Toilet Troubles...

[**KEZZIE**]

Bit of a funny query but... during my lessons if pony needs to relieve him/herself he/she is allowed to stop and i take weight from back until finished and then we carry on, however my friend has a different instructor at the same school who tells her off for allowing the pony to stop, saying it is unecessary/disobedient and just teaches the pony it can stop if it wants to. She says ponies do not stop to relieve themselves when out in the field. I prefer my instructors way - but what do others think?

[Keket]

On the trail, I might let her stop, since trail rides/hacking are just for fun. In the school, however, she's not allowed to stop unless I say so. In the school, she has to be focussed on her schooling and on me.

[Mehitabel]

it depends what the horse is doing. if it is having a wee, then it does need to stop, and you do need to take your weigh off its back. they can poo quite happily going along even cantering or jumping though.it's one thing to let them stop to be nice to them - but there might be situations when you need tem to keep going - crossing a road, for instance - so it is useful to train them to keep going.

[CurlyWurlyRach]

wee = stop & stand up in stirrups
anything else = get a move on!

[SupaTania]

But keep in mind that the judge won't laugh and pin you first if your horse decides it needs to wee in the middle of a class. So be sure you can make her keep going, even for a few more minutes without whizzing, and then let her wee when you are ready for it.

Just so she doesn't stop for every reason at a horseshow. But if ** not showing, this isn't a problem!

[fishiz3434]

for #1 i let him but for #2 it's not nessisary to stop.

[l7oopys]

Doing a wee It is necessary to stop and stand in stirups

But for a poo it is not necessary for them to stop!

However when riding in our areana at the yard we always stop when they are doing a poo as it saves the surface and means the whole thing can be picked up and not spread about!

It saves the surface a lot! :D

Not something that you think about if it isnt your own surface

[TheHoglet]

But keep in mind that the judge won't laugh and pin you first if your horse decides it needs to wee in the middle of a class.
i've done that before it's rather embarasing :o
i'd say the same as everyone else. you need to stop and take weight off the horses back if they need a wee but it's o for them to carry on if they need a poo

[Trewsers]

Horse can generally plop and carry on walking / trotting - I allow ours to stop, I don't mind, though the school horses used to use it as an excuse to stop! weeing is different I was always told to take the pressure off their backs when they are doing it - cos of their kidneys (I think).

[**KEZZIE**]

Hmm... maybe i've been being too soft, i thought they needed to stop to poo too... of course sometimes they just stop and i kindly allow it as i think they want to go but then they don't go so we just stand for a while... they see me coming don't they!

[Mehitabel]

Hmm... maybe i've been being too soft, i thought they needed to stop to poo too... of course sometimes they just stop and i kindly allow it as i think they want to go but then they don't go so we just stand for a while... they see me coming don't they!

the oldest riding school pony trick in the book! :D

[~*sugarlump*~]

wee= stop
number 2= go

ehe simple :p

[Sparkie]

We have ponies that do that, stop and pretend they need to go when they don't. Anna used to spend about 10 mins per lesson pretending she needed the loo, when faced with a novice... She never did it with beginners or better riders, just those that are off the leadrein but still won't stop her from trying!!!

[jenren!!]

But keep in mind that the judge won't laugh and pin you first if your horse decides it needs to wee in the middle of a class.
That would be embarrassing...

[vimto92]

Let them stop.....

Think of when you were/are at school and you need/needed a wee..... how annoying was it when you weren't/aren't allowed? Think of walking around..... dying for a wee.... trust me... I've been there.:o :cool:

Let them do it, they let us ride them dont they, :)

Horses wont work as forward is they need the toilet.... horses will be distracted and wont listen as good as if they had been to the toilet.... thats just my view....