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geegee
Platinum Member
 England
3682 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 3:47:07 PM
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I was just mulling over a previous conversation with a fellow horsey owner friend and it got me thinking.....
We were talking about routines. My friend does not have a routine for her horses, they fit in with what she is doing at the time, regardless of the weather or whether it is 10 o.clock at night.
My horses always go out and come in at a certain time, so when my friend visits of an afternoon she will often ask me why my horses are hanging around at the gate. I explain that it is coming up to their bringing in time and she tuts and says that I am making life difficult for myself as I should get them in when I feel like it.
I don't know whether there is a right or wrong, and I can only speak for my own horses, but I have to say that I believe that my horses are more settled because of their routine. They always come to call, they don't have any vices and they are all very relaxed as they know what is going to happen at certain times.
Their times obviously change gradually with the seasons but once it is set, I try to stick to it within about 15 mins either way.
Are your horses in routines? What do you think?
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Bethan
Silver Member
Wales
306 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 4:07:18 PM
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I am rather a stickler for routine, I like routine myself and feel that horses are creatures of habit too.....but scientific research has shown that horses that are fed at "x" o'clock and turned out at "x" o'clock tend to be a lot more stressy than horses that know there feed will be coming but it may be at "x" o'clock or it could be at "y" o'clock. Hence I have eased up on more routine and find that I am not a stressfull if I can't get beck to feed at a certain time  |
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Kazzy
Platinum Member
England
3335 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 4:11:07 PM
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I agree with you, horses lives are just one big routine.
If you ever watch them in the field when they are out, they even have a routine eating, they start of a said place then go round their
field eating the same everyday, and they usually have a place to stand when full up or enjoy the rays and it is usually the same time
everyday, mine usually stuff fat faces, then stand near the bottom of
the field around 11.00am then saunter off and usually go back between
1.00 & 2.00, if its a hot day they go and stand under the Oak Tree
at the top of the field for the breeze.
Anyone would think I sit and watch my nags all day Quite scared
meself then.
Janet |
     
Sunny Cheshire |
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beau
Gold Member
United Kingdom
806 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 6:42:54 PM
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Horses are creatures of habit i agree, i have a routine and try to feed, turnout etc at around the same time everyday. Soemtimes its not always poss to stick to it but i usually manage to within an hr. If ever i am late Beau is waiting by gate or he walks circles in the stable so he seems to react better to his routine.
Jodie |
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Grey Girl
Platinum Member
England
1554 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 8:40:46 PM
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My first horse originally belonged to an army regiment saddle club (even though she had a lot of arab in her!) and her routine varied a lot each day, depending on what was going on: but she knew that at some point in the evening the 'settle down for the night' events would happen: last brush over, last skip out,, straighten rugs, and supper. She was quite happy to wait patiently until this happened, whether it was 6pm or 11pm. So when I got her I tried not to get too worried about exact times: she knew I would be along of an evening to bring her in (the farmer turned her out in the morning for me) and she was content to wait for the car to arrive and the new evening routine to occur.
My 'new' horse (had her nearly five years now, crumbs!) lives out 24/7 and is perfectly pleased to go for a ride or whatever whenever. But, as you say, she has her own 'routine' out in the field although I've noticed that this varies depending on the weather and, more importantly, what sort of night it was. The after-lunch siesta appears to be sancrosanct no matter what!
I think routine matters 'more' for a horse that is stabled a lot and has got used to a definite schedule ie breakfast at 7am, turnout at 8am, whatever.
Grey Girl
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 Said the little eohippus, "I´m going to be a HORSE"  |
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egzotyka
Gold Member
England
1427 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2006 : 10:56:44 PM
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Mine have a routine too...but that is mainly down to because i like to live by routine too  And with working 9-5 this helps in the horses having routines, i still have not got used to there summer routine yet! I dont like it all swoped around  |
   
*I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here
*When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with
it. |
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Esther
Gold Member
United Kingdom
866 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2006 : 07:54:48 AM
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If you have a strict routine, what happens when you have to break it? When you have an emergency and can't get down to the pones for a couple of hours? When you get there early because of a show or whatever?
I work shifts so my horses can't have a routine. The morning stuff takes place at some point between 5am and 11am, and the evening stuff some time between 4pm and 10pm. As a result they never wait at the gate impatiently thinking 'the service in this hotel is sh*te' (unless I'm parked with the van and haven't paid them any attention yet), but they all come to call. |
paranoid horsemother
 
Photo on far right thanks to West End Photography
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joanna_piana
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3935 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2006 : 09:34:23 AM
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| With most people working 9-5 I guess we don't have much choice in developing a routine. My yard feeds between 7-7.30 and I normally get up about 7.30 but sometimes a bit later and if i've got to be in work early I leave it to the yard owner to turn out (not very often) which won't be until about 9-9.30. Shida never seems particularly bothered and in the afternoon if they are hovering by the gate they will automatically be brought in but if they aren't spotted and wander off to graze again they will stay out until later. It is better not to have a strict routine as they do then worry if it doesn't happen but for most people it is not realistic as we only have certain times to spend at the farm. |
      
Harthall Rashida RIP, Binley Ishara, Bouchan
Chorleywood, Hertfordshire |
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natntaz
Platinum Member
England
2919 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2006 : 12:46:39 PM
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| I to am a sticker for routines, I think my horses are happy knowing how i work. If something happens like incase of an emergency they are always fine. If i cant get down in such a situation i would call someone who could. I have a very calm pure bred gelding who has no vices what so ever. I keep them on a diy livery yard and it is often said how calm he is in and out of the stable and i am sure its because the way i am about routine. |
   
Natalie Pix. Essex. Tariq ibn Radfan and Taroub |
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Libby Frost
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4711 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2006 : 1:13:32 PM
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| in the winter its a routine fitting around my working hours but generally the same up, coffee,straight to horse muck out feed etc friend turns out later as its normally pitch dark then but this time of year, bliss! horse out, so i can roll up 6am on way to work go and check him ,the sun is shining,its fab,go to work back mid afternoon to check he's ok in the evening,and if im on an evening my friend checks him when she sees to her own,sorted!!! |
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