Why are horses so mollycoddled here?!

I think you're spot on re the mollycoddling and the BHS. It's crazy how people declare how much they love their horses, buy matching everything for them, kiss them, cuddle them, then are complete sadists when they get on. Maybe you should consider starting a new movement for the benefit of the hrose!!
 
Little Squirrel said:
After living and working in Ireland for the past 12 years or so I must say that it has been a bit of a culture shock to return back and see how much horses are treated like "babies" here in the UK. I have seven horses in my yard ranging from 2yo's to 12 yo TB's and not one of my horses bite, kick, or is ill mannered. The reason I bring this up is I went to a livery yard last week, the amount of nippy horses who wanted a polo was getting on my nerves! One horse nearly took a girls hand off and she just laughed and said "oh stop trying to give mummy a love bite!" Pure madness!! Not one of mine would know what to do with a polo if I gave them one! I expect my horses to go past anything, lorries, tractors, pigs, blowing bags, explosions!. I don't beat them to do it, they trust and respect me and this starts from the ground up. I don't let them push or be bolshy I am firm but fair maybe I am old fashioned in my views but I am a firm beleiver that a horse is a horse and not something to be spoilt rotten. As for this Pirelli rubbish (I had never witnessed anything to do with him when I was in Ireland) someone is gonna get seriously hurt in trying his circus tricks. People should be taught basic horsemanship not effing about trying to get your horse to be a muppet.
I don't call the vet everytime one has a scratch, I dress it myself but I doubt half the horse population would even know how to do that now and cry wolf at the sight of a trickle of blood!
Every single one of my horses look a million dollars they are fed to what work they are doing, dont get any fancy potions. They are all sound (even my pride and joy who fractured his cannon bone and severed his tendon when racing, who was given to me and I now compete)
So the moral of my story is this, because I deprive my horses of polo's, don't buy them every gadget under the sun or wrap them in cotton wool do I love my horses any less than those who treat their horses like human children?
Well no I can't say I do, and why you may ask? Well put it this way I have no problems, am not afraid of them and they will do anything and I mean anything for me, even if they aren't sure they trust me enough to go forward. They aren't robots either! Maybe if people knew how to handle a horse properly instead of fussing over them there would be a lot fewer "problem" horses in the UK?
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Can't be bothered to read all the replies. Just wanted to say how much it p1sses me off when people generalise. Just because one horse at your livery yard is spoiled doesn't mean all horse owners in the UK mollycoddle.
 
. I beleive in Germany ( I MAY BE VERY WRONG HERE) they have a test if you want to own a horse?


You are absolutely right, YOU ARE VERY WRONG HERE.
 
mymare said:
Can't be bothered to read all the replies. Just wanted to say how much it p1sses me off when people generalise. Just because one horse at your livery yard is spoiled doesn't mean all horse owners in the UK mollycoddle.
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Maybe you should be bothered to read something before you reply. I'm not at a livery yard and it's not just one horse I've come across!
 
Lurky McLurker said:
Maybe she has found that if the horse is doing it for attention then any attention, even telling him off, encourages him to do it more? Sometimes all you can do with attention-seeking behaviour like foot scraping and door-kicking is to ignore it until they realise it's not getting them any attention - running straight to them every time they do it, even if it is to give them a smack and tell them off, still reinforces the idea that it is a good way to get your attention.
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No the horse does it ALL the time, tacking it up, if your stood next to it etc, just put it in its rubber matted stable and .... NO NOISE!! peace and quiet for the whole yard!! The horse will continue to do it but we don’t have to listen to the noise. And I agree with not running over to it straightaway, but with mine who has to chew everything put in front of him a stern NO smack on the shoulder and he stops doing it and stands beautifully otherwise he would chew holes in his rugs, grooming kit etc, last night in our sj lesson we were waiting our turn and he even stared chewing the plastic jump wings! Again a stern no, and he stops! There all different and we as owners need to adapt our ways to different horses, my other one if you shouted at him he would die, hes a real wimp!
 
Little Squirrel said:
After living and working in Ireland for the past 12 years or so I must say that it has been a bit of a culture shock to return back and see how much horses are treated like "babies" here in the UK. I have seven horses in my yard ranging from 2yo's to 12 yo TB's and not one of my horses bite, kick, or is ill mannered. The reason I bring this up is I went to a livery yard last week, the amount of nippy horses who wanted a polo was getting on my nerves! One horse nearly took a girls hand off and she just laughed and said "oh stop trying to give mummy a love bite!" Pure madness!! Not one of mine would know what to do with a polo if I gave them one! I expect my horses to go past anything, lorries, tractors, pigs, blowing bags, explosions!. I don't beat them to do it, they trust and respect me and this starts from the ground up. I don't let them push or be bolshy I am firm but fair maybe I am old fashioned in my views but I am a firm beleiver that a horse is a horse and not something to be spoilt rotten. As for this Pirelli rubbish (I had never witnessed anything to do with him when I was in Ireland) someone is gonna get seriously hurt in trying his circus tricks. People should be taught basic horsemanship not effing about trying to get your horse to be a muppet.
I don't call the vet everytime one has a scratch, I dress it myself but I doubt half the horse population would even know how to do that now and cry wolf at the sight of a trickle of blood!
Every single one of my horses look a million dollars they are fed to what work they are doing, dont get any fancy potions. They are all sound (even my pride and joy who fractured his cannon bone and severed his tendon when racing, who was given to me and I now compete)
So the moral of my story is this, because I deprive my horses of polo's, don't buy them every gadget under the sun or wrap them in cotton wool do I love my horses any less than those who treat their horses like human children?
Well no I can't say I do, and why you may ask? Well put it this way I have no problems, am not afraid of them and they will do anything and I mean anything for me, even if they aren't sure they trust me enough to go forward. They aren't robots either! Maybe if people knew how to handle a horse properly instead of fussing over them there would be a lot fewer "problem" horses in the UK?
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Haven't read any of the other posts so sorry if there is any duplication, but OP, we need more like you. I agree that the number of fat, spoiled, bad mannered horses out there is shameful. It is a waste of good horses and potentially very dangerous. Animals and people need clear boundaries regarding behaviour.
 
I'm in both camps to a degree. The ponies are tough, hardy little things and get treated as such. My TB is a b****y disaster, and gets treated accordingly. Overall aims are to minimise vet bills, feed bills and aggro.

So at the moment, in the rain, the sweet-itch pony has an appropriate rug on, and the TB has a fly rug because otherwise every time she rolls she nicks her skin. No-one else is rugged. The only feed anyone's getting atm is chaff with vits&mins + grass.

If there's not a lot of grass, TB gets a LW turnout in the rain because she loses weight dramatically when she gets cold/stressed. Right now that's a bonus 'cause we're up to our ears in grass. When we're not, I'd rather stick a rug on than have bigger feed bills.

In the winter, I rug according to individual needs. I'm not in the 'don't rug it but feed it lots of hay' camp, because hay costs money. If I can rug a little (LW in cold winter rains for a native) and they then will maintain their weight on the winter grass only, I'll do it. My TB gets a duvet in the winter. It's that or spend shed loads on feed, and that's expensive!

Manners - they all get those within a few weeks of arriving.
Treats - sorry? That's an extra unneeded expense. A few pony nuts as a reward does just fine, when doing specific expercises with young-uns. After that, I don't feed treats at all.
Vet - if the ponies get a scratch we clean, spray with tea tree and it'll be fine. With the TB it depends where and how deep, and with one of the ponies who gets lymphangitis v easily, if it's low down on her legs call vet, if not then don't worry, as the rest of her is just as hardy as everyone else!
Work - they're all there to do a job. So they're all ridden unless injured or ill.
 
Interesting post's. For "mollycoddling" I think "pandering" might be a better word. I cheerfully admit to having a pretty vast rug collection, acquired over the years and come winter, will be using nearly all of it. I rug up or down according to what my horses need. Manners are a bit of a sore point atm as I have a youngster who is very bright. Teaching him manners is an ongoing process as as soon as he has understood one behaviour is not acceptable he finds something to do "sigh". He doesn't get treats as is far too highly food obessed. Now my old mare (22) has lovely manners and does get fed treats but that is because she deserves them and won't mug me! As for the vet, think I am experienced enough to know when to call and when to just clean and also have good back up at the yard as well. In fact, in fairness, there isn't anyone on our yard who does let their horse have the last word and should maybe point out that someone saving x pennies for a new flashier bridle is really doing it their own gratification as opposed to spoiling the horse!
 
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