When does care end and "mollycoddling" begin?

[EllieandGeorge]

When it starts being detrimental to the horses wellbeing.
Nothing wrong with a bit of affection.
Its when people are rugging more than necessary, feeding more than necessary, keeping them in etc, because they think its better for the horse.

 

[eahotson]

Well said.

 

[Ashleigh_]

I haven't read the entire thread so sorry if I repeat, but from reading OP's post i'm glad someone else saw another side to things!

Different horses have different requirements
My good friend has a very thin skinned and sensitive TB mare, I'm sure lots of you on here will know of and have horses which are similar. In contrast, my boy is chunky cob and rightly so our levels of 'mollycoddling' are distinctly different and are probably exaggerated by the fact both of them live out 24/7. For instance, her mare has to have a rain sheet on when it's raining otherwise she at risk of rain scald (prevention is better than cure!) and also gets cold quickly - she's also shod in front. My boy however, thunders around barefoot come rain or sun without any rugging and is perfectly happy. I still wouldn't call her a 'mollycoddler' for rugging.

In general, If we swapped our approach and didn't consider the horse in question's requirements and generic makeup, I have no doubt Ronnie would end up hot and bothered and insanely fizzy from all the high energy feed and her mare would quickly lose weight, her hoof become cracked and her condition suffer.

I'm not entirely supporting those who rug up to the eyeballs with duvets and all sorts in the winter because part of me thinks this would be ineffective and counter productive for the horse's comfort. I do though, think that unless you know for certain the requirements of that individual horse you can't be in a position to brand someone's levels of care unnecessary and 'mollycoddling'.

If your horses are happy and healthy with no rugs and the like then good for you, at the same time if your horse needs a rug and is also happy and healthy then again well done for recognising this and providing accordingly.

 

[PolarSkye]

I'm not comfortable with things that, in my head, go hand in hand with molycoddling, like allowing your horse to get fat because you "feel mean" restricting forage or muzzling... But then, most of the people on here advocating molycoddling would agree with me there, so I do think it's all about strict definitions!

So - is that mollycoddling - or neglect? I'm agreeing with you on the definition thing here . . .

IMHO there's a biiiig difference between buying your horse a pink fluffy fleece/calling yourself its Mummy/hand-feeding it treats and giving it snuggles . . and over (or under) feeding, neglecting to have teeth/feet done, etc.

P

 

[JFTDWS]

So - is that mollycoddling - or neglect? I'm agreeing with you on the definition thing here . . .

IMHO there's a biiiig difference between buying your horse a pink fluffy fleece/calling yourself its Mummy/hand-feeding it treats and giving it snuggles . . and over (or under) feeding, neglecting to have teeth/feet done, etc.

P

Exactly, and whilst the former definition of molycoddling makes me feel physically sick, I wouldn't try to interfere with the owner's right to behave in that manner. I would feel sorry for the horse, but only in an anthropomorphising manner ("poor beast must be so embarassed") which is equally absurd since horses don't feel embarassment

The latter definition is something to complain about though - and it's also a worthwhile point that welfare cases are increasingly regarding obese horses with well meaning owners (rather than traditional cases of literal neglect) - i.e. misguided extreme molycoddlers.

(extreme molycoddling... sounds as though it involves molycoddling whilst sky diving?!)

 

[Batgirl]

Bottom line is, it shouldn't matter a whit to anyone what I do with Kal - as long as it doesn't constitute actual abuse or neglect, it's my business . . . he's my horse and I'll care for him/mollycoddle him as I see fit. Ditto every other horse owner. I might not choose to follow their lead, but it doesn't mean they're wrong and I'm right (or vice versa).

P

Quotey mcquote, I am again in the middle but this rang true with me, I do what I think best suits me and my horse, some of it might be convenience for me, most of it is to keep him comfortable and healthy and some of it is purely selfish making e feel good for treating him.

He is barefoot, ridden in a hackamore most of the time unless for dressage, we wear ridiculous amounts of hi viz, he is lightly rugged not toasty, I treat him (low sugar).......it goes on, I am sure some people reading don't agree with everything I do but does it really matter?

 

[Piglet]

Having made a comment on the original post started by Little Squirrel, I think the point they are trying to get across is that a lot of people spoil their horses and allow them to walk all over them. An example of it been my YO was knocked to the ground by a livery when she was taking him out to the field (as requested by the owner), when YO told the owner she just laughed and giggled thinking it was funny (this from a 44 year old woman), the said horse would also bite the farrier, had no respect for human space, all the time the owner thought it was hilarious. They had absolutely no idea how to treat a horse, as a result of no discipline, 1 hefty rude cob with horrible manners.

 

[Enfys]

Yes, very well said. The horse world is SO polarized. So is this forum. As it should be, because it (the forum) is so large that so too is the range of opinions, preferences, experience, knowledge etcWith a few exceptions there appear to be two camps:

Hard (very much old school - hunt, PTS by shooting, no field ornaments etc) Not all that hunt are hard hearted - honestly. I probably fall into this category though, kind of. I hunted for years, that is why I had horses. They did a job for me, in return I fed them, shod them, kept them warm/cool and healthy, and at the end of the day, if they couldn't be helped by the vets then, yes, rather than put them out in a field to be bored and in pain I had them shot, at the kennels, with the smell of the hounds in their nostrils and their ears pricked in anticipation of going out.

Great way to go. Just because I choose to end their days that way didn't mean it didn't rip the guts out of me, or that I didn't feel any affection for them.

and

Soft (anyone in this camp are called bunny huggers). How would you describe soft? I spend a lot of time with my horses, just being around them, touching them if they want it, does that not make me soft too?

Every horse is an individual, so are their owners/handlers, I don't care if they are wrapped in pink fluffiness as long as it isn't detrimental to the horse itself. I no longer feel the need to justify the way I keep my horses. What people think of the way I look after my horses, or that I breed, is none of their business, any more than it is my business to judge what others do with their horses.

As is so often said on here, horses are a jolly expensive hobby, if they can't be enjoyed then there is very little point in having them, we may as well just flush our cash down the loo instead. If enjoying them means bling, matching blankets, branded this, that and the other, boots, shoes, no shoes, bits, no bits, so what - live and let live. Basically I believe that most people on here try their very best to do the right thing by their horses - we just don't all go down the same route.

OP makes some valid points. For example, if a horse is cold, and remedying it is as simple as putting a rug on then why the heck not? That's practical, and humane, not mollycoddling in my book.

 

[Little Squirrel]

Having made a comment on the original post started by Little Squirrel, I think the point they are trying to get across is that a lot of people spoil their horses and allow them to walk all over them. An example of it been my YO was knocked to the ground by a livery when she was taking him out to the field (as requested by the owner), when YO told the owner she just laughed and giggled thinking it was funny (this from a 44 year old woman), the said horse would also bite the farrier, had no respect for human space, all the time the owner thought it was hilarious. They had absolutely no idea how to treat a horse, as a result of no discipline, 1 hefty rude cob with horrible manners.

Thank You. Someone who gets what I was saying in the first place!!!!

 

[PapaFrita]

I've not read any replies beyond the OP. I really don't care how much anyone 'mollycoddles' their horse as long as this doesn't create bad manners or behavioural issues (especially those that are actually dangerous), or compromise their horse's wellbeing. ANY treatment that causes these is unacceptable IMO.

 

[PolarSkye]

Thank You. Someone who gets what I was saying in the first place!!!!

Honey - this thread was never about you. Read what I wrote. It was about the general polarization I see in the horse world in general (and on this board specifically). There was no personal attack on you and I don't think I've EVER said that owners should accept dangerous or rude behaviour from their horses.

P