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You probably know the feeling: It's 5 pm, you're tired after a long day at work, and you arrive at the stable. And there you see what most riders dread: A stable aisle crammed with horses, equipment strewn about, and aisles dirty with dirt and dung. "Oh no," you think, knowing that today's visit to your horse will be an uphill battle and create unnecessary conflicts.
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Without a set of guidelines that everyone knows by heart, it can be difficult to address such situations – especially in a larger stable. It should be a kind of "gentleman/woman agreement" that makes life in the stable more pleasant and less stressful.
The stable is for many of us riders like our second home – and it should be a good and pleasant place to be. We spend most of our precious leisure time with our horse, so it can be quite annoying if we don't get along with the other horse people in the stable. Therefore, Malgré Tout has compiled a little stable bible with 10 commandments that can help you get along with each other in the stable. You can print them out and hang them up, or maybe just get inspired to create your own 10 commandments.
Rule No. 1: If you borrow something, return it in the same condition as it was before you borrowed it.
Rule No. 2: Leave the stable aisle as you would like to receive it.
Rule No. 3: If in doubt, it's better to ask one extra time.
Rule No. 4: What you take, put back in the same place again.
Rule No. 5: If a rider falls off, try to help, encourage, and support rather than blame.
Rule No. 6: Always show good style and be positive towards your stablemates.
Rule No. 7: If you help a friend in need, he/she will return the same help another time.
Rule No. 8: Always remember that safety comes before everything else.
Rule No. 9: Respect that everyone has different opinions on how to keep a horse.
Rule No. 10: If you keep away from gossiping, you are truly a good stablemate.
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The article was originally published in May 2020.
