The demise of good horsemanship

[twistyizzy]

Thought about posting this on AIBU but couldnt face the backlash of "first world problem" comments 😊
So yet another livery has arrived on the yard: unhorsey parents + teenager who has ridden for 2 years at a riding school and has been bought their first horse. Priority given to have Le Mieux match match over a properly fitted saddle/tack, child isn't having lessons on new horse and is struggling so they have just shoved a Waterford in its mouth.
This is just becoming all too common: people asking for veterinary advice on Facebook instead of calling the vet, horses underworked but having tonnes of feed pumped into them, fashion over good quality well fitting tack etc. It just seems that common sense horsemanship has practically disappeared along with much of the knowledge about horse care etc.
People not even knowing how to take TPR to monitor their horse's health, correct feeding for work bring done, how to treat minor ailments and when to call the vet etc.
All just highly frustrating and as a result I honestly believe that the welfare of many horses is compromised.

Yes I know someone just like this. All the gear and no idea. It does sadden me when people resort to stronger bits, side reins, standing martingales rather than put in the time and effort to sort out any issues. I'm sure (hope) not everyone is like it, but it does seem common .

I am not sure how common it is, but it does jump out at you when it happens.
The use of FB in place of vet is due to cost, I am sure. And also people are unrealistic & don’t factor in cost of veterinary treatment for all animals. My current yard has sensible liveries, but we all have to budget carefully for tack, fittings, treatments, etc. Clueless owners not that common near me.

I used to teach horse care for pony club. The worksheets and homework was mostly aimed at the non horsey parents! I think some people do take on too much without enough experience but horsey people sometimes need to learn to give guidance kindly.

100% agree with this but most of the time they don't ask for guidance or advice. I wish more parents would engage with PC etc but when I've mentioned it to such liveries they have brushed it off as being too snobby or they don't understand what it is about

We had quite a few like this at our old yard. I think a lot of parents assume that once their child has their own horse they no longer need lessons and they think they’re paying so much to keep the horse that lessons are an extra expense they can’t afford

Our yard is really supportive, there is always a range of people who give solid advice and nobody is afraid to ‘say something’ in a friendly way if they can see something that could be done better.

Is there any way you or others on the yard could become people who can offer advice, maybe show them some health basics (we had our ex yard manager do sessions on how to deal with basic health checks, simple injuries, ideal first aid kit, preparing a horse for travel including booting and loading, lunging basics etc.)

This is really nothing new it’s gone on forever except the asking FB , we had our horses on DIY in the 80s and there were lots of idiots then who knew next to nothing .

We all have learn somehow. Judging people's riding and ownership because they aren't as experienced as you isn't cool and makes you look like a dick

Don't be that person smile at them and tell them what they are doing right (they know what they are doing wrong!) ask them if you can help to let you know. Be kind and helpful not critical
.

A hill that I will absolutely die on is no one learns to ride properly anymore.
When I was learning to ride 30 years ago (weep) we had our own horses/ponies but went to the local riding school once a month. They had proper wizzy games ponies, retired competition horses and ponies, ponies who showed with the riding school owners children, there were a small handful of plodding cobs for absolute beginners. These days that makes up the vast majority of horses in any RS and the forward/quirky ones are anything but, they are just polite off the leg and won’t let you hang off their face. No one gets to ride a bog standard PC/RC allrounder type in a riding school!
The standard of teaching at riding schools is generally poor “hit them until they do it” and chasing around with lunge whips is terrifyingly normal.

I also think increasingly few RSs ask their riders to tack up/untack/wash of, people buy horses not knowing how to put a flash on properly, spot a lame horse or see they a saddle is 4 inches too long.

I think more and more riding has to appeal to those who just want it as an extra curricular rather than learn horsemanship… and it shows. Every wanted advert I see for a horse is someone wanting something without a pulse. 15 years ago you could market something that could pop an excited buck as suitable for a balanced novice, now it’s quirky, I’ve seen adverts wanting horses that never spook… it’s a flight animal, the quietest horse ever might have a small shy at something really unusual.

I despair!

@Lastqueenofscotland2 has hit the nail on the head actually , which is riding lessons , even at rubbish schools are very expensive and far too many people who’ve only been riding for a short time try to get shares or part loans as it’s seen as a cheaper option . They then stop having lessons and just bumble on being fairly useless because they have not got enough of the basics to actually improve alone .

I do judge yes when they won't ring a vet and instead ask for advice on Facebook, won't pay for lessons for their very inexperienced child and instead shove a Waterford in it's mouth, leave I in its stable with no hay all day because they "forgot", because all of these are horse welfare issue.
If that makes me a dick then that's fine. I really believe there should be a licensing system for horses whereby you have to prove a basic knowledge of stable management/horse care before you are allowed to purchase/loan etc.
Everyone is very happy to give friendly advice but when that advice is blatantly ignored then it gets frustrating.

Agree completely! Thankfully DD is at an excellent BHS yard which is also a PC centre so not only do they get taught how to ride properly but they get to work through all the PC badges + tests. Too many yards with unqualified instructors.

Yes we have/do but it all falls on deaf ears, thankfully they never stay long once they realise how grim having a horse is in winter but it seems like there is a never ending carousel of them 🙈
The latest one was aghast when we said that she would need to come up Xmas day to see to her horse. Seemingly the horse could look after itself !

I did my BHSII nearly twenty years ago so I am really old school. I don't have horses a the moment but some of the stuff I see on FB and Insta fills me with horror. I bet half these morons couldn't even put on a tail bandage.

Exactly like me, I did my AI 20 yrs ago and was a working pupil at one of the best training yards in the country at the time so had certain standards drilled into me. I obviously dont expect everyone to have that same level of experience, although all my horsey friends are actually qualified instructors in the main, BUT I do expect people who are novices to actually want to learn/improve. They aren't interested in anything other than getting an insta worthy photo.

Honestly, this sort of thinking massively pre-dates social media. Horse people have been bitching about each other since we first sat on a horse it seems.

We get it OP, you are a great horsewoman, you look down on young women who don't know so much as you. Do you realise what a massive stereotype you are?

But if they are asking on Facebook they are asking for help? You Don't need to call the vet for every little thing. Perhaps they don't come to you because you are overly critical and judgy yards can be such bitchy places. I'm afraid you might well be 'that' person.

They are learning (as we all did at first). They will make mistakes, we all do (and continue to do) no one is perfect

We all have to start somewhere and actually our yard is extremely friendly etc BUT when you get a steady stream of owners who are incredibly inexperienced but think they know it all, never seek professiinsl help and actually neglect their horses then yes I judge. My point is that they want the fun stuff but not the drudgery and don't want to pay any money out for basic horse care.
I don't look down on anyone who has a genuine love for horses and wants to learn but these people don't fall into thar category and you only have to look on social media to see how many people would take the advice of strangers that a qualified vet/physio/farrier. Again, that becomes a welfare issue

Omg this. X100

We all have to start somewhere and kids live Le Mieux. Leave them alone or help.

OP i see your point. It’s not bitchy to have an issue with someone through ignorance or inexperience. The OP also said she tried to help and it fell on deaf ears…

I've owned horses and ridden for 45 years and I still belong to some Facebook groups where I've posted for advice.

If you actually read my replies I've said that we have tried to help but it falls on deaf ears

@Damnspot Le Mieux is fine but not at the expense of badly fitting tack + an extremely harsh bit etc. This is my whole point, money pumped into outfits but not lessons/correctly fitting tack which as I keep on saying are horse welfare issues

That should say through ignorance or inexperience neglects their pony!

You just do not know this is true and there's absolutely nothing wrong with Instagram anyway. My dcs have Instagram accounts and also manage to ride well and look after their horses by themselves, often complemented on their turnout and horsemanship.