'i've been around horses for.......

[skint1]

I know quite a few people who are very confident in their knowledge and beliefs when it comes to horses, and woe betide you if you have a different view. It is thanks to these wonderful confident types that I am reminded afresh why I hate livery yards and livery yard politics.

 

[Tnavas]

I think it depends on who taught you in the first place. Was their knowledge quality or just experience.

I trained in several top yards with people whos knowledge had been tested by their peers as being sound and safe. I'm BHS trained and proud of my certificates and my knowledge.

I trained in a practical situation in large yards with horses and ponies of all shapes, breeds and sizes, with experienced, knowledgeable people to guide me to learn to do things right for the benefit of the horse. I also was a keen Pony Club member whos training methods are based on BHS and traditional and classical methods. My first real instructor was an ex cavalry officer.

I'm still learning! Being in a different country where they have different methods I've had the chance to see how the others do it. Here it's common practise to rope horses when breaking, a rope around the neck and a rope tied around a hind pastern and threaded through the neck rope, if the horse goes to buck the hind leg is whipped out from under it. They don't know any difference. Not good for growing baby bones and joints. To put on all the gear on a yearling straight from the sales - Bridle - bit usually too big, roller, side reins (tight enough to have the neck to be held in place) and crupper for two hours or more, in yards with no shade.
Below is a photo of a Standardbred weanling learning to be tied up - his lot is far different to the Thoroughbred who will be taught to tie up with the rope twisted around itself until gradually he will tie up and not fight the pressure of the headcollar on his head or will wear a bum rope until standing quietly. Of the two though you can guarantee that the standardbred will not move when tied up and the TB will test the bounderies time and time again. The former method runs the risk of a broken limb when they fight while the TB who is more expensive to breed will rarely hurt itself.

And then the TB

 

[Ibblebibble]

I've seen both sides of this.
We had a older person who had been at yard for about 55+ yrs.Sadly some think she's a batty old woman but she used to judg/teach etc -not that she tells folk that just found out through chatting.Not saying take it all as gospel but there must be a lot of knowledge there to tap into.
Feel sad that people just discount what someones said because of age - young or old alike.
So I try not to discount any source of info.(don't always succeed I'm sure but do try)

don't you tend to find that those who are the quietest about their experience are usually the ones who are worth listening to?! I try not to discount anyones opinion purely on age, but i do admit that as soon as the 'i've been doing this xx years' line comes out i tend to think 'oh here we go, my way or no way
I like people who think about the horses rather than themselves all the time

 

[ThePinkPony]

I try to take on as much as i can, and my instructor is great with supplying me with loads of extra info as we ride.

But i do have a friend who knows everything. Shes the authority on everything and she can really get you down. I put up on FB about my rug arriving and instantly she was saying its the wrong one blah blah blah, i give up with her.

 

[tristar]

what amazes me is the people who tell me what to do all the time, and never make the effort to find out about me or if i have experience or what i've done with horses, and then announce they are on their first horse or ride a schoolmaster because they' re a novice

then there was the woman who told me unsolicited, everything i would have to do with my stallion to get him approved apto etc etc etc, who nearly fell through the floor when i said he did''nt have to be apto because he is'nt a pure bred - i never told her that he is brother to her stallion! i just fled

 

[Ibblebibble]

ohhh ohh, i nearly forgot the other one i love,' i have romany gypsy in me so horses are in my blood, i just know them instantly' i did have to seriously bite my tongue on that one, especially when a week later she was declaring to a friend and I that it was illegal to travel a horse without a tail bandage

 

[Foxhunter49]

I have been around horses all my life and choose to make it my career. I have been to many of the top instructors, many now dead, heck MOST are dead! and have never stopped learning.
I will listen and learn but most of all I will watch. At a major show I would rather stand in the practise arena watching than to see riders do a round or dressage in the ring.

Many years ago I was told that you can learn from anyone - even if it is how to NOT do something.

Very true.

 

[Miss L Toe]

I'm the batty old woman you described, but am unable to change my email, so will have to stay as a lady on her third husband [all the same type, ie very rich, very old] and all had sad endings, happily all had same surname, so I was able to collect the widows pensions for many years.
Now I am in a confined space, the walls have a lovely deep rich wallpaper, even the floor seem to be like a rubber manege I remember. The ladies who look after me are all very hygenic, new clean white frocks every day.
They are giving me a new hair style tomorow , I am assured it will be like a perm but it will not be totally permanent, I will get this treatment every week without charge, , and they will let me wander out in the garden all day, but not beyond the electric fencing.

 

[maxapple]

I started riding 29 years ago - and its only in the last 4 or 5 years that I'd say I have really learnt to 'ride properly'. I more or less taught myself how to jump and had some shocking bad habits!

As said above, still learning every day however!

 

[amandap]

One of the best, and most frustrating, and the most brilliant, things about the world of horses, no matter how long you're in it for, is you'll never, ever stop learning.

Ditto. I love the learning about horses themselves especially.

I also think the learning is about myself too and I have changed as I have learned more and got my thinking a bit more straight in my head.

At 15 the majority of us know everything and how to solve every problem from how to boil an egg to how to save the world.