walked all over. So many people at my yard seem to have poor mannered tricky to handle horses as they have trouble laying the rules and then enforcing them in a consistent, fair and appropriate way. I think alot of people would enjoy time spent around their horses alot more if they had help in this area.
 
I'd agree with everything on that list. I learned a good grasps of the basics by years of helping out at a riding school. The rest of what I needed to know I learned from being on a very knowledgeable yard with a YO who was happy to take the time to explain things and show you what to do.

In that horse owner licences wouldn't be pratical I do think that the Government should look more seriously at livery yard licencing. There are too many diversified farmers who are happy to take people's money but know absolutely nothing about horse care and allow people to keep their horses in very poor conditions. While I think its sad that it should have come to this and its the horses that are suffering at the moment.
 
glosgirl said:
I def think those things are important, but I also think it is really important to know how to handle a horse on a day to day basis and not get walked all over. So many people at my yard seem to have poor mannered tricky to handle horses as they have trouble laying the rules and then enforcing them in a consistent, fair and appropriate way. I think alot of people would enjoy time spent around their horses alot more if they had help in this area.
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I agree with that, tbh I think of that as being automatic and didn't even consider it:o

I've never owned a horse - I know what I know through helping at RSs, sharing horses and learning from the people around me:) I actually made the list as I was feeling fed up and that I would never be good enough to own a horse - I felt better after typing that lot down!

I think it would be good if more RSs included some stable management teaching in with their lessons day to day - could be as simple as teaching things like the signs of a horse being in discomfort at the end of a lesson.
 
glosgirl said:
I def think those things are important, but I also think it is really important to know how to handle a horse on a day to day basis and not get walked all over. So many people at my yard seem to have poor mannered tricky to handle horses as they have trouble laying the rules and then enforcing them in a consistent, fair and appropriate way. I think alot of people would enjoy time spent around their horses alot more if they had help in this area.
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quote
I think it would be good if more RSs included some stable management teaching in with their lessons day to day - could be as simple as teaching things like the signs of a horse being in discomfort at the end of a lesson.quote

Actually I think that this is where a lot of people fall down. You can read up on just about all the rest but it is only through example and experience that you learn to stand your ground and insist on good manners from every horse you meet, without bullying the horse.
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All of the above!

But to be honest... all the sciency stuff is easy to learn, it's the hands on experience that is the biggest learning curve. Like a lot of the other replies said, it's the day to day handling you need to be able to cope with.

I would add to the list:

If you are on your own, would you know what to do if your horse refused to be caught?
How would you handle a horse that spooked whilst being led in?
Are you assertive enough to gain respect from your horse on the ground no matter what they do!?

Like I said the basic stable and field management is mostly common sense, it's finding the techniques and confidence to handle your horse and be the boss that's the tricky bit!

I'm not suggesting you should be able to do all these things own your own from the start, but you need to learn how to do these things before you get your own horse. (Believe me I learnt the hard way and if it wasn't for a good friend of mine I would be up the creek without a paddle!)
 
charliep said:
If you are on your own, would you know what to do if your horse refused to be caught?
How would you handle a horse that spooked whilst being led in?
Are you assertive enough to gain respect from your horse on the ground no matter what they do!?
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See that doesn't worry me - I know I can deal with all that because I have done. It's the other stuff that concerned me:)
 
glosgirl said:
I def think those things are important, but I also think it is really important to know how to handle a horse on a day to day basis and not get walked all over. So many people at my yard seem to have poor mannered tricky to handle horses as they have trouble laying the rules and then enforcing them in a consistent, fair and appropriate way. I think alot of people would enjoy time spent around their horses alot more if they had help in this area.
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Have to say I agree with this wholeheartedly. I find there are so many 'problem' horses around today compared to when I first started in horses 40 years ago. I am convinced it is because we all went soft and forgot the principles of basic handling whilst trying to look like 'kind' handlers. You can be firm and consistent without being harsh or cruel. The closure of our riding schools has a lot to answer for!
 
hch4971 said:
Have to say I agree with this wholeheartedly. I find there are so many 'problem' horses around today compared to when I first started in horses 40 years ago. I am convinced it is because we all went soft and forgot the principles of basic handling whilst trying to look like 'kind' handlers. You can be firm and consistent without being harsh or cruel. The closure of our riding schools has a lot to answer for!
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I don't totally agree with your thoughts on problem horses. If you read Henry Blakes books, written in the 1970's he talks about retraining 'bad'uns' during the 1940's and 50's. However, I do believe that our PC society is having a detrimental effect on horses. Too many wishy washy people are being told they are fine to own a horse when they quite clearly don't have the competence to handle a stroppy horse / pony from the ground. It is nothing to do with age, size or gender, my OH (Follychoppins) is 5'4" and 8 stone nothing, but can pretty much handle anything equine, on the ground or in the saddle, because she was taught the 'old fashioned' way which was firm, kind and patient and most importantly with an objective in mind.

I'm afraid I feel that horses are far too easy to buy these days and people don't give nearly enough thought to just what is involved. They are also not prepared to look at themselves and consider 'do I REALLY know enough'.

Sorry, bit of a soap box subject with me.
 
Kind is important, so long as it is coupled with 'firm' 'fair' 'consistent' and 'patient', as others have said :) Oh, and common sense should play a big part too!

I wonder, in addition to what has been said, if people are also more likely to give 'problem' horses another chance these days, while in the past people would have been more likely to apply four inches of fast moving lead as a solution? Just musing aloud (well, you know what I mean :D) really!
 
that's a very comprehensive list! I agree with the above posts that general handling is important. But some of the items on this list I think could be learnt 'on the job' if the horse was at a good livery yard and the owner willing to learn and accept help. Also - digital pulse... this isn't normally detectable in a healthy horse!
 
woolyjumper said:
that's a very comprehensive list! I agree with the above posts that general handling is important. But some of the items on this list I think could be learnt 'on the job' if the horse was at a good livery yard and the owner willing to learn and accept help. Also - digital pulse... this isn't normally detectable in a healthy horse!
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But people should know where to find it, and what finding a pulse may mean as it can be an early sign of laminitis. So it is important to know how to check for one IMO:)

Obviously it depends on the yard, though a person who can afford full livery should probably still be aware of this stuff so they can make sure the yard is doing a good job of looking after their horse. But I think this is what you need to know to look after your own horse on DIY (I know I didn't say that originally, oops:o;))
 
I wouldn't necessarily agree with needing to know a lot... depending on the circumstances under which the horse is kept.

I sold a horse on behalf of a friend to a novice rider 14 months ago. I expressed concerns about the horse care point of view, the new owner took on board everything that was said, (and fortunately local) kept the horse on the same (full) livery yard. Well full, in the sense that all care aspects are dealt with not riding and grooming. To begin with the new owner needed her tack checked over, and help with pretty much everything, however it's turned out to be a success story, she's learnt a huge amount, is competent both handling and riding horses.

But, she does acknowledge that it would never have worked without the extensive back up and network of people to help her in the early days.

I think it's harder for people who come to horses later in life to pick up all the skills that so many of us "absorbed" as children as they have less time in order to soak things up due to work/family committments. But if, as described above, they're prepared to keep a horse in a situation where there's full back up then they can learn the basics as they go along wihtout detriment to the horses welfare. If my (now) friend hadn't bought a horse, but carried on with her weekly lessons she would be no further along in her quest to gain knowledge

However, if you're planning on caring for a horse yourself without a "back up team" then the above list is definitely essential knowledge
 
If the new owner kept the horse on full livery, bought the right type of horse for a novice, and had a willingness to learn, I don't think they need to know one third of the things on the list. I certainly didn't when I bought my first horse and there are things on that list I still don't know despite owning horses for 16 years and keeping them at home for 9 of those!

A lot of these things depend on circumstances. Catching a horse which is easy to catch and is on its own in the paddock is a different kettle of fish than having to make your way through a herd of excited horses to collect the one that doesn't want to know you.
 
Yep that covers all the basics. I would add how to know when that naughty gypsy cob is taking the pee with someone who he thinks he can walk all over. 5 minutes with Mr dog chain under his chain, one squeeze and if necessary one tug, and possibly one flick with Mr Sticky and he is sweetness and light and will not drag you off where he thinks he wants to go. This is not cruel, he is tough and fearless and extremely clever and a poke on the chest with a finger and asked sweetly not to do something is met with a evil cob smirk. What is not needed is shouting, screaming and constant hitting or pulling on - does nothing.

The ability to know what a horse can tolerate, my old TB never needed anything more than a quiet word and a push with a finger, her daughter needed very tactful, firm but never into an argument - you discussed things with her, Stinky needs the occasional firm reminder, and Farra - well soft words and a treat and the very rare tap to push her into place.

That said, this comes with experience of years of having different horses and maybe is not the true basics but the second stage of knowledge. Hopefully on buying the first horse, they will have someone who has years of knowledge and will make sure the first horse is easy going and able to put up with novice mistakes that will happen, we all have done them and no doubt still do on occasion.
 
Its a very good list and i do think its important to know as much as you can and be confortable that should a situation where your horse comes in from the field lame/cut/or shows signs of illness that you know how to deal with it untill a vet comes.

A lot comes with common sense, you will see when you need to switch from a heavy weight rug to a lighter wieght one etc and if a horse is bored, over worked, underworked, over fed etc.

But i think one thing you could add to your list which needs to be thought about before you get a horse and that is who to ask if you need help. Do you have a competent knowledgable person you could turn to if you get out of your depth or need reassurance/advice etc.

My parents rode 30 years ago both owning horses....but now they are not confident/cant remember the day to day horse care etc. So i dont have horsey parents. I do have people around with horses. But the biggest godsend i have is that my riding instructor who i learnt with and spent all of my childhood at her yard (and now have my horse in livery at her livery yard) i can call her whenever, ask her whatever, she is always willing to help and is so knowledgable.

But if you dont have that support it can be very daunting if you have a horse and something happens that is out of your confort zone, so it really is worth thinking through who you could turn to if you ever did need help.
 
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