Funny examples of startling lack of knowledge in a horse owner?

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Shadowdancing

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I'm trying to explain how non-clued up horse owners can be without being nasty about it- cos yes we've all had to learn. But some people who buy horses are honestly scary in their lack of knowledge... has anyone got a good example that's quite funny too and not too horrid to the person in question?

Thanks!
 
saw one horse crib biting badly against a stable door in a yard and the owner made a comment on how it was good for it because it stops the teeth getting too long (!??)
 
Talking about 3 year old cob "you can tell he's going to be be big, he has a lot of loose skin!"

"Pawing the ground means they are saying thank-you"

"Just buy a cheaper saddle from the wholesale catalogue and then you can just buy another when it breaks"

"I don't pick his feet out to ride because all the mud comes out when I canter on the drive" (which is something I HATE, idiots cantering back up the stony yard driveway, even when you're on the yard with a horse!)

"Can horses see in the dark?"
 
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I don't need to wear hi viz on the road when the sun is out as everyone can see me. :eek:

Err no not really. In fact exactly the situation when YOU DO need high viz due to sun glare in drivers eyes/blind spots when sun at top of hill, shadows from hedges etc, etc.
 
applecart14 said:
I don't need to wear hi viz on the road when the sun is out as everyone can see me. :eek:

Err no not really. In fact exactly the situation when YOU DO need high viz due to sun glare in drivers eyes/blind spots when sun at top of hill, shadows from hedges etc, etc.
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Ugh i've heard that, but because the owner's horse was grey so it would "show up more anyway"
 
This one isn't a horse owner, but great nonetheless. Taking non horsey friend out or a walk hack, told to shorten reins - a few seconds later they pipe up, confused, saying "but there aren't any more holes for the buckle!"
 
Merlod hahahaha

I did hear a story- can't believe this can be true, of a gelding's owner who called her vet out in a panic cos her horses intestines were falling out.

Basically she'd not had him long and he'd just dropped while dozing on a nice hot day, scaring her half to death!
 
Horse hopping lame, "Do you think he looks abit off? I'm not sure..." - Uhm, yes! He's on 3 legs!
Horses back drops at a brush, hand, saddle or anything going near it, "He's really tense under saddle and puts his ears back when I ask him to go forward"
*Ties 3 year old up to tie ring, no string, on solid wall and has a meltdown when 3 year old gets head and leg tangled* - This was honestly terrifying to watch. Owner flapping, pony terrified.
*Kicking horse on quite clearly* "Oh no, he can't stop...he's bolting..." - This seems to be a favourite with the teens at my yard...

Those are just things I can remember! But on a regular basis I see horses walking ALL over their owners. Won't pick up their feet, won't back up or move over, barge them out of the way.
Just this morning, one of the more sensible owners was taking out someone else's horse. That someone else lets their horse walk all over them and so this poor more sensible person got the brunt of it when the horse tanked and kicked her in the sternum!!!
 
Shadowdancing said:
I'm trying to explain how non-clued up horse owners can be without being nasty about it- cos yes we've all had to learn. But some people who buy horses are honestly scary in their lack of knowledge... has anyone got a good example that's quite funny too and not too horrid to the person in question?

Thanks!
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A horse suffering from a mild colic attack and the owner thought it must have had a zap from the mains electric fencing and still feeling some electric shocks as it was occasionally kicking at its tummy!!
 
From a new livery a few years ago after it was painstakingly explained we swap to night turn out day time stand in in Summer ';My horse CANNOT possibly go out in the dark?
Me 'Why not'
Livery...... 'Because she is black! Black horses cannot go out at night'

Same lady 'Piebald horses have a kind nature, ALL of them are kind'
 
Relatively new owner in bits because her horse had poo'd (nice and healthy looking) twice in an hour, so he must have had the runs!

Welcome to horse ownership, here's a shovel and a wheelbarrow :p
 
Pocketr@cket said:
I'm going to buy a baby so we can learn together.
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I did with my last horse, and we did learn together.

applecart14 said:
I don't need to wear hi viz on the road when the sun is out as everyone can see me. :eek:

Err no not really. In fact exactly the situation when YOU DO need high viz due to sun glare in drivers eyes/blind spots when sun at top of hill, shadows from hedges etc, etc.
Click to expand...

Nothing worse - horseriders and cyclists underestimate how shaded it is under trees and how difficult it is to see them as a driver!
 
When the horse is stood resting a hind leg " be careful her leg is up, shes going to kick you if you go near her"
 
Threads like this make me a bit sad to be honest. I hate the idea of "laughing at" people and calling them stupid. Just explain to them why you disagree with their opinions face to face - don't go on line laughing at them and smugly commenting on their lack of intelligence...sorry, I am normally a fun kind of person, but this just highlights to me all that is cruddy in the horse world.
 
Fun Times said:
Threads like this make me a bit sad to be honest. I hate the idea of "laughing at" people and calling them stupid. Just explain to them why you disagree with their opinions face to face - don't go on line laughing at them and smugly commenting on their lack of intelligence...sorry, I am normally a fun kind of person, but this just highlights to me all that is cruddy in the horse world.
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I agree a little bit. Whilst some people do seem determined to remain clueless, those of us who weren't lucky enough to be brought up around horses have got to start somewhere. When you're just starting out you haven't learnt enough to figure out who to listen to and who's talking twaddle.
 
Woman who had owned horses all her life - read an advert where it said the horse had a lovely uphill canter - she wondered how it coped on flat ground. ....

Never bet on a grey racehorse as all grey horses are chicken . ???
 
A girl that works in the yard, has ridden and worked with horses for gawd knows how many years (is totally useless btw!) bought a horse to point to point to prove to us all that she can gallop a horse and she can jump one - something we do not, under any circumstances allow her to do with the racers because she is not capable. So she buys said horse, sight unseen, and says to us - they told me he was sharp but I don't know what that means.

And people wonder why I don't even contemplate tolerating her...
 
EKW said:
A girl that works in the yard, has ridden and worked with horses for gawd knows how many years (is totally useless btw!) bought a horse to point to point to prove to us all that she can gallop a horse and she can jump one - something we do not, under any circumstances allow her to do with the racers because she is not capable. So she buys said horse, sight unseen, and says to us - they told me he was sharp but I don't know what that means.

And people wonder why I don't even contemplate tolerating her...
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This made me laugh out loud hahaa
 
From my livery who was looking after my horse whilst I was on holiday.
"Oh no I'm sorry he's gone"
Whilst on my mobile on a beach, that my horse had died of colic, when he was down and groaning.
Then her phone went dead- no battery for half an hour. When I phoned back the vet was there and he had wind!
 
From a livery at the yard I worked on 'Oh the vet has been out and he has sore hocks, I am not sure if it is ghis front hocks or back hocks, the vet didn't say'.
 
A lively when came to my yard was unclear about what I meant when I asked if she wanted her horse shod.

When I was a kid I had a horse book that had a very poor version of a wAll eye, for years, because of this illustration I thought wall eye meant a white patch under the eye!! ;)
 
From another livery. I got a phone call early morning ' L, S is covered in blood, its all down his head and legs!' ' What!?! Well can you see where?!?' ' No I have to get to work'

Later while waiting for a vet ( Injury looked like a kick to the head and he had a nose bleed) ' I wouldn't bother calling the vet they wont be able to stitch his nose up' Turned out he had a fractured forehead.

A few days later ' I wasn't actually going to call you a few days ago' WHAT!!??!!
 
Fun Times said:
Threads like this make me a bit sad to be honest. I hate the idea of "laughing at" people and calling them stupid. Just explain to them why you disagree with their opinions face to face - don't go on line laughing at them and smugly commenting on their lack of intelligence...sorry, I am normally a fun kind of person, but this just highlights to me all that is cruddy in the horse world.
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The people I mention I help on a regular basis with their horses and answer all their questions to the best of my ability. I'm always friendly and open for a chat and they come to me for help often.
Even they laugh at themselves looking back at how much of a numpty they used to be!
 
Shadowdancing said:
I'm trying to explain how non-clued up horse owners can be without being nasty about it- cos yes we've all had to learn. But some people who buy horses are honestly scary in their lack of knowledge... has anyone got a good example that's quite funny too and not too horrid to the person in question?

Thanks!
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One of the things I witnessed

Two women, sending a grossly obese horse to a loan home, as an aside this horse was hard work, nappy, a git, and a damned hard project. It had been sat in the field stuffing its face and ridden once in a blue moon (by ridden I mean sat on by the kids). Turns up at the yard and a year later the horse is amazing, looks hunting fit and anyone on here would look and say - healthy, fit, perfect weight and condition, its worked almost every day, jumps a nice course, balls out on the xc course, great in the school and bar the odd half hearted nap, great to hack too... Proud loaner invites owners to a local SJ event and they claim the horse looks like a welfare case, there must be something wrong and a vet must be got out tomorrow for bloods, if no better in a month they are taking the horse back. They started this conversation in the middle of the event in front of a load of other people, many of which stood up in support of loaner and how fantastic the horse looked condition wise.

Not only utterly ignorant in their knowledge and attitude but totally inappropriate in their handling of the conversation which should have been best kept for after the event and in private.

Owners called by loaner the next day to be asked to come and collect their horse ASAP.

A combination of lack of knowledge and utter disgraceful rudeness and bad handling of a situation. Personally from seeing all the hard work and the fantastic results from the loaner they should have been on their knees thanking her.
 
a horse owner on my old yard. Think my horse has a cold he's got a really snotty nose. Said horse had choke. A young girl screaming because her horse had lots of blood coming out of his leg and she thought he was dying. Horse had a small graze and nothing major to worry about at all. In young girls defence he's her first horse and she's only 11yrs old so still learning. First example though had had several horses for about 9yrs so was shocked at their lack of knowledge.
 
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