no wonder horsey people get a bad name

[WelshGal]

makes me laugh now; but i was tampin at the time.

I had a day off from my revision and went the 30 odd miles to see my horses at my mums yesterday.

Anyway, i have 2 miniture shetland ponies, 3 welsh ponies section As (all 12hh), a dartmoor mare (12.3hh), a connermara (14.1hh) and an arab cross (14.2). I was messing around with them, the three welshies are babies and play games to get them interested in learning new things.

and this woman on what look very much like a tb that lives a mile away comes riding past; she stops to talk to me and turns around to me and says i need to get a proper size horse now that im an adult and stop wasting my time with pointless ponies.

I mean omg i turned around and told her to bugger off and went back to playing with my ponies but ive passed her on the road in my car and she never smiles of never says thankyou or anything.

Just makes me pissed cause those type of people give horsey people a bad name. Shes abit stuck up; and id put money on me having more fun with my ponies than she has with her big horse

 

[Toffee_monster]

Pah, just ignore her
Ive had people ignore my opinion cause I have a 12.2hh pony but thats their loss

 

[Mike007]

Clearly the woman has never been ++++++d in her life!

 

[Persephone]

She probably does have as much fun with hers as you do with yours tbh.

Are you sure she wasn't pulling your leg? Sounds a bit as though she touched a nerve!

 

[WelshGal]

no deff not pulling my leg, they way she said it and the face certainly didnt suggest it.

Well just went back to my business after saying that atleast my 8 are cheaper to keep than her 1 (mutual friend told me how much the horse costs her to keep).

 

[Persephone]

no deff not pulling my leg, they way she said it and the face certainly didnt suggest it.

Well just went back to my business after saying that atleast my 8 are cheaper to keep than her 1 (mutual friend told me how much the horse costs her to keep).

Lol! she does sound a bit strange!

But, really... it doesn't matter, whose horse is bigger or costs more to keep does it? You have what suits you, just enjoy it!

 

[DragonSlayer]

Years ago, I took my 13.2 pony (I'm only 5ft 3) to the riding club camp. Everyone looked down their noses at us, and made negative comments, even the intructor who told me I'd squash the poor 'ickle 'fing...

2 days later, we won the cup, shield and prizes for the best combination and most improved. In front of everyone, the instructor apologised and said he would never judge an adult and pony combination again before he could see what they could do....

We wiped the floor with all of them, my amazing mare showed all the 'grown-up horses' what to do, she never put a foot wrong, did everything I asked, and didn't refuse a thing. She was also the only one who completed the 'handy horse' course without throwing a spook or duck-fit at the obstacles....

I nearly went home, I was so upset at how we were being treated, and vowed never to jooin a riding club again....but since that day, it has never bothered me as to what people might think.

As long as you are happy.....that's all that matters.

I still have the shield, it sits pride of place next to the picture of Poppy, on which hangs a locket with pictures of her in it....we had her PTS due to arthritis over 6 years ago, the hardest choice I ever made...

Enjoy them, and bollox to her! Old witch...

 

[Mike007]

Anywyay ,I think Sh+tlands are really cool dudes.

 

[QueenOfCadence]

Puh! I have a 14.2 in Juniors EM and he kicks larger horse ass (though I also ride a lovely 17hh WB). Since when does size really matter? I bet she's just jealous because you can actually play with your ponies!

Hate all the bitchyness in the equine world. I'm so tired of the "holier-than-thou" attitude so many people seem to have

Little horses kick ass

(little horse half pass)

 

[Spotsrock]

I'm 31 and I squash a 14.3 and a 14hh. I don't look big on them and the walk all over the bigger horses!

 

[Dizzle]

She probably does have as much fun with hers as you do with yours tbh.

Are you sure she wasn't pulling your leg? Sounds a bit as though she touched a nerve!

This, you do sound a bit over sensitive about this!

My mother (who hasn't ridden since the 1960's/70's and rode an ex-racer herself) has often told me to "consider getting a cob, they may not look as pretty but they a hell of a lot less awkward"!

 

[DragonSlayer]

This, you do sound a bit over sensitive about this!

My mother (who hasn't ridden since the 1960's/70's and rode an ex-racer herself) has often told me to "consider getting a cob, they may not look as pretty but they a hell of a lot less awkward"!

...the thing is, one has to wonder...has anyone got any right at all to question someones choices? Joke or not...there are too many people in this world who like to stick their noses in where it has no right being.

 

[Persephone]

...the thing is, one has to wonder...has anyone got any right at all to question someones choices? Joke or not...there are too many people in this world who like to stick their noses in where it has no right being.

Unfortunately you will never stop people poking their noses in! In one ear, out the other and carry on your merry way! It's not worth getting het up about!

 

[Capriole]

to be fair though, she might sound like a bit of a cow saying stupid things like that about your ponies, but you saying 'id put money on me having more fun with my ponies than she has with her big horse' is as bad really isnt it.

I have a pony and a TB type 'big' horse, and they dont get less 'fun' the bigger they get.

Ignore her, if she says anything like that again just tell her to pee off and mind her own business

 

[.Redmerl]

I really don't understand why horsey folk are so mean to each other. We are all doing this horsey thing together and should be supporting each other.

 

[bumblelion]

I really don't understand why horsey folk are so mean to each other. We are all doing this horsey thing together and should be supporting each other.

^^^^this!^^^^^

 

[Ladydragon]

Years ago, I took my 13.2 pony (I'm only 5ft 3) to the riding club camp. Everyone looked down their noses at us, and made negative comments, even the intructor who told me I'd squash the poor 'ickle 'fing...

That did tickle me a bit...

My grand daughter has a loan pony... 13.1 ish New Forest type... Pony's mum has had her since she was 12 yrs old and pony was a sorry looking two year old at a sale... Pony is now 19 and the only reason she's on loan to us is Mum has a toddler and a new baby so is unable to spend time riding with any regularity...

Said pony is also of the opinion she is a 7yr old TB with a turbo charge unit stuck on her backside... Having an 'adult' owner keep, love and ride her for the majority of her life has obviously done them both the world of good and created a rather amazing bond...

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Well just went back to my business after saying that atleast my 8 are cheaper to keep than her 1 (mutual friend told me how much the horse costs her to keep).

Of course you aren't at all judgmental

 

[SamanthaUK]

Some people don't understand! Ponies are so much more fun. And you can go driving and showing with them so it's all good! :}

 

[Capriole]

Some people don't understand! Ponies are so much more fun. And you can go driving and showing with them so it's all good! :}

No they arent. another one with the generalisations. Any horse or pony is as much fun as you let them be and that you yourself are capable of having.
And you can show and drive horses too

 

[SamanthaUK]

No they arent. another one with the generalisations. Any horse or pony is as much fun as you let them be and that you yourself are capable of having.
And you can show and drive horses too

I know! I just mean that people are like ' ponies are useless when you're too big for them' when that's not true, you can do so much stuff with ponies !

 

[ausipaliboi]

I own a 16hh palomino TB who is every bit as stunning as he sounds (yes, I know, biased).

That doesn't change the fact that I would rather ride his paddock mate who is a 28yr old 13hh cranky pony

 

[WandaMare]

I know what the OP means though, some people do come out with put-down comments for no apparent reason, why can't they just say something nice....or say nothing! I don't think its just horsey people but having horses and ponies does present certain types with an opportunity to big themselves..........

i have had two recently.....was exercising a friend's pony over Xmas while she was visiting family. Mare is 14.2 and I am 5.4.....was passing two jodphured people on a field track and one of them said ' aren't you a bit old to still be riding ponies ' as I walked past...nice!

Was waiting to pay in saddlery behind a neighbour who I don't know very well except to say hello, she is BE competition rider and I am happer hacker.....when she saw me she said 'oh its you, are you still 'playing with your ponies'.....it might not meant to have sounded patronising, but it did come across quite badly....

So i'm with the OP on this one, it doesn't do much to bring horsey people together

 

[nikCscott]

Clearly the woman has never been ++++++d in her life!

 

[Bettyboo222]

I'm just over 5ft4 and ride a 41" shetland, He thinks he is a 17hh shire with a jet pack strapped to his back.

On a positive note, We ALWAYS win races with the other bigger horses

 

[rascal]

Some people are way too fond of their own opinion. You enjoy your ponies, its not doing her any harm, cheeky monkey.
I had a 13.2 cob mare from when i was about 19 for 10 yrs and some people did say something about her being a pony. It was funny though in theclear round when all their big horses refused and my little pony went round like a tank and they had to eat their words.

 

[WelshGal]

sorry i should have put abit of background. but this is the type of woman who doesnt just pop out to see her horse; she leaves all the messy work and the best work (in my opinion) to her husband. she just tacks the horse up and goes for rides. mostly she rides in the little sand school they have but has been doing road work to get the horse back into shape after having some time off before they start showing (all recieved from mutual friend).

every chance i get, even if i have a spare half hour (when i was living at home that is) id go see my ponies, just have a walk around the feild or cuddles. Their like my best buddies (which im sure that horse is to the husband) but my horses are part of my family.

i would have been quite happy with "hi, how are you? youve got a lot of horses now or they look good this winter" from her, seen as when i saw her stop i said how good her horse looked. its not hard to just say something nice, even if its just to say how hairy my lot are. it makes me laugh now, though i would love a big horse; it would mean parting with some of my little ones so it will never happen.... maybe in the future.

One of the reasons i dont want to have any of mine in livery is because of this reason. Mine are all hairy, my mare who i ride (12.3hh dartmoor) as soon as she starts schooling or goes into a school she lays down so we dont school. and ive been to shows which ive hacked to (cause their close enough) and ive had comments like "oh she hacked here; obviously cant afford a trailer ... she shouldnt own a horse if she cant afford one" some of my best times are out hacking or packing every single thing into a car and racing (cross country off course) my mum in the car (on the roads) to the show site. That was my last ridden show and i have never been again. If i show its always for someone else and in hand.

anyway the womans comments effected me at the time but just makes me giggle now.

 

[MagicMelon]

You just need to take your ponies to a show and beat her, that's always fun. I used to get comments like that all the time on my 14.2hh who I competed until I was about 20. Thing was it was simply jealousy as he beat the horses all the time...! I'm on horses nowadays but still love jumping on my little 13.2hh nown and again - they're 10 times more fun than horses.

 

[Orchardbeck]

We have loads of shetties and people always ask - but what do you DO with them...well watching them in a herd is amazing, you learn so much about herd dynamics, but we show them, teach them to drive, and lead young children around on them, they are so good. Spending time in the field with them is so much fun as they crowd round you for attention, they are far more affectionate than my riding horse -who incidentally is 14hh, so yes a pony- I am 5'1" and that is the size I feel comfortable riding. Ponies are great!

 

[Persephone]

Welshgal, maybe there is a valid reason that the lady doesn't do a lot of the hard work. Perhaps she can't do it?

Perhaps she is the one bringing in the money and her husband is suppoting her by doing the work? Just don't judge people until you have walked a mile in their shoes!