Ever made to feel like you're a bad owner?

I'm on a small yard and unfortunately there is one on there but I just smile say mmmm hmmmm and carry on she carries on to everyone else but I know my horse and the best think I've found is laughing when they do it ends up them being annoyed most of the time not you.
 
Our DIY yard has ppl always chipping in unwanted comments but I know how to look after my 2 ponies. I arrived on the yard Saturday morning after a night of -4 degrees and 2 ppl in a row gave me the comments 'i'm so pleased to see your 2 boys actually have rugs on. I realised you actually have a heart and aren't quite so mean.' I also have continual remarks regarding me and my friend's choice to keep our ponies out 24/7, come rain, snow, wind, sun. I would like to point out I have a fat cob and a very woolly welsh!:D They have been living in rain sheets overnight and naked through the day but had mediums put on when the real cold arrived...1 has arthritis and the other is the runt of the herd so not necessarily always allowed in the shelter:rolleyes: The looks of horror when I take their rugs off in the morning to let them 'air' their backs and refluff...shame they don't pay as much attention to the ponies they lock up all night with just 1 measly slice of hay to keep it going in the cold temperatures.
 
I silently put up with it for years until I was lucky enough to stumble into my current paddock. That was about 7 years ago! I share with just one other lady now and it is bliss, I pretty much do whatever I want to do with both my horse and her pony, she isn't bothered in the slightest and simply gets the giggles with the things I do with my horse (none of these things make me a bad owner clearly, I spoil them both rotten)
 
Firstly, don't let anyone make you feel like a bad owner. We all have our own ways of doing things, and our horses are individuals. However, sometimes advice can be useful!
Secondly, I would probably tear someone limb from limb if someone had the cheek to touch my horse without permission excpet in an emergency! Putting it in the school and riding round it is not on, I hope you told her so and started looking for alternative accomadation!
Horseback rider, any internal vet would tell you haylage is not always great for horses, as it is more acidic. I feed haylage as I have nowhere to store hay, and have 1 with an allergy, but when we had ulcer problems the vet said hay was better.
 
Thanks everyone for the support, glad to see it is not just me being silly and going insane over nothing. I have been looking for another livery and going to view somewhere tomorrow. Fingers crossed I can get moved asap, if a little frustrating as will never find somewhere as cheap again. Only pay £20 a week in current yard, which includes unlimited straw for bedding and haylage!
 
Oh yes, momentarily, usually when I have had a horse put down and the world and his wife think I should have discussed the matter with them first - except they weren't going to pay the vets bills, look after/buy the horse or indeed knew the first thing about it.

My thoughts on this are that at the end of the day "It is my horse and therefore my business"

I am quite confident that I am averagely competent, but I am also not arrogant enough to presume that I am the fount of all wisdom, sometimes an outsider 'looking in' sees things that I don't. I am always happy to ask advice from all and sundry, and I do, but it doesn't mean that I am going to take it, or think that it is appropriate for that particular situation/horse - at the time - it may be in the future though.
 
Last edited:
ps. It is also important to remember that on the whole there are many ways to achieve the same end, what method/routine suits one doesn't necessarily suit another.

At the end of the day just smile sweetly, say Thanks and I'll consider that, and carry on doing your own thing if that is what works for you and yours. :)
 
That is terrible, they had no right to do that .........what a stupid thing to do, I would exit from that yard asap.
 
Many times:rolleyes: This year took the biscuit, my 'friends' got shi tty, because I was keeping my 2 in until 12, they were coming in at 6 at night and were happy as pigs, Ebony had 3 cakes of hay (some of which was always left in the morning) and ben was having 4 cakes, they had ample water, a good feed and because of the routine were the only ones with decent grazing still in their field, for the first time in 10 years Ebony maintained her weight and Ben, well he prefers a stable to the outdoors. Ebony was also not stressy, in her stable, another first. They were both really settled and doing well with the routine, but because it wasn't what the others did... it was wrong. What irritated the hell out of me is that, these people knew me, and respected my judgement, they knew Ebony and could tell that she was better than ever, they were perfectly happy to borrow her for competitions, but couldn't wait to slag me off. TBF, I didn't feel like a bad owner, I felt sodding angry:mad::mad: so I moved yards, I can't be doing with petty, jealous back stabbers, who think that if you don't do something their way, you're doing it wrong, I take particular offence at a child of 18, telling me how she thinks I should do things when she has been on this planet for less time than I have been keeping horses:rolleyes::mad:. Anyhow, I upped sticks and am far happier now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top