Why do people brag about a horse's bad behaviour?

[skewby]

I hear it all the time, and it really chuffs me off. Yes I know you can indulge them being a bit daft or whatever, but making out your horse is a "nutter" (God I hate that word when used about a horse), some people seem to think is big and clever? Whereas I am horrified.

When I first had my horse I was dreadfully overhorsed, and we had some notable occasions. I am still in contact with a few people I knew in those days and I go COLD when they even begin to refer to them - because they're calling him a "loon" etc. and it wasn't even his fault, it was mine!!

I don't get it. I am desperately proud of my horse's impeccable behaviour and if we have an off day it's always my fault. I would never, ever call him mad and moreover, would never be proud of it if I did believe he were?!

 

[monkeybum13]

People like to brag about how "naughty" their horses are to make them seem much better riders.
(That's what I've always thought anyway)

 

[elliegirl12]

Ditto above!! i have always found people who brag seem to be s**e!! people who keep quiet are the better riders!! and actually know a lot MORE!

 

[Macamee]

Ellie_girl i often find the opposite and those that say nothing utter numpties, sorry just my experience

 

[V1NN]

it does my head in to! when i worked in riding school the older better kids used to 'brag' about there horses being 'nuts' etc to the younger less able kids who were in awe of them dont know why but it really irritated me lol

 

[0ldmare]

[ QUOTE ]
People like to brag about how "naughty" their horses are to make them seem much better riders.
(That's what I've always thought anyway)

[/ QUOTE ]

What they said

They think that everyone will think wow what a good rider she must be if she can handle/ride such a difficult/crazy/bucking bronco.

Without wishing to be ageist, I do think most eventually grow out of it

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

Gosh, really? How very odd, that seems bloody daft, not met anyone like this, that I have noticed. I think that's madness, its all about manners in my opinion, crazy that someone should brag about a horse being nuts

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

I know what you mean but my filly is a complete and utter nutter who thinks she can walk over me, I am the only one that can handle her, she would drag you for miles, She really is a complete and utter nutter !!!

I daren't let anyone on her as she would buck them off, Only I can stay on . !!

 

[skewby]

[ QUOTE ]
I know what you mean but my filly is a complete and utter nutter who thinks she can walk over me, I am the only one that can handle her, she would drag you for miles, She really is a complete and utter nutter !!!

I daren't let anyone on her as she would buck them off, Only I can stay on . !!

[/ QUOTE ]
LOL!

Yeah, you totally get my point

Love it.

I think you guys are right - they think it makes them sound a more capable rider. But...sorry if I'm being thick but...if you were capable, it wouldn't be doing whatever it is you accuse it of?!

Also HUGE pet hate (sorry on a rant here it seems) are people who wind up a nice horse to make it LOOK like a handful. Ptew. Actually, come to think of it, I have known a few nice horses get ruined in this way. Actually again...more than a few

 

[ForeverBroke_]

*Sits on hands*

100% agree, but cant comment incase it's seen

*about to burst*

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

See i find being truthful works.

My horse CAN be a nutter. He CAN be strong BUT most of the time he is a sweetie but when he does go he does it proper.

Now does that make me sound like a better rider because I can handle his behaviour??? Or do you assume i can???

I cant always and the little crap is soo fast he does get me off quite regularly but does that make me a worse rider??? Well again you would think that since I have had him for a long time but he can still surprise me!!

I think that many people read into things tbh, language is limited when its the written word and tone etc come off better in a face to face conversations.

I call Kia a nutter doesnt mean i think hes nuts to ride jst that he can be a few pennies short of a shilling lol!!!

Nikki xxxx

 

[devilwoman]

my very first pony I had was sold to another local girl when I outgrew him, he was an amazing little pony as good as gold, I used to see her out on him with her friends showing off that he was a "nutter" whipping and whipping him until he bucked and took off - I was only 13 and eventually dragged her off him after one of her showing off sessions over the local park and gave her a good hiding (I don't condone violence at all but I could not take seeing her do that to him anymore - it was cruel) I would say I knew this girl very well and thought she would love him dearly had never see her do anything like this before but he was the first pony she had owned, lucky for him she only had him a few months, in that time he lost tons of weight and got a huge huge saddle sore on his back, he was rescued by a lovely lady who took great care of him.

 

[FanyDuChamp]

[ QUOTE ]
See i find being truthful works.

My horse CAN be a nutter. He CAN be strong BUT most of the time he is a sweetie but when he does go he does it proper.

Now does that make me sound like a better rider because I can handle his behaviour??? Or do you assume i can???



[/ QUOTE ]

What she said!

 

[Achinghips]

I think people do it because they like to think that:

"My horse has more character than yawurs - na na nana naaaaa"

....... more so, if they're insecure about its looks

 

[skewby]

[ QUOTE ]
*Sits on hands*

100% agree, but cant comment incase it's seen

*about to burst*

[/ QUOTE ]
Ah go on fleabite, burst. Better out than in. You can tell us

 

[Spudlet]

Because the nutter moments make more interesting stories?

I remember having a similar conversation once about the impression a non-rider would get listening to a group of horse-people chatting - they would think all horses must be homicidal maniacs because let's face it, a conversation about all the lovely, sane rides you had would pall pretty fast whereas a discussion about the Tractor Incident or the Ninja Sheep Incident (insert your own incident here

) is far more interesting

 

[skewby]

[ QUOTE ]
I cant always and the little crap is soo fast he does get me off quite regularly but does that make me a worse rider??? Well again you would think that since I have had him for a long time but he can still surprise me!!

[/ QUOTE ]
To be honest, if he DOES get you off, and you keep getting back on, then I think fair play. To you, and yes you are allowed to call him names!

The ones who get me are the ones who have the "dopes on ropes" and STILL make out it's a loon because it pricked it's ears on entering a field. Or somesuch. "Ooh, he was rearing VERTICAL all the way!". Translation: he shifted his weight on to his hocks momentarily, in polite reaction to my tensing on seeing grass and grabbing the poor noble sod's head in panic.

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

I would quite like a non nutter day thanks

Col x

 

[Chestnuttymare]

I can never understand these people either. One i knew used to brag about her mare fighting in the field and being so tough, also bragging about it bucking. I would be mortified. Surely it shows them up for their lack of horsemanship and knowledge etc. I delight in my horse being the best behaved on a hack. When I got her she had tons of issues and people described her as mad etc, but she wasn't she was just in a bad state mentally. The mad thing is that people still think she is unhinged, yet she rarely puts a hoof wrong.

 

[Brandysnap]

Hi all!
I just wish that we could hear what horses say about humans!

They probably talk a lot more sense than some of the plonkers we have to listen to!!

BS x

 

[blacksabbeth]

well i have a philosophy that the person behind the horse makes it and im afraid that sometimes if a horse has issues also so the rider/owner does.Some horses who have been neglected or abused it is understandable,as they need time to bond and trust.But from a perfectly good horse once,whose become a "nutter" i would personally blame the owner.im not going out of my way to offend anyone but just the way i feel.

 

[Vixxy]

My boy was crazy when I bought him and he still has 'issues' 5 years on, what I call him depends on my mood and what he has done lately. I am happy in the knowledge it is not my bad riding that makes him this way as many of my past riders/grooms have ridden him and also had problems.

He gets better as the years go by and we have found out he does have a cereal and sugar intolerance which obviously has been a huge factor with his behaviour both on the ground and ridden. As we have adapted his feeding he has improved but he can still be (must find an acceptable word) edgy/difficult on occasions.

I think 'can be difficult', 'can be unpredictable', 'hot/nervy/spooky' best sums him up in conversation, I rarely call him a nutter. Whatever I call him he is my horse and 90% of the time I love him dearly but when he is dangerous I often have a gut reaction to sell him.

I do not think all people like to show off about their 'nutcase', but call a spade a spade type of thing. I am the one who tries her best to play down what a testing and sometimes out and out mean horse mine can be. Ok most of the time he is lovely and typical me that is usually what I describe to people.

Not everyone owns a horse that is simple and straight forward and it is not always down to a rider how a horse behaves. Horses like people are all different, I have 2 kids one has special needs the other does not. I do not call the child with special needs nutter but then neither is his difficult and sometimes rude behaviour my fault or his.

 

[251libby]

QR--- I haven't read other replies

I think people do honestly belive if your horse is naughty you are a better rider which tbh is total crap.....my horse was badly behaved when I got her; getting loose, tanking off, napping v badly and once it took me 3 attempts to get in the school during all of this I felt awful, a crap rider and v embarrised. I've had her 5 years now and she is as good as gold, I get the odd nappy moment but that's all and I'm so pleased with how far we have come.
The weird thing is tht during her 'mad' first year I had lots of people telling me I was a good rider and asking if I would ride their horses.......well now I get neither lol at least I know I'm better now because I've got a horse whose good as gold

I think it's mad that people brag and it drives me crazy when peole make their horses jog.....a pet peeve of mine

 

[Pebble101]

[ QUOTE ]
well i have a philosophy that the person behind the horse makes it and im afraid that sometimes if a horse has issues also so the rider/owner does.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was just wondering how you would interpret my situation then. I have one who is a nutter, and another perfect gentleman.

The nutter is just very very excitable and can go from perfectly behaved to downright naughty in an instant - only one of my friends wants to ride him! He is now 16 and has been the same ever since I had him. To handle he is lovely, but there are times when I ride him I could throttle him because I don't always find life as exciting as he does and I'm too old for it now

The other horse is very well behaved and although I wouldn't put a complete novice on him, he is pretty much bombproof. Friends just love riding him because they feel safe whatever the situation.

 

[Chavhorse]

[ QUOTE ]
Ellie_girl i often find the opposite and those that say nothing utter numpties, sorry just my experience

[/ QUOTE ]

When I was youngster ( a long time ago now) we actually used to take great pride in the fact our ponies were quiet, well behaved and could cope with most things without going batshit.

It was considered the highest accolade to go hunting and have one of the hunt staff tell you how well behaved your pony was.

If you had an issue you worked on it or got your instructor to help you work through it the pride came in calmly sorting out the problem with no great drama so that said horse or pony (and to be honest in most cases it was you that needed to improve) improved.

What I see a lot now is the "my horse is a complete nutter/total bastard and only I am experienced enough, talented enough, brave enough to deal with it contingent. They will not accept help or advice as "only I know/can manage/understand this horse" and I have the "experience/horsemanship/pure talent to sort it out myself" even though I am only 15/been riding for a year/obviously have no clue. Delete as you feel fit.

Personally I get an immense sense of pride out of the fact that my nearly 5 year old is sane, sensible easy to handle and does what he is bloody well told . This has taken 2 years of quiet consistancy with no drama. Sorry I know it is boring but it has had the desired effect as everyone comments on his behaviour from the YO to the Farrier and the vet

So if being quiet and having a quiet well behaved horse makes me an "utter Numpty"

then I am proud to be considered one rather than the mouthy drama queen screaming "OMG he's a nutter did you seee what he did then" who is trying to gain kudos. For what I have no idea.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

[ QUOTE ]

I just wish that we could hear what horses say about humans!

They probably talk a lot more sense than some of the plonkers we have to listen to!!

BS x

[/ QUOTE ]

So true.

I thought original post was about people bragging about nutty horses as opposed to just having to deal with them, there is a difference.