horse snobbery, what is this nonsense.... rant , rant

'Horse snobbery' happens everywhere, im sure we've all had had it In some form and if we are honest, im sure many of us in some way are guilty of it ourselves. I will admit I was really snobby/ignorant when it came to coloured cobs, I thought them all boring, 10 a penny, lazy blah blah.... till I bought one, shes perfect for me now ive ended up buying a second.
Jst let it go and rise above their ignorance
 
Your horse is exactly what you want in a horse. They are probably jealous that you can do exactly as you please with yours and are not put under pressure by those around you to conform to standard and be the best. They would probably just love to go for a blast and have some fun but it would be frowned upon in their little clique.

I used to get the kids from the riding school along the road sneer at me and deem themselves better riders than me as they rode dartmoors and I rode a Shetland pony. I spent a few years competing against them in the show ring getting jibe after jibe and yet I just smiled and looked down at the red rosette that I had against their greens, pinks and purples from the same class. I then decided that I needed a bigger and better Dartmoor so my gran bought me one for my birthday - and I still beat them but they did shut up lol!

Enjoy your horse doing what you want to do with your horse. If you feel like taking up endurance with him just make sure your gonna beat them first ;)
 
Isn't your horse the one who got you home safely when you'd had a stroke? I'm no expert, but I'm sure if he's sound, an arab with that kind of dependable attitude couldn't fail to do some endurance respectably.

Take no notice anyway, or look at it as a challenge to prove them wrong. :)
 
JFTD said:
We-ell... You did ask!

If someone asked me why I wasn't fawning over their horse when I met it out and about, I'd probably tell them too ;) And yes, I don't like other types of horses nearly as much as my own. If I did, I'd have bought one of them... Just as half the posters on here would be horrified if I tried to give them a free dressage highland :D

Different strokes for different folks - it really doesn't affect you what they think, so I shouldn't give it a second thought! :)
Click to expand...

Wouldn't say no to a free dressage highland, I'll send an SAE
 
It's a shame that this sort of snobbery exists really. As long as the horses are happy and healthy and the riders are enjoying themselves, who cares? I've been out hacking and been given "the look" by many a well turned out rider, as I trundle along on a muddy, hairy, unruly sort of a beast. But as long as we're having a good time I've decided not to give two hoots. The sport is what you make of it.

And as for the harsh comments about the French... I'd say that's unnecessary! I have been to France many times and was engaged to a Frenchman for three years. I love the people, country and the culture and would cut my right leg off (maybe even my left) to go and live in France. I think this topic is more about snotty people in the horsey world rather than being specifically about the French. How many bitchy English riders do you know? I know plenty!

Your lovely Arab is no less of a horse than their endurance steeds and is just as deserving of love, care and respect, regardless of what any of them think.
 
Whilst I'm sorry that you feel you've been treated badly - by the sound of things, this is a professional endurance team? They are very unlikely to give a monkeys about another local rider/horse, as they are focused only on getting their own horses fit and tuned for competition. They aren't doing it for fun/relaxation, so getting pally with the locals is probably not a priority! In an ideal world, we'd all stop and chat, or at least give a friendly wave to every other rider we meet/pass, but it's just not going to happen, particularly when its a team of pro's who have a training schedule to adhere to.
 
I can honestly say I have no horse snobbery I like all horses now people riding in trainers and track suit bottoms and smoking a fag that's another story..
 
Apercrumbie said:
And now it's you who's making snobby comments. I have lived in France and most of the people I came across would be seemingly very abrupt and almost rude for quite a while until we were well acquainted. They are not always the warmest people to begin with, and the poor rider had just fallen off! We all fall off, it doesn't make you a bad rider. Tbh I find your attitude just as bad as theirs. If someone I had never properly met marched over to me in a pub and started asking me questions about why I supposedly, and only according to them, sneered at their horse, I would hardly be kind in my response.
Click to expand...
yes we do all fall off, i have many times , that was said tongue in cheek but if you fall off in the middle of now where, no houses, people, nothing and somebody offers to catch your horse and help you up you should be damned sure you don't respond with rudeness. i have french friends and actually understand them well and have not made a negative comment here about them culturally, i have tried many times to get a response to my hello's , i started in the pub by saying hello and asking if i had somehow upset them or had done something wrong, and why they looked at me and my horse as they do, it was their answers that made me angry, apparently we are '' amusant'' and not in a ha ha way.
 
Where we are in the UK we get lots of snobby looks from other riders. My friend has a typical gypsy cob and also shock horror we ride out in high viz!! Most of the other riders don't even say hello, but we just get on with it and ignore them. I think it says how well behaved your horse is if you have to put up with them speeding past you all the time and he doesn't bat an eyelid. Really don't worry about it just smile sweetly, say morning when you see them and just pootle on.
 
I have met very many extremely friendly, courteous and gracious French people, both in ordinary life and horsey contexts. Perhaps it is a cultural difference that eludes you? I never bother with what other people think about my horses, and I don't spend much time thinking about theirs either. If you are to continue living in France it might be helpful if you improved your French language skills (speaking from experience of living in several countries in the course of my life) which would help with understanding the finer nuances of the culture. The English don't have the best of reputations with regards to assimilating.
 
Shady said:
yes we do all fall off, i have many times , that was said tongue in cheek but if you fall off in the middle of now where, no houses, people, nothing and somebody offers to catch your horse and help you up you should be damned sure you don't respond with rudeness. i have french friends and actually understand them well and have not made a negative comment here about them culturally, i have tried many times to get a response to my hello's , i started in the pub by saying hello and asking if i had somehow upset them or had done something wrong, and why they looked at me and my horse as they do, it was their answers that made me angry, apparently we are '' amusant'' and not in a ha ha way.
Click to expand...

My point wasn't about you making rude comments about their culture, but about your failure to understand and respect theirs. Why, if someone keeps ignoring your hellos, would you keep pushing the point? Let them ignore you, they have the right to do so, and get on with your own life!
 
Shady said:
do you know what hurts the most, one of the stupid sods fell off once and despite them constantly nearly running me down and never speaking i stopped , got off and asked if all was ok, i got a short' oui, c'est pas grave', shaken off and ignored, embarrassed probably for being a rubbish rider!! ...
yes, perhaps i shall ask them all to kiss MY bum....... not!!!!
Click to expand...

Don't be hurt by this, you showed to be the better person well done! they are annoyed because you are not behaving like them, just smile at them, will drive them nuts !!! :D
 
gmw said:
I've yet to meet a courteous Frenchperson. Ignore them, get on with your life.
Click to expand...

Clearly you haven't met many.

Why care what anyone else thinks? I get charming comments all the time about my scruffy cob.

Tbh, you say your French is poor, you've stomped over in the pub to demand an explanation and you've probably come across as lacking in subtlety of language and manners interrupting them ask why they ignore you (when they're continuing to ignore you in the pub!). If you love your horse, that's all that matters. I don't particularly like any other horses, but I don't care if others like mine or not, I chose him, not them.
 
I get that about my welsh - he's more carthorse than welsh cob, and you don't even want to go there about the looks and whispers my Trotter gets...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top