My age or this forum?

WelshD said:
Its the forum not you.. Its worse on facebook

While horses are cheap and DIY livery cheaper than most riding lessons things aint gonna get any rosier...
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I really don't want to agree with you because it sounds like you're saying that people who keep their horses on DIY livery are numpties who don't know when to call a vet or otherwise don't look after their horses properly, but that's probably me being prickly. I can agree with the broad argument you're making, there are a lot of people who get horses either for themselves or their kids not having to think too hard about what they're going to do with them or even learn what they should being doing with them. People do it with dogs, rabbits, reptiles, fish, birds and poor animal suffers. It's very sad.

I don't post most of the grumpy replies I make to posts on forums and Facebook, I just delete them and remind myself no one gives a toss what I think anyway. On the yard in real life it's a bit harder but even then I try to keep my increasing grumpiness to myself
 
HaffiesRock said:
.......

Ordinarily I ignore stupid posts from people on here .......
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Does anyone ever read those posts which start "My horse wont......."?.. and then feel like replying "Shoot the bloody thing"! Or perhaps, "What colour's my pony"? and feel like replying "The ****ing thing's pink, what colour would you like it to be"? ;)

To date I've resisted the temptation to be openly rude, but having read the replies, that's all coming to an end. :cool:

Right, I'm going to start with the O_P..... "Being ancient is not grounds enough to treat everyone like a fool. That youth can be stupid is actually a right of passage, and one to which both you and I probably availed ourselves"! How's that for a start? :p

Your turn, anyone, be as rude to me as you like, as others, I suppose that I've asked for it!! :D:D

Alec.

ps, before the storm, I'd just point out that this is all a bit tic! a. ;)
 
WelshD said:
Its the forum not you.. Its worse on facebook

While horses are cheap and DIY livery cheaper than most riding lessons things aint gonna get any rosier...
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That is why they do it.......... I spoke to lady who was all set to buy her g/daughter a pony as it would only be £25.00 per week, and when I pointed out that was only for the stable, and summer grazing , and that it needs to be seen twice a day in winter, then there are a few extras like feed, bedding, vet, farrier, insurance, and so on, she seemed quite surprised, ......... no she would not need lessons as she would have her own pony, so at least that expense would reduce !!!
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Nope, not your age - when you get even older, you will type a reply, walk off - return to screen & not post but sigh & hit the back button instead.
(then go back to read the multitude of replies lol)


;)
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I have hit this stage, including when certain posters respond to one of my replies with an unnecessarily rude one. The examples above frighten me!
 
Recent telephone conversation:

Caller (Man): "What do you charge to keep a pony?" (No 'good morning' or any niceties)
Me: "I beg your pardon?"
Caller "We're going to get my kiddy a pony. Do you keep ponies?"
Me: "I don't keep ponies myself. Do you mean you're looking for livery for this pony?"
Caller: "Dunno... What's livery?"
I explain.
Caller: "Oh right. Well she's been riding two months and she's had lessons so we thought we'd get a pony"
Me: "Are you horsy?" (I know the answer to that one already!)
Caller: No. Why?"
Me: "Well who's going to look after this pony?"
Caller: "Well ...how much looking after will it need..?"
I tell him. I suggest he sticks to the riding stables.
Caller: "No, it's not the same. The kiddy really wants a pony of her own"
Me (tiring of this conversation) "Well I'm afraid I can't help you. I've no vacancies, and even if I did I wouldn't take on a set-up like yours."
Caller: "Money's not a problem!"
Me: "No, to me neither!"
And then, dear reader, I banged the phone down on him.
And now you know why I'm a grumpy old cow!
 
QUOTE} It is actually frightening how little knowledge people have, but we all started somewhere but when I read yet another .....
........mum bought me a horse last week, it used to belong to Sheik H******** , it is much bigger than I am used to at the riding school, but I will grow in to it, it only knows how to go in straight lines, and seems to throw its head up and down, so I always keep a good hold on the reins to stop that.
She will only go up the road if I lead her, but as soon as we have bonded, we will be fine, the farrier says it has typical T.B. feet and so has suggested she gets a few weeks off as she seem to be hopping on three legs, not bad enough to call a vet out as she manages to get out to to the field.
I know it seems a bit cold at night, but I she will be getting a rug for her Christmas, I don't want to spoil the surprise.
What I really wanted to know is, are there any pink rugs with diamonte stars? {UNQUOTE
nix123 said:
SERIOUSLY?? :eek: WTF?? :eek::eek: This is why we should have to take an IQ test to own horses!:mad::mad:
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Sorry, no this is not an actual quote, but just a compilation from here and from observation of a new purchase in the yard....... the T.B. is real and the treatment just as described!
 
I feel your pain, I too see some of these threads and despair although I must admit I don't post on them very much now as I haven't the patience. In real life I've had a few corkers:
1. Lady who knew my Mum asked me to help out with little pony she'd been given as she wondered why the pony wasn't eating the tinned cat food she was offering it
2.Large woman who was also pregnant (approx 15-16 stone and getting larger every week) asked me to fit her saddle, she was angry when I told her you're weight is an issue and threatened to turf me off the yard. Horse was ex racer with arthritis, never asked back to that yard!
3. Asked to fit a saddle to another T/B, horse had an injury on it's back, was told their physio had said keep her in work. I asked " what very gentle work to stop her seizing up? " (personally I would have turned her away until back was sorted but I'm no physio or vet and can happily be corrected on this by any of you lot) "no", was the answer, "we've entered her into a 2 day event and we won't get our entry money back so we can't cancel".
The horse had 3 very inflammed vertebrae where the saddle sits, after giving my advice I walked away from that one and found out about a year later they had to get rid of her as they couldn't do anything with her.
4. Was asked to fit small saddle to 13.2 pony for woman's Daughter, did that,flocked saddle and left. Called back a week later as pony had bad back, it turns out woman had ridden pony (on small saddle fitted to suit small 13 year old daughter) woman was around 15 stone possibly more and her bottom must have been hanging over the back of the saddle.When challenged on WHY she rode the pony she said"oh that was by accident"
5.Sold a small saddle to another girl who had 12.2 hh pony, it fitted well and I flocked it to fit, 2 weeks later I had her step dad on phone threatening to blow my knee caps off with his shotgun as pony couldn't be ridden. Went back, saddle fitted fine, took saddle,refunded and walked away to be told a while later that no one can ride it with any saddle as it has had a few heavy people (over weight kids) on the saddle I sold after I left the first time, no saddlers would touch it or the family.
6.Had a girl who'd bought a huge Hunter who was fired up, very over horsed herself. Turned up at yard to fit her saddle, found the stable where horse was, could see she was scared of him, he knew it and knew she would not cope tried to tell her but ignored and insisted he'd settle down so went back to fetch my van round with tools in and by the time I returned the stable was empty and no owner??
The horse had taken one look at her and saddle jumped over the door, smashed his way through a gate as was last seen flat out gallop down the BUSY road.My advice, sell him to someone who can handle him.
7.Had 6'4" woman (YES HONESTLY) on Icelandic Horse of 13.2hh on a 18" Icelandic saddle and wondered why animal reared up when it saw her coming with the saddle.
8.Had woman who's Daughter's pony had sores all down it's back from saddle.Puzzled as saddle fitted but poor pony was in agony, asked how often pony is ridden, "about 3-4 hours once every 2 weeks" no wonder it had sores!
Was never asked back to that yard or any of the others either!
This is just a SMALL selection over the years, I have more, so it's not just you who has noticed lack of common sense or ignorance at the expense of the animal in question.
Oz
 
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This is the only horsey forum that I inhabit, and I imagine that on here we get a more educated type of numpty than on the more low rent versions. Which is a truly terrifying thought.

I've always suffered fools badly in RL, but I've at last got the excuse of menopausal middle age to justify it! I always have, though, and always will (just like other folks on this thread) jumped in to help someone in genuine trouble.

It's the threads where it's clearly a 'GET THE VET ASAP' job that get me wound up the most.
 
I've joined just to comment on this thread! I do not understand but it seems to me that people would rather post on social networking sites/forums for veterinary advice then put their hands in their pocket and get a qualified opinion from someone who as seen their horse!
 
MrsD123 said:
That is why they do it.......... I spoke to lady who was all set to buy her g/daughter a pony as it would only be £25.00 per week, and when I pointed out that was only for the stable, and summer grazing , and that it needs to be seen twice a day in winter, then there are a few extras like feed, bedding, vet, farrier, insurance, and so on, she seemed quite surprised, ......... no she would not need lessons as she would have her own pony, so at least that expense would reduce !!!
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A neighbour sold a few acres next to my yard last year. Enter woman who had ridden a bit as a child, and after a few lessons 20+ years later bought herself a honking great badly mannered brute of a cob. Which she promptly parked in the field. Because that's all there is to owning a horse, isn't it? She really had no idea she'd have to feed hay during the winter ("but his old owner said he lived on fresh air"). And then along came a livery who had absolutely no horsey experience but had had the cracking idea of buying a 4-year old, barely broken pony for her 8-year old daughter who'd been having weekly lessons for a few months. And I'm being generous when I say the pony was broken, they couldn't do a thing with it. Cue several months of entertainment interspersed with episodes of horror (thankfully, no animals or children were hurt).
Land has now been sold and on and both cob and pony are currently advertised on Preloved and not a word of truth in either ad.
Muppets.
 
Buddy'sMum said:
A neighbour sold a few acres next to my yard last year. Enter woman who had ridden a bit as a child, and after a few lessons 20+ years later bought herself a honking great badly mannered brute of a cob. Which she promptly parked in the field. Because that's all there is to owning a horse, isn't it? She really had no idea she'd have to feed hay during the winter ("but his old owner said he lived on fresh air"). And then along came a livery who had absolutely no horsey experience but had had the cracking idea of buying a 4-year old, barely broken pony for her 8-year old daughter who'd been having weekly lessons for a few months. And I'm being generous when I say the pony was broken, they couldn't do a thing with it. Cue several months of entertainment interspersed with episodes of horror (thankfully, no animals or children were hurt).
Land has now been sold and on and both cob and pony are currently advertised on Preloved and not a word of truth in either ad.
Muppets.
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I always recoil in horror when some vague acquaintance tells me they are buying a pony for their little one whose had possibly six months of lessons, cos they're really cheap you know? And the stables only a tenner a week so it's pointless paying for lessons.
I casually mention feed, teeth, feet, hay ,supplements, wormers, vets bill's, 6am mucking out and usually I hear no more about it ;)
 
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I completely agree.

I haven't bothered to post on many threads even tho I have a good solid answer because the absolute idiotic first post just winds me up!
If you really can't afford for a vet once you get horse then don't get it!!!!


It's the RS people that really have no idea when it comes to looking for a first horse that you are nit going to find one like in the riding school out in the big bad horse world as is the totally opposite of what you are learning on!!!! Had some one look round my YO yard a few years ago, wanted a stable, going to get firs horses but had no idea how to muck out, general care and was worried they wouldn't be able to be up twice a day because the yard was 15 minutes from their house/work......when told we do assist at extra they replied "oh I can't afford that. I will have to fine a yard closer to home"


That yard was the closer one to home!!!!


Grrrrrr
 
I don't mind helping out first time owners, we all started somewhere. I get a bit fed up with the habitual eejits though - the ones that never learn and are quite probably just being purposefully daft. But unless it is a welfare issue for an animal or child/vulnerable adult, I will generally not worry. (Welfare issues and tbh I go over their heads and inform someone able to do whatever needs done. Vet, YO, social services, etc.)

The ones that irritate the heck out of me are the ones who really do know better. They just don't care enough to do the right thing.

The person that knowingly sells the dodgy horse to the novice owner, the farrier who shoes a lame horse or trims one who actually needs nothing done, the saddler who notices a horse appears to be in pain and says nothing to the client as they want to be paid, the instructor who only wants as many pupils in the lesson as possible and doesn't give a fig about whether they learn anything or are the right weight for the horse they are on, the breeder who reckons their aged mare owes them yet another foal before she goes to the meat man...

Yep, that bunch do tend to get the sharp side of my tongue.
 
Sorry Skint1 thats not what i meant i promise - i rent a place, cant get more DIY than that lol

Its just that its a comparison i see so many times - £25 for a lesson v £25 for DIY livery and as much riding as they like.

As many have pointed out some forget there are lots of extra costs which get swept under the carpet or worse... Never met
 
I often feel I cant bite my tongue anymore whereas I am sure I found it much easier in the past I am only 42, as you get wiser the stupid things people do or say just seem even more stupid, I also think social networking sites and forums are a haven for people just to ask or say anything, just for the sake of it because they can and think most dont really think about what they are asking before they start tapping away.
 
You also don't care what you look like (at least I don't) do get a shock the odd time I have to confront a mirror on the rare occasion I have to posh up
 
I think it just gets to a point where people's opinions of you are irrelevant and so you don't mind your mouth as much. Say it how it is inside of going round and round without getting to the point. Best way imo.
 
I think there's not caring about people's opinions of you, which is all fine and something to be admired, but you do occasionally get people who use this as a license to be unecessarily rude and intolerant; other people's feelings be damned. I think the internet makes it easy to forget there's another human being at the other end.

And some of the anecdotes in this thread are really horrifying!
 
There's a difference between being blunt and being rude. I don't see a problem withh saying what you think, just stick to the facts: what you think is wrong, why it is wrong, and what you would do differently. Don't tell people that you think they are idiots, that they should have never got a horse etc. They will just get defensive and not listen to any advice you have to offer.

I've become more tolerant and less blunt with age. I therefore don't necessarily think that your increased prickliness has anything to do with your age. I think it's overexposure to Facebook. You say that it affects how you talk to people at work, this really is not great because saying the wrong thing to the wrong person could have negative consequences for your career. If I were you I would stay away from the Facebook pages that annoy you and see if that makes a difference.
 
fattylumpkin said:
I think there's not caring about people's opinions of you, which is all fine and something to be admired, but you do occasionally get people who use this as a license to be unecessarily rude and intolerant; other people's feelings be damned. I think the internet makes it easy to forget there's another human being at the other end.

And some of the anecdotes in this thread are really horrifying!
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The cat food one really got to me for some reason. Cats like to hunt and kill mice, horses eat grass, why would someone think that it is a good idea to give cat food to a horse?!
 
I've got worse over the past two years. I've moved to an area, where lets just say, there is plenty of money due to a certain industry and not much of the tradition of horsemanship you get elsewhere, no hunting, etc.. What really gets me is that the number of people you meet who will actually interfere and tell me, who does things in a very orthodox way and has worked at some yards, that they are doing things wrong.

Examples include -

- it won't hurt to not bother turning out your horses until midday at weekends because you cant be bothered getting up, the horses don't like going out in the cold anyway.
- Horses can be fed silage
- Laminitis has nothing to do with overfeeding
- Horses can just eat grass in winter and don't need hay
- Any horse over 16hh is huge
- Horses coming up to you and barging into your space is just "being friendly" (oops they've kicked/bitten/trodden on you)
- A heavier rider is a stronger rider
- Horses losing condition has nothing to do with them never having their teeth checked
- Just let your horse go as fast as he likes and see what he does (cue flat out bolt round the jumping ring)
- Don't bother getting your horse fit for jumping, just jump it at the weekend after 6 months off
- From one of their "special" breeds of farrier - your horses' (note plural) shoes are only lasting 3 1/2 weeks because you are "overhacking" your horse - point out I only ride for 30 minutes, 5 times a week, usually not on roads, - "its because your horse's hocks are done" - horse is 100% and reverts to former jumping form once shod elsewhere
- And what is it with leaving wheelbarrows, "arms" sticking out, in the way of horses, at random points?

I don't see why there should be such incompetence around, because its so easy to read books, magazine and internet articles on horses, offering a huge wealth of information. It must be a kind of wilfull stupidity. I learned a lot by watching people who knew far more than me, getting involved with horses and generally getting as much experience as possible. I am on a DIY yard which is lovely in many respects but has several very novicey people who have owned horses for years and do a lot of things wrong (often resulting in problems for their horses). I go to shows regularly, but they seem to be more jealous of me for this than interested in coming along and watching or anything as radical as that.

I actually have a theory for it. I think it is caused by people being very spoilt and cossetted by their parents, and never criticised, and not made to socialise properly with people outside their own family. They then bring up their own children that way...

I think too much of it makes you totally exasperated after a while, whatever your age.
 
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