Arizahn
Well-Known Member
How to correctly stock and use a first aid kit for their horse, and when to call in a professional instead or as well.
That nobody ever knows everything about horses and you never stop learning. The day you stop learning is the day you should give up horses.
Everyone should know the basics of how horses learn, because we are teaching them - for better or worse - every moment we are with them. This is fundamental stuff, yet gaps in knowledge can been seen amongst otherwise quite competent and experienced horse people. For example, it amazes me that some people still believe that punishing a horse a long time (i.e. more than 10 seconds) after the offending behaviour is going to be effective. Or that horses can apparently understand English. Or that they are mentally capable of deliberately showing up a rider/handler or "taking the p*ss".
This isn't really "the basics" but I'll add my bugbear, similar to posters above, why do people think its acceptable to drag a clipped horse out on a sharp winter morning, tie up, strip off rugs then leave it for an hour while they fanny about on the yard before tacking up. I think "the basics" should start with "have some common sense". Jesus :-(
...and breathe!
Goodness…. this is a really good question.
I owned my first horse when I was 43 and I had (and still have) a lot to learn…. but as a child I read every horse book I could get my hands on, including Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners, cover to cover, and I spent 5 years, every weekend and holidays helping out at the local riding school under the eagle eye of the proprietor. I think I got MOST of the basics through that. Not all though!
This isn't really "the basics" but I'll add my bugbear, similar to posters above, why do people think its acceptable to drag a clipped horse out on a sharp winter morning, tie up, strip off rugs then leave it for an hour while they fanny about on the yard before tacking up. I think "the basics" should start with "have some common sense". Jesus :-(
...and breathe!
liveries who drag horses in and take them on a 10+ mile fun ride having not ridden for 6 weeks, poor horses but owners won't be told
OMG - when I read 'Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners' my imagination ran riot and I thought my horse had everything under the sun. Still use it to this day - the older version has more information in some things than others.
We read and re read instruction books,I think many have been mentioned already but one of my all time favourites was, and is Henry Wynmalens Equitation. Just timeless kindly horsemanship.
Now we read brief articles and most of them are subtly selling branded products.
The very rigid training in the basics that was popular when I was starting out is often ridiculed and much of it is unfashionable now .
Of course science is in a different place now and things have moved on but the basics instilled in me have stood me in good stead .
My first horsey book was a little yellow pony club one , keeping a pony a grass , I still have it some where but I knew it by heart .
My parents used it when we first got a pony .
The riding school where I started where always there to mentor me those type of traditional riding schools are a huge huge loss .
Many adults mentored me and developed me in the village I grew up in many of these had experience of horses from the army and from the very end of horses working on farms and such like they had a depth of knowledge on how to use quietly to get horses to do what they needed to do no fuss no botheration just calm confident repetition .
I think I was lucky it not easy now to get that sort of start if you had non horsey parents .
I completely agree with you,SS2 - my special rants re young horses being strapped shut, and horses not turned out for hours, with nothing to eat . . . No way could I be an owner/manager/groom for a livery yard. Good upbringing - pity about the temper.I could write a book about it, but if I can only pick one.........
Lack of thought and feeling about the animal that is meant to be in your care. This is shown though lack of understanding of tack, often ill fitting or over used, strapping young horses mouths shut rather then allowing them time to settle and learn to seek the contact. Leaving horses in stables to all hours without foo, like my livery who feels that 1.20 in the afternoon is a good time to turn out because she doesn't want to get up on a Sunday....grrrrrrrr
Yes, I do think every new horse owner should have a 'mentor' - someone with experience and knowledge and who is at hand to help and advise as necessary, and is never more than a phone call away. Alternatively, prospective owners can serve an informal apprenticeship where they have to look after horses and learn the ropes in a safe and supervised environment. Embarking on horse ownership with no outside support or prior practical experience is a recipe for trouble.
Yes, I do think every new horse owner should have a 'mentor' - someone with experience and knowledge and who is at hand to help and advise as necessary, and is never more than a phone call away.