absolutely shocking.

[PandorasJar]

Agreed. Not just here though, for some reason derogatory language and sweeping statements about the travelling community seems to be considered perfectly acceptable by many people.

Hmmm, round here I will happily tar the local travellers.

The traditional gypsies are fantastic, leave the land better than found (including our own) and know people who will only buy horses off of them, beautiful things and never a problem. Their horses are treated very well.

Travellers.
I ended up with my car in a verge after a traveller threw a water trug under the car as I was passing - no idea what the hell they were trying to do.
We've had one try to take the horse lorry (loaded) off the road by their field. They tried swerving to try and get us off the road and then cutting in front and slamming brakes on with car side on. Luckily OH opened his door at same time they did and they hopped back in.
Had all our livestock let out onto a very nasty road (padlock cut off).
One of them locally has been banned from keeping horses and has the same lot in his sons name now. You watch him dragging very little foals round a horrible country road.
Another lot is on about 100acres of grazing, stopped paying rent and when asked to leave (more than a handful of years ago) simply doubled the number of horses.

I won't tar them over the country, but the ones on my doorstep? I wouldn't wish anyone to deal with them.

 

[Enfys]

It would be nice if people could extend that open mindedness to the "gypsies" too.

Absolutely.

This arrogant, automatic assumption that all 'Gypsies' are thieving animal abusers really hacks me off no end. There are good and bad in all walks of life, whether you live in a mansion, a council house, high rise apartment, a caravan/trailer or anything in between, including a cardboard box.

I have been privileged, yes, privileged, to know and be involved with many 'Travellers' and I tell you what, they are the most hard working, loyal, family orientated, polite groups of people I have ever met, and I would happily choose to be associated with them rather than some other 'up themselves characters' I have known. I've also met 'titled' folk who are lying, back-stabbing, money grabbing oiks that I wouldn't throw water over if they were on fire, and lots of people from all walks of life in between, the good and the bad.

 

[fburton]

Well said, Enfys.

 

[BillyBob-Sleigh]

Actually, and someone else will have to provide the link to the information, the growth plates of all breeds/types of horses mature and close at exactly the same pace.

Found the link. You'll need to scroll down to get to the nitty gritty

http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf

Thanks for the link, it's an interesting read. In which case I even more strongly disagree with racing 2yo, but that's a whole other thread!

 

[geegee84]

Shocking but as has already been pointed out races l horses are in the same situation actually possibly worse as these ones probably won't be raced into the ground, I to am glad you found the link for the growth, people seem to think they can excuse cruelty to horses in some situations, it's depressing.

 

[maisiemoo]

Maybe there are nice travellers that look after their ponies well, sadly not round where we live, last year 2 young foals were killed on the towns roads , said chap has been prosecuted for the appalling state of his animals but they now belong to his son so they have them back , out on a hack last week we were followed by a foal which was very scarey as our horses were freaking , it followed us onto a road causing traffic to stop and the foal very nearly mowed down a poor old chap walking his dog , we managed to return the foal to it's mum eventually . traditional travellers are not to be linked to the low life we have round here , even the police are intimidated by them and won't get involved in any incident caused by them , shame as it gives all travellers a bad name , my great great grandma was a traveller and a very proud and lovely lady !

 

[Mongoose11]

I just wrote a very strongly worded text to 'Brad' who may or may not be the horrid lump sat on that poor baby in the second advert. It contained a fair few bleep words.... then I panicked and worried that he would have some way of tracing me and then he would burn down my house or steal my mare (I have a vivid imagination) so I deleted it

Grrrrrrr. I hate morons.

*disclaimer - this is not a 'Gypsy' related post. Gypsy or not I don't want to see a lad riding a weak filly*

 

[DosyMare]

.....

So, anyone on here, and I bet there are a few, who chooses (personal choice) to ride without a saddle, or a hat (and the hat subject has been done to death, let's not go there again please) are automatically gypsies eh?

Sorry if my comment was blunt and stereotyping. It was not meant as racist.

Of course you are correct that people do ride bareback and do not use hats. I do however think that the photo in question does have a stereo look of a gypsie opposed to a ridding/pony club member . As would the rag and bone man that drives up and down my road in his transit pickup. Or any policeman or nurse in a children's book.