Does it really matter??

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alcraw

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Just been reading another thread and, as someone who is non-horsey despite being a horse owner, it made me laugh. It's not this first time I've seen people judged for not having the "right" gear (often "right" as in fashionable, not safe) or not doing things correctly. As a newcomer to all this I'm a bit bemused by it!! As long as you and your horse are happy and healthy, does it really matter if:

You wear a skull cap with no silk (I would never have known this was a no no until I read it on here!!)
You wear rubber riding boots (again, they're practical and cheap - what's the issue?)
Your horse's mane lies on the "wrong" side
You dress your horse like my little pony (mine has a stunning selection of purple accessories!)
You take a muddy horse out of a muddy field, and don't groom every speck of mud off before riding down muddy tracks and across muddy fields

I'm sure I'll think of some more....
 
Nope doesn't matter to me in the slightest Alcraw. The horse and his or her welfare is all that concerns me.

You missed out wearing lots of hi viz - some people seem to think this is wrong or bad. I consider it a necessity for the safety of my horse and that is more important to me than what anyone on a Forum thinks quite honestly.
 
alcraw said:
Just been reading another thread and, as someone who is non-horsey despite being a horse owner, it made me laugh. It's not this first time I've seen people judged for not having the "right" gear (often "right" as in fashionable, not safe) or not doing things correctly. As a newcomer to all this I'm a bit bemused by it!! As long as you and your horse are happy and healthy, does it really matter if:

You wear a skull cap with no silk (I would never have known this was a no no until I read it on here!!)
You wear rubber riding boots (again, they're practical and cheap - what's the issue?)
Your horse's mane lies on the "wrong" side
You dress your horse like my little pony (mine has a stunning selection of purple accessories!)
You take a muddy horse out of a muddy field, and don't groom every speck of mud off before riding down muddy tracks and across muddy fields

I'm sure I'll think of some more....
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Skull cap no silk? No darling, only wear a beagler or patey (kidding)! I think it looks a bit "riding school" but if it's safe, that's all that really matters.

Rubber boots? Not my choice, too uncomfy. But safe is all that really matters.

Mane wrong side? FGS, couldn't care less....even a horse that I show -if the mane's on the wrong side, I'm not going to fight with it.

My little pony? You do have to consider your horse's street cred.

Muddy horse/not brushing it all off. This is where I personally think is an issue. I'm so anal about a clean horse, for health and well being, and my own sense of OCD being satisfied. I'm appalled to see horses hacking out looking filthy. But again, at the end of the day...being safe is all that REALLY matters.
 
Does it really matter??

Not to me.

I couldn't care less what other people do or wear unless it becomes a welfare or safety issue, then I'll stick my oar in, but only then.
Their horse, their business:)
 
It is because of some of the things you have mentioned that I "read" more than "post" on the forum and I now keep my ponies at home. People care about all the wrong things leaving important stuff (worming ,jabs , health and happiness of the horse) to chance. I guess I just gave up trying to keep up............Should have said some people!
 
i got very wound up reading that other thread; i hate the thought of people judging me because of what bit i have in my horses mouth or what colour tack i choose to use.

Other people have no idea why i use what i use, as as long as i'm riding safely and my horse is happy, what business is it of theirs? I might see something at a show or our hacking and think "gosh that looks hideous". But i keep my opinion to myself, i dont get back to the yard or go on the forum and go "OMG i just saw so and so out hacking and they were wearing such and such and blahblahblah"

to me there are more important things in life! i agree that towards the end of the thread it did get all a bit tongue in cheek, but alot of it was plain judgmental rubbish. some threads are made just to incite angry responses.
 
I'm pretty sure that thread was started to be light hearted. Don't take it to heart.

None of it was meant to be a horrible thing. We were laughing at ourselves for jumping to conclusions more than we were laughing at anyone else!

Lighten up squids!
 
According to the other thread, what you and your horse look like tells them everything they need to know about your riding ability:confused:

Anyway must dash.
I have to nip outside and drag my pristine white Pikeur breeches up and down the patio a bit, tramp around in the garden in my nice clean boots, swap my hat silk for one that doesn't match anything, list all my hi viz on Ebay and sling some mud on my mare before I ride her.:)
See, now they'll think I can ride:D
 
jesstickle said:
I'm pretty sure that thread was started to be light hearted. Don't take it to heart.

None of it was meant to be a horrible thing. We were laughing at ourselves for jumping to conclusions more than we were laughing at anyone else!

Lighten up squids!
Click to expand...

I do believe this was the way it was mean't.

however as you say there are people that DO judge on what you wear etc TOUGH LUCK like the ones on the mentioned thread they are probably not as right as often as they like to think

I do know people that fit the stereotypes and others that don't
 
The other thread was very tongue in cheek, at least my post was. It was meant to be a laugh about unreasonable prejudices, we all know we nave them.
However, if you have a horse that lives out all winter I think it would be wrong to groom thoroughly before riding because the dirt and oils in the coat help to repel water, they keep the horses coat waterproof, which in turn keeps it warm.
Also brushing wet mud can cause mud fever. So if I were you I'd knock the mud of its head and saddle and girth area (so it doesn't cause a rub) and leave the rest.;)
 
You wear rubber riding boots *CHECK*
Your horse's mane lies on the "wrong" side *CHECK*
You dress your horse like my little pony *CHECK*
You take a muddy horse out of a muddy field, and don't groom every speck of mud off before riding down muddy tracks and across muddy fields *CHECK*


Bad rider alert! Someone take my horse and report me to the RSPCA!
:D
 
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