What should I do? (friend and her horse)

[aimeejay]

Hi,
I need your advice about what to do/say and please tell me if Im just being down right rude and nosy.
Ive got a very close friend who owns a horse. We always have a good talk about riding. She has had her horse a year and has been riding about the same amount. She was speaking to me and another person about her horse yesterday. Now I really dont want to get involved into her stuff because I'd rather leave her be, but when she says that her supposedly 'very experienced' mum(apparently riding for 30 years and had in her words-a rearing, bucking monster) wont even canter on her cob because hes naughty yet this horse used to be at a RS. She was saying how shed fed it half a bag of crisps! How its really rude in the stable and always barges out so she has to move or it will 'butt her'. I wanted to say why dont you give it a good crack and tell it where it should be? I know shes experienced enough to do so as Ive seen this cob and it will plod-a-long when needs be. Ive known the horse since before shes had it and ever since it seems to have turned down right rude and apparently no one can canter on him because he gallops off. I know the horse would never ever do this in the past and I dont want it to happen because hes such a sweet hearted lil lad. She says things that she does which could cause harm to herself or the horse and I dont want this to happen.
Sorry about the really long post, I know that it is her business and her choice to talk about her horse but when I hear things like she says, it worries me. Tell me what to do pleeaassee? Am I just being a total nosy parker and should mind my own business? argghh. x



Edit: And her mum lets her do all things that she does. :S

 

[AmyMay]

Leave her to it. Much of what she's saying is probably bravado anyway.

 

[Toady]

Half a bag of crisps?! Oh dear.

This is quite a difficult one as she is your friend and you don't want to upset her. Have you seen what the horse is actually like to ride out? Or what he's really like in a stable?

I went through a similar situation with a girl at my old yard, she had a really difficult horse and she just wasn't doing anything to the point where I started helping her out and showing her that he's not such a demon horse and that she had to stand her ground.

Please please please don't take this the wrong way but if her Mum has 30 years experience under her belt why is she letting her daughter who has been riding a year ride/own a 'rearing bucking monster?

 

[Luci07]

Take her quietly to one side and just ask her if she is really having problems - in which case you would be happy to help her sort him out but (and find your own way to say this) if this is not the case and it is just bravado, she needs to understand that if she says these things about her horse, he will be stuck with this reputation - which means if she ever wanted to sell him/share him she would really struggle. Point out people move off yards/talk and she would be surprised just far a horses bad reputation can travel

 

[aimeejay]

Half a bag of crisps?! Oh dear.
Please please please don't take this the wrong way but if her Mum has 30 years experience under her belt why is she letting her daughter who has been riding a year ride/own a 'rearing bucking monster?

No, I wouldnt take it the wrong way as I feel exactly the same way. Ive only seen the horse before she had him As I am close, but I dont want to be cheeky and say oh can I come down to your yard and look at your horse? Do you think that the horse could have had a little spook or little buck and she classes it as a big rear or buck because shes a novice? I know when it was my first year of riding I thought that when the plod-a-long dope went into canter it was like a rocket

I must say I am confused.com

 

[Toady]

Do you think that the horse could have had a little spook or little buck and she classes it as a big rear or buck because shes a novice? I know when it was my first year of riding I thought that when the plod-a-long dope went into canter it was like a rocket

I must say I am confused.com

I would be confused as well don't worry.

She may be saying things a little out of proportion, I can't really think of anything else to say I'm sorry I guess you just have to do what you think is right.

And if he is constantly bucking/rearing or whatever, then maybe the horse should be checked out?

I'm sorry I can't be of anymore help!