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T O P I C R E V I E W
Kharidian
Posted - 12 Jun 2009 : 10:29:14 PM A new lady livery turned up at the yard the other day. She is inexperienced but apparently bought a "four year old" ?Welsh x for herself and her children to ride.
This pony will go out with the livery herd at the weekend but in the meantime has been in a small paddock and she has been getting him out and grooming him daily. This morning she got him in, and began to tack up.....she admitted she was "shaking" as she tried to put his bridle on (he raised his head but, to be fair, she was standing in front of him and didn't actually have control of his head). When she got the bit in his mouth she hauled the headpiece over his ears and, to his credit he just stood there. At this point myself and YO decided we'd better intervene and sort his tack out - immediately dropping the bit several holes but then changing the bit as it was too small for his mouth. At this point I realised that all his tactile whiskers had been cut off, apparently by the vendor who had "tidied him up" for sale and, what was really shocking is that it is only the central incisors (top and bottom) that are adult teeth, so the poor baby is only 3 years old. The saddle had been bought because she was "told it would fit"; well, it was a cheap synthetic which cost £150 and sort of fitted the pony but not the woman, whose knees were off the front and all her weight was too far back.
She must have thought I was a real "grumpy old woman" but I just get so cross - both at an inexperienced person not asking for help before buying pony & tack and for unscrupulous vendors selling an unsuitable pony (although they may just be inexperienced themselves) but mostly because for the poor pony. Luckily, now he is with us, we can at least offer guidance and make sure he is adequately and comfortably equipped and as she will only be doing very light hacking she's not going to do the poor little chap any harm.
UPDATE 12.7.09 Well, would you believe it - I'm speechless! I got to the yard today, to be told that the pony is no longer here. When I asked why, I was told that the husband had "suddenly" been made redundant and she could no longer afford the livery, so the pony would be moved to Billericay, to live rent-free with "a friend".....then the next day, without any warning, the YO saw a trailer driving out of the yard, she ran to catch up and was told by the owner to thank everyone for their help and she just drove off!!!!! I had also been told that the pony had swung its quarters on her a couple of times and she literally screamed and jumped back - well, it's a youngster, if he thinks he can get away with bad behaviour then he will! The collective opinion is that he has actually gone back to the dealer (coincidentally, also in the Billericay area) and the owner was too embarassed to tell people. Poor little pony - not a good start in life - I hope he doesn't just go from pillar to post. One of the girls on the yard is the friend of a friend of said dealer and will try to find out the truth. If I ever see the owner again she'll get a BIG piece of my mind.
Caryn
13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Roseanne
Posted - 13 Jul 2009 : 10:39:12 AM I was told some people in the Arab world use the trick of putting baby oil on their horses' muzzles so the hair came out and they got the 'removed' whiskers without actually cutting them!
My boy had a real problem at the Royal Show this week with midges which were getting in his ears and on his sheath, causing head shaking and stamping during the line up!! (Not good). The class had been delayed and it was 6pm and suddenly the midges were around in swarms, even getting into the ring stewards' ears. I can't imagine how mad Lance would have gone if he'd not had his thick inside ear hair there to prevent the insects getting down into the cavity!
Zan
Posted - 12 Jul 2009 : 7:53:11 PM That's a very sad update---poor pony will no longer have the help from people who know what they are doing. Let's hope he is luckier with his next home if he has gone back to the dealer. "Inexperienced owner +unsuitable pony" is unfortunately a very common scenario. As is "inexperinced owner who thinks they know it all".
Incidentally, I think it is despicable to remove tactile hair and the hair from inside ears-both are there to serve very good purposes.Sometimes "experienced owners" can blight horses' lives also.
Kharidian
Posted - 12 Jul 2009 : 7:12:37 PM Hardly the main thrust of the post or update, however "we" didn't all do it to Arabs!
Caryn
Debbie
Posted - 12 Jul 2009 : 6:43:01 PM Just picking up on the removal of tactile hair......it wasn't many years ago we did it to the arabians for the show ring. And the show ponies still have all their whiskers removed. I have 2 ponies in HOYS classes tomorrow....and shoot me if you want, but they have had whiskers removed, hairy ears cleaned out etc.
Debbie
Posted - 12 Jul 2009 : 6:42:31 PM Just picking up on the removal of tactile hair......it wasn't many years ago we did it to the arabians for the show ring. And the show ponies still have all their whiskers removed. I have 2 ponies in HOYS classes tomorrow....and shoot me if you want, but they have had whiskers removed, hairy ears cleaned out etc.
Honeyb060674
Posted - 14 Jun 2009 : 5:12:58 PM I have a lovely lady on our yard who recently joined us with a beautiful 20yo arab. Shes very inexperienced, but was more than happy to hold her hands up & admit it. As a result they have been taken under numerous 'wings' & are progressing nicely I was immediately bias as he's an arab & such a lovely chap! Shes gained so much more confidence in her ability, just in the general day to day tasks, and even offered to de-rug the Wee Ginger One for me when required (trust me thats not always as easy as it sounds!) I'm all for giving people the chance to shine, and if it takes a helpful shove in the right direction & they are willing to accept, all's good Its just a shame there are some yard (like the large competion one she came from) that were more than happy to sit back, snigger & b***h, rather than offering advise. Its just lucky for her that her boy is such a sweetheart Good on you for stepping up
Montikka
Posted - 14 Jun 2009 : 10:18:54 AM Good for you for helping Caryn; just hope the new owner doesn't begin to think she's fine and start resenting you.
Goldenmane
Posted - 14 Jun 2009 : 07:13:04 AM I'm glad you don't mind offering help and being called 'a grumpy old woman.'I try to keep myself to myself, but was gobsmacked when a friend cut her two ponies forelocks into Beatles fringes
Grey Girl
Posted - 13 Jun 2009 : 5:57:09 PM Part of the trouble is that riding schools now, due to the ridiculous 'sue everyone' mentality, are not able to teach people really how to ride or handle a horse. People go off, perfectly competent on the riding school horse, to buy one of their own, genuinely thinking that they can cope. I mean, been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Except I took my BHS Stage 1 before buying a horse and had some lessons on how to tack up, groom, muck out etc. Nevertheless, when I actually got my first horse I realised how much I didn't know (and still don't!!!) and had a lot of worrying and frightening moments when I realised I how much I had to learn - and learn fast. Fortunately my horse was a wise, experienced old thing who was already fond of me and who so liked her new life that she was willing to put up with my mistakes (so long as I didn't make them twice!)
I'm glad you are able to offer help to this new owner; I hope she accepts it in the spirit that it is intended. She probably doesn't know that she doesn't know, if you see what I mean.
deebee
Posted - 13 Jun 2009 : 5:14:16 PM Me too; well done for managing to get across to her the need for help! as we see too often these people won't acknowledge they need it until too late - not even then, sometimes! It's always the horse's fault.
I have to say it's also often the riding school or teacher's fault, too! They don't teach novices how to ride, just how to get about on their riding school ponies. I was astonished to hear that they often don't even teach how to tack up! The first thing my kids learnt was how to stop! then a few hours later they were jumping (ok tiny jumps) but they soon got their balance and understood what was important! (i.e. heels down, DON'T pull on the mouth!)
A year of lessons and these people think they can own a horse. And dealers should be 'dealt with'. just give me 10minutes with them.
Thanks for the rant!
jacki
Posted - 13 Jun 2009 : 08:51:07 AMsome people are just clueless good on you for helping!
pintoarabian
Posted - 13 Jun 2009 : 07:53:55 AM Sadly, these scenarios are replicated countless times across the country. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing and then, when something happens, the poor horse starts the cycle of being passed around to an uncertain future. Hopefully, this one will have a better chance under your guidance.
gossy
Posted - 12 Jun 2009 : 10:33:34 PM completely agree, i know someone very similar who i hasten to add will have a unridable ruined horse in no time at all, unfortunately people wont listen and do not learn WHY IS THAT!!!
I was immediately bias as he's an arab & such a lovely chap! Shes gained so much more confidence in her ability, just in the general day to day tasks, and even offered to de-rug the Wee Ginger One for me when required (trust me thats not always as easy as it sounds!) 
I try to keep myself to myself, but was gobsmacked when a friend cut her two ponies forelocks into Beatles fringes
