what are your pet riding hates....?

People who ride faaar too long because they think they are "dressage riders"
People reeling horse's heads in because it looks "pretty". Sod the fact that the horse is so reeled in its now not even tracking up.. oh wait its now rearing and they wonder why!!!
People who go hacking and just strut down the middle of the road and not let traffic past, its that small minority that ruin it for the rest of us considerate riders and give us a bad name!
Tack straps that arne't put in the keepers.
Overbitting a horse because you can't be bothered to learn how to ride it properly..

Oh the list could go on, I am like a grumpy old lady :D
 
Scissor legs! When you rise to the trot and jam your legs forward then thump down on the saddle snapping your legs up booting the poor pony in the gut in the process! Gah! Hate it!

In racing - when people are getting taken off with on the quietest of horses - now this itself isn't a problem as they are usually newbies but it's the fact they go past you grinning like a cheshire cat making NO attempt to stop at all!

My other complete hate is people who are scared of their horses and either shout at them and wallop them so the horses are scared and the humans feel in charge or on the flip side the humans piddle around the horse that then walks all over the top of their owner!
 
vroutledge said:
uuuuwwww just thought of my biggest pet hate is when children are immediately given a whip even when they have never ridden, i was taught without a whip and actually never used one until i was 15/16 when i had a stubborn pony who didnt like certain cross country fences and then i only used it on his shoulder which was more about the noise than pain.
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You've just reminded me of another, slapping whips down shoulders! Urgh, if you want to reinforce your leg or send the horse forward 9 times out of ten a crack behind your leg works better. :D I'm not saying that there is never a place for it but most of the time it is the wrong way to use a whip.
 
Pinkvboots said:
People whilst out riding who wear those brightly coloured velour tracksuits with trainers, carrying a handbag without any hat it could only be in Essex, honestly I have seen this several times its not pretty.
Also hate loads of gadgets that are not necessary.
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LOL!- can't believe that people would ACTUALLY ride in a velour tracksuit carrying a handbag! that would be quite difficult i reckon! would love to see that- hilarious!
 
marydoll said:
All but two or three of the posts are things riders who are starting out to learn are guilty of, and myself and the rest of you have probably done the bulk of them at one time or another whether we want to admit it or not :D:D:D
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Too true! Mine are probably people who use draw reins or side reins to get their horse 'on the bit', people who buy a horse which is beyond their own ability and people who pull on their horses mouth when jumping or throw their hands forward (mind you i do this myself because i'm worried about catching my horse in the mouth :o it irritates me so much!!)
 
marydoll said:
All but two or three of the posts are things riders who are starting out to learn are guilty of, and myself and the rest of you have probably done the bulk of them at one time or another whether we want to admit it or not :D:D:D
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Probably, but for me some of the frustration is that these things aren't picked up and corrected epecially by instructors, judges etc.
 
My main pet hate is people who use their horse as a "rosette machine" - the minute that something goes wrong and poor said horse needs some care and attention - its no longer flavour of the month
 
Nagging I agree with, but flapping, well I've found one of the best ways to wake Phil up if he's a bit slow is to lift my entire leg off of his body and bring it down again (not hard). I guess it's flapping my legs at him but it only takes a few and he's well off the leg :p
 
Pink_Lady said:
My main pet hate is people who use their horse as a "rosette machine" - the minute that something goes wrong and poor said horse needs some care and attention - its no longer flavour of the month
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This is exactly why I bought one of my Shetlands back. He had been out and won his class and either Champion or Reserve in the show ring every single time he was shown that year by his then owners. They took him to a set of Summer Championships that they had qualified for and he stood 5th - 5th in a class of well over 30 M&M Lead Rein ponies at top NPS level! He was the highest placed Shetland by far but because he didn't win they put him up for sale again.
 
"Daddy's Little Girl" who has all the designer riding gear and a very expensive pony bought for her that she can't ride but sits there and lets the pony do everything and then throws a hissy fit when it doesn't win.
 
People who kick with every stride, don't they realise they are making their horses dead to the leg.

People who steer purely with their hands, and they always have such rough hands.

Riders who don't thank cars that slow down for them, they just scowl at every one. A slight nod of the head will do or a mouthed 'thank you' will do, you don't have to let go of your reins to acknowledge the driver.

People riding whilst listening to their ipods.

People riding whilst on their mobile phones.

Sometimes I don't think people actually enjoy having their horses as much as they enjoy the status of having a horse.
 
Oohhh - just thought of another one .... the person who's had a horse five minutes and thinks they know it all .... won't listen to advice (or ask for it) cos they know best
 
Mine is when people leave their horse all covered in sweat marks after they have ridden!
And buggies in collecting rings and small children running around unsupervised at the yard.
Ridingwise it's heavy hands, especially when riders teach their horses to stop at jumps - all hands and no legs - and then blame the horse, sell it and buy a new one to ruin.
Also smoking on board. I find myself getting all indignant for the horse's lungs!
(But I'm very laid back really :D )
 
-Cadence- said:
Amateur dressage riders who force an outline or put horses in a double bridle before their ready.
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Oh Yes - the forced outline - uncomfortable to see, uncomfortable to watch, and uncomfortable for the horse !

People who slump and completely forget their postion in the saddle when standing around waiting or at the end of a schooling session while walking down. So unfair on your horse that has just worked his/her little socks off for you!
 
People who use their pony/horse as a chair ! Seen a lot at shows, when classes run late, competitors just sit (usually like a sack of spuds!) on the poor animal while they wait. I was taught to get off and give their back a rest, as it is more tiring standing still with a riders weight than walking around. :(
Riders who work on the mouth constantly, so the animal's head moves from side to side all the time. Poor creatures must be unable to focus properly !!!:o
People who travel with trailer front ramp top door open, giving the occupant an eye full of whatever, and the fright of their life when large vehicles pass from the opposite direction !!:mad:
Will probably come up with more. . . . . !!! :rolleyes:
 
steadyneddy said:
People who use their pony/horse as a chair ! Seen a lot at shows, when classes run late, competitors just sit (usually like a sack of spuds!) on the poor animal while they wait. I was taught to get off and give their back a rest, as it is more tiring standing still with a riders weight than walking around. :(
Riders who work on the mouth constantly, so the animal's head moves from side to side all the time. Poor creatures must be unable to focus properly !!!:o
People who travel with trailer front ramp top door open, giving the occupant an eye full of whatever, and the fright of their life when large vehicles pass from the opposite direction !!:mad:
Will probably come up with more. . . . . !!! :rolleyes:
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Yes yes yes!
 
People riding with reins too short and straight arms (no bend at the elbow). Tipping forwards or leaning back with legs too far forward. Using the crop as a reprimand or just because they have lost their temper. Shouting at the horse, sawing at the mouth as a reprimand. Toes pointing out. Nagging with the legs. Fiddling with the reins. Hauling horses around and turning with the inside rein only. The list is endless.
 
Heads bobbling about.
People who think their horse is 'on the bit' when they have 12" of rein between their hand and the bit, with said reins attached to the bottle hole of their gag.
People who are evidently and obviously far too big for their horse.
People jumping one fence at a massive height and saying it to everyone they meet, but said horse can't get round a course of fences clear.
Pulling (yanking) on the reins, them hitting the horse, then pulling back, then digging their spurs in so hard you can hear the horse grunt in pain, while pulling back, again.

And disgustingly dirty boots. Clean the damn things before you get on your horse!!
 
KristmasKatt said:
You've just reminded me of another, slapping whips down shoulders! Urgh, if you want to reinforce your leg or send the horse forward 9 times out of ten a crack behind your leg works better. :D I'm not saying that there is never a place for it but most of the time it is the wrong way to use a whip.
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If i did that to my pony he would have done an almightly buck to the point he nearly used to fall over so i dont agree.
 
My pet hates are my own riding issues, I need regular lessons to keep on top of things and nip the nasties in the bud but I need somewhere to have them and more money to spend on good regular lessons.
 
Mine aren't riding but I hate seeing straw sticking out of brushing/tendon/splint boots......I also hate seeing shavings or staw in manes or tails!....

Although since buying a horse with a super thick tail I am now guilty of my last pet hate ;)
 
Sawing and jabbing at mouths. Getting left behind at a jump - over and over and over and catching the mouth. Actually anything to do with poor hands!

Watched some professional or other this weekend in the Hickstead Eventers Challenge and the horse was way way way over bitted - jumped terribly!

Nothing wrong with a good pony club kick! Flap, flap, flap - fantastic!
 
vroutledge said:
If i did that to my pony he would have done an almightly buck to the point he nearly used to fall over so i dont agree.
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As I said 9 times out of 10......

Some people do it as somekind of tick, slap with the stick before every fence and often it backs the horse off rather than sending it forward. For horses that don't react well to a smack behind the leg I find one down my boot works well.....
 
The over use of draw reins. I was at a show the other day and was watching the horses that were kept at the equestrian centre being worked and not one of them came out without stupidly tight draw reins.
People smoking while riding.
People not thanking car drivers, doesnt take much to just nod.
 
rising on the wrong diagonal, riding with elbows straight, hands moving, people who cant tell if they are on the correct lead in canter, tense hands, sawing on horses mouth, niggling legs, looking down (i do it my self really p*sses me off), slouching, sitting like on an arm chair, etc i have many hahahaaa :o
 
My own position when riding - it's terrible and i need to sort it out :(

When you see lead rein ponies at shows in their trailers or horseboxes with sidereins on :mad: what's the point?!

Inconsiderate hackers - including riding two abreast and not going single file for cars, riding in the middle of the road and not thanking drivers!

People who arrogant because they think they are good riders, when actually they've just got a push button pony and they just sit there looking pretty.

Full grown adults working in a section A or similar just before a first ridden class.

I could think of a lot more but I'll just start to sound like I'm moaning about anything and everything ;)
 
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