Things we were taught, but we don't do anymore

newforest

newforest

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Mar 15, 2008
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Just a totally random thread based on my own experiences.
I have until her pal moved in only had access to the back of the field. Now we've got all of it and she's grazing the front. That's fine, except all her stuff is in the middle. So I just put everything in a barrow and take it to her and get her ready in the paddock.
It got me thinking that years ago, (can anyone remember) we were advised to hide the headcollar behind our back so the pony didn't know you were about to catch them. I don't know what the pony thought you would be doing in the field if you walk up to them!
Mine is in no doubt of my intention, barrow will have saddle it, in fact my hi viz probably suggests I will be catching you in a bit. 😀
 
LOL I can only imagine the "terror" in Storm's eyes if I approached her with something hidden behind my back. She just knows if I'm hiding something..........I came to horses late on in life so there's not much I was taught that I don't still do in that respect.
 
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Leading. I really don't lad how I was taught unless it's a horse I don't know or know but don't trust.

Mounting, if I had to mount from the ground like I was taught I'd need to ride a Shetland 🤣
 
I actually got on from the ground yesterday. I don't make a habit of it, but needed to check the saddle set up would stay put if I needed to.
I actually don't mount correctly though, I guess done people might?

I cannot remember how to do the quick release knot. I have a trailer quick release clip, or she just stands where you put her. She grass ties ha ha ha.

Leading I don't do it as I was taught because she's likes to be slightly behind. I also don't wear a hat which you should.
 
I studied my Ladybird book "Learning to Ride" (circa 1980) diligently and was fascinated with the drawing of a lass learning to mount. I thought I had it sussed. I was ten at the time. Fast forward twenty years and doing it for real - well what can I say?! Hahahahhaaaa. Getting on from the ground is not easy! I can do it now - with Fuzzy in particular because she's pint sized for me. But lol I don't think I'd manage it with Zi.
When started having proper lessons in 2004 they just gave us a leg up - one, two, three.............up!
 
Frances144 said:
You don't own a Shetland pony do you?

I always hide the headcollar behind my back and go up, lying through my teeth offering a very visible carrot, whip out the headcollar put it on, give the carrot et voilà, caught!
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No I think they have their own how to book don't they 😂
Though some are lovely, some are the devil spawn
 
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I don’t hide the head collar unless Dan is in one of his catch-me-if-you-can moods, they’re much rarer now days but he used to be a sod for it.

I don’t lead as I was taught unless I’m likely to be trampled!

I don’t feed straights as I was taught.

I always use a quick release knot, even onto a quick release loop. I actually use them for everything, camping, roping cargo, rescue gear etc.
 
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No I don't feed straights either. I guess I don't really feed either apart from some chop to make sure she's got enough fibre going through.
 
I tend to put the head collars along the fence line and my lot try to seek out their own. They would put them on themselves if they could when the reason is to move them to fresh grazing. Bit of a different story when it is dentist or farrier, but usually they still oblige.
 
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chunky monkey said:
Things like feeding pur oats, sugar beet or linseed.

Rather than nuts or mixes.
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I've recently gone back to beet and oats (plus a balancer) for Luka and have found that while he has a little more energy he's actually calmer than on high fibre nuts! He's also clearing his bowl which is unusual for him. He still gets some nuts as treats, and I'm going to have to think up somethingfor his treat ball in the winter.
 
I feed my lot sugar beet and zero chaff plus linseed. Mix when it is winter if Haakon gets narky about his Bozmerix and is not fooled by chopped carrots. I find for my lot keeping it down to the bare minumum is much better for them than adding mixes, which seem to have hidden and possibly unnecessary ingredients, like alfalfa which Tiddles is very allergic to. Alfalfa is a heinous additive in my book and in everything under many different names. There are others too.
 
Alfalfa/lucerne is a really useful feed for many horses since it's low in sugar but high in good quality protein and is a fibre feed. I do agree that if you have one that's allergic or sensitive to it it's a pain though since it's in so many compound feeds. It's not a new feed either, it's been around and fed to horses for a very long time.
 
This may just be me, but the word shy or shied seems to be dropped in favour of the word spook. I can recall being told and taught that if you see something you think your horse will have an issue with, turn the head away from the frightening object and ride by.
Using that example I would spend a fair bit of most hacks seeing things and in turn probably create an issue we didn't have as I am the one looking for monsters??
It never flipping worked with her because she's super nosey and not looking at what's bothering her is hard for her. What IS that. Things she can hear and not see causes more issues.

A few things do not work if she lacks confidence, pushing her on, back that up with a school whip results in a buck or going backwards. Being firm and insisting will result in those front legs coming off the ground and we've still not moved forward.
I came across a video online where someone showed what they were doing with a horse that lacked confidence. I think because it was from their ridden viewpoint and not a bystander it's made a bit more sense. I could see what they were doing while they explained why.
I have actually taken her out with this mindset that if we come across something that's what I will try. The idea is if you have a go to consistent pattern like your horse does, they know what you will do when they do what they do. Getting off was still fine, however the idea was that you don't need to.
 
newforest said:
This may just be me, but the word shy or shied seems to be dropped in favour of the word spook. I can recall being told and taught that if you see something you think your horse will have an issue with, turn the head away from the frightening object and ride by.
Using that example I would spend a fair bit of most hacks seeing things and in turn probably create an issue we didn't have as I am the one looking for monsters??
It never flipping worked with her because she's super nosey and not looking at what's bothering her is hard for her. What IS that. Things she can hear and not see causes more issues.

A few things do not work if she lacks confidence, pushing her on, back that up with a school whip results in a buck or going backwards. Being firm and insisting will result in those front legs coming off the ground and we've still not moved forward.
I came across a video online where someone showed what they were doing with a horse that lacked confidence. I think because it was from their ridden viewpoint and not a bystander it's made a bit more sense. I could see what they were doing while they explained why.
I have actually taken her out with this mindset that if we come across something that's what I will try. The idea is if you have a go to consistent pattern like your horse does, they know what you will do when they do what they do. Getting off was still fine, however the idea was that you don't need to.
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When I had my first lessons as an adult I wondered what the other riding school people meant when they mentioned ponies spooking!
 
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