11/29/2025
New Horses Owners we were all there at one time yet often people judge rather than offer a helping hand
We all get things wrong, worry about not knowing, and often when we have been on a journey of learning we forget to give grace to those who are travelling the same path at a different time.
We often forget that there is always a whole new world that is opening to someone owning a horse for the first time, knowledge we take for granted is often new for someone else
I do not know about you but I can remember learning bandaging a tail for the first time and even struggling to wrap it up the correct way so the next time we used it, it unrolled correctly, I also learned at a time when we were still using needle and thread to put plaits in and elastic bands were frowned upon
And yes there are new things now but still having a basic knowledge of how to do things when all is calm is often knowledge that is remembered when an emergency hits, learning to apply a poultice to a foot is much easier when a horse is not in pain than trying to learn when a horse is reluctant to give you his foot due to a painful abscess
Learning the normal temperature, respiration and pulse of the horse is crucial as often you might have to check the temp if it is late at night and your vet may want to know as they cannot be there due to another emergency, but how many people may take temp without knowing to hold tight due to the action of a sphincter muscle or to place the probe slightly off centre as not to take the temp of faeces' rather than the body, or taking the pulse and knowing you can compress the artery against a bone to feel the beat and that will guide you as to where you can take it and a simple thing like do not place your thumb on the area or else you are feeling your own pulse and yes I know it may sound mudane to a more experienced person but we have all had to be corrected at some point
What brushes are used where and how, we all have raised our eyebrows at someone using a curry comb on the horses face yet who comes across and helps the new owner and show them their horse wincing at every stroke, we only know what we know and often new owners feel stupid or have worries about who do they ask but we all have been there at some point
Having the basic understanding of how tack fits is crucial for your horse's well-being, we often spend thousands on a saddle without considering how important girth and bridle fit is,
Having basic first aid knowledge for your horse is often the catalyst in how you react in an emergency or even to know whether it’s a vet call or can you handle it, I think there is not one horse owner that has seen their horse having choke and ringing the vet in a panic having a meltdown despite the vet reassuring you and only to find the horse is fine by the time the vet comes
Feed according to work, weight, age, etc
Behaviour and how to be safe in a situation where you once calm horse may be behaving out of character, complacency often leads to owner injury, so simple things like tying your horse up while applying a poultice may save you from getting knocked over if the horse moves, or having a competent handler who is aware of both you and your horses safety
Listen I am the most calm person you will meet if you and your horse needs help but as my vet will tell you I am an absolute neurotic mess when dealing with my own, apparently I thought I was talking to him normal but his version was probably a gibbering wreck on the end of the phone, so we all have those moments that is completely normal
The biggest issue is why people do not ask questions is because of fear of looking stupid or being judged but we were all there once and we are still there in the now, often when I do webinars I ask does anyone have a question and a wall of silence is reciprocated and I know people have questions because I always do but often hold back in case I get It wrong but no question is a stupid question and I love it when someone asks something and often if I don’t know it sends me on that learning curve
So, if you have a question ask it, go and do a first aid course so you learn in a calm environment to help you in a crisis moment remain calm and in control, know your horses normal and trust your gut and do not be dissuaded from what you feel
Learning the basics is not dumbing down its that first step into a whole new world
Learning should be just as enjoyable as achieving the goal, and those who are teaching must always remember they were once a student xx
And yes i wrote 7 bines Instead of 7 bones but just goes to show we all make mistakes 🤣
