Grrr. "Helpful" people who are not helpful

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Hovis_and_SidsMum

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I'm thinking of having a "thank you for your opinion but i didn't ask for it" T-shirt printed at the moment.
Sorry but rant alert!
Theres a lady comes down the yard sometimes to see her friend.
She seems perfectly pleasant but always feels the need to go on about how she's had horse for years and offer me lots of "advice" I didn't ask for. Normally I smile sweetly at her and ignore her. But last night I nearly killed her.

Firstly she'd followed me up the drive and I'd stopped to watch our lads who were hooning around the field like total idiots.
She feels the need to stop her car and say "I hope you're not thinking of going into them when they're playing up like that" - no i was just watching them playing. "They're obviously not worked enough to have that much energy" - no they're worked nearly ever night - they're just playing.

When I fetched the boys in hovis was so covered in mud he was black and i'd planned to put Pig oil and sulphur on his legs so decided i was going to have to wash his legs first. Cue "I don't think you should be bathing him outside in this weather". I wasn't bathing him, i was washing his feathers, INSIDE the wash room, with WARM water and the heater on.

When asked what I was doing i explained about the P&S and was told the best thing to do was take all his feathers off. Having explained i didn't want to take his feathers off I was then treated to her view on feathered legs being a breeding ground for germs.
I then got a lecture on:
1. My horses being cold as they aren't rugged up enough - hello its only november and its not freezing cold?!!
2. Omar begging for treats and thus being badly behaved - thats because you're stood two feet in front of him with a packet of polos?
3. Isn't hovis a bit young for me as i'm only a novice - thanks for that love

She talks to me like i am an incompetant pillock yet is rugging her horses to the hilt, stuffing them full of concentrates and potions and wonders why she's had to go up biting strengths twice in the last 6 months. I do not feel the need to lecture her so why does she with me?!!

And BREATHE!!
 
I've developed a response to such 'helpful' people which is "well i did consider that, but this seems to work for me, so i'm sticking with it for it now"

seems to pacify for them for a bit....
 
LOL!!!!!! Sorry, but feeling your pain - that would drive me MAD!!!!!!!

Just bite your tongue for as long as you can, then one day.................... RAHHHHHHHHH!!! Let her have it both barrels!!!!!!! :-)
 
and breathe ...........

ignore her is all I can say, although I knwo when I used to be a big livery yard we used to have one woman (that moved her horse away) and used to drop by after she finished work every day and was just like that - eventually YO told her she was not welcome on the yard - even to visit her friends.
 
Sorry but that was so funny!!! It sounds like you've got her well sussed. Take no sh!t.
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I tend to just say 'I expect youre right' in a particularly dim voice and then carry on with exactly what Im doing. Once youve said it about 5 times they soon get the message (ie you might be right but I have assessed your knowledge and expertise and am therefore ignoring all your suggestions :-))))
 
Just reply with something along the lines of "how is [insert horses name here] I hear you lost control and had to put a pelham in! :P
 
I know how you feel Tell her to take her comments to someone who gives a sh@t!! I love the way hovis sounds and would love you to post a pic of him tell her to bog off your horse your fether!!

REMEMBER BREETHE!
 
you know what I would do if I were you? I would tell her that I am so so grateful for all her knowledge and ask her if she would ride Hovis for me at the next (rather busy) show
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Had one of these people at a previous yard. Soon shut up when I said 'Oh really? And just exactly who asked you??' (said very, very sarcastically). I withstood the helpful comments for months before finally snapping on a freezing cold night, full of flu while she smoked(!!!!!!) outside my stable.

OH knew I was very pi**ed off as there wasn't a single swear word.................
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One day just say something quick bak!
It worked for me, when i first got my horse, I couldn't catch her, i was walking bak down from the field in the evening with a head coller but no horse, this woman said to me, can't you catch her?? and i was like ..... no i can i just like to walk around with my head coller, shut tht bitch up! people just like to make you feel silly. lol
 
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P&S and was told the best thing to do was take all his feathers off.

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Stupid cow - has no bloody idea about looking after a heavy horse or their requirements pig oil and sulphur for the legs, and if unclipped, maybe a rain sheet to keep the mud and wet off.

Sorry but you have the patience of a saint, by that stage I would have told her to bugger off as she doesn't know as much as she thinks she does.
 
I would have only one answer, as i don't have the time/energy/manners with such people - its starts with P and ends with off.
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LOL sorry but that is so bad its almost funny ...but I know its not a laughing matter, I feel for you I really do.

You could do exactly the same to her every time she does something, then when she points out that your a interferring busy body.....say I know, just letting you know how it feels as you do it to me all the time, smile, give her a gentle pat on her back and walk off with a spring in your step and laugh it off
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Kenzo that is such a good idea.
You and Hovis could stalk her, everywhere she went there would be this slick of pig oil and sulphur...
Failing that break wind loudly as she approaches.

Actually come to think of it, what is she doing round your horse? Shouldn't she be round her own, I mean they might not be able to breathe on their own.
 
Can you order that T-Shirt in an XL for me too please!? I know just where you are coming from, I get : Why have you clipped when you dont ride (we lunge and L/Rein more than ride), Melly is too hot/cold/wet etc etc when she hasnt even put her hand under the rug to check, you need a goal to work towards, you dont need(or in some cases, do need) to do this/that/the other....
It drives me potty, and some days I would happily rip her head off and plop down her neck, but on other days it washes over me..... Try countering her question with another question or her 'advice' with something equally as purile... or just slap her!! x
 
I find the 'look of death' is useful in these situations or just agree blandly and continue as if you hadn't heard them.

Some people are trying to help but there is a time and a place.
 
alternatively you could start rambling on wide eyed and manic about the trip you took last night when kidnapped by aliens. Everytime she approaches get really excited and start on the same story..you may find she starts to walk around the back of the stables rather than passed you
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Kenzo that is such a good idea.
You and Hovis could stalk her, everywhere she went there would be this slick of pig oil and sulphur...


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LOL...just had that vision, with that freaky walk... you know when you limp and drag one leg behind along with a scary possessed look on our faces, sweeping her up as we follow her!!!, like the typical Tesco aisle sweeper lol....dripping in pig oil like something out of a horror film
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your genius!
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I love getting advice from anyone who I know IS experienced and does well with their horses - they can give me advice anyday but otherwise it drives me absolutely insane lol
 
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