I love hearing the different opinions and tips on all subjects horsey.
And here’s a good example of what I mean. Bibi sent this in:
“I have since many years trying to get people to get a more natural approach to horses, how we keep the and how we ride them.
I have read quite a few of the questions asked in this forum. Obviously lots of them come from inexperienced horse owners.
I keep horses since over 30 years and ride since early 1960’s so I have seen a lot of progress and change over the years.
Keep it as natural as you can, but never forget the comfort and intended use of your horse. 🙂
Stabling – run-in shed/heavy duty tent or similar is what I suggest. Indoor pens or spacious multiple horses stalls with access to a big paddock or field is also good.
Feeding – 95% of horses just hack out a few times a week, here good grazing/hay is sufficient. Check for a good Vitamin/mineral supplement when needed like shedding season. According to work load/hard keeper/ old age etc extra feed such as sugar beet pulpe, alfalfa or even grain can be needed. If uncertain please ask for advice from an experienced owner you trust in your area.
Rugging – nothing wrong with that, when needed! My horses where only rugged as needed. This means for most of them – hardly ever. Cooling fleeces are almost a must,but they come off after a short while.
A highly bred horse in field without shelter and continuous cold rain and cold winds would probably run to you when he sees the rug, a nordic type horse/cob will just ignore the weather.
Shoeing, if your horse can do his job without steel shoes, but wearing boots, leave them OFF. A young horse please don’t start shoeing, use boots.
If your horse has been wearing steel shoes you must consider a transition time to bare hooves of one year as normal. During which time your horse might be a bit sore.
Horses with heavy workloads normally need steel shoes to protect their hooves.
Ground work training – well it is a very good way to start a horse, or for an experienced person to correct inappropriate training. If you don’t have the feeling for it and/or ability to read the horse’s signs, GET HELP. you might ruin so much in only one trial session. (It happened to me, a girl riding/doing groundwork/ lunging my OOTB horse having followed NHS clinics managed to get completely upset and un-rideable in 15 minutes. I had two days of work to get his mind back to normal)
Riding- is what we normally do as “work”…I usually call taking the horse for a walk, what else is 1 h hack with a few minutes of trot and canter to a horse?
Sport horses working can be kept in a group and being in full training, this has been shown by german elite dressage rider & trainer Klaus Balkenhol.
Breeding Stallions as well,outside of breeding season, shown by Swiss National Stud. Haras National Avanches, film on YouTube.
Bit versus bitless – it is the hands that make a difference. A Hackamore is bitless but a “severe” bridle…Australian as well so this is sort of dead end discussion.
Saddle versus bareback – if no saddle the whole weight is on the small surfaces under the rider’s pelvis, OK for a short hack. Sport and race horse cannot perform their task without a WELL fitting saddle.
Any comments, please do.
Bibi”
Big thanks to Bibi. Can you add to it?
Best
Al
Thank You Nice use of the website/email Thank You A Good Morning To You , God Bless You for making my Day Brighter Love your Letters! JD
I agree with every word. A study has been done recently about ‘norm’ saddles vs. treeless and as you said with treeless (or bareback) the pressure is concentrated on a smaller area and, if your seat isn’t too good, can cause uneven pressure on the horses back. Again bits or bitless is completly dependant on the horse and the rider. A bitless bridle can do as much damage.as a bit just in different places. A horse at my yard had her tounge nearly cut in two by a bit but that was due to excessive cruelty. I’ve never ridden in anything stronger than a snaffle and I always have my horses barefoot. The only time Ive ridden in a stronger bit is when I grolm for the polo players and then you only use the bit 1% of the time (emergancies!). If the horse is happy then I’m happy doing things however is most comfortable 🙂
That’s all great Bibi! Pretty much what I’ve had to learn the hard ways (most by screwing up, and being blessed with trainers who are TONS better at any of this than I am).
😳 🙂 I love the info and fun informative letters. Thanks
Very informative, thank you very much
Thank you BiBi. Enjoyed reading and made me think fondly of my grandfather who worked in forestry with his trust mare Nelly. I never got to know much of his early years as a young man working in the forest with horses. I was told that he only owned mares and when his beloved partner was deceased and replaced he found another mare and called her Nelly. My father was always around horses and so I was brought in the prairies with my own as well. I left my world of horses in 1980 to marry and raise our children. My spouse gifted me with riding lessons (jumper) 5 years ago and guess what I now have a mare called Nelly. So thrilled to be in the saddle again and getting reacquainted with these lovely creatures. Feel truly thankful.
Agree totally. Well said.
Agree 100%, but, in general the Youngs today don’t want to read and respect the horse like a slave and not like a partner. I have two horses, a mare and a filly, both rescued, and for that I don’t trust a trainer to train my horses but I train them, and now every one love them. Remember, Magic, my mare kicked me two times after I had her, and today after three years she is my best friend. Any thing my horse do (bad behavior) I never blame the horse, but I bleme my self.
Any behavior that a human, horse, dog, domestic or wild animal have is a learned bihavior and not a neurological problem, that mean check your personal behaviors.
Right yesterday I saw a young woman blaming the horse when she was the problem and no body else, and that talled me she never read some about horses in her life.
I have over 70 yrs with horses and I think that Bibi put it quite well. In my opinion, often less is best.
Horses are meant to be outside eating grass/hay, shelter from wind/sun when wanted/needed. Lots of clean water and a considerate partner/rider.
I disagree with the sugar beet pulp. Not good at all for any horse. Get beet pulp with out sugar ( molasses ).Also shoes are not needed unless needed for traction,or there is a problem in a hoof only shoes can correct.Heavy work loads are not a problematic as long as its not on cement for real long periods of time.
Hackamore???? Australian?? Get your facts right. I take offencec at your inference.
Bibi, I don’t know where you get your information from. Are you an expert in what occurs in every country in the world? where do you get your information from? Do you have associations with Australian RSPCA or Equestrian Federation of Australia or Horse Riding Clubs Association of Victoria?? Hackamores have been banned from Australia for over 30years as they are dangerous and cruel. i appreciate that you have a lot of experience and have a substantial knowledge on the subject matter, but really get your facts straight before advertising particular equine practices that are used in Australia or any other country for that matter, as they are misleading and in this instance can upset alot of people. For your consideration…
How long Australia make and sell the Australian Hackamore, that mean is not banned. Please don’t be upset, but you better get out of Australia and travel in this earthly world. About a year a go somebody wanted to give me an Australian saddle. For everyone to know that trash never will be on my horses.