why are horsey people so critical of other riders??

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lexibell

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For the record, I don't consider myself a hugely 'positive' person, but I find it shocking how negative and critical people can be.

Why do horsey people feel the need to be so critical of others?

Does it make them feel a better rider because they can see faults in others?

My case study being one Mrs Katie Reid aka Katie Price aka Jordan: Yes she has faults, yes her choice of career/husbands/life choices has been questionable to say the least, but in terms of riding I’m not really sure why people are so mean??

No she’s not the greatest rider in the world, shes trying to do her best within her ability, aspiring to do better, seeking advice from the best trainer she can afford, having lessons, learning - so just like the rest wouldnt you say???

Why is her buying the best horse she can afford any different to any of us doing the same, so she has more to spend? so what?!



Is it insecurity that makes people feel they need to pick people like her and others to pieces? Is it jealousy???

I can’t help thinking if some of that negative energy was channeled into improving one’s own riding that one may start to become the wonderful experienced rider that think they are
 
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With regards to Katie Price, then yes, I personally think that there is almost certainly an element of jealousy, BUT she doesn't help herself sometimes - I watched a program a while back when she was horse hunting in Holland and she dismissed a really good horse just because of it's colour.... she wouldn't even get on it. Each to their own, I suppose.

With regards to horse-y people generally, in everyday life, then I don't really know why people are so critical - tbh, I don't really care what people think of me or my horse.... as long as I/my horse is happy, then I couldn't give a hoot.... however, it has taken me a long time to get to this mind-set
 
With regards to Katie it's due to jealousy .......end of....she has what most "dressage divas" want....good horses....access to a fab trainer...horses on full livery.

Personally I think good on her if I had her sort of money I would be doing the same and wouldn't give a stuff what others thought.



As for every day horsey people....christ only knows! I have been on some awfull yards where I was ripped to shreads. I do not profess to be a fantastic rider, a good rider yes, maybe, but I do not go boasting about. IF I see someone doing something seriously detrimental to themselves or their horses or if they ASK for comments/ advice I will tell them to their face and 9 times out of 10 people are thankfull,
I have learnt to ignore the comments now and live happy in my little bubble :)
 
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I dont know about the Katie Price issue, I personally dont like her but I do think she does little different to the rest of us, buys the best horse she can afford and tries to be a better rider with lessons. The only difference is she's got the money to buy pretty much any horse she wants and can afford the best instructors.

As for critical in general, I think the horsey world is often tarred by these people, I think it somehow makes them feel a better rider themselves, helps them ignore their own faults.
I have been at yards where I have met these sorts, and seen how they have belittled beginner riders etc, of course they were born experts on horses and could ride well before exiting the womb!!

I choose not to be around such people and thankfully am now at a yard where people are supportive of those learning or going through a confidence crisis, it makes such a difference x
 
I agree that horsey people are so critical.
I think that its because the majority of the time there is more than one right answer to the way things are done.
Theres not always a need to voice your opinion though.
 
I took on a massive project of a horse who came to us in as really bad way, soo under weight vets thought he might not make it... on a yard of 32 horse owners only 3 or 4 had anything encouraging or remoterly positive to say, and the more we progressed the more harsh the comments - Im not long on this yard, and to this day I dont understand why I got such a negative press for trying to help a horse in need to some TLC. I wasnt looking for people validate what I was doing, or anything of the sort but I didnt expect people to go out of thier way to be deliberately negative

It really was no bodys business and so I have learnt to stop listening, I suppose that makes me more sympathetic to people like KP and others, being judged by people who know nothing about that persons life, and really arent qualifyied to judge,

ho hum tis life I suppose,
 
I don't think its the horse world particularly, not around KP. You've only got to open one of those gossip magazines and there she is being gossiped and sniped about.
 
Of course people should be allowed to like and dislike who they please - christ knows, I certainly dont like everyone I meet, but when I meet someone who lets say is not my cup of tea, I kind of just get on with my own stuff.

Its this deliberate/conscious, obsessive dislike that comes form somepeople that I find hard to understand
 
Because there are so many un sung really good horse people out there, who give it there all - whether they be a novice rider who has just conquered the rising trot, or getting a young horse down the drive for the first time - or the likes of Pippa Funnel who was V high profile, then dipped out of stardom for a year or two - and has now come back through sheer hardwork, guts and determination.
Katy Price is a mediocre rider with too much bling and celebrity status to be taken seriously. I take my hat off to those who do riding for a living, grooms, racing staff etc. The backroom boys and girls.
For those who do it as a hobby - nothing wrong in that - and for those who sometimes post some rather daft stuff on this forum - that some of the more cynical take what could be a harsh view (from time-to-time) well grow up! The horse community is a wide and diverse one - so of course there will be wide and diverse comments to be had!
 
As i said on the Katie price thread, I dont have a problem with her but i do wonder how after having all that money to spend on the gear, the horses, the facilities and the trainer that her riding isn't amazing!
In that vid she looked like a sack of spuds, she can ride but not to the standard you would expect after having so many lessons with a top trainer.
and as others say, why let her prance around a top event in the public eye when there are so many better riders that need the exposure.
The only reason she gets to do it is because of who she is, which is not fair on others.
Oh by the way Im not a dressage diva or anything and not jealous! :-)
 
with regards to Katie Price my annoyance with her was that I listened to an interview think it was on radio 1 where she said she would like to ride in the Britain 2012/2016 olympic team. now we all have to have goals but this seemed a little excessive?
 
tbf, i'm not jealous of her- i'd rather slogg through looking after my own horses and riding them myself, although i could easilly afford to pay somebody to both school and full livery them.

but if i did, what would be the point in having them?

she, however, seems to have as little to do with her horses as possible, and when she does ride, she is one of these 'pretty' riders- she looks very nice, but if the horse every took the mik or wasn't as highly schooled as hers are, she'd be on the floor and/ or lose her confidence ridiculously quickly.

this is fine, it's her choice. what i object to is being told how brilliant a rider she is, and how much of a horsewoman she is, which, i'm sorry if anyone is offended by this, she definately is neither.

on a local level tho, i will only give an opinion if somebody asks, and then will try to help if i can rather than overly criticise.
 
I like Katie Price.

We live in a society which appears to value appearance above all else, she made that work for her and she created her "brand" and ran with it. As life gets harder financially for me I often wish I had the looks/nerve to do the same.

Sometimes I do cringe at how she speaks to her OH, same as I did when she was married to Peter Andre, and I am not a fan of her KP equestrian stuff but her horses look well fed and happy and she isn't a terrible rider imho.

I can also tell that her horses are important to her, she moved house to a place which meant she could spend more time with them, and I found it quite touching that she'd had her old mare for so many years.
 
Re: Katie Price, I think she has been a shrewd business woman to go from glamour girl to a pretty successful lady. Personally I wouldn't want her as one of my friends as I think her general personality isn't nice. However as a rider, I agree, with all that money and access to a top trainer and facilities at home with top horses she could be a better rider, but she doesnt want to be the next Laura B as far as Im aware, think she just enjoys doing what she does.

Id love Andrew Gould running a yard I owned and looked after my neddies and could afford top dressage horses! (*keeps dreaming*)


Re: The horse world - Yup too many bitchy people. Why? I dont know. I generally find it is those who know little that bitch a lot. Those who know a lot tend to keep themelves to themselves and do what they do on the quiet.
 
In that vid she looked like a sack of spuds, she can ride but not to the standard you would expect after having so many lessons with a top trainer.
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Ive been having lessons for years for about 15 years, and quite frankly I dont think Im a very good rider - certainly no where near as talented as my instructor, or most of his other pupils.... who decides how good should be based on how many lessons youve had and with who?!

Her riding has improved, most will agree with that - so shes doing something right

Of course some of us where just born with joddys on and a whip in our hand!!

Sorry Im not having a go, Im really not trying to cause trouble here I just dont understand statements like that.

but i do wonder how after having all that money to spend on the gear, the horses, the facilities and the trainer that her riding isn't amazing!
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Why would it necessarily mean her riding is amazing?? surely money doesnt buy ability?
 
maybe the replies in the thread just confirm that people are overly critical ;-)

Katie Price obv doesn't neglect her horses, and they don't want for anything. I'd rather save my bitching and criticism for people that neglect, beat, starve and abuse their animals

Oh and if I ever win the lottery you'll probably see me riding about on a dressage horse that is too good for my riding, dressed to the nines, and with a very smart yard. Most of the KP bitching is jealousy, same as most bullies
 
Because in the horse world, riding critiques have the extra "moral force" that the rider might be hurting or letting down the horse. Ergo people feel that they're not just being jealous or bitchy, but are actually totally justified because they're saving some poor dumb animal from suffering. The horse is the ultimate innocent!

That's my guess about the self righteousness, anyhoo!
 
SusannaF said:
Because in the horse world, riding critiques have the extra "moral force" that the rider might be hurting or letting down the horse. Ergo people feel that they're not just being jealous or bitchy, but are actually totally justified because they're saving some poor dumb animal from suffering. The horse is the ultimate innocent!

That's my guess about the self righteousness, anyhoo!
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Completely agree!!! some of the things i see are truly horrifying, but the people involved physically cant see that they're hurting the horse

shame. i tend to keep my mouth shut unless asked now
 
Having never seen Katie Price ride I cann't comment on her riding. But she is into selling herself at the cost of her horses and personnel life, which I find distastful. And as another post said the unsung heros are the grooms whether in racing stables etc. Most horsey people are very nice and helpful, sometimes it comes down to how everyone does their horses and each to their own.
 
KP aside for a moment, if we watched video's of ourselves ride, as often as we do others, we would see our own faults, I hope! I try to make a point of getting someone to record me riding once a month, so I can see what I am doing wrong! If the horse does not perform as well as I would like I look to my self first, and, if I was loaded, I would not buy a horse someone else had made brilliant, I would rather do it myself, but it would be nice to afford, all the nice stuff, posh wagon, jumps indoor school, perfect stables, etc etc. And some famous person to teach me how to get the best out of my horse!;)
 
Yes but seeing most of us aren't rich and mostly counting the pennies, we have some very good riders that have brought themselves up by their bootstraps, yourself included. The original op said most of us are bitchy and I disagree, but most of us have different ideas how horses should either be kept or ridden. I'm lucky I own my own yard and land, so have only myself to either kick up the a**se or praise. I have been on yards before this and the only people I found critical of other people were the people either running the place or their lackies, the other liveries helped each other.
 
i used to be involved in distance running & found the general "vibe" very different in that sport - very good county level runners went out of their way to support lower level runners - despite being a truly terrible runner - i always felt supported in running clubs & people shared skills/stories/hard times - i have to say the levels of casual b**** that seems to be just standard in livery yards takes my breath away
 
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