Lovely question from a non-horsey person

[Goldenstar]

There was the lady who moved into the village who decided I must not be very nice because I sent my horses into the field in blindfolds .

 

[Pippity]

I told my boss at the time that my then share horse had lost a lump of hoof. He seemed surprisingly devastated on my behalf. The horse was going to have a couple of weeks off work but didn't need box rest or anything.

Turned out, he didn't realise the hoof would grow back. He thought the horse would need to be PTS.

 

[ArklePig]

When my sister got her first pony aged around 9, a fellow school mum asked mine what we would do with her when she grew into a horse.

Also, about 3 or 4 years ago I returned home from a riding lesson and Mr AP asked how Coco, my favourite was. I told him she was lame so I'd ridden another. He asked me in all sincerity if I was okay, he thought lame = PTS. He has furthered his education since then.

 

[ycbm]

I had a driver wind his window down once and say "why do you ride on the road, why don't you ride in the fields!?". The look of shock on his face when I replied that I didn't own the fields and had no permission to ride in the fields was a picture. He thought we could all just ride wherever we liked.
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[Esmae]

I had a driver wind his window down once and say "why do you ride on the road, why don't you ride in the fields!?". The look of shock on his face when I replied that I didn't own the fields and had no permission to ride in the fields was a picture. He thought we could all just ride wherever we liked.
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I've had that as well.

 

[Peglo]

I was discussing with farmers how I had to limit the amount of stable time my old pony had as it wasn’t good for her to stand in for long. They tried to counter the argument that their bulls stay penned in all winter without any ill effects so it should be fine for my pony to stay in instead of going out in the horrible weather.

I asked them how long they keep their bulls and they told me until about age 10 before they get replaced. I had to explain how I don’t want to replace my old pony and happy to pay to keep her as a pet which they would not do with their bulls.

safe to say I’m much more sentimental than them but they got my point, although they think I’m crazy for spending the money on horses. So it’s not just ‘townies’ that don’t get the horse thing. I enjoy people asking about the horses

 

[Birker2020]

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.

Yes, I look at that and think what a rip off.

Every now and then when this is reduced (or one similar) I buy one and put a small handful in my horses tea every night for a bit of variety. He loves it.

 

[Birker2020]

I was asked "do you do gymkanas?" when I was a 5ft 9" 25 year old!
And another common question was "what happens to horses when they die, do they go to a glue factory or something?"
And nearly always asked "Aren't they expensive to keep". Hell yes!

Very strange how peoples minds work.

 

[Polos Mum]

My 100% favourite (although not horsey was informative) was out riding through a big local park in spring along a lane.

We were just next to a couple in their 50's I'd guess and the lady turned to the guy and said ...............................

"How nice that the mummy toad is carrying her babies across the road"

Imagine living 50 years and not knowing about tadpoles ??!??!?

 

[Tarragon]

I was riding my 13hh Exmoor pony, and I had that blue and white chequered band around my hat, and the pony had one around his neck, and I was wearing a hi-viz waistcoat (but not the POLITE one) and someone thought I was a police officer!

 

[Barton Bounty]

I have given my horses poop to a school teacher for their garden ? and I gave a friend a bagful of hay for a halloween costume for which she was going to buy a bale ?

 

[Birker2020]

I was riding my 13hh Exmoor pony, and I had that blue and white chequered band around my hat, and the pony had one around his neck, and I was wearing a hi-viz waistcoat (but not the POLITE one) and someone thought I was a police officer!

I got asked that a few times over the years too, but I expected it being tall and riding a 17.1hh. At least I looked like a copper.
But a 13hh Exmoor, how funny

 

[humblepie]

I like it at shows where people with children come up and ask questions or ask if they can stroke the horse. It’s nice to get engagement and explain things.

 

[ycbm]

I had a guy stop his car this morning and wind his window down to tell me what a pretty horse Ludo was. That was nice ?

 

[criso]

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.

That's what I thought.

Should we be mean to people who come up to London for the day and don't know that buses are contactless or struggle to use a ticket machine. Or those that can't navigate a website or spot what seems to me an obvious phone scam. That is arguably a more necessary skill than knowing the difference between hay and straw given a very limited section of society will ever need to decide what goes in a haynet and what to put on the floor.

 

[Fransurrey]

When I rode Exmoors I was told I had a gorgeous foal on numerous occasions. One grown man even asked me how big he would be when fully grown (he was about 16 at the time, I think!). I was riding each time this happened and did have to point out that foals aren't ridden, much in the same way we don't have 5 year olds carrying stacks of bricks...

I also had the issue of people thinking he was the foal of my 16.3 hh ID gelding. I'm rural, too, so you'd think people would be a bit more connected! Always got a giggle when they realised that both had willies, though.

 

[Birker2020]

I've got the sarcastic comments like people will say 'Tally Ho' at you as they drive past. Not sure if it is a jealousy thing, or they think just because you have a horse you are rolling in money
And comments at work like "you should really pay road tax if you are going on the road".
And I was honestly asked once "why can't you get off and pick up your horses poo?" (like what the heck am I meant to do with it - stuff it down my bra or something - that's even if I had the gymnastic prowess to jump off a 17.1hh and get back on again with a mounting block in sight)

 

[Fluffypiglet]

I have no issue with people asking questions and showing an interest, albeit I get that if it’s continual it could get a bit wearing. One thing on my FB feed was an indicator of where a lack of knowledge is a problem was where some dogs had taken down some sheep and caused injuries and death. The police have the owner of the dogs and his excuse was that he didn’t think the sheep would be out in the field because it was raining… ?

 

[sport horse]

We all came into this world knowing nothing. We only learn that with which we come into contact. I think it is horrible to mock someone who asks advice about something they knpw nothing about but you do. Be helpful- be kind.

 

[ycbm]

I don't see any mocking going on on this thread.

People are entitled to find other people's comments amusing and to comment on it.

It's not mocking.

 

[sport horse]

[

I don't see any mocking going on on this thread.

People are entitled to find other people's comments amusing and to comment on it.

It's not mocking.

I think offering to sell a 'bale of straw for £25', selling 'your old stuff' etc. is pretty vile myself. Luckily when we finally were able to buy our own land the local farmers were much nicer and helped us find our way through the maze of grassland management etc and to this day, some half a century later, they grow my hay for me ( having seeded one of their field especially to provide my needs), build in my straw requirements in what is baled, trim hedges without being asked, remove my muck heap etc etc. Lovely kind people. Lets all be kind.

 

[criso]

I don't see any mocking going on on this thread.

People are entitled to find other people's comments amusing and to comment on it.

It's not mocking.

It wasn't so much the anecdotes, I could do a few about tourists trying to use the tube or older people with a computer, it was more the expectation that people should know. A suggestion that people spend time on a farm like national service, feeling sad that they are distanced from rural life or food production.

None of this knowledge is any more valuable or useful than other types for most people's day to day lives.

 

[ycbm]

I think offering to sell a 'bale of straw for £25', selling 'your old stuff' etc. is pretty vile myself.

I thought it was blindingly obviously a joke.
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[FitzyFitz]

I've had someone ask if my horse had rubber shoes on because she wasn't going clip clop. She was barefoot.
Also had people exclaiming in delight at the horse wearing wellies when they had over reach or hoof boots on.
And had to give the "yes the shoe really is nailed on, no it doesn't hurt, if it did farriers would have very very short careers" talk many many times but tbh on that one.. if you don't know how horses hooves are structured, nailing things to them DOES seem awfully barbaric.

Moved to the country last year but kept my horses in a city for donkeys years so i have heard every funny question going, and I always answered them if I had time and let people interact with the ponies if it was safe. Lots of them had never seen horses so close before and some were super interested to get explanations of their behaviour, particularly when we were watching them in the field.

Only question that ever stumped me was when one little boy stopped me out hacking and asked why my horses feet didn't match. He was a grey gelding with 3 socks so of course you can't see the dark and light skin under the white fur on all 4 legs. I explained to the boy that it was because he had black skin on one leg and white on the other three, so his feet matched his skin. We'd also had the discussion of how hooves are just big finger nails so the boy looked at his own hands and pointed out that his skin was black but his nails were white and did I know why it was different for the horse? I had to fess up that I hadn't a clue but suggested he ask his parents or science teacher. I looked it up later and the (perhaps obvious) answer is that horses have a different mutation on the gene that affects keratin colour than we do so theirs matches their skin colour and ours doesn't. Sadly even though I always looked out for him when I rode that way I never saw that kid again!

 

[blitznbobs]

[


I think offering to sell a 'bale of straw for £25', selling 'your old stuff' etc. is pretty vile myself. Luckily when we finally were able to buy our own land the local farmers were much nicer and helped us find our way through the maze of grassland management etc and to this day, some half a century later, they grow my hay for me ( having seeded one of their field especially to provide my needs), build in my straw requirements in what is baled, trim hedges without being asked, remove my muck heap etc etc. Lovely kind people. Lets all be kind.

Mine at least was meant as a joke — hence the smiley

 

[Celtic Fringe]

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.

Oddly a visit to the local abbatoir was one of my more unusual school visits around 35 years ago. It was quite a small scale local abbatoir and we saw cattle being sent through from stunning to carcasses ready for the local butcher. I suspect that many slaughter houses are on a much more industrial scale now - economies of scale. I do eat meat but am very selective about what I buy, partly because I know exactly how it has been produced.

On a much lighter note my YO and their family had a discussion about which horses they might need to eat first if there was an apocalypse! After some debate they decided the older warmbloods would not survive in the wild and so would need to be first to go. The native good doers live on fresh air and could haul logs etc etc so gradually got pushed down the list!!