Your Standards........for fun only!!!!

I cannot abide head rubbing, i just find it so rude! I didn't realise mine didn't do it until i got off my mums horse one day and was nearly knocked clean off my feet!

I also cannot stand a horse that wont be caught - i could turn my horse out for 30 seconds and she would still walk in happily if i went to get her, regardless of whether there was grass or not. I do wonder if this is because she is fed ad-lib so leaving the field doesn't mean no food? i'm not sure.

Something i guess i let slide is, when shes tied up outside her stable after being ridden in the evening and i'm about to feed her, she does a 'feed dance' just generally tapping around shifting weight from foot to foot and whinnying like crazy at me as i walk from feed room to the tap - as soon as i get to her she stops and waits for me to put the bucket down - i let this slide because under any other circumstances she ties up 100%, she doesnt do it in the stable when waiting for feed, she doesn't bang the door, doesnt paw, and doesn't snatch the food off me - so if she wants to have a little dance at dinner time who cares! its very amusing!
 
Im pretty laid back but mine are - i hate people jumping in a standing martingale. If I jump my boy he's in a running martingale. I personally find standing ones too harsh for jumping.

The other is people breaking horses young. Ive workef out that my boy was broken and worked at 2. He's not a racer or a competition pony. I think that is far too young imo
 
Don't allow:

-stopping for poo when ridden
-eating grass when ridden I can walk round on a long rein in the field and he won't try and eat
-if he lifts a leg while I'm un rugging him he gets a slap on the bum
-barrelling into my space when I'm trying to muck out and he's in there. He's usually good about not trying to mow the wheel Barrow in the doorway down though

Unfortunately he's a pain to catch if I ever get another being good to catch is a key criteria! !
 
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I agree with those that dislike no rein stops for martingales, badly fitted bits/nosebands, and bargy horses.

I also dislike people who say, 'oh, I'd never use that bit/piece of tack, it's sooo harsh and horrible and you're evil for using it', followed by them sawing and tugging at their horse's face whilst attempting to ride it 'snaffle mouthed'.
 
I do hand treat mine but he doesn't nip

he is also told to wait until his food is in the manger before he eats it can't stand horses shoving their heads in the bowl when you go it. Ideally he isn't allowed to snatch hay while I'm hanging the hay net up but it's so heavy atm as soaked he's allowed gentlemanly nibbles not yanking though

oh and i hate door kickers used to be one there who old yo would feed first so he didn't bang and bang on the door
 
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I dislike gadgeting for gadgetings sake, as there is a time and a place for everything.

I am working on all of ratbags flaws on the ground as he is a ****** to tie up and leave. THough I must say he is polite in every other way unless he knows he can get away with it (like him just wandering out of the stable when mother was trying to brush him)

I have the opposite problem to the turn and run spook, where in if he is stratled we will then march over to it and sniff/paw/pick up/climb on said spooky thing (he demands vengeance!)
 
Horses that MUG you for treats!
Unfortunately I have one of these... Who only does it with certain people who give him sweeties! But on their head be it when they get butted one or nipped I have pre-warned!
 
Dirty water / water buckets.
Hate over rugging.
Hate it when people remove bridles so fast the bit clunks on the horses teeth.
Girthing up too tight too fast.

^^^
to name but a few
 
- I dont like horses standing about in trailers/lorries all day at shows not being able to move about. I've seen less incidents with horses being tied up outside!
- People using tack they don't need (too strong bits, certain nosebands, martingales etc.)
- I don't stand for bargy horses or rudeness, but I don't beat them up either (another bug bear - people who are so horrid to their horses!).
- People who let their horses bronc round the warm-up (usually show-jumping!) and think its acceptable for them to ignore when we have to get out of their way all the time.
- People in the warm-up ring whose groom hogs one of the two practice fences as if nobody else exists... drives me nuts. They normally whack it up massive as well!

- I'm happy to tie my horses up at shows, only leave them in if I'm going off to walk XC or its raining. They're far more chilled outside.
- I also feed treats by hand. I don't if the horse is a nipper, even once and they won't get any again. But I often give mine a treat if they do something good.
 
Ahaha Arizahn!

My two non-negotiables for all my horses are - go when I say go and stop when I say stop; and to pick me up from whatever I can find to stand on to get on (mounting block, wall, fence, gate or big stone!) - in other words, walk up to where I am and stand still!
 
Okay here goes.....

Manners i can't abide a horse with no manners; nipping, barging, bad to catch, walking when trying to mount, not standing still when tied, snatching feet, impatience, not standing still to tack up - however if they're young i'll be patient knowing that'll they'll get there in the end - Manners can be taught and should be from a young age but not in a nasty way! ;)

Riding - horses that bolt/ditch there riders, horses that don't accept the contact and like to play tug of war and horses that will drag you through tree's or bushes awful - my friends horse does all of the above its painful to watch but she loves him ;)

Now treats...i don't particularly give them my youngster isn't allowed anything from your hand - he loves his food - and i don't like people feeding them in the field - we have a footpath - as it can cause fights between the three boys so its dangerous for the people!

Hacking unless i know the person nobody is allowed to touch the horses especially young children a friend of mine had kids from the village run at her and her horse the pony freaked and flipped over backwards resulting in 18months of work - the kids were excited to see the horse they feed every time it was out.....

Another friends horse head butted a kid knocking his two front milk teeth out........ so i just don't risk it

But another friend who grew up without horses will let her horse - who has no manners and will walk over anyone - talk to kids out hacking (i do cringe when i see the horses hooves dangerously close to a kids sandal clad feet) because she knows what its like loving horses but not being able to pet one.....


So i think that's it.... hides behind wall of pillows..... :P
 
Horses that chip a short one in...I understand that sometimes it might be needed if you find yourselves on a godawful the horse might be 'clever' and sort it all out with a short one, but I have generally found it is a result of laziness on both the horse and riders part, paticuarly going through doubles. So I suppose people not riding the horse forwards and fussing in front of the fence, not to mention whinging that there 16'2 eventer has a surprisingly short stride... if my 13'2 can get the correct strides in (horse length) then so can you.

I am probably more tolerant than most of speedy horsesand teh odd, cheeky/excitable buck, but obviously not when they are being blatantly naughty.
 
debserofe said:
Ahaha Arizahn!

My two non-negotiables for all my horses are - go when I say go and stop when I say stop; and to pick me up from whatever I can find to stand on to get on (mounting block, wall, fence, gate or big stone!) - in other words, walk up to where I am and stand still!
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Agree - my horses are so used to measuring themselves up for me that when OH went to climb over style horse moved into position so he could get one...he was worried, though horse was stopping him from entering the field :D
 
My two biggest bugbears in the way people treat horses are:

Keeping horses on their own (don't mind separate paddocks as long as they can interact, groom etc over the fence).

People who are too heavy for their horses.

Bugbears with horses themselves; I agree, I like a horse to tie up and be patient. I will not tolerate any kind of aggression towards humans to the extent that I will not take on any liveries that are that way inclined, and certainly would never own one no matter how talented they are.
 
Door kicking really annoys me.
Good manners is important to me. Being tied up without a haynet is a must (except at shows when they are stood for long periods of time). There is a couple horses stabled near mine who are always given haynets when tied up outside and they get restless, paw the ground etc when they run out of hay. I just think they would behave better without a haynet and probably less impatient about things in general.

Teaching horses silly tricks for treats - i'm on a large livery yard and there are some novice, first time owners as well as teenagers who teach their horses to pick up a leg or 'kiss' for a treat. Asking for trouble in my opinion. The novice owner/rider stabled near me already has let her horse be the boss and now he will 'kiss' and pick up a leg for a treat.. she complains he bites and he paws the ground so why did she teach him these tricks?!
 
Horses that walk out of the stable when you leave the door open! I have accidentally popped down the road to the supermarket and come back to the yard 30 mins later to find I'd left his stable door wide open but he was still stood happily inside munching his net.

He doesn't tie up well, never has and never will so I simply don't tie him up! At shows he either stands at the side of the lorry for hours or will go back on the box if I need to go somewhere for a long period of time.
 
My old horse Ruby was also trained (by previous owners) to do a silly leg-waving trick to say "please" for a polo - very strange to get used to at first and people would think she was going to strike them! But I don't mind it and I do give mine a polo after say a dressage test, a lesson, or a SJ round.

I agree with door-kickers and horses that are bad to catch being annoying. But my two best horses over the years have had these traits so I don't let it bother me too much. I also hate hate hate biting and kicking, and would never buy a horse that was known for "nipping" or "lifting a leg." Agree that moving back from the door going in is a pretty essential habit too!

I think I'm quite laid back, I just like horses that aren't miserable and grouchy!
 
I don't like biters. Mine has never done it to me but has to others apparently (not under my watch!)
Horses who won't be caught are another bug bear-mine comes to call or just stands and waits for me if he is in a lazy mood thankfully.
 
When people finish riding, get off their horse and then see to their own comforts before their horses, eg take their hat off, have a drink etc before they even bother loosening the girth, let alone untacking, brushing down, offering food and water etc.... drives me nucking futs!!!!!!
 
How about house-training? A good friend of mine has a horse who (if a human is about) politely asks to leave his stable to take a wee, wees on the nearby grass, then re-stables himself. He would die rather than wee in the trailer or other indoor space.
 
tankgirl1 said:
When people finish riding, get off their horse and then see to their own comforts before their horses, eg take their hat off, have a drink etc before they even bother loosening the girth, let alone untacking, brushing down, offering food and water etc.... drives me nucking futs!!!!!!
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My kids have been told that if they did this I'd break their arms, and still make them put the saddles away. :D
 
pennyturner said:
How about house-training? A good friend of mine has a horse who (if a human is about) politely asks to leave his stable to take a wee, wees on the nearby grass, then re-stables himself. He would die rather than wee in the trailer or other indoor space.
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Would you ask your friend to come and train my minging mare to do this please!!!
 
Horses that snatch haynets. Nearly all of them at my old yard did it and it was SO annoying. Ned doesn't and will wait until I tell him. I didn't have to hit him, or punish him to achieve this, just a firm NO and confidently walked at him if he tried.

Horses that are dangerous to lead. I don't mean a little naughty (stopping, trying to get to the grass, walking a bit quick) I mean explosive ones. It made me a little neurotic when I was working with them! One of the reasons I quit! Ned is actually much safer to lead than ride, he'll follow me almost anywhere.
 
Oh I forgot about people who teach tricks. That winds me up big time. A girl I knew tried to teach hers to whinny for its dinner. This basically meant holding its dinner just out of reach until the poor thing was turning itself inside out and screaming.

Another one taught hers to rear 'on command' when ridden. Was then suprised when it turned into a rearer -.-
 
Horses who rub / kick doors / barge / fidget or are generally rude.

Horses who lean when you're riding them and don't move off the leg in all directions. Worst of all horses who ignore you point blank because they've been screwed around so much. Charging into fences, or spooking at very silly things (I'm looking at you, Fergus...).

Riders who don't wash their horses off after working them - sweat stains the next day.

Riders who tug and fiddle and tweak at their horse's mouth to get them "on the bit".

The phrase "on the bit". Also "outline".

People who tell me how high they can jump as though it's indicative of skill.

People using tack incorrectly - gags, or worse, pelhams with only a curb rein, no martingale stops, over-tightened nosebands, misused bits, gadgets.

People pitching up for lessons without having made at least some effort at basic turnout - hair out of the way, horse looking at least reasonably presentable etc.

Basically I hate anyone and everyone.
 
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