Anyone else feel like a numpty?

noblesteed

noblesteed

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...Or is it just me?
My horse is lovely, I've had him for 2 years and we've worked through loads of behavioural problems together. He has stopped napping, bucking, spooking, he goes forward willingly, he is more polite. After I got him I went through a complete loss of confidence due to his behaviour but now I am almost as confident as I ever was. Things are going pretty well.
However I still feel like a numpty! Particularly when talking to 'horsey' people. He is the first horse that I have owned, because I had to wait until I was earning enough money and in a stable enough job to responsibly support a horse. Prior to him I had a schoolmistress mare on loan for 4 years. Prior to that I just went to riding schools. So I don't have the benefit of a horsey childhood or horsey parents or many horsey friends. I do read everything I possibly can, including this forum, and ask for help from more experienced friends if I need it. But there's no substitute for real experience.

I worry myself sick that my poor horse will fall foul of some terrible affliction and I will be too inexperienced to notice!!!! SOmetimes I think I should sell him for his own sake!

Does anyone else feel like this sometimes?

Chocolate cake for anyone who has the patience to read my self-indulgent grumblings :(
 
I feel like this sometimes, but honestly you can't just be born with experience it doesn't just come once you get your own horse! It still has to be learnt.
My parents are very "old school horsey" eg they used to go to the field and jump on theirs there and then, no tack etc and just put them back out after! I don't have many horsey friends away from uni. I have Kelly on part loan but see her every day and it just comes over time I guess!
The most important thing is that we're willing to ask for help if we feel something's not right :)
 
Eeh lass :rolleyes:

You were responsible enough to wait 'till you could confidently afford to keep a horse. You loaned a horse. You had riding lessons.

I think that you are just like the rest of the majority of us :D

We don't all notice things. There are no doubt a very small handful of people who don't miss a thing, but on the whole, our horses seem to still cope and survive reasonably okay :D

Have a hug and a hot choccy and keep reading and learning - one of the things I love about horses, one will never, ever stop learning :D :D :D
 
I've had mine since Feb and like you loaned prior to that. I wanted to wait until I knew getting a horse was what I definately wanted and was in a stable enough position to afford one.

I don't feel like a numpty as we all have to learn and even those with the experience don't always know the correct answer! I feel that I over-compensate in the fact that if he has a cut I'll plaster him in sudocream whereas others may not bother - if that makes sense!

The only time I did feel like a numpty was when I was trying to open my first ever bale of haylage ;)
 
I have owned horses for nearly 20 years, and I still feel like a numpty sometimes, but more often than not, it is because there is a new 'buzz word' that I am not up to speed on!!!!
 
You don't sound like a numpty to me! Prior to owning our own horse you had a mare on loan for several years. With your own horse you've worked through a number of issues and have gained confidence and experience in the process. I'm sure many new owners would've given up in a similar situation.

Many of us feel like this from time to time. I think that being a horse owner is a journey of ups and downs! You never stop learning and even the experts don't know it all. We can't be expected to know it all - after all, that is why we have the specialist professionals like vets, farriers, trainers, instructors etc. I'm sure that you DO have the sensitivity to recognize if your horse was unwell or out of sorts. Don't be so hard on yourself, you're doing great!
 
Not a numpty at all! I've owned horses for years (years ......:o) and I worry constantly about if they're ok and what to do if they're not. In my opinion to be humble and not being ashamed to ask for advice when you're not sure if far more pleasant a trait than being a total know-it-all. Hope you're enjoying your horse! :)
 
Thank you everyone. Sometimes I get in such a muddle with everything, and feel overwhelmed by what I don't know!!! Especially being new to horse ownership as an adult, and not having done Pony Club and stuff like that. I'll just keep trying I think! It's about the best I can do.
I feel better now I have taken my frustrations out this afternoon by making 2 wing stands out of wood!!!
 
I think you sound the complete opposite of a numpty! For starters, you are concerned enough about your horses welfare to a) be worried about it and b) ask questions - very un-numptylike behaviour if you ask me!

I'm sure, just like me, there are always new things for you to learn - but I think as long as you are open to learning them and question things, you can't go far wrong :)
 
noblesteed said:
Especially being new to horse ownership as an adult, and not having done Pony Club and stuff like that. I'll just keep trying I think! It's about the best I can do.
I feel better now I have taken my frustrations out this afternoon by making 2 wing stands out of wood!!!
Click to expand...

I never did PC or anything like that either ;)
had lessons till I was 12 (from 8) so learnt nothing of management etc.
Started part loaning when I was 12 having never mucked out, fed, hacked etc etc - still part loaning nearly 9 years later, still learning things every day and still loving every minute - and that's the most important part!!!
K x
 
I do regulary! I have my AI plus a few other little qualifications, had horses and ponies for around 30 years but as soon as I start opening my mouth I feel a right plank and forget everything...hubby says its a confidence thing because I happily explain things in detail to him, my family, friends and my kids but then freeze up when outsides are concerned!

I will never know it all but I fail to demonstrate I am capable outside my circle of friends lol
 
You certainly don't sound like a numpty, You sound like a very sensible, responsible horse owner. None of us will ever know everything there is to know about horses, we are all learning all the time (and I speak with the benefit of almost 40 years of horse owning, lol!) If you want to meet experienced horse owners I can recommend joining your local RC or volunteer with your local RDA group.
 
noblesteed said:
...Or is it just me?
My horse is lovely, I've had him for 2 years and we've worked through loads of behavioural problems together. He has stopped napping, bucking, spooking, he goes forward willingly, he is more polite. After I got him I went through a complete loss of confidence due to his behaviour but now I am almost as confident as I ever was. Things are going pretty well.
However I still feel like a numpty! Particularly when talking to 'horsey' people. He is the first horse that I have owned, because I had to wait until I was earning enough money and in a stable enough job to responsibly support a horse. Prior to him I had a schoolmistress mare on loan for 4 years. Prior to that I just went to riding schools. So I don't have the benefit of a horsey childhood or horsey parents or many horsey friends. I do read everything I possibly can, including this forum, and ask for help from more experienced friends if I need it. But there's no substitute for real experience.

I worry myself sick that my poor horse will fall foul of some terrible affliction and I will be too inexperienced to notice!!!! SOmetimes I think I should sell him for his own sake!

Does anyone else feel like this sometimes?

Chocolate cake for anyone who has the patience to read my self-indulgent grumblings :(
Click to expand...

I have had horses for over 30 years and I am still learning! :)
 
I'm 21 and have been riding and looking after horses since I was 11, but I constantly feel like I don't know anything! I can't take part in a proper horsey conversation with anyone because I think as soon as I open my mouth I'll be laughed at, and I can only explain horsey things to non horsey people. Under no circumstances do I feel able to engage in a horsey conversation about anything, it's really horrible/strange.

I'm sure we will get better at it!
 
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