That's it, We're definitely the local laughing stock

ImmyS

ImmyS

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I live in an area where most 'horsey' people are very traditional, bhs, pony club style horse owners, which i have nothing against at all but I do find their reactions to the way I keep my horse very amusing.

As an example, i bumped into an older lady when out hacking, she was out on her schoolmaster hunter type, she's a pony club organiser and then there was me on my ex racer who i often ride out in her rope halter. The women stopped her horse and looking rather confused asked "what is that stringy thing on your horses head" I proceeded to tell her what it was and she replied "God knows how you have any control in that thing". Made me giggle a little.

I've also just started working at a livery yard as a groom, all lovely but again very traditional in their views, just me saying i had an ex racer was enough to send them off on a loony, crazy thoroughbred rant, when i went on to say how chilled out she was, that she lives out 24/7 all year, she is ridden bitless, isn't fed 20 tonnes of feed and is now barefoot their jaws practically hit the floor! :p:D

And now to add to it all even non horsey people in the area laugh at me for riding my horse out in 'trainers'... hoof boots to you and me!

Any other similar experience or am I the only one treated like i'm insane for doing things a little differently to perhaps the 'norm'?
 
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Trainers etc drive me mad had it drilled into me they are not to be worn when ridden... not quite as bad as wellies ;)

The risk of foot getting caught in stirrup is enough to put me off

But no everyone round me is generally nice.
 
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I'm far from perfect- I ride in jeans... Shock!
Is it legal to be in charge of a horse on a road in a head collar though? I'm sure I've heard not?
Also I did used to ride in trainers years ago- til a friend got dragged
 
Do you mean trainers as in hoof boots? I always refer to my hoof boots as his trainers. People probably think I am batty but I'm happy and so is the pony so I don't worry about it.
 
sorry guys i meant the horse wearing trainers, as in hoof boots, non horsey people just call them trainers! :rolleyes:
 
KatPT said:
Do you mean trainers as in hoof boots? I always refer to my hoof boots as his trainers. People probably think I am batty but I'm happy and so is the pony so I don't worry about it.
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i tend to call them her nikey's just so she thinks they are 'cool' and agrees to go out in public in them :p;)
 
I get looked at as insane when I take my boy out in-hand. I actually enjoy ground work and often get comments like 'Shouldnt you be riding that!' - 'That?' - yep that comment from a horsey person ... Mmm xxx

But generally a vast majority at our yard don't bat an eye-lid as long as the horse is happy and in good condition xx
 
Yes, like Tessybear my only bugbear is riding in trainers.
Everything else is fine, lots of Tb's are chilled and happy to live out all year. Its nice you have such a good relationship with your horse.
However, it's more and more the norm to be relaxed about how we do things around horses, but some people like a more traditional approach. There's room for everyone really, as long as we all have our horses best interests at heart.
We can all learn off each other.

Oops, just seen the edit explaining hoof boots. :)
 
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I talk about wanting to buy Fergs "trainers" (Renegades!) all the time! Not that he needs them, they just look awesome!
 
The locals take the Mickey out of me as I walk my 11hh pony out in full tack most days, I wear a hat and gloves as is sensible with a youngster and the amount of wisecracks I get for having 'fallen off' is unreal

I wouldn't mind but at twenty odd stone it's probably quite clear that I am very unlikely to have fallen off lol
 
horserider said:
Yes, like Tessybear my only bugbear is riding in trainers.
Everything else is fine, lots of Tb's are chilled and happy to live out all year. Its nice you have such a good relationship with your horse.
However, it's more and more the norm to be relaxed about how we do things around horses, but some people like a more traditional approach. There's room for everyone really, as long as we all have our horses best interests at heart.
We can all learn off each other.

Oops, just seen the edit explaining hoof boots. :)
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i agree, people are definitely getting more relaxed, you just get the odd very traditional few who find it difficult to accept different methods and managment of horses
 
No-one expects anything less. Big lad was the same, big barefoot TB ex racer...who I would ride bareback across about 2 miles of stubble fields from his field to work barn with just a leadrope round his neck. Yes, having a good canter most the way.

For me, that's the only reason I have horses. If I couldn't do that kind of stuff, I'd take no joy from it. I'm not competitive, I'm not the resident PSG rider nor have the bravery for huge fences anymore....but to be able to do that stuff with them, is what it's all about for me :)
 
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See, I find the idea of someone being out on the roads in a rope halter really quite unnerving tbh- bitless is one thing, but a rope halter is a whole different kettle of fish IMO and goes from being questionable (side pulls) to being downright inconsiderate.

Aside from that, different strokes for different folks. Saw someone the other day laughing about my sister's schoolmaster and how she is so uptight and stuff. Her schoolmaster is an ex-racer like yours who lives out 24/7 and is uber chilled about absolutely everything (and reschooled entirely by her), and she dresses the part because she has a professional image to uphold. You don't, so it doesn't matter.

These posts are seen as acceptable yet if I posted the reverse I'd be hounded out of here... "Today, saw the scruffiest pair around out in a rope halter and hoof boots, her horse is completely untrained, etc.". That's not nice... So why is this seen as ok?
 
WelshD said:
The locals take the Mickey out of me as I walk my 11hh pony out in full tack most days, I wear a hat and gloves as is sensible with a youngster and the amount of wisecracks I get for having 'fallen off' is unreal

I wouldn't mind but at twenty odd stone it's probably quite clear that I am very unlikely to have fallen off lol
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for a long time i led my girl out in hand tacked up as i was getting her used to hacking out alone, like you got many people asking if i was ok, if i had fallen off, making jokes etc...
 
Lolo said:
See, I find the idea of someone being out on the roads in a rope halter really quite unnerving tbh- bitless is one thing, but a rope halter is a whole different kettle of fish IMO and goes from being questionable (side pulls) to being downright inconsiderate.

Aside from that, different strokes for different folks. Saw someone the other day laughing about my sister's schoolmaster and how she is so uptight and stuff. Her schoolmaster is an ex-racer like yours who lives out 24/7 and is uber chilled about absolutely everything (and reschooled entirely by her), and she dresses the part because she has a professional image to uphold. You don't, so it doesn't matter.

These posts are seen as acceptable yet if I posted the reverse I'd be hounded out of here... "Today, saw the scruffiest pair around out in a rope halter and hoof boots, her horse is completely untrained, etc.". That's not nice... So why is this seen as ok?
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i would be putting more people in danger by riding my horse in a bit than in a rope halter...
 
See, I never said bitted. I just said a rope halter is not safe IMO. Leading, sure. But riding? You attach the reins to where? The bit under the chin? Where's any steering there. What if you lose control, or need to get out the way rapidly? You're relying on a 6yo horse who, from your posts, has limited experience under saddle. I think it's crazy.
 
Lolo said:
See, I never said bitted. I just said a rope halter is not safe IMO. Leading, sure. But riding? You attach the reins to where? The bit under the chin? Where's any steering there. What if you lose control, or need to get out the way rapidly? You're relying on a 6yo horse who, from your posts, has limited experience under saddle. I think it's crazy.
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yep under the chin, where if your horse is trained properly has just as much steering as anywhere else. I can steer her just aswell in a rope halter as any other bitless and more so than bitted. If a horse genuinely bolts, i don't think it will give a toss about what is on its head, and therefore I work with my horse to make sure she is and happy and confident and make such a situation as unlikely as possible.
 
ImmyS said:
Any other similar experience or am I the only one treated like i'm insane for doing things a little differently to perhaps the 'norm'?
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I think you'll find almost every owner of a barefooted horse has been met with this reaction and more over the years.
 
It's not that hard to teach a horse to neck rein.

As long as the OP is in control of her horse, it's not a problem to be riding in a halter.
 
ImmyS said:
If a horse genuinely bolts, i don't think it will give a toss about what is on its head, and therefore I work with my horse to make sure she is and happy and confident and make such a situation as unlikely as possible.
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Agree 100%. The idea of a 90kg human eliciting 'control' over a 700kg animal is laughable...yet we delude ourselves that our leather straps and metal hardware are all we need :rolleyes:.

If anyone has seen a 700kg horse throwing a proper tantrum - you quickly get a sense of how very little and fragile we are in comparison :o.

In actuality it's the horse's amazing trait of co-operation and preference for the path of least resistance that keeps us safe. Yet rather than appreciating this gift - we tend to abuse it :(
 
Oberon said:
In actuality it's the horse's amazing trait of co-operation and preference for the path of least resistance that keeps us safe. Yet rather than appreciating this gift - we tend to abuse it :(
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totally agree with this comment. sad really that so many don't take this approach.
 
I wasn't talking about bolting. I am aware that a 6' brick wall wouldn't stop a bolter. I am talking about the times you've got that car going too fast and you have to swing into the verge quickly, or when you need to get yourself out of the way quickly to stay safe.

You've posted time and again about how limited her experience is, so I assumed that being out on the roads with just a halter wasn't something that was entirely safe. If you feel safe then that is a-ok :)

These posts get on my wick for the reasons I stated. However much she judged you, you judged her right back, and then again on a public forum, and yet seem to think you're the one who's above it all? I think it's rubbish and wholly unfair. But you get applauded for it.
 
Im not bothered if you ride in a rope halter but isnt it against the law on the roads..??
If you had/caused an accident wouldnt it invalidate your insurance..???
Im not trying to be funny...genuinely curious.
 
Lolo said:
I wasn't talking about bolting. I am aware that a 6' brick wall wouldn't stop a bolter. I am talking about the times you've got that car going too fast and you have to swing into the verge quickly, or when you need to get yourself out of the way quickly to stay safe.

You've posted time and again about how limited her experience is, so I assumed that being out on the roads with just a halter wasn't something that was entirely safe. If you feel safe then that is a-ok :)

These posts get on my wick for the reasons I stated. However much she judged you, you judged her right back, and then again on a public forum, and yet seem to think you're the one who's above it all? I think it's rubbish and wholly unfair. But you get applauded for it.
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It's very kind of you to tutor the OP in how to ride her horse and what is and isn't safe for them both :)

And I think (by this now third post of yours) that we all now fully appreciate how you feel and that these posts send you into a fit of pique.
Thank you for explaining it so clearly :)
 
Lolo said:
I wasn't talking about bolting. I am aware that a 6' brick wall wouldn't stop a bolter. I am talking about the times you've got that car going too fast and you have to swing into the verge quickly, or when you need to get yourself out of the way quickly to stay safe.

You've posted time and again about how limited her experience is, so I assumed that being out on the roads with just a halter wasn't something that was entirely safe. If you feel safe then that is a-ok :)

These posts get on my wick for the reasons I stated. However much she judged you, you judged her right back, and then again on a public forum, and yet seem to think you're the one who's above it all? I think it's rubbish and wholly unfair. But you get applauded for it.
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and I am trying to say that I can do those things just as easily if not better in a rope halter.

Like I said in my OP i have nothing against people who hold a more traditional view of managing and owning horses. I don't think I'm above anything.. it was supposed to be a light hearted thread but as always someone has to draaaag it down.
 
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