Snobbery in the horse world and happy hackers.

Holly Hocks said:
Have you ever thought that some people may only hack because their horse has been injured and can now only hack out? They're not cold-hearted enough to have their broken toy PTS so they can buy a shiny new one. They are horse lovers.
There are dressage riders competing at a LOT higher level than you who don't have access to an all-weather floodlit, perfectly harrowed arena and have to school in fields and on the roads who get an excellent performance from their horses.
There are a lot of people on this forum who will have competed at a much higher level than you will ever achieve who are now only happy hackers. If I were one of them, I would be truely offended by your comments.
And as for your comment "don't pretend you know everything about higher standards of riding, schooling etc", I believe the level you are currently working at requires very little knowledge of any of the higher standards.
I did take the liberty of having a look at your web/blog/it's all about me site......your saddlecloth needs washing. I think I would remove some of those photos - they are not flattering. In your case, less would be most definitely more....
Good luck in your dressage career.
Click to expand...


*like*
 
You might want to wash your saddlecloth first though, or the horse will have a sore back.
I hope you understand why I aimed my comment at you. Nobody is perfect, but to state so surely as you did, that poeple who just hack are inferior riders is as offensive to me, as you found my post to you. So we are equal now.
 
dressagelove said:
I have hunted, evented, been riding since I was 4, and have an excellent seat
Click to expand...

:rolleyes: If you're going to post boastful stuff like that, Dressagelove, you shouldn't be surprised if people want to bring you down a peg or two.

Personally, I always think that whether or not a rider has an excellent seat isn't really for them to say. If you have, it will be obvious to others. Boasting about it does you no favours.

I'm NOT getting at you. It's just you seem to be digging yourself into a hole again....:rolleyes:
 
Holly Hocks said:
Have you ever thought that some people may only hack because their horse has been injured and can now only hack out? They're not cold-hearted enough to have their broken toy PTS so they can buy a shiny new one. They are horse lovers.
There are dressage riders competing at a LOT higher level than you who don't have access to an all-weather floodlit, perfectly harrowed arena and have to school in fields and on the roads who get an excellent performance from their horses.
There are a lot of people on this forum who will have competed at a much higher level than you will ever achieve who are now only happy hackers. If I were one of them, I would be truely offended by your comments.
And as for your comment "don't pretend you know everything about higher standards of riding, schooling etc", I believe the level you are currently working at requires very little knowledge of any of the higher standards.
I did take the liberty of having a look at your web/blog/it's all about me site......your saddlecloth needs washing. I think I would remove some of those photos - they are not flattering. In your case, less would be most definitely more....
Good luck in your dressage career.
Click to expand...

Again, another personal attack on someone who doesnt know me. That is not my arena, it is my instructors. And how on earth do you know what level I will achieve? Everyone has to start at the bottom. Also, I later on in this thread recognised my comments had been taken the wrong way, and I corrected this, and recognised the wisdom of all the points you have so kindly pointed out. I was big enough to apologise for anything I may have said to upset anyone.
 
FionaM12 said:
Personally, I always think that whether or not a rider has an excellent seat isn't really for them to say. If you have, it will be obvious to others. Boasting about it does you no favours.
Click to expand...

I have an excellent seat.







Oh wait, no, I meant I have a fat @rse. That's not the same, is it?







:(






;)
 
FionaM12 said:
:rolleyes: If you're going to post boastful stuff like that, Dressagelove, you shouldn't be surprised if people want to bring you down a peg or two.

Personally, I always think that whether or not a rider has an excellent seat isn't really for them to say. If you have, it will be obvious to others. Boasting about it does you no favours.

I'm NOT getting at you. It's just you seem to be digging yourself into a hole again....:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Lol, i know, I will wise up soon and stop digging? I only meant having a good seat in being able to stick on *sometimes* when my horse spooks, bucks, legs it etc which he does regularly. Apparently according to people on here my dressage seat needs work, well thanks, I will bear it in mind :)
 
ARRGGH! The kitchen cupboards just went nuts and blew open! Laptop almost ended up on the floor...!

Sky Premiere is anyone is interested....!

...and when that low rumble starts...I bet it was hair-raising in the cinema! :(
 
dressagelove said:
I have hunted, evented, been riding since I was 4, and have an excellent seat, regardless of what you might think, so bring it on, I am up for extreme hacking.
Click to expand...

DL, take a break, you are winding yourself & others up and quite honestly with comments like the one above, you really are shooting yourself in the foot by bigging yourself up :rolleyes:
 
dressagelove said:
Oh dear, I knew I would get picked on! God forgive me for looking at the other side of the argument :D I never said they did, the point I was trying to make, is that happy hackers won't be able to get their horses to do what other riders can do. Like I said, it depends on what your definition of a 'good rider' is.
Click to expand...

When you write such sweeping statements as this, then can you see why poeple like me, a 'happy hacker' get so offended? You know nothing of my ability to ride, nor anyone else who you are tarring with that brush on here, yet you have argued that point for nearly 15 pages. How do you know what I am capable of getting my horse or anyone elses to do?
Also, I never pointed out anything wrong in your picture, I was just proving a point that it's not nice to be critised, even though I never actually did.
 
Last edited:
lhotse said:
When you write such sweeping statements as this, then can you see why poeple like me, a 'happy hacker' get so offended? You know nothing of my ability to ride, nor anyone else who you are tarring with that brush on here, yet you have argued that point for nearly 15 pages. How do you know what I am capable of getting my horse or anyone elses to do?
Also, I never pointed out anything wrong in your picture, I was just proving a point that it's not nice to be critised, even though I never actually did.
Click to expand...

I promise I shall stop posting on here after this.... maybe ;)

Again, I have already recognised that this was sweeping, I believe I apologised for it as well? If not, I apologise again. It was indeed a sweeping statement, and NOT true of ALL riders, but I have already said this.
 
dressagelove said:
Again, another personal attack on someone who doesnt know me. That is not my arena, it is my instructors. And how on earth do you know what level I will achieve? Everyone has to start at the bottom. Also, I later on in this thread recognised my comments had been taken the wrong way, and I corrected this, and recognised the wisdom of all the points you have so kindly pointed out. I was big enough to apologise for anything I may have said to upset anyone.
Click to expand...

I read all your posts thank you - every one of them.
I responded to your points as I saw fit. I believe you will not be too far from me if you compete at Myerscough. If you would like to come and ride my mare out, I will testify to how good your seat is. She will also be able to teach you some of the high school movements as she does these voluntarily and on a regular basis.
 
This has absolutely nothing to do with me, i have not read all 20 pages, but from what i can see, It looks like DL is really getting laid into, by several members.

I do not agree with DL statements or her comments, BUT she has apologised repeatedly and some of the comments in response are quite horrible!

Two wrongs dont make a right and all that!

As said before, i dont agree with the comments from either side, but surely us fellow HHO members are adults and id like to think, not bullies? :(
 
I am in shock at how rude some people are...!!!! Words fail me right now..!! Some quite nasty individuals commenting on this post.
 
^^^ Agreed!

I swear, this thread is as bad as bear-baiting...or Jeremy Kyle! Whichever is worse.
There's a difference between straight talking and being a d*uche.
 
Perhaps if the OP had made her apologies and then proved her sincerity by not continuing to tell people how much better a rider she believed herself to be, than those who 'only' hack, then others would have let the subject drop. It never fails to amaze me how people believe it is acceptable for them to be rude, but then cry foul when the people they have offended give similar back. It also amuses me when people call themselves competition riders, when all they do is compete at local and riding club level :)
 
Reading some of these people posts it would appear these people would feel quite at home on Jeremy Vile's stage spouting abuse for all and sundry to hear. Worse than school yard bullying.
 
I see the moral highground bashers are now out :eek:

This means this thread in theory is about to go off the radar.

They always go through the same sequence:

Someone says something to offend...
Loads of folk defend themselves and the original offender gets a bashing :D
Then the offended bashers themselves get bashed by the moral highground bashhers :rolleyes:

Thread then dies and disappears into the abyss till some tw*t ressurects it on a Friday night because they are bored and have no friends ;)

**Ducks for cover from the moral highground bashers**...............Not :p
 
Last edited:
In any topic Sweeping Statements are always made, it is inevitable. That does not mean to say they're aren't exceptions to the rule/statement.

I would say that you are more likely to find Warmbloods competing at a 'higher' level than you would a traditional 'cob'

I would also say that you are more likely to find a traditional 'cob' as the trusty steed of a 'Happy Hacker' rather than a Warmblood.

I would suggest that Warmbloods are more 'sensitive' to injury than a traditional 'cob'

I would say that 'Competitive' riders strive harder for improvement of thier riding than the 'Happy Hacker'

I would say that the 'Happy Hacker' has more bad habits when compared to the textbook way of riding than the 'Competitive' rider.

I would suggest there are more traditional 'cobs' and 'Happy Hacker's' than there are 'Competitive' Riders.

Neither riding style is better, the 'Competitive' rider will feel out of depth in a 'Happy Hacker' environment when compared to the Happy Hacker in his/her world. Similarly if the 'Happy Hacker' was dropped in a 'Competitive' riders field of choice they would feel more out of depth than the 'Competitive' rider. As would both horses if their roles were reversed.

There are times when the generalisations don't fit, and that is a good thing, they shouldn't. It means we have a wide demographic of riders in a wide choice of disciplines all able to help their peers improve and with that the improvement of the care of horses which brings pretty much everyone of us to this forum.

I am proud to both hack and compete and feel I can learn a lot from both those who compete and train and never hack to those who would never dream of spending the week in the school when there are so many lanes to explore with their best friend.

It is important to be able to realise the strengths and weaknesses in our own riding and that of others, to help us all improve.
 
Last edited:
Keimanp said:
In any topic Sweeping Statements are always made, it is inevitable. That does not mean to say they're aren't exceptions to the rule/statement.

I would say that you are more likely to find Warmbloods competing at a 'higher' level than you would a traditional 'cob'

I would also say that you are more likely to find a traditional 'cob' as the trusty steed of a 'Happy Hacker' rather than a Warmblood.

I would suggest that Warmbloods are more 'sensitive' to injury than a traditional 'cob'

I would say that 'Competitive' riders strive harder for improvement of thier riding than the 'Happy Hacker'

I would say that the 'Happy Hacker' has more bad habits when compared to the textbook way of riding than the 'Competitive' rider.

I would suggest there are more traditional 'cobs' and 'Happy Hacker's' than there are 'Competitive' Riders.

Neither riding style is better, the 'Competitive' rider will feel out of depth in a 'Happy Hacker' environment when compared to the Happy Hacker in his/her world. Similarly if the 'Happy Hacker' was dropped in a 'Competitive' riders field of choice they would feel more out of depth than the 'Competitive' rider. As would both horses if their roles were reversed.

There are times when the generalisations don't fit, and that is a good thing, they shouldn't. It means we have a wide demographic of riders in a wide choice of disciplines all able to help their peers improve and with that the improvement of the care of horses which brings pretty much everyone of us to this forum.

I am proud to both hack and compete and feel I can learn a lot from both those who compete and train and never hack to those who would never dream of spending the week in the school when there are so many lanes to explore with their best friend.

It is important to be able to realise the strengths and weaknesses in our own riding and that of others to help us all improve.
Click to expand...

c011.gif
 
YorksG said:
. It also amuses me when people call themselves competition riders, when all they do is compete at local and riding club level :)
Click to expand...

LOL This thread just gets better and better.

I'm standing back now to see if anyone notices this statement.

It should have been a thread on its own for saturday night.
 
dressagelove said:
I'm sorry, I think I fall into the 'snobbery' section. :D Many happy hackers I'm afraid IMHO aren't the best riders, some may be but if all you do is hack, in my book that means you can't ride a horse in terms of getting a performance from it. If that makes sense. Competitive riders hone their position, their aids etc etc. Happy hackers wouldn't do this correct?
Click to expand...

Well that's an amusing start to a Tuesday morning :D:D
 
Last edited:
Keimanp said:
In any topic Sweeping Statements are always made, it is inevitable. That does not mean to say they're aren't exceptions to the rule/statement.

I would say that you are more likely to find Warmbloods competing at a 'higher' level than you would a traditional 'cob'

I would also say that you are more likely to find a traditional 'cob' as the trusty steed of a 'Happy Hacker' rather than a Warmblood.

I would suggest that Warmbloods are more 'sensitive' to injury than a traditional 'cob'

I would say that 'Competitive' riders strive harder for improvement of thier riding than the 'Happy Hacker'

I would say that the 'Happy Hacker' has more bad habits when compared to the textbook way of riding than the 'Competitive' rider.

I would suggest there are more traditional 'cobs' and 'Happy Hacker's' than there are 'Competitive' Riders.

Neither riding style is better, the 'Competitive' rider will feel out of depth in a 'Happy Hacker' environment when compared to the Happy Hacker in his/her world. Similarly if the 'Happy Hacker' was dropped in a 'Competitive' riders field of choice they would feel more out of depth than the 'Competitive' rider. As would both horses if their roles were reversed.

There are times when the generalisations don't fit, and that is a good thing, they shouldn't. It means we have a wide demographic of riders in a wide choice of disciplines all able to help their peers improve and with that the improvement of the care of horses which brings pretty much everyone of us to this forum.

I am proud to both hack and compete and feel I can learn a lot from both those who compete and train and never hack to those who would never dream of spending the week in the school when there are so many lanes to explore with their best friend.

It is important to be able to realise the strengths and weaknesses in our own riding and that of others, to help us all improve.
Click to expand...

Well said and very true!
 
Well said Keimanp!

A Jeremy Kyle for horsey women!! Now that's a show I would watch! Maybe Tim Stockdale could host, I think he might just be able to keep it under control...
 
The bully card always pops up in threads like this - so predicatable. Sorry but OP should be able to take it as well as she dishes it out.. deal with it or move on.

On a separate note - Lionman (sp) think you are my new fav poster.. you make me chuckle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top