Barn dynamics/rules

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

IMHO, the reason for the rules being all over the place re: poop is as follows:

1. It’s always better training for the horse to keep moving off the rider’s leg and to poop while moving at all three gaits, with as little slowing down as possible.

2. It’s always easier to clean up after a horse that stands still and poops.

So facilities come up with all of these weird compromise rules because there is no way to have both–“the horse must stop in the indoor, where the footing is expensive, not in the outdoor, where it’s dirt,” or “no stopping during lessons, only when you’re riding on your own,” or “you must keep going but avoid the poop area for the rest of your ride,” or “instructor will yell at poopy horses she doesn’t like, but ignoring pooping from horses she does.”

I only ask that instructors make it clear to newbies that horses can poop and move and it’s not cruel to do so, because I once rode with a lady who would immediately stop whenever her horse had to go, and when she saw I was continuing to urge mine through the urge (successfully) she told me she absolutely appalled about how cruel and unhealthy I was to make my horse trot and poop.

[Sarah616]

I always tell the kids something along the lines of “I promise your pony doesn’t have to stop to poop. If they were being chased by a mountain lion and they had to poop, I bet they’d keep on running!” That usually gets a laugh and some understanding. Now, whether they can actually make the lesson pony keep moving and poop at the same time is another story.

[Qstnpls1]

That is the plan for next week. At first, I really thought I was to blame. The second time, she caught me off guard and I just laughed, thinking no one would be that rude and I must have missed a joke. This third time, I still have her the benefit of the doubt thinking maybe she has a speech or processing disorder. Then I found out from a previous boarder that she really is that much of a beeyatch. Boundaries next time and plan to be fired.

[TheJenners]

Guilty, she cracks me up

[Texarkana]

These don’t sound like “rules” per se but rather a communication and culture problem.

They (meaning the entire barn community) are not being considerate to new members. Maybe it’s because they are exclusive, maybe it’s because they aren’t very flexible people.

There may be good reasons they are particular about things like horses not peeing in the tacking stall or their behavior under saddle, but there are better ways to handle the situations.

If you stick it out it may get better with time, but it sounds like your mind is made up to leave and I can’t blame you.

[LilRanger]

@Qstnpls1

That is the plan for next week. At first, I really thought I was to blame. The second time, she caught me off guard and I just laughed, thinking no one would be that rude and I must have missed a joke. This third time, I still have her the benefit of the doubt thinking maybe she has a speech or processing disorder. Then I found out from a previous boarder that she really is that much of a beeyatch. Boundaries next time and plan to be fired.

If you do get “fired” for speaking out, then be extra sure to let the BO know why and suggest she charge that beeyatch extra to make up for the financial losses BO has and will continue to suffer on the beeyatch’s behalf.

[walktrot]

@clanter

well there is a command used to tell a horse to pee

Good Point! I forgot about the race horse training. If it were that easy, though, somebody would be out there selling an equine outhouse with instructions on how to figure the size of the hole, plus a natural training package.

[Training_Cupid]

I mean I would too if a lion was chasing me … just because I can doesn’t mean I want to though!!

[Scribbler]

@Training_Cupid

I mean I would too if a lion was chasing me … just because I can doesn’t mean I want to though!!

Think of horses as just big bunny rabbits that can hop along leaving a trail of poop pellets.

[farfel]

I always give the horse a few minutes in their stall after coming in from their paddock, before I put them on the crossties, to give them the opportunity for a bathroom break. Easy to do while I put my boots and helmet on and get my tack out. I do the same ASAP after I untack - it gives the horse another bathroom break opportunity since most prefer to urinate in their stalls vs their paddocks.

It’s the norm for my trainer and the clients. It’s really about the comfort of the horse, but as a side benefit it prevents most crosstie flooding incidents…but not all! Mares in season can be unpredictable on that front.

[CindyCRNA]

I often let my guy stop to poop. At a show he knows he needs to keep moving just fine. It makes it easier to scoop if it’s in one spot. I would never stop a horse from peeing. That’s just asinine.

[endlessclimb]

I’m sure there’s plenty of horses to prove me wrong, but in my experience stopping a horse from peeing is easy. I just ask them to move over a step when I see them assume the position. In return, I get them to a better place to pee as fast as I can, no dawdling.

[Training_Cupid]

My horse doesn’t like to pee with me on him, but will occasionally start to park out if I linger in the arena chatting after we ride. I just ask him to walk on, and he obliges. Then I let him pee outside the arena - his usually spot where he pees after almost every single ride! (There are wood chips, I call it the “no splash zone”).
Luckily for me he generally does not poop in the arena, but on the rare occasion he does he will do it on the go. However on trail rides he always, without fail, stops dead and refuses to walk on until he’s done!

[lorilu]

@CBoylen

if I’m their trainer.

This is the important part. The TRAINER corrects the student, not another boarder even if they are friends with the owner…

[rulex]

@sheltoneb

I feel this is reasonable because most of the time when you are paying attention, it is easy tell the horse is going to pee and relocate them.

I used to ride a gelding who took to peeing in the cross ties after every ride. It was a huge pain to clean up so I was very motivated to try and prevent this from happening, but it wasn’t so easy. Thing is when you are untacking you are inevitably going to take an eye off the horse and that’s the moment they will choose to do the thing.

[Qstnpls1]

Okay, what is Bayleigh? Is TT short for TikTok? Remember…I’m ancient.

[Qstnpls1]

Thank you lorilu. That is what really ticked me off. So disrespectful to the trainer as well as the other riders. I’m paying good money for that lesson. And I’m not paying her.

[Qstnpls1]

Y’all are cracking me up!

[Larksmom]

Have you guys ever seen the photo of Lucinda Prior Palmer on Village Gossip halted at X having a pee? It is really funny.

[Baybear]

I’ve heard of some nutty rules over the years. I think the potty issues are a little over the top but maybe in their way they were trying to be helpful not critical and it came out wrong?