Fluffy bunnies

Wagtail

Wagtail

Horse servant
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What do we mean by this? It seems to be a term bandied about for various reasons:

To describe Natural Horsemanship
To put down anyone who prefers to use painless methods of horse training
To describe people who keep field ornaments
To describe someone who is weak

So what does this term mean to you?

Personally I think it is used just to give people who are behaving badly towards their horses an excuse when they run out of valid argument. It is a fall back argument. A weak argument, and an irrelevant one to use in any debate.

BTW, I use a mixture of Natural and traditional training methods for my horses and approach all of them individually. What works for one, does not always work for another. I do carry a whip, but very rarely use it (and when I do itreally is a tickle), but I would not hesitate to whack a horse that bit me aggressively.
 
The second one. That's the impression I've been given from reading numerous threads on here.

I don't mind at all being in the "fluffy bunny" camp, although I do understand it irritates others and offends them so I wont use the term again :o
 
Syrah said:
The second one. That's the impression I've been given from reading numerous threads on here.

I don't mind at all being in the "fluffy bunny" camp, although I do understand it irritates others and offends them so I wont use the term again :o
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If it refers to kind people then it is certainly not offensive. What puzzles me is how it is bandied about by others as some kind of insult, or just when they can no longer stand their ground and have no valid argument. :)
 
I am a fluffy wolf!! I am not too soft and not too hard, am open minded , don't agree with any pain, agree with euthansia if its deemed in the animals interest not bothered about the owner!... but then u know all this Wag cos you are my friend!! haha xx
 
A fluffy bunny is one who cares about others and believes in standing up for basic humane rights.

They do a very good job in the world and sadly are seen as spoilsports but I think the world needs fluffy bunnies.

Someone needs to stand up for those who are less able to help themselves....

There are extremes as with all things....
 
Thats right tally and on here there are some ppl who aren't even extremists, BUT they like a good wind up so will go along with it, it's never worth getting mad on here, ppl feed off of it! x
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
I am a fluffy wolf!! I am not too soft and not too hard, am open minded , don't agree with any pain, agree with euthansia if its deemed in the animals interest not bothered about the owner!... but then u know all this Wag cos you are my friend!! haha xx
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Yes, pretty much the same as I am. :)
 
tallyho! said:
A fluffy bunny is one who cares about others and believes in standing up for basic humane rights.

They do a very good job in the world and sadly are seen as spoilsports but I think the world needs fluffy bunnies.

Someone needs to stand up for those who are less able to help themselves....

There are extremes as with all things....
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That is a good definition. Thanks. Trouble is, the term is used as a means to ridicule by a small but loud minority on here.
 
chessy said:
It's a term used to describe rabbits with particularly cute and fluffy fur. Very cute. ;)
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Either this
images


or someone who thinks that it would be cruel to have their horse PTS even though it is really suffering and there is no hope for a recovery. I personally think that in that situation, it's cruel to keep the poor sod alive.
 
The bunny huggers I have come across are too frightened of their horses to handle/discipline them in such a way that the horse is either rude, dangerous or both.

Eg. Horse rushes through doorways. Bunny hugger would be "Oh, now now Boris be a good boy and don't rush", whilst being dragged/barged by Boris. Bunny hugger wouldn't ask for help just in case Boris was asked to do something he didn't want to do.

Normal person would work with horse to overcome problem and if they weren't capable of it, ask somebody else to do it, even if they knew that somebody may be firmer than they would be themselves.
 
Wagtail said:
BTW, I use a mixture of Natural and traditional training methods for my horses and approach all of them individually. What works for one, does not always work for another. I do carry a whip, but very rarely use it (and when I do itreally is a tickle), but I would not hesitate to whack a horse that bit me aggressively.
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The only real sensible way :)

I think of bunny huggers as people too caught up in how cute animals are to deal with the reality of looking after them,they shy away from the hard choices and would rather look for an excuse then admit a problem is real.
 
I think the phrase is used for people who genuinely care for their horses rather than those who think that if it doesn't do the job they bought it for, it should be PTS. Their horse is their pet - not just livestock.
My horses will be with me and given every chance when they are ill/injured (my last 12 months vets bills will testify that!) for as long as possible.
If that makes me a fluffy bunny, then so be it! I'll be pink, I'll be fluffy!!
 
I think of bunny huggers as people who find all sorts of excuses for their horses behaviour and don't address the problems but leave it to others when the problems become to severe for them to handle.

Lack of discipline for both animals and children so neither has bounderies.

I am all for a soft approach but if it doesn't work then up the ante.

Jane
 
Depending on the circumstances, I think the term describes all four definitions.

If we choose to put labels on ourselves, I think I would describe myself as an empathic parent; firm, fair, patient and with a sense of fun and humour.
 
fluffy bunnies is the game you play with flumps ... how many flumps can you get in your mouth at the one time and say the words "FLUFFY BUNNIES" ...without losing any flumps.

FH's 30 year old record of 22 remains, I think, unbeaten. :D :D :D ;)
 
i see bunnyhuggers as people who would do anything to keep animals alive no matter what even if they are in pain. Also wouldnt smack a naughty/dangerous horse ''because it hurts'', wouldnt raise their voice to an animal ''because it'll get scared'' wouldnt discipline in any way ''because its cruel'' etc etc
People who care about their animals are not bunnyhuggers, they are normal. Bunnyhuggers are the extreme and go to the point where the animal is actually worse off and more naughty/dangerous because of them.
 
cuppatea said:
i see bunnyhuggers as people who would do anything to keep animals alive no matter what even if they are in pain. Also wouldnt smack a naughty/dangerous horse ''because it hurts'', wouldnt raise their voice to an animal ''because it'll get scared'' wouldnt discipline in any way ''because its cruel'' etc etc
People who care about their animals are not bunnyhuggers, they are normal. Bunnyhuggers are the extreme and go to the point where the animal is actually worse off and more naughty/dangerous because of them.
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That's exactly what I was trying to say... but you explained it much better. ;)
 
A 'Fluffy Bunny' is someone who looks at the world through rose-tinted glasses.

A 'Fluffy Bunny' is someone who thinks anyone who might be using firm discipline is very cruel and should be shot.

A 'Fluffy Bunny' is someone who follows the crowd with a point of view as they have no mind of their own, and are spineless, because the next day, when the crowd changes it's mind to fit in with what 'Mrs. Popular' has said, the Fluffy Bunny will do the same.
 
not intended at the OP of this thread but is anyone else sick of the 'do you beat your horses' etc etc etc holier than thou threads on here at the moment - they are starting to get on my nerves!

I know horse welfare etc is something we should all care about and discuss but frankly it seems that nearly every thread in here is along these lines!
 
georgiegirl said:
not intended at the OP of this thread but is anyone else sick of the 'do you beat your horses' etc etc etc holier than thou threads on here at the moment - they are starting to get on my nerves!

I know horse welfare etc is something we should all care about and discuss but frankly it seems that nearly every thread in here is along these lines!
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It's because some people need to feel that they are having their egos massaged..makes 'em feel good.....because everything they do with their horse is right and perfect, and they want the world to know it, but I bet as sure as eggs is eggs...we won't hear half the stuff when it all goes wrong!

:D
 
quirky said:
The bunny huggers I have come across are too frightened of their horses to handle/discipline them in such a way that the horse is either rude, dangerous or both.

Eg. Horse rushes through doorways. Bunny hugger would be "Oh, now now Boris be a good boy and don't rush", whilst being dragged/barged by Boris. Bunny hugger wouldn't ask for help just in case Boris was asked to do something he didn't want to do.

Normal person would work with horse to overcome problem and if they weren't capable of it, ask somebody else to do it, even if they knew that somebody may be firmer than they would be themselves.
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This would be my understanding of the term fluffy bunnies! It relates to people who do not correct their horses in any way in case they upset them and so end up with badly behaved animals that they are scared of.
 
I have been called a fluffy bunny i buy horses in to sell sometimes then blub and cry when they go sad i know, i have paid huge vets bills more than the horse is worth:o bought the raggedy muffins at sales got them right and not made a penny on them.
But i am not a pushover do not let horses walk all over me and expect good behaviour with the right training.
I do not keep horses when its time to let them go for my own sake either so maybe i am not one:confused:
I do think it is used alot on here as an insult when people dont agree.
 
Its not a term i use often, but the following to me is a fluffy bunny or bunny hugger.

Those that believe banning horse slaughter is right, particuarly the ones who can offer no alternative solution for the thousands of unwanted horses. Think about what happened in the USA!

Also, those that wont PTS when their horse is clearly suffering and has no future with any kind of quality of life, this really pees me off.

Finally those with ruined dangerous horses, ruined by those that treat their horse as a human and not a horse, there's usually one in every yard :(
 
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