Governments around the world are banning horse riding in the hope of eliminating / seriously reducing accidents. Clearly not horse people.

Common sense spelt out for horse owners - whilst coping with COVID-19 restrictions.

Governments around the world are now banning horse riding in the hope of eliminating / seriously reducing accidents, are clearly not horse people. Let's hope the UK Government weighs up the pros and cons and makes a sensible decision.

NOT RIDING BUT MANAGEMENT OF HORSES.
Thousands of serious accidents happen every year when simply handling horses on the ground. I know this first hand with my own mother. In fact there are people who have sadly been killed by loading horses. Horses have a brain, a personality and above all, a flight instinct. At 1/2 tonne that makes them dangerous.

What they love and feel comfortable with is calmness and routines. So at this time the steps I'd recommend are ...

1. Ensure you are NOT over feeding. Feed according to work, not size. Too many calories going in will give unwanted and (for some) dangerous excess energy. Remember that the grass this time of year is extremely nutritious and will provide plenty of calories.

2. Try introduce turn out as safely as possible. Keep to routines as much as possible. Don't cut corners and take extra time to do things slowly.

3. Use you voice to settle your horse. Try ensure that one other person is with you (at a safe distance) to be able to help you should a situation develop. If you are expecting excitable behavior then wear a crash hat.

4. Use chaff (moistened with either water or a splash of Liquid Caalm) in a stubbs scoop when catching your horse in from the field. This will help keep him settled and safer to handle. Do not use carrots, apples or mollassed / sugar treats that will simply increase calories and unwanted energy.

5. Horses like classical music! So keep classic FM turned on at the yard quietly if at all possible. This will settle both horses and owners too.

6. Don't wear flip flops or sandals when caring for horses, wear sturdy boots, whatever the weather.

7. If your horse is the 'stressy' type or has a reason to be unsettled (perhaps recently moved yard) then we can put together a formula of ingredients that will promoted calmness and more settled behavior.

 

RIDING/EXERCISING
If we couple these common sense guidelines of horse management with safer, less demanding and totally NON-COMPETITIVE riding, then in my opinion we'd vastly reduce accidents across the board.

1. Intending to break a horse in? Forget it! Postpone the idea indefinitely.

2. If hacking on roads, wear Hi Viz whatever the time of day. Walk only and on roads that you have ridden before. Don't go on any new routes.

3. If training in the school on the flat, allow plenty of time to warm up and plenty of time to cool off. Introduce new movements with confidence but try avoid arguments. You can often tell a gelding, but always ask a mare and have a conversation with a stallion.

4. Don't try getting too much fitness into the horse at this point. The competitions are definitely cancelled for 3 months at least. You'll have plenty of time to build it up later. The fitter the horse, the greater the risk of accidents.

5. Immediately prior to schooling (whether on the flat or over jumps), feed a handful or 2 of chaff in a stubbs scoop, moistened with Liquid Caalm to help settle and focus your horse.

6. If jump schooling (eventers and show jumpers) don't try break any records, keep the jumps low. Ensure that the distances are related and grid work safer than stand alone jumps.

7. Cross country schooling, best avoided.

If you're wanting us to help you keep your horse pony calm/settled through Bespoke supplementation and/or using the instant Liquid Caalm, please register, submit details of you horse/pony/dog and we'll get back to you with FREE recommendations.