I have 3 ugly ponies....

err have we not already mentioned that whatever you think being aware of other stuff going on in the world doesn't always help... or just make you feel worse about it :rolleyes:
 
OP-why do you want to compete? some seem to find it inordinately stressful and when you choose a discipline such as showing or dressage, which are mainly subjective, you have to develop a thick skin :)

I don't compete any more, too much like hard work but I do have regular lessons/clinics and learn new things such as in-hand work and 'proper' longreining so we have a whole load of things to do as well as ride. Occasionally I do an endurance ride which is fab (and can be done at walk/trot).Endurance is full of all sorts of people, of all ages on all sorts of horses and ponies-honestly the friendliest horsey bunch I've ever met.

I hope you are still reading the thread and if you want to PM then do so.
 
Judging by some of her other posts, I reckon OP is either suffering from stress or depression. Ive been there. For me, some days are fine and I cope perfectly well. Other days, the smallest thing will tip me over the edge into self pity and crying but I cant seem to do anything about it. Its not a good place to be in, and although i firs thought OP was having a wind up, I quickly changed my mind after reading some of her other posts.

The ponies dont know or care if the OP thinks they are ugly. I think they are gorgeous and for me, my cat is what helps to get me out of my moods. Perhaps OP just needs to find something that she loves enough that will instantly lift her spirits- could that be the ponies? Dont know, its a very personal thing.

I wouldnt go showing to be honest, I used to show cattle and it was very demoralizing to have what you thought was the best animal in the ring and be overlooked (my fault for having a Charolais - anyone ever tried to wash one of them? worse than a grey horse!) and although the judges werent cruel with their comments, it still annoyed me to lose. Never ever thought my bullock was ugly, he was the best thing since sliced bread. But, that was before I was depressed and if affects different people in different ways,

OP, chin up, some of these people are just unable to read bewteen the lines... you might deny you are depressed but what you have written is the same sort of thing that goes around in my head from time to time. hope you get the help you need from somewhere.
 
EventingDaun said:
I aggre wholeheartedly with Hovis and Sids Mum; Brego is an ugly percheron draft of pretty much unknown heritage. Everywhere I go to compete I get laughed at, pointed at and made fun of, and I don't care.
I love the fact that we spend the weekends eventing and jumping up to four feet, and then through the week he goes back in harness and is used as a logger. He completes me because although he isnt anyone's view of ideal, I love him and he loves me back.

I hope this post is a joke, because I though unconditional love was the whole point of horse ownership?
Click to expand...

Again, agreed with both. I have lost the amount of times me and Kel have been politely asked to "leave the showring please" because she was bucking, broncing, kicking out, tanking off...and generally being naughty! BUT...
I love her more than anything, and she loves me I can see that in the way she comes to my call, the way she mugs my pockets gently for treats, the way she whickers as I walk onto the yard, the way she does as I ask (eventually) and the way she'll let me sit down with her in the stable when she's lay down and cuddle her...NOT the way she wins ribbons that ONE person has given saying that my horse is the best.
She is a rescue horse with unknown breeding, bad confo, sometimes bad and forgotten manners....but that doesn't change a single thing.
We think of shows as days out :) if we do well - fantastic. If not...its nice to have a potter round the showground and go somewhere different.

I get the feeling this post is a wind up - I HOPE it is, as no pony deserves its "loving, caring" owner talking about it in this way. You love them unconditionally - you may not LIKE them at times, God knows I've fallen out with Kelly enough for her booting me or similiar - but you love them no matter what they do, or whether you've had a bad day or not.
As said before, people of all ages would kill to be in your position.
Get a grip and grow up. If you don't want ponies, don't have them. If you want show ponies, find these ponies a loving home (you owe them that) and get them.

ETA I have also suffered and still do from depression, anxiety and stress. Kelly is a real, genuine help for me, and I really don't know what I would have done at times without her!
 
OP - it sounds like there is a lot more wrong than going through a blank spell in the showring. You do need to seek help, whether medically or from friends / family or some other source so that you can feel better about yourself.
It really isn't fair to scapegoat your ponies. Would everything really be OK if you won every time out? Will everything be OK if you sell your ponies? Or will you still be feeling bad?
It's so hard to see a way out or believe that anyone can help when you feel so down, but there is help out there if you can find the courage to seek it.
In the meantime, try to think objectively about what is really best for your ponies. They depend on you.
 
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