Super_Kat's thought for the night

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Super_Kat

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(I'll say sorry now for all spelling mistakes)
While I was doing the horses I was thinking about something (dangerous I know) which made me think about what I'm about to say. Now bear with me, wat I say may make no sense what so ever but the post does go somewhere if you can be arsed to read it all.

I've read numerous people on here (and in RL) talking about and taking the pi$$ out of people like happy hackers, people who compete a unaff level (who may be crap or good) etc who spend alot of money on buying nice, expensive things for themselves and their horses. I can remember somebody was talking on here a while ago about when they went to a show (unaff) and saw a bloke with a big warmblood type horse which had expensive tack and the bloke wearing a very nice jacket etc who was competing in a small class and he wen into the ring and promptly demolished the entire course.
Surely if people can afford to go out and buy the best for them selves and their animals it's nobody's business even if the person doesn't do anything remotely spectacular with their horse.
Is there anything wrong with spending out on the best for your horse? Judging by what people say about others who do sod all with their horses yet have the best stuff it's really frowned upon, is this just people being jealous or have I missed something?

Sorry if that made no sense but the cogs in my brain wee turning today so I thought I'd write down my thoughts for you all to enjoy
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I agree and horsey people are really critical of other peoples, horses, possession, talent etc. So what, if the horse and rider are happy who gives a damn.
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I understand what you are saying completely.
I am probably one of those people myself,I have some lovely equiment for my horsey(half of it has never been on him
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)but never want to compete to a high level.And as much as I love my gee gee he is no world beater but I like to have nice things and it is nobody else's business what I spend my money on.
My nice bridles,saddles etc will never make him a better horse he needs a better rider for that!!
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Totally understand what you mean. So what if people are happy just hacking around their local bridleways. It's not doing any harm and it's not like the horse know it's missing out on say going eventing etc.

As long as you look after it properly, feed it at dinner time then you're a horse's best friend.

I think the people who think what you've put Superkat are possibly the same people who think that those who ride at RS are rubbish/not worthy etc. Even a couple of my school friends used to remove themself from those of us who didn't have a horse and they did. It was that "oh well you don't have a horse, you're not a proper rider" type thing.

If someone just wants to do their local shows, do a couple of clear rounds and go for a beach ride - why the hell can't they?
 
And if people want to go out and buy top of the range tack to go to a few local shows and hack why does that start a big chain of snide remarks about what stuff you have for you and your horse. It drives me insane!
 
That is so me! i am such a happy hacker, competeing is my worst nightmare and i would much rather be hacking through the country all day! When talking to other horsey people i do feel kind of embarrassed when they ask 'Do you compete' but to be honest i am happy with what i am doing.
Just because i don't compete i still like to have nice stuff for me and my horse, and i can afford to because i don't have to pay competition fees and for travelling. Whether i compete or not should have nothing to do with what i buy.
It could be jelously or just not understanding why you would want those nice things if you don't do anything so to speak.
Now i have rambled on as well...
 
Hear Hear Super_Kat. I am a Happy Hacker and do a few local shows. My ridden pony is crap at showing classes. I still do the local wee ones though, just because it's good fun and will be good practice for when my youngster is old enough to do ridden classes.

I'm sure like everyone else on here I want what's best for my horses. I love a good bargain in the shops and try to curb my spending when it comes to thinks I'll probably never use, but it's nice to have nice things for the ponies. Even nicer when you have worked hard to save up for them.
 
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with wanting the best for our horses, no matter what we do with them!!! Case in point - look at Topper, Sabre Comfort bridle, new SC dressage saddle, mattes platinum numnah, keiffer neoprene girth (thank you so much Kildalton, it's truely wonderfull), WW and NEW boots, Horseware rugs - what did he do in the year I had him? Hack and a bit of schooling - but my goodness we had fun and isn't that what it's all about?? I also think he was a happy horse - even on that morning he looked happy!
 
Totally agree with you.I'm much the same as redballoon would class myself as happy hacker with odd local show thrown in for fun and a day out and I will buy the best I can afford.
.It also annoys me that people watching shows also stand and rip the competeitors apart.At least their doing it!
Is it jealousy- yes probably and just the nature of people in this country.We always seem to find a way to bring something down rather than be happy and say something positive (if any of that makes sense,not very good at expressing my meaning)
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I know that it's nobody's sodding business hat my horses have and as far as I'm concered they should hae the best! (Esecially Storm because she's very special to me). I'll be in a position to buy things for my horses that I've always wanted but I'm worried about what people may say behind my back about it (even though, again, it's none of their business) but people will always be jealous and petty I suppose whatever the stuation
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[ QUOTE ]
but I'm worried about what people may say behind my back about it (even though, again, it's none of their business) but people will always be jealous and petty I suppose whatever the stuation

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and that will be made worse possibly because you're in a college environment plus the horse world is notorious for back stabbing and slagging people off
 
Totally agree with you i've spent soooo much money on nice things for my horses and i only ever go to a few local shows. What also really annoys me is when people ask do you compete and then look down their noses when you say no. And when i say i don't like jumping they think you're totally mad, whats wrong with that?!
 
Sometimes you have to weigh it up. My horse has got all of my old horses rugs, second hand (good quality) but un matching tack, and I still have the same show jods I was wearing when I was 17 ( I am now 24) I simply cannot afford to buy the best of everything….and continue with competing and regular instruction. If I could, I would.

I do think that there is a difference between looking the part, and being it….I have a big shiny warmblood, but I work blinking hard at his schooling and to get where I am going (which, as I have only owned Bruce since October, is our first BN tomorrow…) I would rather go looking a mess and know I have done everything in my power to do well, than look good and know I have spent my money on a shiny bridle to cover up the fact that I haven’t had any lessons (which is what some people do, whether you like it or not…)

BTW I would never look down at anyone who is a happy hacker or enjoys unaffiliated shows…there is nothing wrong with doing what you enjoy…however I do look down on people that are all mouth and no trousers, if you see my point!

I would aslo buy the best for my horse if I coulf afford it...your horses sound very well dressed!!!!
 
I think that perhaps the thinking is " All the gear and no idea"

i.e some people think that buying all this expensive equipment can make up for lack of training/ability.

Just my tuppence worth
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I've never competed before and I am really worried now (because I was planning to start in the Summer) but if people will be criticising me if I do badly - which I probably will - that makes it all much more scary. I was hoping that no-one would be watching or taking any notice of me so I could just get on with making a fool of myself in peace!

I too have a big, shiny Dutch warmblood and I buy him nice things just because I want to, not because I am rich or because I am trying to cover up my lack of lessons. There is no lack of lessons ......just a lack of talent on my part.

I have wondered for ages why people don't seem to like warmbloods. Excuse me for being naive but why is that? I fell in love with mine the moment I saw him.
 
So if you only hack you are only allowed to buy sub standard equipment as if you bought the nicer, better made safer kit you are somehow insulting the people who all compete and somehow deserve to use the better stuff
 
I agree totally with Super_Kat, but I guess sometimes the sniping could be down to the person perhaps...cos you know even happy hackers can be tw@ts, and perhaps a lot of the sniping only goes on because they've upset someone along the line somewhere.
Just a thought
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So if you only hack you are only allowed to buy sub standard equipment as if you bought the nicer, better made safer kit you are somehow insulting the people who all compete and somehow deserve to use the better stuff

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Sounds about right
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I don’t think that anyone is saying anything about hackers only wearing crap tack. I was merely saying that maybe the people in flash tack at local shows who go round like crash bandicoot may be trying to look the part to cover up for lack of training…
 
100% agree with you, in that, if you want to spend out on expensive things for your horse then go ahead. However, to me training is far more important than the latest gadget, rug or item of tack - although I love my new half pad fluffy SJing numnah (thanks CatherineSkinner
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)
Thing is I cant afford both, its either training a competition or a luxury item for my horse and 99.9% of the time, training and competitions win.
Although Im really really really keen on getting a new SJing hat
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There is a saying *all the gear and no idea* I personally would rather look scruffy and ride well.
 
Don't mean to be rude but how do you know that the people with "all the gear" haven't had any training? I've had an instructor for years but it probably doesn't show!! I am a talentless oik at the end of the day but I still want to "have a go".
 
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