why do horsey people...

[diggerbez]

i've been pondering this for a while but have finally decided that horsey people are madder than i thought! most of us work very hard for our money and to pay for our horses (who incidentally take up all of our spare time too) but yet so many people have completely unsuitable horses i mean by that a variety of things- ones that are too sharp for them/ ones they are scared of or ones that will never be able to do the job they want it to do...i really don't get it... now i'm not someone who gives up easily and will put lots of work into a horse if i think it has talent but (and this is experience speaking) its heartbreaking spending hours and lots of £££s on a horse that gives you very little back... but its even more odd that people will pay out thousands on a horse whose conformation is so bad that it will never stay sound long term for example...but then they want to event it....i just don't get it?!

 

[somethingorother]

Well a lot of the specifics there such as having a horse with **** confo and wanting to event it... people do that because they are stupid. Because if they loved the horse they wouldn't want it to end up crippled with tendon problems etc ...

But i think in general horses are a lot like romantic partners in some ways: once you're in love you don't see the faults, can overlook them or can just put up with them because of the good points. Also sometimes what is perfect for you on paper turns out to be different from what works in practice. And you can't pick who you fall in love with.

Also sometimes people DO change (or horses) and by then it's been that long it's hard to make that step and get out of there! lol (too many memories etc)

 

[Tormenta]

What about people who spend their own time and money looking after horses who are considered no longer use, companions, old schoolmaster ponies and horses?

 

[diggerbez]

What about people who spend their own time and money looking after horses who are considered no longer use, companions, old schoolmaster ponies and horses?

well i think they are mad if i'm honest...and i can say that because i'm one of them -i have my 14 year old TB who wouldn't stay sound to event so he's a happy hacker now- i pay a fortune for him and do very little with him..BUT i'm more talking about people who want to compete and pour lots of money into a horse thats never going to do the job...i just don't get it... they grey in my siggy had the talent to do what i wanted but not the attitude, took me a while to accept that fact, was heartbreaking..but precisely because he had the talent/ scope etc...wheras my TB didn't have the legs for the job...but as soon as i realised i stopped asking him to do the job. was fortunate enough to be able to buy another but would have either sold the TB/ given up on competing if i hadn't been able to...its not fair on the horses i don't think. i know people who try and make their horses jump WAY higher than they are physically comfortable with and it looks awful but because the horse is genuine it keeps trying and clattering its legs and its just not fair....