Lovely question from a non-horsey person

[Tarragon]

I got this lovely request from a work colleague - makes you realise how little a non-horsey person knows!

Hi, Bit of a non-work question. We are looking to get some straw for bedding in plants.
As you have ponies, I wondered if you know if that is something that is regularly replaced by horse/pony owners?
i.e. do you think if we ask nicely with the people nearby who have some horses, they might give us some of their old straw?
Where do you get your straw from?

 

[blitznbobs]

Sell em a bale of straw for 25 quid …
?

 

[Lady Jane]

Offer them some of your 'old stuff'!

 

[stormox]

I find it a bit sad how distanced some people are from reality these days!......

 

[Tarragon]

I find it a bit sad how distanced some people are from reality these days!......

The old farmer who owns the farm I livery on said once that he thinks if everyone spent a year on a farm as part of their "schooling", a bit like National Service, the world would be a better place. They would benefit from the manual labour, from working on the land, from working outside in all weathers throughout the year, from being responsible for the welfare of living animals and seeing it through from life to death. I think I agree with him!

 

[Abacus]

I find it a bit sad how distanced some people are from reality these days!......

But why should they know this? I don't know anything about cycling or golf, and I ask my sons some extremely stupid questions about football.

 

[blitznbobs]

We own a farm and my husband still doesnt know the difference between hay and straw

 

[Tarragon]

I think it is more about being distanced from looking after animals than being distanced from reality. The same issue that some people have no idea where the meat they are eating comes from, or what is involved in getting it to the point you can buy it from the supermarket shelves in its little plastic wrapped tray.

 

[MereChristmas]

My brother in law thought that the horses, cattle and sheep he saw in the fields only needed grass all year to live on.

I know they could and some might be better for it but this shows how little of the countryside many townspeople know.

 

[meleeka]

I’m always amazed at the people that buy the little bags of shavings or hay in Pets at Home for nearly the same price as a full bale. I advised my neighbour to go the local horse feed shop and they were thrilled at how much they got for their money.

 

[saalsk]

I love how diverse information and knowledge is !

I was stopped once, out hacking with my old guy (riden) and young guy (bridle alongside). The man was walking with his partner and kids. "ere ! - that horse has no hoofs on ! ". Yep, correct, neither of my horses are shod, so no, they don't make much noise, but yes, they do indeed have hooves.

In my previous life as a VN, the number of times people would bring in their rabbits/polecats/ferrets/rats/mice etc etc, and say that they have found a large lump. Under the tail, while holding them under the armpits. They were so worried about their little furry boy pets. The number of *discussions* that had to happen, about how boys had boy bits, and girls had girl bits, and that girl bits were a little more hidden...

And don't even get me started as to how many people think my 16HH gelding is the Mum of the 12HH Welsh gelding walking alongside.

I love it ! About the same amount of knowledge that I have on football, and racing cars, and that the light in the utility room not working was because there wasn't a bulb, not because of the lack of electricity to the light itself ! (god bless the electrician, he took mercy, and only charged me a small call out fee, to tell me I was a muppet !)

 

[ponynutz]

I love how diverse information and knowledge is !

I was stopped once, out hacking with my old guy (riden) and young guy (bridle alongside). The man was walking with his partner and kids. "ere ! - that horse has no hoofs on ! ". Yep, correct, neither of my horses are shod, so no, they don't make much noise, but yes, they do indeed have hooves.

Oh gosh that’s the sort of thing I’d say as a joke ?

The bit about explaining how animals do in fact have bits and pieces is hilarious though - how on earth can you not guess that??

 

[dogatemysalad]

I've been stopped in supermarket carparks by guinea pig and rabbit owners to ask where they can buy large bales of shavings or hay. I thought it was normal to carry bales in car boots, but apparently not.

 

[Arzada]

The old farmer who owns the farm I livery on said once that he thinks if everyone spent a year on a farm as part of their "schooling", a bit like National Service, the world would be a better place. They would benefit from the manual labour, from working on the land, from working outside in all weathers throughout the year, from being responsible for the welfare of living animals and seeing it through from life to death. I think I agree with him!

Well when I lived in a rural area, in fact right next to a farm with 2 more farms about 1/4 mile away all of which had at least two dwellings with gardens plus the at least 100 acres each and I was amazed to find that noone grew their own vegetables or had hens. And one of the three bought milk from the supermarket rather than ever buying it from a neighbouring farmer.

 

[Arzada]

I find it a bit sad how distanced some people are from reality these days!......

I find it extremely sad how mean some people are about others. Given some of the very basic questions asked on here sometimes and which receive considered and generous replies I don't see why anyone finds the need to be critical of those who you seem to be targeting ie townies.

 

[tallyho!]

The old farmer who owns the farm I livery on said once that he thinks if everyone spent a year on a farm as part of their "schooling", a bit like National Service, the world would be a better place. They would benefit from the manual labour, from working on the land, from working outside in all weathers throughout the year, from being responsible for the welfare of living animals and seeing it through from life to death. I think I agree with him!

Instead, the tories want another 2 years of maths out the little blighters... despair en masse.

 

[Arzada]

The same issue that some people have no idea where the meat they are eating comes from, or what is involved in getting it to the point you can buy it from the supermarket shelves in its little plastic wrapped tray.

And no farmer will take them on the journey will they. Farm attractions are full of happy animals etc. It's enough for me to attend the livestock market. I don't want to see any more. I do however hear the dairy cows calling for their missing calf. No one demos that do they. Anyone ever seen any see-the-killing-in-action abattoir visits on offer? No I thought not.

 

[saalsk]

Arzada (Sorry, I have no idea how to quote and stuff) - I was in no way being critical or mean, just pointing out a few times that people with lack of knowledge in some areas (hooves, other bits) have made interesting comments - we can't all be experts in all areas - I freely admit I am a total muppet at anything techy, and numerous other areas ! The people I met who commented on my horses hooves/shoes, had a lovely 15 mins of patting the horses, and giving them treats (I have loads in my pockets at all times, I am what is known as a push-over) and were very interested in the hoof/shoe information. I saw them again about a month later, and my old guy was in his trainers (hoof boots) and he laughed his head off that I called them his Rebucks !

 

[EllenJay]

I used to have a black 14.2 Welsh D and was hacking with my friend on her black 16.2 full TB. Her mare had shoes on, my Welshie was barefoot. We met a dad and his daughter who said “look - a mum and her baby”, they then asked if when my boy was fully grown would he have shoes on. He was 15!

 

[tallyho!]

Ignorance is bliss as some say and I have had some cute comments but I have been on the receiving end of some nasty stuff over the years... few and far between but still.

As a teen, riding a horse with a fly-veil on mid-summer because it was particularly bothered - a walker stopped and shouted arms a-waving at the top of her voice "how could you POSSIBLY, ride a horse that has been blinded"... she was spitting she was so angry. I explained it was to stop the flies and he could see through and... "liars, you're ALL LIARS. Horrible people.."

In my 20's, riding a rather muddy and sweaty horse through a gate, after I had let the man and his dogs through first - "you are a vile creature, what YOU PEOPLE do, what's wrong with YOU... disgusting you ought to be ashamed". (I remained silent - I was only 9.5stone at the time and he was 16hh! Did my bum look big on him?)

Riding an admittedly spooked horse once, with a child on a pony, on a road - a driver once shouted "that's it put it there so I can run you over, you t.... - go back to the past where you belong"...

Funny how you never forget the words - they cut particularly deep.

 

[crazyandme]

When I still had Reg, many people used to admire his bright pink hat and asked why did I make him wear it. All understood pretty quickly that it helped us be spotted a bit quicker on the road!

 

[rowan666]

My friends loaner was stopped twice in a week by walkers to ask if his mini cob was a Shetland or a shire ?

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Numerous times over the years at County shows I have asked how big my baby ponies will be when they grow up. I just used to laugh and explain to them what a shetland was and how equines differ in size depending on breed just like dogs do.

Realistically no question is a stupid question if you are genuinely interested in the answer and acknowledge your lack of knowledge of that particular area.

You would also think that people who work with horses for a living would be able to tell a Colt and a Gelding apart ... granted we rarely have colts on the yard but the yearlings are often left until 2yo before Gelding so we do have the odd one kicking about every winter.

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

As a teen, riding a horse with a fly-veil on mid-summer because it was particularly bothered - a walker stopped and shouted arms a-waving at the top of her voice "how could you POSSIBLY, ride a horse that has been blinded"... she was spitting she was so angry. I explained it was to stop the flies and he could see through and... "liars, you're ALL LIARS. Horrible people.."

I innocently showed a picture of my new companion horse to some non-horsey colleagues. She was wearing a fly mask because she couldn't bear to be without it at the time (as in she just stood there shaking her head like a crazy thing the minute I took it off). I got a comment of 'That's cruel, isn't it'. I then spent several minutes explaining the benefits of a fly mask, that she can see through it fine, can remove it if she really wants to and had made her choice on the matter very clear.
When I put the photo on facebook, I put a preemptive note about the fly mask.

I must admit, since the girls have been at home, I'm getting a little fed up with all the well meaning questions. The first few are ok, but half the village has now asked me the same questions. Perhaps I should just put up an information board like at the zoo...

 

[Gloi]

I have been asked if my pony with sweet itch, in his Boett rug and hood, was a Muslim.

 

[Julia0803]

We have a short round the block hack through the local housing estate. Thankfully never had anything nasty from the residents and some are positively lovely, one lady always comes out with a carrot- my food obsessed cob always walks slowly past her house, just in case she might pop out to see him!

We used to see one elderly lady walking her dog regularly, and she always asked us to stop so she could say hello and make a fuss. One day she asked if she could give him a treat… I asked what… she replied a dog treat. ? I said sorry, no… she looked a bit offended and said, ‘don’t worry, it’s just chicken and rice!’

What made it more difficult was I was struggling to hold his head and stop him frisking her as she’s rummaging in her pockets, getting these ‘treats’ out… he was quite convinced that chicken and rice were part of a nutritious pony diet!

 

[Esmae]

I have been asked if my pony with sweet itch, in his Boett rug and hood, was a Muslim.

We used to call my old horse's sw rug his burqa. A couple of non horsey friends asked why he wore it and we told them that his previous muslim owners had insisted that he did. They believed us!!!

 

[tallyho!]

I have been asked if my pony with sweet itch, in his Boett rug and hood, was a Muslim.

That’s is truly awful ?. On so many levels.

 

[misst]

My daughters godfather came to the yard one day with his new very glamorous Brazilian girlfriend. They admired our horses and then the girlfriend looked across the field where my friends fell pony was swathed in her Boett rug and screamed "an orse in a dress! what is this that you do!" I thought she would expire she was laughing so much and just kept saying "an orse in a dress". I still say it sometimes if I see a boett rug on an "orse".

 

[Sossigpoker]

I have been asked if my pony with sweet itch, in his Boett rug and hood, was a Muslim.

Omfg really ?? ??