Sorry - a small moan and a sort of question.

springtime13 said:
Even better, I'm a teacher at a secondary school and was asked by a parent if I could take their child (who I teach) to the yard every saturday whilst the mum went out :eek::eek: Mental.
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Not just me then:D, one of our very "challenging" :rolleyes: families was very keen for me to take their very difficult son (who wasnt even a pupil at my school) to see my horses on saturdays as he "loved animals" :)
 
iv been called selfish by a few work colleagues because i wont let them come and ride my horses,

the most recent conversation

colleague > when are you going to let me ride one of your horses

me > never

colleague > why ? you have got 4

me > one is a mare with a 3 month old foal at foot and wont be ridden til later in the year by ME , the second is a section a 14 years old brood mare not broken to ride the 3 is a yearling and the 4th is my 3 month old foal , so no you cant come and ride my horses


colleague > you are a selfish cow

me > yes i am :)
 
I get it and I only share! Drives me mad someone at work who I have spoken to all of twice starts telling me his daughter loves horses bla bla bla she wants to come and see your horse.... Ummm no he isn't even mine!!
Why do people think that is ok to ask? If his daughter would like to share a horse maybe she should jump through all the hoops and pay for it?!!Grr people are annoying
 
Goodness me you 'orrible lot!! I am happy for anyone to come and see Peej and tell me he is lovely and to put the smile on someone not as lucky as mes face. When i was a ponyless kid, family friends helped me out so i think its only right to give a little back
 
I don't mind somebody having the odd fuss or groom or even ride, what I do object to is being expected to be an unpaid babysitting service at regular intervals. Most people have their horses for their own pleasure and most of us have busy lives, so time spent enjoying your horse is precious and for many I would imagine it is a time to escape family committments (like lookiing after children.) It is also a responsibility when there are so many risks involved.

I wouldn't mind a really keen child, but most wouldn't be happy picking up poo or the other not so nice jobs and that comes with the territory with horses I'm afraid. If parents are really keen then saving for riding school lessons is the best way forwards, even if it's once in a blue moon.
 
I've had this! Luckily it is a riding school where I go, but it's when I talk about Ned and the parents want their child to ride him. No, there are ponies and regular lessons! Then they want me to teach their child!! No! There are people there who can and will teach, I can not and don't want to!
Also had an issue with the daughter of the woman who bought Sharkie (the new horse who I have a share in). She told me that when she was 10 (8 now) that Sharkie was going to be hers!! Um, no, I paid for 1/4 of that horse, I was told nothing about this! Thankfully, it was all in her head. I asked her mother and she said she was just dreaming again :P
 
Ooh yes I've had this a lot. My boy is totally novice safe and child proof, even did pony rides for my daughter's birthday parties for a few years. Then I got inundated with 'offers to help me on weekends' and requests for riding lessons. When daughter had her own pony too I also found out that one particularly vile child had been told by her mother to make friends with my daughter because then I'd teach her to ride! Erm... No?! I'm very blunt though and told them the riding school was closer to them and would be far cheaper than me charging them for increased insurance costs. Then they tried to bully my daughter, at 5 years old! Charming!
 
Wizzkid said:
Why do people think that is ok to ask? If his daughter would like to share a horse maybe she should jump through all the hoops and pay for it?!!Grr people are annoying
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why on earth wouldn't it be ok to ask? its hardly the cheek of the century and they weren't to know what 'sharer' rules you had :p, especially if it is just to come say hello. Hardly the same as wanting/paying for a horse share.

BC1.. you advertised how nice Dom was too much by doing pony rides ;) :D

Nah.. never believe and 8 yo ;) :p

All but 2 children have always come with parents. One lives next door and is allowed to come over and do outdoors things.. which includes the horses but also dad moving logs etc. One of the grandchildren will come round for the afternoon, she has lessons at home (in Ireland) and will happily assist in a bit of mucking out/moving the dressage arena over etc. When you're pretty pony keen and only having lessons once a fortnight and doing the odd own a pony day to pat one is just fab :D
 
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I don't object to the odd small child visit for a pat, its the expectation of being an instructor and baby sitter all in one that gets my goat. At the yard i used to work at i taught a lovely girl who had aspergers so was prone to going off into her own wee world and not paying any attention to anything. Which in a lesson i had no problem with, i could keep a good eye on her. But her parents thought it would be fine for her to stay all day without them and help us. They just had no idea how dangerous that could have been.
 
I guess that not getting my first pony until I was 21 makes me feel very differently to a lot of the responders. I have always welcomed kids over and am forever nannying somebodies kids as my two are lucky enough to have 5 between them. I love to see the pleasure on their faces and watch them gain confidence in what they are doing. I dont teach as I am not trained to or capable of it but I will help wherever I can.
I did the pony rides at the local school when the kids were there and I take two of our ponies to the RDA once a week. I also have some of those kids here during the holidays.

The only child not welcome was one from school that used to turn nasty to my daughter and then befriend her again. I soon worked out that she only got friendly during the week before any holidays coming up. I stopped asking her over and she moved on to somebody else.
 
I had this with my OH's nephew, it started that he occasionally wanted to come up and see the horses and ended with constant texts from him .I felt sorry for him, he was 13, didn't seem to have any friends, so I tried, but I would have to go miles out of my way to collect him and when I did he wouldn't speak and really didn't seem to take anything in or be interested and tbh it ruined my time with my horses.

I convinced my OH to pay for a couple of lessons for him with a friend of mine, but that involved more driving for me and more time that I didn't have. His mother would get arsey if we didn't take him but made no effort whatsoever toward it and neither ever so much as said thank you so in the end I knocked it on the head.

My friend seems to be having a similar problem with nieces, but they are screechy,bickering and demanding and their parents are trying to get her to host them when they are not there. She made the mistake of letting one of the older ones (a teen) on her mare for a short ride and it nearly went badly wrong, they had no understanding that horses are not machines and can be upset by loud noises etc.

I think people think they can ask because they've got no concept of the cost or work involved, or that it's something you do to relax and get away from it all.
 
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Personally I would never be cross at someone for asking if they could come and see a horse of mine, and if suitable, I'd even be happy to give them a little ride (probably just led around though unless they were competent.) I would be happy they were showing an interest - horses and riding are very inaccessible for most people and that's how we get the reputation of elistist snobs - I think it is great if you can give someone the opportunity to come and pat a pony and have a little ride.

But that is different to someone expecting you to look after their child on a regular basis, or expecting that you will let them ride whenever they want - that is cheeky!
 
Spiral, I felt the same and that's why I tried but it seemed whatever I did was not enough and his mother made no effort at all to help, I knew she didn't have money but even just letting him walk to the end of the road to meet me, or saying thank you, or not moaning if he got his wellies (that we bought for him) muddy would have been something
 
I think that one of the things that took me aback was that the Mother couldn't get her head around the concept that my Mare - who is just coming back into ridden work after 1 1/2 years off and is a nervous type anyway - wasn't suitable for an unconfident 10 year old child who'd never ridden before.

I was not rude or mean hearted in any way and tried to explain it simply but she tried to make me feel guilty. I did let her daughter have a cuddle and groom with the grey as that was totally safe for everyone.
 
Something that my parents did back in the old days in Africa - if it was an adult who suddenly became your best friend and just wanted to ride, they were put on something that pulled like a train or jigjogged (didnt buck but pulled), they tended to not come back.

If it was someones child/children then they would be invited to help with the mucking out and sweeping of the wettest filtiest part of the yard - make one if there isnt one - when mommy dear comes to collect her child who is covered from head to toe in horse smelling **** - tends not to bring child back.
 
My auntie asked of her son could have a go on my old on because "she's old and won't chuck him off" she got really offended when I told her no as she acts like a two year old most of the time and at 14:3 can still get my brother who weighs 11 stone and is 6' off when she wants too! We don't always trust her let alone let a child "have a go" even after 12 years of having her and knowing all her tricks!
 
:o mine doing pony rides as I type :o. I offered when it came up in conversation that her nieces rode but couldnt ride when they came over as they had nothing suitable. YP loves doing pony rides as its lots of fuss and sweeties for not a lot of work. They asked if I wanted to be there but I trust them to bring him in and tack him up and as a result I'm hacking in a bit and will arrive to a pre taked up and walked in pony :D
 
For me, it's when people find out I teach...

'oh you could teach XXXX!!'

'have you got a pony?'

'No, haven't you got something she could ride?'

errrr....... No!

Tbh I don't mind the odd kid coming up for the odd pet/ groom/ cuddle even a sit in if their nice kids, but I like to offer not be expected to do it!
 
Faracat, this did make me smile. Our yard does not allow children so never have the problem thank god. Its bad enough when they catch me walking back from the field, but Ebony wears a muzzle and I tell them its because she bites :D:D
 
Oh EA - you are wicked. ;)

I just wouldn't ask someone I barley knew for that sort of favour I think it's a little rude
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Or in fact, didn't actually know them at all! :eek:






PS. DH -stop making me look like a grumpy moo bag - I'm not quite that bad, but I could work on it I suppose. :p

^ Sorry I forgot to write that in my earlier response to your post. :o
 
Think I must be a little odd in that I honestly don't mind, gives me a warm happy glow to show off how fab my boy is. He's had all sorts of people on him from mum's friends kids (they had previously had riding lessons so did know the basics although I did need to lead the younger one around as she couldn't really steer) to my grandma to a few of my mates and I think most of the teenagers at my old yard had sat on him at one time or another (great way to bribe them to look after him when i was on holiday plus we sometimes swapped horses for a laugh). None of these ever turned into long-term things so I didn't mind doing it and none of them expected any instruction so minimal effort was required on my part! If I didn't have such a tolerant horse then I would have politely refused most of the requests but he doesn't care who rides him and apart from pushing his luck at times with novices he's generally safe. Would be a little brassed off if I ever had anyone essentially wanting me to teach themselves or their child for free though!
 
Its strange, I never really get this! Probably because when I had a non horsey job, everyone new I was fairly anti social, and also the fact mine have all raced frightens people. Mr pony is due back from loan soon, we will be doing rides in return for crewing!
 
Some friends of the farmer were staying in a caravan on the yard last week - one of the girls was 7 and the other younger. Their mother thought nothing of letting them run wild on the yard - run up behind horses, ride their bikes in and out of the stable building and generally be a pain in the arse. The girls latched on to me, and even though I don't like children, I let them groom my 3 year old pony under supervision and give her her feed under my supervision and lead her to and from the field. On the Friday night before they went home on the Saturday, the pony went down with colic. I found out the following day that they had been feeding her (and the other horses) sheep and cattle feed all week - and lots during the day on the Friday. They confessed to it, but did they or their mother apologise? No. Not a word. So I have an out of hours vets fee because I let some children "help" (more like hinder) me out. When they stay again, they will not be allowed within 10 yards of my horses until I get an apology from the mother. (they fed the horses with the mother supervising them!)
 
OH is a riding instructor we have 3 TB's 15.3 to 16.3, a 15hh 4 year old Irish and a 19 hh warmblood, goodness knows how many times we get asked if he gives lessons on our horses,:confused: urrrr no don't think so, Elf and Safety and all that works a treat:cool:
 
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