Stable management basically encompasses everything which is not covered by the actual act of riding. It includes all aspects of owning a horse or looking after one and this can include grooming, mucking out, saddlery and care of the horse – although this list is by no means exhaustive.
Stable management has to be done properly – your horse needs you to look after him and his welfare properly and there are no half measures – remember, he cannot fend for himself. All his needs: food, water, health and shelter are your responsibility. If you have your horse fully liveried you will have people to do your stable management for you but you should still know what they do and why they do it. Furthermore, it is the duty of a horse owner, whether they have their horse liveried or not, to know exactly what their horse’s needs are at any one time.
Children especially, can get plenty out of stable managing. When they are looking after someone else, namely their horse, they are putting that someone else first. They will also start to appreciate how big a job it is to look after a horse and, moreover, it will improve relations between the child and their pony.