What changes have you seen in the horse world since you started

Bad horsemanship, bad manners on the road and in the stables (humans) No patience whether riding, stable. Don't give a horse time to learn, people expect their horse to know what the command means even though they have never been taught it, but give their brats years to learn but never teach them manners and again expect their horse/pony to have manners. The list is endless. :(
 
Echo Bravo said:
Bad horsemanship, bad manners on the road and in the stables (humans) No patience whether riding, stable. Don't give a horse time to learn, people expect their horse to know what the command means even though they have never been taught it, but give their brats years to learn but never teach them manners and again expect their horse/pony to have manners. The list is endless. :(
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This, along with calling everyone by their first name, so the Bratts cannot differentiate between their friends and those with much more knowledge and experience than them and accord appropriate respect.
 
The hats are much improved, how did we survive with a bit of cardboard and velvet held on with elastic?
I don't mourn the death of the canvas New Zealand, blasted things used to flip backwards over your head.
Natural horsemanship was called common sense.
I still have one of those rubberised beige riding macs somewhere, weighs
a ton but keeps in place over the horses hindquarters, I ought to dig it
out and fix some hi viz on.
Is anyone lunged any more? I can remember being lunged until I dropped, or perhaps that was just a sadistic riding instructor.
 
If you didnt know somthing you asked the old stable hand who had seen it all. I was lucky to have a "Corporal of the horse" 1914/18. Seen it all and knew what worked and didnt . Loved and respected that man.
 
Started out at riding school, then got bought a pony (spoilt!!). Was caught trespassing on Gentry land and the Lady very generously took me under her wing. Was taught by her grooms and YM, perfection required everywhere, no excuses, no exceptions. I was 11 and it was tough. Best thing that ever happened.......and worst!

Now everywhere I look, I find flaws. Handling/riding/ill fitting equipment/owner convenience etc. I keep my mouth shut as I don't know what would blurt out!

As far as 'technology' has come on, love it, especially safety gear, rugs, boots etc. I do have stuff that people have never seen before and have no idea why I use it, strapping pad and linen cloths for example.

Also, the NH 'craze' bewilders me and shocked by how many Novices buy into it. We used to call it common sense or horse sense.
 
This is a fun thread!

The biggest thing, though there are plenty more, is the fact that there were just a few competitions and they were in the summer so jumpers/hackers would have shoes off and turned away for the winter and the summer out hunters would come in.
 
My first pony cost £100 from a nagsman, never put a rug or fancy feeds anywhere near her, simple snaffle and used purely for hacking and enjoyment- no "competing" .

Oh wait that was three years ago.. Guess I'm just quite old fashioned!
 
Echo Bravo said:
Bad horsemanship, bad manners on the road and in the stables (humans) No patience whether riding, stable. Don't give a horse time to learn, people expect their horse to know what the command means even though they have never been taught it, but give their brats years to learn but never teach them manners and again expect their horse/pony to have manners. :(
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Not just me then who's given up in despair of the modern horse world.
 
Love this thread and have read through every single post.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that I don't think that 40 years ago we had a problem of overbreeding and too many unwanted horses in the UK.

Also as have been mentioned, for me some of the most noticeable things are

- coloured horses used to be sneered at and now seem to be sought out
- the jute and NZ rugs. I too could do the blanket under the jute rug. So satisfying!
- only beige or canary jods and short boots were elastic sided jodhpur boots
- Feeds: bran mash, molasses, sugar beet you soaked for a day, linseed oil
- aged 14 at the riding school being allowed to take paying customers out on a hack (!)
 
Rugs, of course. Stable rug, New Zealand, sweat rug. I think I eventually had a travel rug (though I still don't know what they're for!)

Black tack. That was a bit new and special ;)

Feed types. There were a few mixes when I finally got my own horse. I gave him a stud mix because he was a bit lazy, but we still boiled barley and soaked beet in the winter.

Mares and geldings separated for turnout. Never came across it until I got 'back into' horses a few years back.

Rubber mats! Poured rubber floors had just started to appear before I quit 10 years ago, and eveyone was confused about them! Seemed you didn't need any other bedding - was that cruel, or a massive time saver?! But so expensive!

Of course the bling :) I'm actually pleased to see so many different options now available in horse accessories. I may not care for a lot of them, but why shouldn't there be more? Rugs in particular - even now there are just a few companies making fun and funky prints, and there's so much room there for expansion and it'd be a massive money maker!

Edit: Yes, coloured ponies too! I remember that the 'coloured sports horse' was just starting to become a think 10 years ago, but on the whole they were coloured cobs (and not highly thought of!)
 
Good = rugs, information at your finger tips, protection. (air jackets!). I no longer bounce but break.
Bad = the lack of freedom. Used to disappear on the ponies early morning and return just before dark and no-one worried.
The number of idiots owning horses, the increase in mongrel horses and the increase in abused and neglected animals.
People moving to the country who have no understanding of country life and then complaining bitterly about horse poop, tractors on the roads, cockerels and the smell.
Some things have changed for the better but ignorance had increased tenfold!
 
Rugs, its amazing how many different styles you can get now although I do miss the simplicity of jst having a jute and newzealand

Showing, at local level anyway I am absolutely gob smacked to see badly behaved and downright dangerous horses being rewarded, back in the 90s badly behaved horses would be asked to leave the ring not highly placed and no being a stallion is not an excuse for bad manners!

Saddles, like rugs the variety and fit are so much better now

Feeds, need I say more! Lol
 
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