Special Report: At Home with "Normal" Moorlands Totilas

[Thomas_1]

[QUOTE=canyonoak;4587721]

Anyone else want to come up with a racing TB stallion turned out while COMPETING?

Anyone else want to come up with a competition stallion in any discipline that is turned out while COMPETING?
While competing.[/QUOTE] There’s a raft of them. Always have been: Strong gale, Benny the Dip, Ask Tom and Powder Monkey from the top of my head.

Maybe shouldn’t have mentioned Benny, saying as he fractured his knee in a slip and fall in the paddock!

For decades I had a stud farm and ran between 30 and 40 stallions doing a huge variety of disciplines: from national hunt racing, to eventing, show jumping, dressage and horse driving trials. They were all turned out whether they were competing or not.

I can think of a few–but they are rare exceptions.
At the end of the day anyone and everyone in horses knows there’s huge differences in standards and as many opinions as there are owners about how to keep them for the best.

I happen to keep mine out most of the time and they’re currently out in a snow storm in mixed herds and heaven forbid… unrugged and… with shoes on!

I happen to think keeping them out is the right thing to do.

However I’m not going to be getting my knickers in a knot because there’s a horse somewhere kept inside winter and summer rugged up to high heavens and being molly coddled.

Makes no difference to me whether it’s a high level competition horse or a young lady’s only much loved first horse. It’s not what I would personally do but so what there’s worse things happen.

If you want to get frothy around the mouth, then get passionate about indiscriminate breeding of FUgly horses, cruelty, abuse, neglect, irresponsible ownership, the increasing disease of equine obesity, overuse of joint injections and other substances to keep a horse competing when it shouldn’t be etc etc etc.

I doubt Totilas’ connections will give a flying fig for the rantings of a few silly women on a bulletin board. Definitely in the category of “Am I bovvered”

[acerdrum]

This is very funny

Why don’t we just let the horses decide. When i was young we lived on a castle where they had over 300 arabian racehorses. They could go where they wanted, but 90% of them prefered to stay in their stables with music, solarium and personal attention from the grooms. You all sound like my mother in law who bought a farmhouse with 20 acres of ground, for her cats. But they are all sleeping next to the open fire place 24/7 , just like they did in her penthouse.

[egontoast]

Why don’t we just let the horses decide. When i was young we lived on a castle where they had over 300 arabian racehorses. They could go where they wanted, but 90% of them prefered to stay in their stables with music, solarium and personal attention from the grooms.

yeah, I hate it when that happens:lol:

[Peace]

[QUOTE=Thomas_1;4587796]
If you want to get frothy around the mouth, then get passionate about indiscriminate breeding of FUgly horses, cruelty, abuse, neglect, irresponsible ownership, the increasing disease of equine obesity, overuse of joint injections and other substances to keep a horse competing when it shouldn’t be etc etc etc.

I doubt Totilas’ connections will give a flying fig for the rantings of a few silly women on a bulletin board. Definitely in the category of “Am I bovvered”[/QUOTE]

So we are silly because we point out facts about horses?:lol::lol: Can you say chauvnist pig. Some of us think this is irresponsible ownership and I find it funny that you find joint injections are abuse but yet keeping a horse in a stall 23/7 is not abuse. By the way no one is frothy at the mouth nor do we have our knickers in a wad.

[Peace]

[QUOTE=acerdrum;4587805]
Why don’t we just let the horses decide. When i was young we lived on a castle where they had over 300 arabian racehorses. They could go where they wanted, but 90% of them prefered to stay in their stables with music, solarium and personal attention from the grooms. You all sound like my mother in law who bought a farmhouse with 20 acres of ground, for her cats. But they are all sleeping next to the open fire place 24/7 , just like they did in her penthouse.[/QUOTE]

Yes why don’t we…

[Coreene]

Top news piece on hoefslag.nl right now: Richelle Ter Haak’s horse Lest Best was euthanized on 12/27 after a paddock injury when turned out; horse broke its leg. Lest Best was her Small Tour horse.

[ridgeback]

[QUOTE=Coreene;4587826]
Top news piece on hoefslag.nl right now: Richelle Ter Haak’s horse Lest Best was euthanized on 12/27 after a paddock injury when turned out; horse broke its leg. Lest Best was her Small Tour horse.[/QUOTE]

Yes accidents happen:no: so what is your point we should keep them locked up. It often happens in those tiny paddocks where the horse is alone and has nothing to do. Should we point out all the horses that died of colic this year that don’t get turned out.

[Thomas_1]

[QUOTE=Peace;4587812]
So we are silly because we point out facts about horses?:lol::lol: Can you say chauvnist pig. Some of us think this is irresponsible ownership and I find it funny that you find joint injections are abuse but yet keeping a horse in a stall 23/7 is not abuse. By the way no one is frothy at the mouth nor do we have our knickers in a wad.[/QUOTE]Try reading again for full comprehension, context and understanding. I never said that I thought anyone was silly for pointing out facts.

Not only can I say chauvinist pig BUT… I can spell it!

Your views are as interesting as the sound of one my cows pissing on a flat rock is noticeable.

[MaximumChrome]

All I can say - if he wants a place to turn Toto out, he is MORE THAN welcome to come to my little place. I’ll watch him carefully, will even sleep outside with him:lol:

[canyonoak]

<< There’s a raft of them. Always have been: Strong gale, Benny the Dip, Ask Tom and Powder Monkey from the top of my head.

Maybe shouldn’t have mentioned Benny, saying as he fractured his knee in a slip and fall in the paddock! >>

One. And this was while they were 3,4 years old and racing? They were turned out in between races?

Two: So–4 horses, one got hurt seriously.

Yup those are the odds that would have me turning out a 9 year old stallion who is competition fit.

[Coreene]

[QUOTE=ridgeback;4587848]
Yes accidents happen:no: so what is your point we should keep them locked up. It often happens in those tiny paddocks where the horse is alone and has nothing to do. Should we point out all the horses that died of colic this year that don’t get turned out.[/QUOTE]

“Oh sorry Cees and Tosca, I turned Toto out and he broke his leg, whoops! But you know, accidents happen! Should have kept up with my normal routine, but Ridgeback said I was being a big meanie!”

[egontoast]

Unscientific observation is that yes definitely more injuries happen in turnout than anywhere else and more injuries occur in large herd turnout than in small settled groups (2 or 3 confirmed friends).

We still turn them out but if we had a totilas to manage- might see things differently. The horse is out every day and exercised every day. He’s an athlete and so no one is going to shut him in a stall and neglect him. What would be the point?

yes ideally perhaps horses should run free and never be ridden or stalled but there’s a long way between what is cruel and what is ideal. To me, cruel would be the old stallion kept in the boarded up stall at the end of the barn and never let out, never ridden, never exercised .

I doubt Totilas is abused or neglected. Even if you seriously believe that everyone involved with him is evil, greedy and ego mad, it would not be in their interests to mistreat such a horse. They have to balance risks/benefits like we all do.

[ridgeback]

Thomas you commented about silly women and from I can tell you would be talking about those of us that feel no turnout is cruel. Our argument is based on fact not emotion so your silly women comment was very telling on the kind of person you are. Lets stick to the topic instead of trying to derail the converstation.

[ridgeback]

[QUOTE=egontoast;4587882]
Unscientific observation is that yes definitely more injuries happen in turnout than anywhere else and more injuries occur in large herd turnout than in small settled groups (2 or 3 confirmed friends).

We still turn them out but if we had a totilas to manage- might see things differently. The horse is out every day and exercised every day. He’s an athlete and so no one is going to shut him in a stall and neglect him. What would be the point?

yes ideally perhaps horses should run free and never be ridden or stalled but there’s a long way between what is cruel and what is ideal. To me, cruel would be the old stallion kept in the boarded up stall at the end of the barn and never let out, never ridden, never exercised .

I doubt Totilas is abused or neglected. Even if you seriously believe that everyone involved with him is evil, greedy and ego mad, it would not be in their interests to mistreat such a horse. They have to balance risks/benefits like we all do.[/QUOTE]

What is it with you Egontoast can you not read? How many times does one have to say this isn’t only about Totilas nor has anyone said they are evil. Looks like SLC has a mini me. Getting out of a 12 x 12 stall 30-40 minutes a day to be ridden and then only hand walked is not good horse management IMO. I realize everyone has to make decisions on how they are going to live their lives and how they are going to treat their animals and what one will tolerate.

[ArthurGuinness]

“Why do vets prescribe handwalking 20min 3x per day for horses that have injuries? Not to heal the injury, generally, but for GUT MOTILITY.”

Well Totilas may not get turned out however he is hand walked twice a day, ridden, and put on the hotwalker. I think that covers GUT MOBILITY!!!
I am big on turnout, but in this case I understand where the owners and Edward Gal are coming from. This horse has changed dressage and now people who never expressed interest in this sport are now drooling over this once in a lifetime horse whom by the way looks very happy!
I am sure he will get plenty of turnout later in life when he goes to stud.

[CatOnLap]

@RB

Our argument is based on fact not emotion so your silly women comment was very telling on the kind of person you are. Lets stick to the topic instead of trying to derail the converstation.

good derailing! but blaming the wrong person for it I fear.

What is it with you Egontoast can you not read? How many times does one have to say this isn’t only about Totilas

I thought this topic was about the article on Toto and Teddy you posted. Or maybe draw reins. Don’t go changing the subject with your personal insults to other posters now!

Getting out of a 12 x 12 stall 30-40 minutes a day to be ridden and then only hand walked is not good horse management IMO

Apparently, Totillas gets much more exercise than that, so perhaps someone else needs to learn to read?

Personally I think it is inhumane that we confine human children to a stuffy crowded building forcing them to sit in chairs for hours at a time because our laws demand it. Think of the poor children! They need to be free range students!

[ridgeback]

[QUOTE=CatOnLap;4587953]
good derailing! but blaming the wrong person for it I fear.

I thought this topic was about the article on Toto and Teddy you posted. Or maybe draw reins. Don’t go changing the subject with your personal insults to other posters now!

Apparently, Totillas gets much more exercise than that, so perhaps someone else needs to learn to read?

Personally I think it is inhumane that we confine human children to a stuffy crowded building forcing them to sit in chairs for hours at a time because our laws demand it. Think of the poor children! They need to be free range students![/QUOTE]

Ahh I said people would resort to attacks and trying to change the subject when the facts are not on their side. :lol::lol::lol: For me this is not an exercise issue it is a turnout issue.

[ThreeFigs]

“free range students”!

I can only imagine the drama that would ensue on this board if Totilas were turned out and got injured.

Ridgeback, what business is it of yours what folks do with their own horses?

[ridgeback]

[QUOTE=Beasmom;4587983]
“free range students”!

I can only imagine the drama that would ensue on this board if Totilas were turned out and got injured.

Ridgeback, what business is it of yours what folks do with their own horses?[/QUOTE]

It is a discussion on the treatment of horses no different then the many threads about RK training. You guys can keep making this topic only about Totilas but it is not. If the horse was turned out in a large pasture and was injuried it would be sad as it is sad that horses have no turnout.

[ThreeFigs]

Please note the last sentence of my post, Ridgeback. It regards your attitude regarding what others choose to do with their horses. While you may believe it is “sad” or “cruel” not to turn out horses, they are not your horses, and obviously not everyone agrees with your opinion. You can control management of your own horses, and you certainly are free to express your opinion regarding the management of others, but don’t be surprised or shocked when those others reject your opinions.

There are valid reasons why a horse might or might not be offered turn out. It’s really none of your business, and I believe you just like to stir the pot. As long as we’re talking about a horse for which YOU are not responsible, it’s NOT your problem. That’s the facts, ma’am.