Kallibear
Well-Known Member
2 people said that to me yesterday over the space of a couple of hours.
I'm so mad
. And saddened
Two people who should otherwise know better - they've had horses for years and years and by all accounts are competant and experienced.
Young girl at the yard (but old enough to know better - she's 15!) has an elderly pony who's saddles don't fit - one's too long, one's far too narrow, the other has a broken tree.
I was her 'experienced help' and wouldn't let her ride in any, esp as the girl is really quite big for the pony (all 12hh of her) however she's decided she didn't like my advise anymore and a has two 'new best friends' older ladies whos advice is much more fun.
After a show down over her riding in one of the saddles (the broken tree'd one) which even she admits will hurt the pony, she went off in a huff and bitched to X, who had told her they'd be 'fine'.
X later confronted me and asked 'what was wrong with the saddles'. Appart from being gobsmacked that she couldn't see the problems initially (they are seriously obvious!) she went on to say "but it doesn't matter. She's a little old pony who will won't exactly go eventing in them, so she'll be fine. She only wants to ride her pony."
And meant it. She genuinely doesn't think it matters that the saddle doesn't fit the pony, because she's old and won't be doing strenous things anymore.
Later on in the day the young girl has new best friend Y 'fitting' one of the saddle to the pony and on passing I overheard "she's gettting on a bit now, and you won't be doing much more than hacking now, so it'll be fine. just put a pad under it"
For a saddles that's literally 6 widths too narrow (she's a xxxxwide, saddle's a medium - it sits 6inchs higher at the front than back!)
And the saddest thing is the young girls decideds she's definintly likes their advice better and there's nothing I can do about it
Poor pony's so good and honest and won't make a fuss either. Some people make me so cross
Young girl at the yard (but old enough to know better - she's 15!) has an elderly pony who's saddles don't fit - one's too long, one's far too narrow, the other has a broken tree.
I was her 'experienced help' and wouldn't let her ride in any, esp as the girl is really quite big for the pony (all 12hh of her) however she's decided she didn't like my advise anymore and a has two 'new best friends' older ladies whos advice is much more fun.
After a show down over her riding in one of the saddles (the broken tree'd one) which even she admits will hurt the pony, she went off in a huff and bitched to X, who had told her they'd be 'fine'.
X later confronted me and asked 'what was wrong with the saddles'. Appart from being gobsmacked that she couldn't see the problems initially (they are seriously obvious!) she went on to say "but it doesn't matter. She's a little old pony who will won't exactly go eventing in them, so she'll be fine. She only wants to ride her pony."
Later on in the day the young girl has new best friend Y 'fitting' one of the saddle to the pony and on passing I overheard "she's gettting on a bit now, and you won't be doing much more than hacking now, so it'll be fine. just put a pad under it"
And the saddest thing is the young girls decideds she's definintly likes their advice better and there's nothing I can do about it