Horse Myth Busters!

by Elaine Polny
(Palgrave, Ontario, Canada)

It cracks me up the number of horse myths, fibs and fables I hear about from horse training to horse care and strange philosophies that surround the horse communities.

Unfortunately some can be harmful especially when the information is pasted on to new or young horse people. Like the recent one I heard straight from a young lady who works at a very (so called) high caliber facility where the average horse cost $400,000.00! Yip, that's no typo! She was told that "All chestnut horses are more sensitive than other horses". Say what? That's like saying "All stallions bite!". We must be careful not to put anything into one category even when there are tiny truths that surround the thought.

Here's a few more horse myths that need busting!

1. To stop a horse from rearing up, crack an egg on their head.
Yikes, please don't do this one.

2. White hooves are weaker than dark hooves.
Simply not true, it's just color pigmentation nothing more.

3. I am "safer" when I ride with a bit in my horse's mouth.
I opposite is true, if you think you need a bit for control then you have a false sense of security. All bits cause pain thus you would be relying on pain, for control. And if you need painful gadgets to control the horse then the horse needs better training to begin with.

4. "My horse likes his stall."
No he doesn't, he just likes the food you put in there. Once it's gone, he want's out!

5. (This one was told to a new horse owner by the barn caretakers) "All the horses get scurvy in the winter." and "We don't give them salt blocks because it makes them drink too much water."
This horse came to us full of lice! and underweight. All horses need access to salt throughout the year.

6. "Horses should be "broke" to ride at the age of two."
Studies on muscular and bone development prove that most horse breeds do not physically mature until the age of 6 to 8 yrs. Long rides on a horse under 4 years old can cause developmental damage.

Now it's your turn....

Please share with us some of the things you have been told that you discovered were just horse myths or crazy ideas!

Thanks a bunch,
Elaine