The Levels of Stable Management
As you progress through the levels of stable management, you get to learn more things from learning how to groom a horse to learning how to train a horse. Here is a basic idea of what you get to learn:
Level 1
*Gain confidence around horses
*Safety awarness
*How to groom a horse
*How to tack/ un-tack a horse (assisted)
*Mucking/ skipping out
*How to catch a horse from the field
*Safety knots, e.c.t
Level 2
*Improve skills and perform most unaided (tacking up)
*Learn how to identify, prevent and control illnesses
*Fit boots and bandages
*Recognise girth galls, bridle rubs e.c.t
*Height and weight
Level 3
*Must be able to groom, feed, tack, rugs, veterinary care, identify ingeries and illnesses, know the importance of exercise and schooling unaided
*A higher standered of the things you already know will be taught
Level 4
*Medicines
*Stable designs
*New skills (yard duties, assisting in the paddock e.c.t)
Level 5
*Compleatly take care of a horse
*Temperments
*Long reining
Level 1
*Gain confidence around horses
*Safety awarness
*How to groom a horse
*How to tack/ un-tack a horse (assisted)
*Mucking/ skipping out
*How to catch a horse from the field
*Safety knots, e.c.t
Level 2
*Improve skills and perform most unaided (tacking up)
*Learn how to identify, prevent and control illnesses
*Fit boots and bandages
*Recognise girth galls, bridle rubs e.c.t
*Height and weight
Level 3
*Must be able to groom, feed, tack, rugs, veterinary care, identify ingeries and illnesses, know the importance of exercise and schooling unaided
*A higher standered of the things you already know will be taught
Level 4
*Medicines
*Stable designs
*New skills (yard duties, assisting in the paddock e.c.t)
Level 5
*Compleatly take care of a horse
*Temperments
*Long reining
Safety first
When taking care of a horse, you must make sure that you're doing things safely without hurting yourself, your horse or anyone else around you. Here are some things that you must be aware of when doing anything with your horse:
Horse Management
*How to correctly approch a horse- Quietly and calmly without running towards it. Always approch it from the front so they know that you there otherwise they'll get scared and might kick.
*Safety Knot- Whenever you tie up a horse in a stall, stable or arena you must always tie them up with a safety knot because if something scared them and they wanted to break free they could do so. If you used a normal knot, they wouldn't be able to and would get even more scared.
*Grooming- You must make sure that you're using the correct brush for the sensitive parts of their body as some brushes are to stiff for the face and stomach and could hurt them. Also NEVER use the metal curry comb on a horse only to clean other brushes.
*Picking their hoof- When picking the hoof, always stand by the horses side facing the bum so if they kick they can't get you. Also be careful not to catch the frog. (a sensitive triangle on the bottom of the hoof) To lift the leg, pull on the hairs at the bottom and lean on them if they don't lift it.
*Correct handling procedure- Make sure the horse is in good condition with no cuts or rubs before riding and that its been groomed. Never hit your horse really hard when leading or riding it.
*Safety Knot- Whenever you tie up a horse in a stall, stable or arena you must always tie them up with a safety knot because if something scared them and they wanted to break free they could do so. If you used a normal knot, they wouldn't be able to and would get even more scared.
*Grooming- You must make sure that you're using the correct brush for the sensitive parts of their body as some brushes are to stiff for the face and stomach and could hurt them. Also NEVER use the metal curry comb on a horse only to clean other brushes.
*Picking their hoof- When picking the hoof, always stand by the horses side facing the bum so if they kick they can't get you. Also be careful not to catch the frog. (a sensitive triangle on the bottom of the hoof) To lift the leg, pull on the hairs at the bottom and lean on them if they don't lift it.
*Correct handling procedure- Make sure the horse is in good condition with no cuts or rubs before riding and that its been groomed. Never hit your horse really hard when leading or riding it.
Yard/Field Maintanance
*Clear yard- Make sure that there isn't any any equipment on the ground that someone could trip on or open stable doors as someone could walk into it or the horse in there could get out.
*Poisenous plants/Litter-Always remember to cheak daily for poisenous plants (ragwort, e.t.c) or litter, and remove them correctly and safely to keep your horses enviroment clean. If there are already horses in the field, be carefull and don't go to close. If they're galloping near you or towards you, don't run as they'll chase you.
*Poisenous plants/Litter-Always remember to cheak daily for poisenous plants (ragwort, e.t.c) or litter, and remove them correctly and safely to keep your horses enviroment clean. If there are already horses in the field, be carefull and don't go to close. If they're galloping near you or towards you, don't run as they'll chase you.
NOTE: Safety awareness is taught at the very beginning of level 1 stable management.
Grooming
We groom our horses for a number of reasons. These are to keep them clean and healthy, to bond with them, to check for any cut or rubs that might be on your horse and to raise their blood presure.(this is why people groom their horses before riding, especiously if it's cold) Here is some of the equipment:
Dandy brush
Used for cleaning thick mud from the coat. Has stiff bristles to get mud of easily.
Body brush
A softer brush to clean the sensitive areas without hurting the horse.
Water brush
A very stiff brush used to get thick mud of the horses hoofs. Not to be used on the skin.
Hoof pick
Used to pick out mud and stones trapped in the hoof
Plastic curry comb
Can clean thick mud from the coat, mane and tail without hurting the horse.
Rubber curry comb
The rubber curry comb will massage the horse
Metal curry comb
The metal curry comb must never be used on the horse, only to clean the other brushes.
Tack
The bridle
The bridle is the piece of tack that is placed around the horses head so you have control of it whilst mounted however advanced riders might try to ride without it.
How to Assemble
First, place the reins over the horses head and onto the withers. Then gather up the rest of the bridle holding it just bellow the browband and place the bits on the mouth and make the nose band fit around the horses nose. Pull the bridle up so the bits go into the horses mouth, if it refuses to open its mouth tickle the top of the mouth with your thumb and it should open its mouth. Making sure you're holding the bridle firmly, bring the head piece over the horses ears so it stays behind them. Tuck the nose band under the cheek pieces, twist the reins and put the throate lash through the gap left in the reins and attach it back to the cheak piece.
How to Assemble
First, place the reins over the horses head and onto the withers. Then gather up the rest of the bridle holding it just bellow the browband and place the bits on the mouth and make the nose band fit around the horses nose. Pull the bridle up so the bits go into the horses mouth, if it refuses to open its mouth tickle the top of the mouth with your thumb and it should open its mouth. Making sure you're holding the bridle firmly, bring the head piece over the horses ears so it stays behind them. Tuck the nose band under the cheek pieces, twist the reins and put the throate lash through the gap left in the reins and attach it back to the cheak piece.
The saddle
The saddle is the piece of tack that you sit on whilst riding a horse so it's a much more comfertable ride for you and the horse. Again, advanced riders like to ride without it.
How to Assemble
First, place the saddle (with the numnah on the bottom) on the withers of the horse and pull it down on to the horses back making sure that the numnah isn't twisted. Then, push the girth off the top of the of the saddle and bring it round the barrel (stomach) again making sure that it isn't twisted. Attach it to the saddle by buckling it up.
How to Assemble
First, place the saddle (with the numnah on the bottom) on the withers of the horse and pull it down on to the horses back making sure that the numnah isn't twisted. Then, push the girth off the top of the of the saddle and bring it round the barrel (stomach) again making sure that it isn't twisted. Attach it to the saddle by buckling it up.
The Importance of a Daily Routine
Especially with a stabled horse you must make sure that your horse has a good daily routine to beat bordem and to make sure that the horse is getting enough food and water every day. A good daily rutine must include: food (forage or concentrate (avoid concentrate if you can)) and fresh water in the morning, mucking out the stable (easier to do when the horse isn't in the stable so you could do it when they've be turned out), going for a ride, (atleast an hour after being fed) given food and water, being groomed, being turned out in the afternoon, be given more food and water and rugged up for the night. if you have a stabled horse, it would be best to keep checking on your horse a few hours after being fed as colic and other digestive problems usually occur after being fed.
Bordem
If bordem is a big problem for your horse then why not consider buying a toy for it to give it something to do like:
*Horse balls
*Mineral licks
*Feed distributer
Bordem
If bordem is a big problem for your horse then why not consider buying a toy for it to give it something to do like:
*Horse balls
*Mineral licks
*Feed distributer
How to Muck/Skip out a stable
The difference between mucking out and skipping out is that skipping out is when you just get rid of the droppings and you leave all the wet straw whereas mucking out is when you clean everything and put down fresh straw for your horse. Here is how to do it...
Mucking out
What you need: pitch fork, shovel, broom and a wheelbarrow.
First, with the pitch fork get all the droppings in the stable and put it in the wheelbarrow. By using the fork you don't risk getting rid of clean straw. Next, put the wet straw and dry straw in seperate piles and get rid of the wet pile. Scrub the floor to get rid of any other wet patches and leave to dry. After that spread the clean bedding back on to the stable floor and put the water bucket back in the stable with fresh water, ready for your horse.
Skipping out
What you need: scoop and wheelbarrow
All you need to do is with the scoop, get all the dropping into it and put the droppings in the wheelbarow. The scoop is also used to pick up any dropping that was left in the yard or arena.
Mucking out
What you need: pitch fork, shovel, broom and a wheelbarrow.
First, with the pitch fork get all the droppings in the stable and put it in the wheelbarrow. By using the fork you don't risk getting rid of clean straw. Next, put the wet straw and dry straw in seperate piles and get rid of the wet pile. Scrub the floor to get rid of any other wet patches and leave to dry. After that spread the clean bedding back on to the stable floor and put the water bucket back in the stable with fresh water, ready for your horse.
Skipping out
What you need: scoop and wheelbarrow
All you need to do is with the scoop, get all the dropping into it and put the droppings in the wheelbarow. The scoop is also used to pick up any dropping that was left in the yard or arena.
Feeding
The Golden Rules
You can either give your horse hay, haylage or concentrated feed but it would be best to avoid giving your horse concentrate feed when you can. Here are the golden rules of feeding:
*Don't ride your horse until it's been an hour since they've eaten
*Give your horse as little concentate as you can
*Make sure that there's always fresh water available
*Make the feeding times work with their riding times
*If you need to change the horses diet, change it gradually
The difference between hay and haylage
The difference between hay and haylage is that hay is dustier than haylage and haylage is alot sweeter. If you smell them you can tell the difference as the haylage smells different.
*Don't ride your horse until it's been an hour since they've eaten
*Give your horse as little concentate as you can
*Make sure that there's always fresh water available
*Make the feeding times work with their riding times
*If you need to change the horses diet, change it gradually
The difference between hay and haylage
The difference between hay and haylage is that hay is dustier than haylage and haylage is alot sweeter. If you smell them you can tell the difference as the haylage smells different.