What were you taught and still usually do?

[carthorse]

A follow up to @newforest 's thread.

I still always walk at least the last 1/2 mile home if possible - sirens on a single tack lane will get me to trot on to a passing place but not much else - and ideally slack the girth off a hole (not on spooky days though, I don't want those sirens to be for me!)

I don't trot downhill on tarmac roads or canter on hard/rutted ground.

My horse gets my full attention when riding or handling, no phones etc.

Saddles are placed forward and then slid back to the correct place, girths are done up a hole at a time, saddle cloths are pulled up into the pommel.

I groom rather than constantly wash. When I was a kid it was considered terribly bad practice to wash field kept horses, at most you sponged off sweat with plain water.

 

[newforest]

Great to have a follow up.

I always walk the last 10 minutes, but we are mostly in walk anyway at the moment so that doesn't need much thought.
I walk the first ten minutes as well including lunging. We go down the moors to do it and it's about a ten minutes walk down anyway..

So that brings me to the bringing back into work. Three weeks of walking, then introduce trot.
The majority of horses are in light to medium work, so feed for work done.

Horse gets my full attention, unless I am wanting photos, it really bugs me when people are trying to text or take calls and stop what they were doing with the horse. Standing in the middle of a field with horses looking down to text is just irresponsible.

I still pull the saddle pad up, although I wonder if these days we need to as they've made them contoured? It's a habit though.

I will surely think of more things

Mine hasn't had a bath since she's been here. I would like to get her legs wiped off though with the steam /river water.
I would rather clip her so she isn't excessively sweaty. She might need a chase doing still

What else.
Don't walk behind a horse and even when I booked a ride and had to go behind her to mount, I put my hand on her and moved round so she knew where I was.

Always wear a hat

 

[carthorse]

@newforest hats when I was a kid were pretty optional, and chin straps even more so (and they were a piece of thin elastic!) while harnesses were unheard of!

 

[newforest]

@newforest hats when I was a kid were pretty optional, and chin straps even more so (and they were a piece of thin elastic!) while harnesses were unheard of!

Gosh actually yes it was the velvet with the elastic.
If you put your head down without the elastic and it stayed on, it fitted.
I don't think the skull was invented for us apart from jockeys. BP hadn't been invented either.

 

[Frances144]

When I rode....

Always walk home the last bit or get off early, loosen girth and walk home together.

Never trot downhill - dear god, no. The worry. Hate cantering on roads or hard ground.

No phones.

Saddle always forward and slid back and cloths pulled up into pommel.

Groom, never bathe. Not fair. They live out and need their greasey coat.

Plus:
Always use quick release knots.
Always put all leather straps through their keepers (a bug-bear of mine) and smooth down. No lumps.
Never headcollars under bridles - they are not designed to be worn like that and make me itch.
Always a riding hat when riding.
Always proper toe-covering shoes when in the field - I don't think I could physically go into a field in sandals.
Flat hand for feeding.

Possibly many other things too......

 

[carthorse]

I'd forgotten our footwear @Frances144 and yes I also stick to that. I even feel my trainers in the summer aren't the best choice of footwear, but nowadays it's what I can walk and be on my feet for a few hours in. I cringe when I see sandals and flip flops being worn around horses.

 

[Jessey]

I will trot and canter downhill if the going is good, that probably stems from learning to ride with the hunt mistress!

I always wear proper closed toe shoes around horses, no matter how hot it is.

Always walk the first and last half mile of a ride.

If a horse has had significant time off it’s 8 weeks walking to build them back up.

I always slide the saddle on and put ends in keepers.

And I definitely groom rather than bath as all mine live out. The big ones tend to get 1 bath in spring, Jess is a rotten mare and particularly enjoys it, Monkey just gets terribly itchy and it helps settle his skin, but the little boys don’t get baths.

 

[Frances144]

I always wash food buckets daily.
I always push, pull a gate after I’ve shut it to check I actually shut it. And if necessary add a rope as I know ponies!
I’m always doing something as well when I’m doing something else.
I always tip field buckets up.
I never sit with my horses, lying against them in their field.
I never ride in their field - I would section off a section if I had to.

 

[Trewsers]

@newforest hats when I was a kid were pretty optional, and chin straps even more so (and they were a piece of thin elastic!) while harnesses were unheard of!

When I was about 9 ish my mum would take me up to the local riding school for a lesson or hack on my birthday / special occasions and I remember the hats having either no elastic or just a thin bit. Lol.

 

[Trewsers]

I will trot and canter downhill if the going is good, that probably stems from learning to ride with the hunt mistress!

I always wear proper closed toe shoes around horses, no matter how hot it is.

Always walk the first and last half mile of a ride.

If a horse has had significant time off it’s 8 weeks walking to build them back up.

I always slide the saddle on and put ends in keepers.

And I definitely groom rather than bath as all mine live out. The big ones tend to get 1 bath in spring, Jess is a rotten mare and particularly enjoys it, Monkey just gets terribly itchy and it helps settle his skin, but the little boys don’t get baths.

Yes I always wear proper shoes or boots. I've never been tempted to wear mules or sandals near our lot. I have been known to run out late on at night to check on one of them for some reason wearing ballet flats - but I'd never lead in them!

 

[Trewsers]

Yep my food buckets get washed with hot water every day - I'm lucky to have the utility room and the big deep sink in there makes it easy!

 

[newforest]

If mine lays down you can get photos. But get closer and she will bite. I think I would add I would if someone tried to disturb my sleep time.

ETA so it makes sense

 

[Frances144]

Yes, for me it’s about personal space. I don’t invade theirs so they don’t invade mine. And also I was in the firing line once when Haakon suddenly stood up, and I was thrown miles with such force.

As for alfalfa, I think it is a particular problem for Shetland ponies - “Alfalfa poses serious risks to Shetland ponies because it is highly calorie-dense, rich in protein, and high in calcium. Feeding it to this breed commonly leads to rapid obesity, nutritional imbalances, and an increased risk of severe, life-threatening laminitis.” University of Wyoming.