What things do you do that other HHO mightn't approve of!!

Must add to my list:

- hacking out on the buckle, trotting on roads and riding in open fields, not in an arena all the time
- not picking her feet out before she goes out, surely you do this after they have been out? :rolleyes:
- only feeding small amounts. Balancer and then just enough chaff to mix the garlic in
- in the winter I don't put on hundreds of rugs, she's a horse, she'll cope

:o :D
 
i really must hang my head in shame!
my turn out/fetch in in the winter consists of opening field gate/stable door
my horses are unshod and trimmed every 3-4months
my saddle cost 99 p on ebay but fits my pony perfectly
i clip out my two neds just becase its easy-and that what rugs were invented for
i school in a ten acre field and ride in the field without a hat
i have minimum ambition and a rosette of any colour at the most local of shows would be a result!

yep going to hide now!
but despite this my horses have never hurt me in any way, i havent fallen off either of them for years and they come to call at the gate-i cant be that bad an owner!
 
oh god, I could probably write an essay but some examples :

I prefer to ride in jeans & wellies

The first pony I had on loan NEVER wore a headcollar for anything, unless I was riding bareback

I used to bring my stallion in without a headcollar, and he never put a foot wrong in doing so

My stallion was turned out with 3 other geldings... and they all got on with no drama

I rarely wear a BP

I have been known to not do my chin strap up

At one point I owned 11 hoof picks

My 2nd pony didn't have a saddle for 9 months, and i rode him daily including down XC

I've never worn a hat to pick out feet

Other than Benji all of the ponies/horses i've had have lived out 24/7 regardless of the weather

I repeatedly text whilst hacking

I re-backed my stallion alone, in the field and nothing happened.

At 14 I had a seriously ill horse and severely pee'd more people than I can count of by being so young and getting him well again

oh dear.. i could go on
 
Oh god so many things...

Hack out on the buckle and dont mind if she wants to grab the odd particularly delicious bit of hedgerow as we pass (although she has to keep moving and I draw the line eating grass)

Feed vast numbers of extra stong mints (they are very well behaved about it)

Often don't pick feet out

Turn out whatever the weather

Only worm when I change paddocks

Ride out on mud caked horse (except clean under the saddle) AND wear jeans to ride in

Don't own a BP

Use hay nets

And.....the worst.....but it was many years ago....sat on my 3 year old for the first time in a concrete yard, with loose horses milling around, bareback, just a headcollar and no hat. And have the photo of me grinning happily to prove it lol
 
- I rug my horses up according to the weather, and they are wearing LW rugs now!
- Spend more time hacking than schooling
- Don't wear Hi Viz when riding
- Ride one handed a lot
- Sometimes go through random fields on hacks
- Leave my saddle on the stable door
- Ride my pony in just a headcollar
- Own enough rugs to open up a shop
- Own 25 numnahs :o
 
I keep my grooming down to the bare essentials
I don't clean my tack as often as I should
I only wear my BP for cross country
I trot on roads
I sometimes make rude signs at inconsiderate drivers
I enjoy a good blast across stubble fields
I smack my horse when he's naughty
Don't always pick feet out

Think that's enough to be going on with....
 
This is a fab thread - and reminds me why I have my pony on grass livery at a lovely farm / DIY yard. (And we still compete and do well)

I ...
Often get off by swinging my leg over the front of my pony rather than the right way (and still do this despite him lifting his head up once with perfect timing and knocking me off backwards!).

Lead my pony from field with the lead rope round his nose as he has a great 'buggering off' habit. Lead rope = £2, Dually = £40!

Enter pony classes at shows (including gymkhana games / handy pony etc) - and I'm nearly 40!!

Laugh when I cock up dressage tests / chat away to the judge in the show ring even when they are all serious.

Text / talk on my phone while hacking (which I do a lot of - all over the place, on my own, on a long rein!!)

I've recently moved to a yard nr home - so this summer I am planning on hacking to my house, and letting my pony mow my lawn while I have an ice cream!!
 
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Excellent thread!

Before I start, Mr Blue-Pipe? A most definate NO here, cant see the need really, EVER.

BUT

- I am on DIY!! :eek: We rent our own small yard with 3 stables, a tackroom & a field. Why is DIY so bad?
- Have used draw reins & a waterford and achieved the desired result with both.
-Have been known not to pick their feet out before turning them out.
-Turn the old pony out w/o a headcollar, always!
-Text while hacking.
- I don't think Oliver Townend is a God.
-Only wear a BP whilst competing or on an unknown youngster.
- Our horses have a bigger wardrobe than I have. (Some rugs still have the tags on but it was on offer & I liked it!)
-Plaited up in the lorry on the way to an event because we didn't quite get up on time.
-Dont wear Hi-Viz

Haven't lost a horse yet though! :)
 
i don't understand why hardly anyone grooms - that's my fave bit about horses! :P
I have never worn hi viz
I discipline horses if they are rude, but not if they are scared
I don't feed treats to horses
I didn't know you were expected to wear a hat to pick out feet
Turn out horses with just a normal headcollar
Only turn out in the school and small paddock in the winter
 
ok, well i -

don't put 5 rugs on my horse because it looks like it might be cold. my clipped gelding was naked 24/7 since feb.

jump on my horse bareback with only headcollar on.

don't always bring my horses in with headcollars on.

have a halfpad under my mare's saddle even though it was fitted by a saddler (also what the saddler told me to do)

rarely groom, don't see the point if horses want to groom they will groom each other (that said i do make sure the have there saddle and bridle area clean before tacking up)

never put boots on my gelding

i am loaning my perfectly ridable mare out as a broodmare as i feel this would suit her loving nature.

i don't think the vet has the answer to everything and i will wait and see if the horses ailments aren't severe.

my back man isn't a register physio/chiro as he isn't the above. but his non aversive technique is amazing to watch and works well for my horses

i let my farrier give my horses a massage after he has shod them. and i challenge him if i am no happy with something (he is also very happy for me to comment and raise concerns)

oh yer and rather than testing my gelding for cushings i brought a tub of naf cushianze which sorted his symptoms so i am happy

so i am ready for the WHW/RSPCA/BHS to come take my nags away now
 
Mr Blue Pipe is alkathene (sp) - the stuff used for water mains and such like.

Brilliant piece of kit, often seen alongside those white rope type headcollars that dodgy dealers use.

:-)
 
oh i forgot to add i only use tack that is practical for the horse i am riding, my tack isn't a fashion statement its what suits the horse
 
stevieg said:
Excellent thread!

Before I start, Mr Blue-Pipe? A most definate NO here, cant see the need really, EVER.
Click to expand...

it saved a life down here, there was a mare that was getting out of hand and very dangerous, went way to be schooled he used this on her and she started to have some respect after about 4 weeks of carrying this when you ride and handle her she became very sweet. is out jumping 1.10m you can lead her safely hack her safely, clip her change her rugs. whereas before she was just getting worse and worse rearing buck and generally trying to kill you.

it isn't right for every horse but there are some cases where your safe has to come first. and it was the making of this little mare. if she hadn't been sorted she would have been dog food.
 
Cut manes/tails with scissors.
Have one saddle that goes on everything (just pad it out to fit the horse!)
Dont wear Hi Viz when hacking (although i rarely do)
Horses do not go out everyday. When they do they are turned out alone (but next to others).
Use the horse walker, alot.

LOVE this thread. Have to add horses are happy and healthy!

N xx
 
JenJ said:
Pfft. That's nothing. I heard that someone didn't muck out until the evening yesterday :eek:
Click to expand...

*gasp* my dirty secret is out!!! I need to flee the country now!

Also pony goes in a dutch gag, albeit on the snaffle ring

TB has a Thorowgood synthetic saddle- she has a breast plate/martingale thingey too which is probably superfluous

Both sets of tack are black which I have since learned is a bit of a "no" but they're both bay and I thought it went nicely with their black points

When they're in for the night during winter we've been known to give them extra hay and water at night so we can have a small "lay in" in the morning before turning them out!
 
Ride in shorts, chaps and espadrilles for polo grooming in summer. (Maybe a fashion crime but hey ;) )
Have been known to ride and lead 4 at a time, have ridden in from field bareback leading 6 in headcollars.
Used to go XC on my old beast in a pelham with roundings (couldn't cope with double reins going XC at the time), flash, martingale and spurs.
Ooh maxapple I do the dismounting one too :D
My horse has a rain sheet on today even though no other horse at the yard does- he was walking against the wind out hacking this morn and looking miserable, so the rug went on. Admittedly he is a wimpy TB as opposed to the hardy natives at my yard :D
I have used a chifney, with great success.

Can't think of any more right now, I'm sure i'll be back ;) :D
 
I Own a pure bred arab :O

And I show!!!

My horse is kept alone :o

we only own a trailer so if I have a 5 hour journey to a show he has to travel in that!!! :o ha ha!!!

I don't have a menage so HAVE to ride on hard ground :o

Sometimes he's fed at 6am in the morning and sometimes 10am!!! :o

I probably groom him too much ha ha!!!

I clean my tack after EVERY use!!!

My horse doesn't get away with murder ha ha!!!

Although I do bribe with polos!!!

I dress him up in a bright pink hood :o (he loves it ;) )

DSCF2279.jpg


my horse is my best friend!!!
 
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I let my dog off the lead in public places **gasps** even on bridlepaths sometimes:eek:

When I get my first horse, it is going to be rehomed from a reputable, UK based and registered charity:eek:

And it will be on DIY:eek::eek:

And if it is out all day, I will not muck out until after work:eek::eek::eek:

And I ride on the buckle, even on the roads sometimes:eek::eek::eek::eek:

And I only really enjoy hacking - don't really like jumping, find dressage boring:eek: *finally passes out in horror*

:D
 
Right, with my own horses:
I don't own a BP
Hardly ever pick out feet, don't use hoof dressings either
I use a chifney AND attach leadrope to it LOL
I have a selection of 3 saddles that go round all the horses
I back youngsters on concrete
I turn out in mixed herds
Sometimes keep in in winter 24/7
I have stock fencing around the fields
I lead 3 at a time down the road to their turn out fields.
I hack out on a loose rein
I don't poo pick fields and worm 4 times a year, no worm counts either
I FERTILISE pasture
Only groom if I go out in public
Clean tack only if it gets really mucky
Wash rugs once a year
I have 1 type of chaff, 1 type of cubes and feed the whole yard different quantities of the same, along with supplements...
I use haynets
Sometimes I don't muck out in the morning
My horses have no routine to speak of, therefore never hang around gates or bang for food
I think that's about as much as I'm willing to admit to, however my liveries get different treatment from my own (oh, yes, I'm a YO!:eek:) and their horses are done the way the owners want.
 
although i dont ride now, i used to trot on roads, up and down hill, fast!!( with the RAVC boys) never use to wear a hat in my teens, no such thing as Hi Vis then, used to ride bare back on the roads, cleaned tack daily straight after exercise, always hosed off hunters after a long filthy day- all horses wherever i be were always healthy and well cared for!
 
I seriously love this thread!

I have all my horses out 24/7/365
I only wear a BP when the rules say I have to and then have to borrow one
I wear Hi Vis if I'm on a young horse only
I ride one handed most of the time
I sometimes use my horse as a ring side seat at shows
I occasionally buy a horse to bring on and sell :eek: and don't have a problem "moving on" horses (am I cheating if I'm very careful who I sell to?)
I have no problem with pipes (blue/yellow) but haven't had much need of them
I feed when I get there and it's hardly ever at the same time every day
I feed racehorse cubes :eek:
Any barefoot horse is trimmed by the farrier, no exceptions
I worm count
How many hail marys do I get??:D
 
Also, I want to add to my list:

- Sometimes my horses stay in 24/7 in the winter
- We have automatic water drinkers
- I only wear a BP when I have too
- I hack out on a loose rein
- Have led up to five horses at once before
- Ride and lead bareback
- Our fields get fertilised
- I don't clean my tack as often as I should
- Always hose horses off with lukewarm water
- Trot on the roads
- I never sell my horses - I get too attached to them!

:D
 
I own 2 horses that I don't ride, daughter does.

I am putting my Ardennes mare into foal, yes a mare that is not a WB or TB! :eek:

Captain comes in when the temperature dips below 60 degrees because he wants to, he hates rain and cold and being uncomfortable.

I own 3 Wintec saddles, because they fit them really well!

I own a dressage horse and hate dressage! (Elizabeth is a classical rider and loves it, weirdo)

I own more rugs than any horse can possibly need.

I spend a fortune on supplements and feed 2lb of carrots/apples/swede/pears etc. in the winter for each of them a day!

My KWPN never left his barn during the snow, he refused!

I love Kelly Marks and the way she works with horses. :eek::p
 
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Have tried many bits and the one that he settles in, goes well in and I can stop with when necessary is a dutch gag. His previous owner used thus, I tried to avoid it but came back to it.

I do enjoy grooming, but if I'm short of time will only groom the saddle area. When we were on clay he hated having mud scraped off so stayed muddy most of the winter. He survived and no skin problems developed. On sand now, so not so bad.

Am getting better with Hi Viz

Yes, I do trot on the roads on longer rides. Naughty boy has cantered off on roads too, but I do try to avoid this.

Like to turn out whatever the weather
 
i constantly give my horse treats, when i catch him, when i tie him up, when iv ridden him and when i let him go.
i rug him up to the eyeballs because hes a softy tb
i turn him out in all weathers in the winter but he comes in at night.
i hack on the buckle
only wear a bp for xc or funrides.
he gets put to bed at different times every night.
he wears over reach boot 24/7 (wears bar shoes)
he doesnt have any bedding in his stable only rubber matting and a sand paddock outside to wonder in and out to.
i change his bit alot if he doesnt go well in the one hes in.
i ride with a lambskin half pad because its prety!
 
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