STABLE MANAGEMENT

By Eleanor Blazer

LESSON TWO

The stable manager will be required to handle horses. This lesson covers basic horse handling techniques. If your goal is to train or give riding lessons (in addition to managing a stable) please take the online courses Training Performance Horses, Riding Instructor Role and Responsibilities and Riding Instructor Teaching Techniques.

¤ SAFETY FIRST

Horses are not 1,000-pound dogs.

Horses react very quickly to outside stimulation. They will run from something that frightens them. Once a horse reaches what is thought to be safety, he’ll usually stop, turn and look at the perceived monster. If a human happens to be between him and safety, he won’t hesitate to run over the person. You must be alert at all times.

All horses kick. If a horse is startled, a kick may quickly follow. Horses will kick in play or aggression.

When grooming a horse, if a tool is dropped, do not bend over to pick up the item. Use your foot to move it to the side, into a safe zone before you retrieve it.

Move the brush from behind horse. Now pick it up.

If a horse must be approached from the rear - speak first. A firm “whoa” when approaching a horse from the rear may avoid a kick. When walking behind a horse either stay very close to the hindquarters, with a hand on the rump, or move into an area beyond the reach of a fully extended kick.

Walk behind a horse close and with a hand on the rump.

When approaching a horse from the front, do not run up to him. Walk quietly and speak in a calm voice so he is aware of you. Approach him to the left or right of center – toward his shoulder is best. Do not extend your hand directly toward his face or muzzle; place a hand on his shoulder, while saying “whoa”.

Approach a horse from the side.

Avoid being with a horse when he is loose. It is very dangerous to be in a pasture with a loose horse…it is even more dangerous if there are several horses. The risk of being run over or kicked is very high when horses are running free. Carrying a long stick or whip will help keep them back. Stay alert.

Jan is an experienced horsewoman. One afternoon she was doing her routine chores. The horses were in the back pasture so she opened the gate to let them come to the barn. As they came through the gate one of the horses playfully kicked….and caught Jan on the side of the head. She suffered a broken jaw, lost several teeth and had damage done to the bone structure around her eye.

Beware of a biting horse. Horses must complete the biting act. Once a horse starts to close his mouth the action must be carried through – he cannot open his mouth in mid-bite. In addition to this, if a horse has been disciplined many times, he may bite and jerk away…this can leave a nasty wound or bruise on you.

The 2-year old stallion being lunged was doing a good job for a young horse. Tom stopped him and approached the youngster to pat him on the neck. The colt reached out and grabbed Tom’s hand with his teeth. When Tom removed his glove he discovered the tip of his middle finger was missing.

When walking down the aisle way of a barn where horses are hanging their heads out of the stalls, be very careful a horse does not reach out and make a grab at you. Learn to read horse body language.

Horses will usually send signals before committing an act. It is important to learn these signals and know how to re-act to them.

The most obvious form of horse communication is the ears. A horse with his ears pinned back against his head is an aggressive horse. It is not be a good idea to approach this horse with an extended hand – a finger might be lost.

Ears back; Stay away!

A cocked back leg accompanied with pinned ears is sure to be followed by a kick.

Browse around the internet or look at a book with pictures of people interacting with horses. Invariably you will see a photo of a girl kissing a horse on the end of the nose. This is a great way to get a broken nose or a few loose teeth. The bone within a horse’s head is extremely hard. If the horse being kissed flips his head, the kiss will quickly be forgotten. If you want to show your horse affection – scratch him along the withers.

Never tie yourself to the horse or wrap the end of the rope or reins around your hand. There are times when getting away from the horse is the best thing for all concerned.

Lead rope held properly; not wrapped around hand.

When leading a horse, walk next to him, with his throatlatch (where his head attaches to his neck) opposite your shoulder. Do not walk directly in front of him, while he drags along behind you. If he is behind you and something spooks him he will jump directly on top of you.

Proper leading position – next to the throatlatch.

NEVER work with a horse unless you have a halter and lead rope or bridle on him. Working with a horse "at liberty" is a sure way to get hurt.

Protective clothing is a must.

Boots are not a fashion statement, they serve a purpose. The leather provides a protective barrier between a hoof and a toe. Granted being stepped on will still hurt, but less damage will result if you are wearing boots rather than tennis shoes or sandals.

Gloves are not mandatory, but can protect your hands while working around horses. The feeling of having a lead rope slide through your bare hands, as the horse is spooking at a blowing plastic bag, is not pleasant.

THE HORSE’S SAFTEY

Horses are large animals and have a flight instinct…when frightened, they run. These two characteristics can make dangerous situations worse.

The horse’s surroundings must be horse-proof. Stalls, fences, pastures and passageways must be structured and maintained with your horse’s safety in mind. You must be observant at all times - repair, remove and avoid unsafe situations.

Stalls and pastures should not have protruding boards, nails or other items which can harm horses. Construction gaps large enough for a foot or head to be inserted should be repaired. Feeders and waterers should be horse safe. The stall flooring should be textured so horses can stand without slipping (rubber mats or clay is best – avoid concrete).

Passageways or barn aisles should be clear and wide enough for you and a horse to pass safely. Tools, such as wheelbarrows and manure forks, should be put away.

Latches on doors and gates should be latched back so horses cannot catch on them when passing through. Make sure the door or gate is open all the way before leading the horse through.

Dangerous gate latch. The same gate with handle not locked down.

¤ DAILY INTERACTION WITH HORSES

CLEANING STALLS

The safest way to clean a stall is to remove the horse. Cleaning the stall while the horse is turned out or exercised will keep you both safe, and speed the cleaning process. Tie the horse in the aisle or in a corner of the stall if needed.

It is not good safety practice to have the door open with the horse loose in the stall. It only takes a split second for a horse to dash through an open door. Avoid the temptation to partially open the stall door or parking the wheelbarrow across the doorway. It will create a dangerous situation.

Trying to save time will only create more work in the long run.

TURN OUT

Most stables offer turn out time for horses kept in stalls. This means horses need to be led from the stall to the turn out area and returned.

Avoid opening stalls or gates to let horses find their own way. Take the time to use a halter and lead shank, and then escort the horse to the area.

Maneuvering the horse through the gate at the turn out area can be tricky – especially if other horses are in the lot. Horses should be taught not to crowd at the gate and to stay back. The horse you are handling must obey all commands and wait patiently for you to open and shut the gate.

Never remove the halter and give the horse a slap on the rump…people have been killed doing this. Make the horse stand quietly, remove the halter and step back through the gate, closing it as you leave. Keep an eye on the horse in case he kicks out in exuberance.

Never leave the halter on a loose horse. I know some are hard to catch, but when they are hung up with a leg through the halter or caught on a fence post it will be too late. Leaving halters on loose horses is not good horsemanship.

FEEDING

Eating is the best part of a horse’s day. Because of this, unrestrained exuberance can create a dangerous situation.

Horses in stalls will be easy to feed. But they must mind their manners. Some horses can get very aggressive at feeding time. Don’t allow them to crowd the door if you must enter the stall. They must be taught to stay back and not grab the hay out of your arms or knock the feed container from your hands. Use the verbal command “back” and reinforce the command with a whip if necessary. In time the horse will learn to wait. Never turn your back as you leave the stall.

Stalls with feed doors will make feeding safer and easier. Be sure to check feeders for manure, dirt or dead rodents before dumping the feed.

Feeding horses in a group setting is very dangerous. Entering a pasture with grain or hay can put you in great danger. Horses must be taught to respect your space and stay back. The use of a long whip can keep them “honest”.

Many stables will hang feeders on the fence. If your stable uses this method the fence must be structured in a manner that is safe. Board fence is best and avoid hanging the feeders in a corner.

Water is the most important nutrient and lack of water can lead to impaction colic. Check water containers several times a day. Don’t take automatic waterers for granted. They must be checked and cleaned daily.

We’ll cover basic nutrition in a future lesson. For a more in-depth study, take the online course “Nutrition for Maximum Performance”.

ASSISITING THE VET OR FARRIER

One of the stable manager’s duties may be holding the horse for the veterinarian or farrier.

Practice good safety procedures – wear protective boots, use a halter and lead, and do not stand directly in front of the horse. Be alert at all times, there is a tendency to chat and not pay attention to the horse. Don’t play with the horse while the professional is working.

Make notes after the procedure so you can report to the owner. Remember to up-date the stall card and any records.

SHEETS AND BLANKETS

It may be your duty to put on and take off sheets and blankets.

Practice good safety procedures. Inspect the horse for injuries, skin problems or change of body condition. This should be done everyday.

There will be more about blankets and sheets in a future lesson.

ADMINISTERING MEDICATIONS AND APPYING BANDAGES

Your duties may also include administering medications and taking care of bandages.

The horse should be properly restrained for these procedures. You should have the owners written permission and be properly trained by the veterinarian to administer medications.

Different types of bandages and how to use them will be covered in a future lesson.

Assignment:

1. Send a video of you catching a horse, putting on the halter and leading him.

2. Send a video of you leading a horse through a closed gate. Open the gate, lead the horse through and close the gate.

Please load the video to a video hosting site such as YouTube or Photobucket. Send the links to: elblazer@horsecoursesonline.com

There is no quiz for this lesson.