|
Post by lisap on Jan 27, 2013 0:30:43 GMT 1
I read the responses to owners feeling that their horses are being wasted with a little concern at times.
For example, currently on the thread enquiring about exchange or part exchange of a horse, the owner expresses her feelings that her warmblood horse may be being underutilised with her, and might prefer a more competitive type home.
ba responded
This is a very typical response on the IHDG, and one, with which I am finding it harder to agree.
Of course a horse does not understand the concept of competition and doesn't harbour secret desires for rosettes and trophies. But horses *do* get very bored standing around in a field - even with good companions. It's one of the reasons that horses that don't do very much can be hyper-excited or alert when they are taken away from their tiny comfort zone.
I believe that unless the horse is very young, or very old, or poorly in some way, that they like to get out and about, exercise their bodies and their brains, and get regular stimulation from going to new places and doing new activities. Perhaps this common response "That your horse is happy just loafing in the field" comes more from people who don't have the time or inclination to actually take their horses out to parties rather than from real belief that it is OK to leave horses permanently doing nothing in the fields?
|
|
|
Post by jen1 on Jan 27, 2013 0:37:42 GMT 1
I agree, im working on it, if only I could find a good home or rider for barney, ive found both tom and fleur thrive on work, other wise fleur is just down right rude gurning at folk, work her and she goes all gooey eyed and is no longer wanting to chew body parts, tom just gets very quite and flat, the physical aspect is bothering me with barney, I do belly lifts with him, but it isnt enough
|
|
|
Post by Mellymoo on Jan 27, 2013 0:39:37 GMT 1
I would have to agree with you on this Lisa, especially when thinking of my own dear boy. The more we do, the better he is. He loves going out to things, and for the first couple of things we do each year I stay very local as he is full of excitement. Then it becomes normal for him and he is fine again! He runs on to the box to go out, and enjoys everything we do, both at home and out. He's not been ridden for two weeks due to the snow, and I know he'll be a tit the first ride we do, but it is purely excitement at being out and about again. With my boy, he would not be happy stuck in a field for long periods of time, as he gets bored. The other horses on the yard are the same actually - when not in work they look for mischief to get up to ;D
|
|
|
Post by kizi on Jan 27, 2013 1:02:04 GMT 1
The older ones, particularly mares, or ones that came from difficult past and were retired from riding always seemed content in a field and didn't over react when taken in or away etc. those that I have that know and enjoy work do certainly get bored I find. My mare being unable to work the last two years has needed at least regular ground work and bringing in for at least attention, she's then been less bored and less grumpy with field mates, and much easier to manage with bring feed out to field of leading in with others etc. I agree that those who are capable of doing work appear to become bored... I have one pony that had a bad past and needed time off to recuperate, as soon as she was well and able for work it was like a switch flipped, different pony.. I know she wasn't 100% before but she didn't seem up to doing anything. Now she's healthy and well if she gets bored and isn't doing regular work and in a routine that keeps her brain occupied she tends to become naughty, flighty, and a bit bolshy... I have found it quite interesting watching them grow and change, I also find by age 3 they seem to need a routine and challenges, up to that they seem very content living out in their herd being babies.. I am talking of my horses obviously, they are all different, but I agree as I have observed it myself here.
|
|
madmare1
Grand Prix Poster
The Gruesome Twosome
Posts: 1,500
|
Post by madmare1 on Jan 27, 2013 1:03:27 GMT 1
All 3 of mine would be bored to tears just in a field eating......Oldie Crystal loves going out hacking, Inaya likes going to parties, and Prince just likes being nosy!
Emma xx
|
|
|
Post by kizi on Jan 27, 2013 1:05:41 GMT 1
Also meant to say, that I do agree though that horses don't count their rosettes! They don't have to be going out to competitions, but do need to work to suit their brain and have stimulation etc..
|
|
|
Post by jill on Jan 27, 2013 8:24:30 GMT 1
I think it depends on the horses - some (including Caspar) would think they had died and gone to heaven if no-one ever made any demands on them ever again, some enjoy some challenges and some thrive on them. Don't you think it is putting unnecessary pressure on owners of those laid back horses if they feel they are letting their horses down when in fact their horses are perfectly happy?
|
|
|
Post by clipclop on Jan 27, 2013 8:57:19 GMT 1
I agree to an extent and also, as I've said before, I believe it's important to make sure any horse in your care is as saleable as possible as you never know what the future holds.
However, in the current climate, people are struggling. They are having to put more time into earning money and there's less money available to pay for lessons, farm rides, competitions or even for fuel in the wagon to box up and go somewhere different for a hack. Does that mean they should sell up? No. So long as they are providing adequate care for the horse then there isn't a problem imo. I could have plenty of lessons for the cost of the amount of haylage I'm using in this weather but my horses are all well fed and aren't complaining that they haven't seen tack since the autumn.
Times are tough and not everyone has the luxury of endless time and money. So long as the horses are cared for adequately, people shouldn't be guilted for prioritising family, health etc over working their horses.
Sent from my ST18i using proboards
|
|
|
Post by clipclop on Jan 27, 2013 9:03:57 GMT 1
Just to add - not everyone has the luxury of having endless good riders available to help them out either.
I know you've said before Lisa that you have numerous riders at your disposal to help keep horses in work. I'm not far away from you and can assure you that I don't have the same luxury despite my best efforts. I'm not asking for a part loan or any financial contribution but unless I pay for someone to ride them (which as I show, would affect home produced status if paying someone to even hack out let alone school them), I have yet to find anyone reliable and capable of riding anything with half a brain. I have one friend who helps out when she can but she has her own commitments so can only come periodically.
Sent from my ST18i using proboards
|
|
|
Post by bramblesmum on Jan 27, 2013 9:11:18 GMT 1
I have to agree with clipclop regarding riders, I have tried for two years to get a regular rider and only an 11yr old girl applied so wasnt suitable for most of my rides. I would say it depends on the horse in my herd I only have two that give two hoots about doing anything the others are more than happy just mooching around, one is retired and has to live with a reduced work load (we just try and give her more attention) and the TB is being worked regularly even if just from the ground. You cant put all horses into a box the same as you cant people
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2013 10:20:56 GMT 1
I believe that unless the horse is very young, or very old, or poorly in some way, that they like to get out and about, exercise their bodies and their brains, and get regular stimulation from going to new places and doing new activities. Perhaps this common response "That your horse is happy just loafing in the field" comes more from people who don't have the time or inclination to actually take their horses out to parties rather than from real belief that it is OK to leave horses permanently doing nothing in the fields? While yes I agree that horses, regardless of age or physical fitness, need an appropriate level of exercise and mental stimulation, I don't think this has to be provided by us working them. If you take a feral pony and a ridden pony (any breed), they are both the same pony. The first never does a job of work for a human but is not bored. So if you have the latter - a ridden pony - and you believe he's bored, you have to ask yourself why. If he genuinely is bored, then it has to be (in my view) because something is lacking in the environment you provide. If he's stables a lot, if he's on his own, if his field consists of 4 straight boundaries with grass in the middle (and even then...), in other words if there is no stimulation in his environment, he may get bored. If you think about it, a horse has evolved to roam grazing and to be on alert for danger. Those are the needs that should be filled. As long as he can move about in his field and as long as there are moving things about, then why should he get bored? I accept that we sadly can't let our horses roam freely, but apart from that we should be able to provide their need for stimulation without riding them. Like us, horses do get used to their working roles and if you take a horse out of regular work and suddenly just leave him to do nothing he may, for a while, 'miss' that work. Especially if he's doing exciting work, his body may take a while to adjust to not having the adrenaline rush. There's also a change in routine and possibly diet to take into account. Otherwise, saying a horse would get bored not working for us is like saying a child will get bored when he's not at school - only if his non-school environment is boring. I've met many horses in many environments. I've seen many frustrated horses kept in restrictive environments, and I have seen horses standing in stables all day long that are bored. I can't think of a horse I've seen turned out in a herd in a field that provided stimulation that was bored, though. I think some people might be offended by the suggestion that they don't take their horses out because of lack of time or inclination. There are many, many reasons people don't ride their horses. Neither of mine are ridden - time and inclination on my part are not the reasons. I personally think that the reasons people think their horses are wasted is usually things like they've over horsed themselves, or because they are projecting a human perspective onto their horse and feel guilty.
|
|
|
Post by bertie666 on Jan 27, 2013 10:35:25 GMT 1
I agree with Liz more than Lisa on this.
If we are anthropomorphising saying they are wasted if not doing competitions, arent we doing the same saying theyre bored if not exercised by us humans? Provided they are out and have food and company not riding doesnt make me feel guilty. If they were stabled id feel very different.
|
|
|
Post by mandal on Jan 27, 2013 10:39:40 GMT 1
While yes I agree that horses, regardless of age or physical fitness, need an appropriate level of exercise and mental stimulation, I don't think this has to be provided by us working them. This is my point of view. I do think competition and some more stressful exercize can bring other problems for horses if not managed and introduced properly for that individual horse. Stress can reach very high levels and this has all sorts of knock on effects on the horse such as ulcers. I do believe we need to understand more about stress in horses myself. I do agree exercize is vital.
|
|
|
Post by mandal on Jan 27, 2013 11:01:38 GMT 1
Just thinking about this and I suppose we ought to start with asking how we know a horse is bored? A quiet horse isn't a bored horse imo.
Going on a slight tangent I have learned that sometimes we can only judge in retrospect. For example my attempts at improving the general health of my horses though diet have shown me that my horses are now generally happier and healthier but I have changed little else and not increased exercize. Ok, it's not scientific and some of it is barely tangible but they just look and 'feel' so much better and more content.
Sorry to go off waffling again. lol
|
|
|
Post by cbc on Jan 27, 2013 11:06:06 GMT 1
I tend to agree with Lizp on this, and clipclop made some very valid points too. I know that the mare I ride can jump well, but I dont want to and I have no interest in competing any more. I dont explore that part of her potential. It has taken me a long time to get a partnership going with her to hack out simply because my time has been taken up with earning money and running round after my family. But we (Willing and I) tackle things that we couldnt before; this has taken us years rather than the concentrated months someone with more time would have done. The point is, even when I have struggled to get out once a week, I enjoy what bit I do with her. I do wish I could do more. I have a couple of oldies who are retired and a pony who I probably dont do enough with. Do I sell her? Or do I enjoy what time I make for her above routine care because she doesnt forget the stuff we have done together, and I am very fond of her. The young section C pony I have brought up from a foal I will think carefully about. He has been handled and introduced to things, but if I cant offer him any more I will sell him. Will I be doing the right thing for him? He is pretty, well put together and a happy boy but in the current market would he be better staying? I can do in hand stuff with him but not ride him, will that be a bad thing?
|
|