Need to vent - Barn owner told me I can not give my horse treats

[luvtwh]

I have only been in horses for 6 or 7 years, but when did BOs get the right to tell boarders that they could not give treats to their horses? I just nodded and smiled as he gave his reasoning and even told him only three times, I had given him one by hand and put one into his oats. My horse had a great day today and has surpassed my expectations as far as training and I will give him treats if I want to. Sorry for the rant, but hey there have to be some limits to what someone can dictate about other people animals.

[Meg63]

Wow, if you have time I want to hear this one.

Am I killing my Horses by giving treats, does it cause cancer, hiccups, what 

You better re-read your contract with this NUT, what other kind of Goofy Stuff is he Pushing?

I cannot blame you, I think I would have laughed myself into some kind of hyper-ventilation attack after hearing some BO telling me I cannot Treat My Own Horses 

[Reindance]

I totally agree with you, if it is your horse and you are not interfering with others and their horses...give as many treats to your horse as you see fit.  I have owned horses for ever and always kept them at my own barn.  However in travelling I have kept my horses at other barns, campgrounds, stables, pastures, etc etc...and if I want to give my horse a treat for what ever reason, you can bet that I will certainly give a treat.  NO one, barn owner, trainer, trail boss, campground wrangler or what ever other name you want to put on them will tell me that I cannot give my horse a treat...paleeeze...my horse my treats,..my opinion of course.

[luvtwh]

I agree, I am heading out today and I will just put the treat into his feeder when I give him his grain. Because today will be the first itme in 6 weeks I will have ridden this horse at the barn and I am so excited. I will give him probabaly two treats and let him try to stop me. 

[bobrobin]

As the owner of a boarding facility myself, I do have to say he has the right to set the rules of the barn.  I agree that the no treat rule is ridiculous, but it is his right.  Just like all businesses have rules, such as no shirt, no shoes, no service type stuff.  No one can make you wear shoes, but they can refuse service.  I figure you have 3 choices, 1, try to talk to him and find out his reasons and work it out, 2, keep doing it until he kicks you out, or 3, find a new place.  (or hide it from him) 

[GetGaited]

Yikes...just when I thought I've heard it all about some Barn Owner's! I agree...unless there is a darn good reason for you not to have the right to give your OWN horse treats I'd be looking for another facility!!! Does the BO tell you if you can use the barn bathroom or perhaps are you allowed to ride your own horse?

I think that giving your horse treats is a personal preference and if I was paying the board fee I wouldn't let anyone dictate what I can or cannot do as far as this topic is concerned.

I don't think some BO's realize that there is a certain level of customer service involved in running a horse boarding facility... just like any other business. Not only that but owning a horse is more of a luxury than a necessity and if they want to make it miserable for you, what's the point?

I feel your pain to vent! Good luck in working out your problem.

[JollyBadger]

Did he specify a reason WHY he doesn't want you giving treats to your own horse?

Not to say that this is true in YOUR case, but I have known some well-meaning horse owners who hand-treated their horses regularly to the point where the horse became very "mouthy" and bit at any hand that came close to its mouth.  The owner was completely oblivious to the situation they'd created. . .they just thought they were being nice to their horse.

As I said, I don't know the details of your situation.  I'd be interested to hear what your BO gave as a reason.  Did he specifically say not to feed ANY treats, or just not hand-feeding?

[luvtwh]

The BO says that since he can not tell one he can treat and another that he cannot that he says across the board no treating. In fact, I was walking my horse  to cool it after letting three of the barn rats ride him and I told my daughter to get him out a treat and when I realized the barn owner was in there I just gasped.

When he heard me he asked was that treat?,  I answered no I said teeth. So we all just laughed. I realized before I moved my horse to this barn that the BO is just alittle eccentric and I can deal with that.  He is much more giving than demanding. But there are a few things he is not flexible about. So now after a couple of weeks, I am just discreat and treat my horses whenever I want. Thanks for letting me vent.

[kychic]

I know this no treat rule seems unfair, but their is good reason for it. I once saw a woman get her breast bit off because her horse expected that she would have his treat in her shirt pocket. Horses and dogs for that matter will do such behaviors as the result of giving treats. My Blue Heelers are obedience trained by a dog trainer who trains police dogs. He says that giving treats to dogs is bad because they perform a task only for the sake of the treat, and some will become aggressive if not given the treat as expected. Any good horse trainer will tell you not to give treats as it teaches the horse to perform a task for the sake of the treat and not for the sake of correctly performing a task. Further, the horses, just like dogs, will soon expect for you to give the treats, and some will become a little more persistant in their pusuit of the sacred treat, and that is when accidents happen, such as breasts or faces becoming disfigured. Also, it's possible to accidently feed fingers to a horse.

Don't be cross with the barn owner. It could be something in the barn owner's insurance policy strictly prohibiting treats, or, the barn owner may have seen similar trageties as the one I spoke of. Either way, treats are strictly prohibited in my barn for those reasons. Trust me, you'll never want to have to see such trauma as I mentioned above.   

[luvtwh]

kychic
After alot of thought, I agree about the treat issue. I ran out and have not bothered to get anymore. I just like to have them to give occasionally when I had finished working him and had given him his food afterwards. i would add it to his feedbucket. But I am now going to try to just give praise and attention. He is a smart enough horse to know I am pleased. Thanks for the input.

[luvtwh]

Had to add, that I moved my horse after the barn owner bragged about abusing him. He is such a dumb dumb, that he did not even realize that he was admiting it. I moved him the next day, but even once home, I only give him his treats in a feed bowl after a good workout.