Are you a horsey snob?

Horse-sitting elsewhere so paid overdue visit to best horsey friend - ooohed and aahed over pretty youngstock, inspected gleaming hunters and "there" she says, pointing "and that's arrived" - Cob the Bounty Pony - bright orange with a flaxen bouffant forelock to behold - and "she's leaving it like that !!

And I admit I have smoked out hacking (& the winds a right b*****d!)
 
Littlelegs said:
I don't hold the reins at all when I light up on a windy day, & have before now unzipped my coat & held it up with one hand whilst I put my head & cig under it to light up. But the day I rely on the reins to stay in basic control of my mare on a hack is the day I give up. And even on youngsters, fit comp horses etc regardless of whether I'm smoking or not, I don't spend a 2hr hack with my hands on both reins.
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THIS is what I was talking about to everyone questioning why I was saying about
 
horserider said:
Why assume people smoke on busy roads ? I certainly don't. Most of my riding is not on roads. Smoking on horse back is relaxing and riding on A roads is not a chill out moment when constantly dodging motorists with a death wish.

Holding grimly to the reins isn't something I do generally and when I drop the reins, its a signal to my horses to stand down and rest.

That reminds me of some thing Tom Dorrance said when asked how to stop a horse spooking at something. He said that he dropped the reins and lit a cigarette.
It could be seen as a flippant answer, but its actually true, if you're a confident rider.
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I am a non smoker (never smoked or tried). Forgive me for being naive, can you explain to me how you light up whilst on horseback?
 
I honesty have no problem with people dropping the reins.
Even if you are a rider who forgets about your seat etc and only relies on your reins to control the horse if the horse spooks your would react in pretty much the exact same time you would without the reins. It simply adds 0.something of a second on to you picking up the reins.

It's just I don't think you should smoke on a yard/horse/around horses that's all.

Tabula Rasa x
 
Smoking on horseback is no different to smoking anywhere else!
We always did it on the racehorses just hook reins under leg then light up! Like little legs said if windy head in jacket! Only one time horse started jogging but still had fag lit first!
Doesnt take 10mins to light just a split second!
 
Ill go against it...I HATE people who brush their horses legs to ride when they are wet. If the legs are wet, either hose off or leave to dry. I can't stand people who brush wet damp mud INTO the feathers/legs. Just asking for trouble there!
 
More inverted snobbery really, but 5'3" novice riders who "need" a 17hh warmblood. They then proceed to bore it to death doing circles on a rubber surface because they are not in enough control to do anything else. But they couldn't possibly have a cob or native type because they are going to do dressage don't you know!
 
Moomin1 said:
No - but please explain how you manage to light up whilst holding both reins securely in both of your hands whilst lighting up?
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Answer - you don't. Same way you don't when you tighten your girth, pat your horse, gesture to a friend, open a hip flask or thank a passing motorist. I mean really, does ANYONE hold both of their reins securely in both of their hands for the duration of an entire hack?? If they do I would suggest they have confidence issues!
 
It's simple moomin, as already said I don't light up whilst going down a busy A road. And same as if I was encouraging a horse to stretch down inbetween working it, or if for whatever reason I've decided to drop the contact (eg tripping up, a mishap over a jump etc) it takes less than a second to get the reins back when necessary.
 
Moomin - I ask horse to stand, drop my reins, take out cigarette and light it. If its windy as said before, I unzip my jacket and stick my head inside to light it. When done i pick up reins with one hand and ask him to walk on. If its not windy I may just let him walk on whilst I light it.

There are many instances when I may need my horse to stand still, this is just good practice :)
 
Well, we're getting nearer to discussing snobbery by casting disparaging words on those that smoke while mounted and think it lowering the tone but many posters are still mentioning standards and not true snobbery - remember - snobbery is a double ATITUDE towards people - say tolerating the Lord of the Manor smoking just because he's the Lord but not liking to see someone from the council estate doing the same thing.
 
I think a lot of people at my yard smoke and ride, I quit years before learning to ride so I can't say if i would or not, but given that I am wont to ride in wellies, trackies, wearing hoodies and with a less than immaculately groomed hoss I am going to say I probably would once I felt steady enough! For me, I'd worry about unbalancing myself and burning my poor horse, but if I were experienced and balanced, it wouldn't worry me. My ex racer mare LOVES the smell of cigarette smoke, probably reminds her of the gallops and the race yard.
 
Because when people smoke near her she gets her head as near as possible to them and breathes it in. I was amazed myself when I first saw her doing it, she was following my friend's OH round the field when he was fixing a fence and had a cigarette. Thought it was a fluke but she stayed at a yard for a short while where lots of smokers were and she did the same. In my own little mind, I figured maybe racing people smoke a lot and it reminded her of her youth.
 
skint1 said:
Because when people smoke near her she gets her head as near as possible to them and breathes it in. I was amazed myself when I first saw her doing it, she was following my friend's OH round the field when he was fixing a fence and had a cigarette. Thought it was a fluke but she stayed at a yard for a short while where lots of smokers were and she did the same. In my own little mind, I figured maybe racing people smoke a lot and it reminded her of her youth.
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Ah, is it the smoke? Or is it the people?
 
Just a question to the smokers.... what do you do with the ciggie when you have finished it?.. how do you put it out, and/or do you just drop it on the floor?... I can understand there would be no fire risk if the grounds wet, there would be no way could you drop a still alight nubb over here in Spain, as it would be a huge fire risk..
 
Moomin1 said:
I'm sorry, but it's not in anyway about who is capable of 'controlling' their horse by rein or otherwise. It's about being responsible on the roads for the sake of other road users. Your responsibility is to ensure you are keeping as much control of your horse as you are able to. Lighting up a fag and letting go of the reins whilst you shelter the light with your jacket is hardly that, when your horse (given that they are not robots of course) suddenly out of the blue freaks and you have no reins to deal with it effectively.
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Agreed
 
Copperpot, I SO want to come hacking with you! I'll take command of the hipflask; I'm a smoker but have never smoked (or allowed smoking) in the paddocks, near the stables etc. Because I'm neurotic and I live in Africa where everything catches fire during the dry season.

I can go hours without a smoke if I'm working with the horses. But when I'm in front of my computer it's another story!
 
Moomin1 said:
Right, so either you can light a cigarette with one hand whilst holding your horse in the other
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I can light a cigarette with one hand while holding my horse in the other ..... :D so long as it's not too windy, not a difficult skill to master (in fact, even when it is windy I can unzip my jacket, put reins in one hand and cigarette in mouth, tuck my head under jacket and light cigarette with hand not holding the reins ... Job done!)
 
skint1 said:
My ex racer mare LOVES the smell of cigarette smoke, probably reminds her of the gallops and the race yard.
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I can usually tell if one of mine has been owned by a smoker, they seem to like the smell. Perhaps they associate it with people chatting and relaxing.

freckles22uk said:
Just a question to the smokers.... what do you do with the ciggie when you have finished it?.. how do you put it out, and/or do you just drop it on the floor?... I can understand there would be no fire risk if the grounds wet, there would be no way could you drop a still alight nubb over here in Spain, as it would be a huge fire risk..
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I never drop a cigarette end anywhere. I carry a small portable ashtray in my pocket, its like one of those little tins for pills.

Not aimed at you, Freckles, your question is quite reasonable, but for for who think smokers are public enemy No 1; it is possible to be a smoker and socially responsible.

So apart from not allowing my horse to run into cars when I light a cigarette or starting forest fires, I also close gates, pick up my dogs poo and don't walk across crops. :)

Edited to add, if I lived in a country like S Africa etc, I'd be the same in not smoking near barns etc. Tinderbox climates are different from wet and soggy England.
 
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horserider said:
..... it is possible to be a smoker and socially responsible.
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Oh no it's not! (think panto style not overly ranting!). Production of tobacco relies on giant companies enslaving the end users in drug addiction and advertising it as desirable behavior.

In reduces the area of good agricultural land that could be used from growing food - often in countries with famine problems.

No one should need me to list the risks for the smokers themselves and passive exposure.

but for for who think smokers are public enemy No 1;
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Hahaha - yes - got me there - reformed 40+ a day man - time was when the Army P.T. instructors would hand out their ciggies at breaks in exercises!
 
Ancient Hacker - let's do it! We will hack to the pub smoking, leave our horses in the pub garden whilst we get drunk and hack home again :) all whilst be socially responsible of course ;)
 
Now then 1stclassalan, we all know that the earths resources are more than enough to feed everyone. Its corrupt governments, war mongers and bankers that cause famine.

Hey, did you get the free cigarette ration when you were in the trenches ? :D
 
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