Common assumptions about horsey people...

[Vermeer]

What have people immediately assumed about you when they learn that you are horsey?

I think we have all probably come across the usual 'horse people = rich/posh/snobby' (their words not mine!) a few times - but I'm hoping that not all assumptions are necessarily negative!

So, what views/opinions/assumptions have people shared with you, based on your love for horses?

 

[meleeka]

That we don’t mind the weather. I dress like an eskimo at the yard in winter, so it doesn’t follow that because I spend a lot of time outdoors I’m hardy. I’m definitely not!

 

[Caol Ila]

That we're mad as hatters.

Which is fair.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

That we're mad as hatters.

Which is fair.

This.

 

[wills_91]

We are odd - I'd say fairly accurate

 

[Blanche]

That we are as thick as shite and only do horses as we are too stupid to do anything else!

 

[tristar]

we carry about a funny pongy smell

horse people are very tough

all horsey people ever think about is horses

you must be rich

never have a horsey girlfriend

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

When I lived in the UK, you must be rich/posh and all the usual stereotypes. Here in Ireland none of that, well not in the down to earth horsey circle I inhabit anyway.

 

[ArklePig]

When I lived in the UK, you must be rich/posh and all the usual stereotypes. Here in Ireland none of that, well not in the down to earth horsey circle I inhabit anyway.

Totally agree with this. Down south I knew so many horsey people of various backgrounds.

I live in Belfast now and once I mentioned that I was going riding and a girl at work asked if I was Protestant.

 

[CMcC]

Drs assume you won’t follow their instructions.
was told by Dr when I broke my wrist not to muck out, not to ride for several weeks. Then he said, people like you never do what they are told. Then when he discharged me he told me I should have physio but thought I probably would just get on with things and wouldn’t need physio.

 

[millikins]

When I'm driving that I'm one of the "travelling community". On one memorable occasion a woman slowed down so she could shriek "f**king p*key" at me through the window

 

[SEL]

Drs assume you won’t follow their instructions.
was told by Dr when I broke my wrist not to muck out, not to ride for several weeks. Then he said, people like you never do what they are told. Then when he discharged me he told me I should have physio but thought I probably would just get on with things and wouldn’t need physio.

You only go into A&E when properly damaged.

I got kicked in the back. Knew it had cracked ribs but thought I'd better make sure nothing else was going on. They x-rayed quickly and then I sat around for ages. Overhead a nurse saying to Dr - she's a horse rider. If she's actually bothered to come in then she'll be in a lot more pain than she's telling us. They always are!

 

[little_critter]

When I'm driving that I'm one of the "travelling community". On one memorable occasion a woman slowed down so she could shriek "f**king p*key" at me through the window

Hmmm, does that apply to all people who drive horses?
Prince Phillip anyone?

 

[ycbm]

"You must get up early", knowing I was retired and didn't need to get to work. They still thought horses have to be fed by crack of dawn.

 

[scats]

Drs assume you won’t follow their instructions.
was told by Dr when I broke my wrist not to muck out, not to ride for several weeks. Then he said, people like you never do what they are told. Then when he discharged me he told me I should have physio but thought I probably would just get on with things and wouldn’t need physio.

My paramedic, while trying to persuade me to have some paracetamol for my wrong-angled limb (when I uttered the infamous “I’m alright you know, it’s not that bad”) said that they have to be extra aware of rider injuries because the majority of us don’t seem to react to pain like normal people. Apparently it’s very easy to miss major or life threatening injuries with horse riders because they will mostly present as calm and unconcerned by their pain.

Odd bunch we are

 

[littleshetland]

Lying on an arena floor, my foot dangling at an alarming right angle, quietly smoking a fag waiting for the air ambulance to arrive and only having complete hysterics and getting very 'sweary' when the paramedics threatened to cut my riding boot off.....'horse riders eh!' said one paramedic to the other.

 

[ycbm]

My paramedic, while trying to persuade me to have some paracetamol for my wrong-angled limb (when I uttered the infamous “I’m alright you know, it’s not that bad”) said that they have to be extra aware of rider injuries because the majority of us don’t seem to react to pain like normal people. Apparently it’s very easy to miss major or life threatening injuries with horse riders because they will mostly present as calm and unconcerned by their pain.

Odd bunch we are

Nurse looking at my wrist, both bones broken and hand hanging loose, said "I can't believe you aren't screaming". Having just watched Bridge of Spies, I replied "would it help? ".
.

 

[Vermeer]

When I lived in the UK, you must be rich/posh and all the usual stereotypes. Here in Ireland none of that, well not in the down to earth horsey circle I inhabit anyway.

It's this one I definitely have had the most. It's a spectrum, as are a lot of things. Since I am neither rich or posh I always find it slightly irritating!

 

[smolmaus]

Totally agree with this. Down south I knew so many horsey people of various backgrounds.

I live in Belfast now and once I mentioned that I was going riding and a girl at work asked if I was Protestant.

The Derry girls blackboard flashes into my mind unbidden

"Protestants ride horses"

Spoiler

Catholics all have cobs

 

[smolmaus]

The most problematic assumption I get when people learn I ride horses is that I am any good at it.

 

[Barton Bounty]

The Derry girls blackboard flashes into my mind unbidden

"Protestants ride horses"

Spoiler

Catholics all have cobs

I looooove derry girls!!!!


They assume we are all loaded ….

 

[hairycob]

I just booked day off for Burghley. My boss asked me if I'm competing.
I'm 64, overweight, have a 24yo hairy cob with one eye and atrhritis. But because I used to occasionally get a frilly in a local 50/60cm class and occasionally ride someone else's horse I must be really good.

 

[smolmaus]

I just booked day off for Burghley. My boss asked me if I'm competing.
I'm 64, overweight, have a 24yo hairy cob with one eye and atrhritis. But because I used to occasionally get a frilly in a local 50/60cm class and occasionally ride someone else's horse I must be really good.

This is SO SWEET

 

[abbijay]

I get the "posh/rich" thing quite a bit but I also get the "must be fearless" too - because if you happily boss 800kg of animal around what exactly is left to scare you? (in my case spiders, moths and butterflies )
The other one, when people ask me if I do "horse dancing" and I say "yes" they automatically assume I can do EVERY move in the GP test! Even my good old Dad came with me to Associated Champs at Prelim and, sat watching the other tests afterwards, said "so, what is this? I know it's not dressage because that's where you go sideways."

 

[Glitter's fun]

I've had quite a few people presume I am 100% sentimental about all animals.
This usually shows itself by people expecting my help with things they are squeamish about, injured birds and so on, which I don't mind.
Here's the weird one, though. Bloke told me a very unpleasant, obviously made up sadistic story about a horribly injured cat. He presumed it would distress me & was obviously excited about that.

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

I've had quite a few people presume I am 100% sentimental about all animals.
This usually shows itself by people expecting my help with things they are squeamish about, injured birds and so on, which I don't mind.
Here's the weird one, though. Bloke told me a very unpleasant, obviously made up sadistic story about a horribly injured cat. He presumed it would distress me & was obviously excited about that.

Some people are like that, unfortunately. Here in France lots of people will try to get a rise out of horse riders by going on about how much they like horse meat when more often than not, they've never even tasted the stuff.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Drs assume you won’t follow their instructions.
was told by Dr when I broke my wrist not to muck out, not to ride for several weeks. Then he said, people like you never do what they are told. Then when he discharged me he told me I should have physio but thought I probably would just get on with things and wouldn’t need physio.

Yeah doctors think you are totally mad, when Arabi fell on me and smashed my ankle to bits I remember the consultant looking at my x rays and he was shaking his head, he then looked at me and said I've got to manipulate that to align it for surgery tomorrow but I don't have a bed upstairs to properly sedate you, I say what is the alternative! He says I can try and do it down here with gas and air but I don't think it will be enough, so I tell him to go for it.

He couldn't believe the only thing I was concerned about was that they didn't cut my boots and breeches off, hence to say they did have to cut my breeches off and although I was completely out of it I was moaning about it

 

[smolmaus]

Here's the weird one, though. Bloke told me a very unpleasant, obviously made up sadistic story about a horribly injured cat. He presumed it would distress me & was obviously excited about that.

I make a lot of assumptions about people like this and none of them are positive.

 

[PSD]

The “rich” thing always gets me.

I’m most definitely not rich and that’s because I have a horse…another that gets me and it’s not really an assumption but more of a common question: “you have to go to the stables every day? Even Christmas Day?” Yes. My horse cannot tend to itself just because it’s a national holiday unfortunately.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I make a lot of assumptions about people like this and none of them are positive.

The red flags just had me spitting out my coffee