Riding stable doesn't take good care of horses, anything I can do?

Question

I am 13, my brother is 11 and for his birthday we went to Jesse James Riding Stables in Cave City because he has never ridden a horse before and really wanted to. We rode along a trail for a hour, I was in front, my brother behind me and some other people behind him. I have had some riding experience before so that was why I was in front. Anyway, the horse I rode was very slow. I know that they are trained not to go fast on trails but mine was obviously hot and exhausted. No matter how many times I kicked it barely made it to a trot. You could see the ribs on the horse my brother was riding. The trail guide didn't even let us stop to let the horses rest; Time is money I guess. Anyway I asked if they were sprayed down with water to cool them off after a ride (They do this at a different stable where I volunteer) and he said no. I also asked if they get a break, he said for the 10 minutes in between rides. And, 20 or so horses were all together, neck to neck in a small corral. I didn't see any in the barn. And there were only 6 or 7 people on the trail ride that I went on, and there is only one trail ride going on at a time. So why couldn't they rest in the barn? Jesse James Riding Stables is larger than the stable I volunteer at, so is that how all big riding stables treat their horses?

Answer 1

these are what dude ranches are like. i work at one. one of our guide horses sweats really really easy, just from jogging across the pasture when they are being chased in but does this mean she is over worked and worn out? no. she just sweats a lot. we have very very old horses with ribs showing and swayed backs. does this mean they are starving? no. older horses can still work too. our older horses don't work as much as the younger ones but we have a 33 year old that still goes out on the odd trail ride when we get larger groups and he's fine, he is a great kids horse! sometimes horses just don't have the time to rest much because dude ranches get busy on the really hot nice days. we have been swamped all weekend with multiple rides goes out and back to back rides with lots of people but our horses get watered between rides and sometimes where there is an hour or two between rides or the horses that don't go out, they are tied in the shade by the grass so they can eat and relax. our older horses get soaked beet pulp daily. they all get hay during the day between rides and are let out on pasture all night. you don't know how the horses are treated when you are not there. walking won't kill a horse, the seasons start slow, the horses get in shape by the time the busier season comes. these horses could have worse lives. a lot of ours were rescued or taken cuz they were just not wanted.. they could of been worse off, most of them would of been dead. these horses work hard and although some places may not be the best, thats not true for them all. there are two other stables in our area and all our workers have been there and seen their horses and facilities. they don't treat their horses right they don't put enough money down for food the horses are over worked and underfed and don't seem very happy. at another place near by they have so many horses, a lot of their mares pregnant and all of them cramped together. some places can be bad, other can be better but hey, its hard to make money out there.

Answer 2

I'm going to play the devil's advocate for a second...because I know how it can be to be the one accused when you haven't actually done anything wrong, just because the accuser didn't know the whole situation.



First, a lot of horses are lazy...so the fact that the horse didn't want to trot doesn't necessarily mean he was "exhausted." He might have been tired, but that's not really a dangerous situation. Second, just being able to see ribs doesn't always mean the animal(s) are neglected. Some horses have trouble keeping weight on or are built in such a way that their ribs show. If every other horse appeared well-fed, I wouldn't be concerned. If they all looked underweight, then you might have a problem. Third, an hour long, leisurely trail ride doesn't always necessitate a rest for the horses. I often work my horse for an hour--most of it at either a jog or a lope, working on various maneuvers or skills (never just "leisurely" riding along...he's working hard to stay correct at all times)--and I don't usually stop to give him a break. If the horse is in shape (and if he's been doing a lot of trail rides, he is) and all it's doing is walking or trotting on a trail, he doesn't need to stop. Fourth, unless the horse is extremely hot, there's no reason they have to be sprayed down/cooled off. We all sweat when we get hot, and we might enjoy a cool shower, but we don't have to have it. Horses often like a cold bath after a hot ride, but unless the horse is really hot (lathered/covered in sweat, blowing, etc.), he probably didn't need it. Fifth, it's more convenient for them to keep the horses out and together (instead of having to go back inside to get another horse), and there's nothing wrong with them being outside...plenty of horses are kept outside 24/7. Often, it's cooler/better ventilated outside than in a barn.



It's possible that the barn doesn't treat their horses well, but from the sounds of it, they're meeting the basic needs of the horses...if it isn't the life of luxury, it isn't bad enough that anyone would officially do anything about it, or even that they should. If the horses are truly being overworked (so that they're exhausted and overheated) or underfed, then something needs to be done, but if they're just in the same old routine day after day with no luxuries, they're not suffering. At worst, some of them will probably become sour from doing the same thing every day without a break, and hopefully the stable does keep an eye out for that and will rotate horses out if necessary.

Answer 3

I don't know anything about that specific stable, but nothing you say stands out as mistreatment. These are trail horses meant for tourists who have never ridden before. They are usually elderly and lazy, what you mistook for exhaustion was probalby just apathy. Walking does not tire a horse out, they didn't need a long break or to be hosed down. Old horses also often have visible ribs even if they are well cared for.



Maybe look up online reviews, if the general consensus is that they take poor care of the horses, then you will know not to go back.

Answer 4

Spraying a hot horse down with water is a good way to lock one up and can cause kidney failure, I would never advise spraying a hot horse down. Most stable horses are used on one trail after another all day long, but most of them only have to work on weekends as that is when people go on rides, they have from Sunday evening to Friday to rest, not like a working cow horse who will be saddled at daylight and used until after dark 6 to 7 days a week.

Answer 5

This is a civil subject and the police manage crime. They do not mainly get concerned in civil disputes. The animal rights corporations manage disorders of abuse and forget, and won't get concerned on this both. These folks have crook legislation to implement, and severe abuse and forget circumstances to determine. Issues like how your horse is being fed or who's driving him will have to be labored out amongst yourselves. You do not need so much of a authorized foundation for a small claims case both, given that there may be without doubt no agreement and no assembly of the minds as to what's or isn't meant to be happening. By boarding there with out a agreement, you're in essence accepting the power as is, with the choice of taking it or leaving it. Your failure to take away the pony from the estate as quickly as you found out that matters weren't as you anticipated works towards you in case you attempt to sue for damages. And what are the truly, verifiable damages that may be demonstrated in court docket? Courts call for proof of damages. Any horse boarded anyplace can expand quirks and behaviors that can be concerning whatever one of the vital staff did, or whatever yet another boarder did, and even whatever concerning yet another horse or to the general public at tremendous. If a neighbor's truck backfires and your horse flips out and is injured, you can not sue the barn proprietor or the neighber for it. Without a evidently spelled out agreement enumerating what's or isn't to be supplied, you haven't any authorized foundation for a swimsuit. From what I collect, the primary time she allowed your horse to be ridden, it used to be along with her permission. You expressed your ache, however it is not transparent whether or not you made it transparent that it used to be in no way to occur once more. Now she has trained you that anyone rode your horse on trails, however did she additionally say that she had given permission for that to occur? heresay from a 3rd get together isn't nontoxic. Is it viable that whoever rode the pony simply assumed it used to be k? There is simply too so much grey field in all of this, and your first-rate decision is to discover a brand new position to board your horse and go away this all at the back of you. As I see it, your handiest nice choice is to discover yet another facility and transfer the pony as quickly as viable. You will have to have evidently demanded that she stop to enable someone to feed or trip your horse, and that may nonetheless be performed at present.

Answer 6

don't judge all stables by one.



if you want people to find out what you saw there...go to "Yelp" and write a review of your experience. this way, other people can see what's going on and decide not to go there.



the sad fact is...as long as the horses are fed and have water on a daily basis, they are (by law) "taken care of"



people don't need to show them any love or consideration, they just need to feed them and give them water.



as long as that place does that, there's nothing anyone can do to stop them.

but you can voice your opinion online...because there are people who check reviews.



write one.

Answer 7

No it is very unprofessional of them you can report it to the mspca or wherever you live for the state usually a horse doesn't get hosed off when there veins are still buldging out or heavy breathing because they can go in shock or colick.