Why do some people exagerate their horses naugtiness!!

S

Sandstone1

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 July 2010
Messages
8,916
Visit site
I have a friend who has a lovely laid back horse. She is a nervous rider but he is quite good and does not really do anything wrong. However if he does the slightest thing such a little buck etc, she buillds it out of all proportion telling people he bolted etc etc. It really annoys me as it gives the horse a bad name when really hes just being a horse!

Some people seem to expect horses to be robots when they are living animals who will sometimes do the unexpected!
If he was a bad horse i could understand it but really he is very quiet.


Sorry just wanted to get it off my chest as it drives me mad. Any one else know some one who does this?
 
I think people do it for 2 reasons, one to make themselves look a better rider and two cos for some reason some people think its cool to have a horse they describe as a nutter lol.
 
Yes you could be right! I just get a bit peed off with it because hes such a nice horse. Does not seem fair to give him a bad name.
 
I think it makes them feel like good riders. Just had a whacked out boarder here who used to do the same. Made her horse out to be a lunatic. He was a Flippin saint! Used to stand in for up to 96 hours at a time because no one else was capable of leading him in and out. She used to get on him in a Kimberwicke with a death grip on his mouth saying he was crazy and only she could ride him.

My view, if your horse is a nightmare, look in the mirror. I take great pride in that anyone could ride my competition mare and anything else I have. Still I get all sorts of questions like " has she ever bucked you off, has she ever run off with you? " Umm, no, I'd be mortified that I'm that useless. Plus I also started all mine so I can't blame previous owners.

But yes, this seems a new phenom pretending you have a crazy horse only you can handle. Part of life now in which everyone seems to get attention for being a drama queen. I think I'm a little sad that all during my teens and 20's if I tried the drama route I got firmly put in my place and rightly so! LOL!

Terri
 
Seen this loads , to the point where I've seen kids trying to wind up the poor creatures by pulling on the reins and kicking. I think if I tried that my Arab would just think I had gone mad. Like above I take pride in having a horse which my 6 year old sister can lead and I can let kids ride her safely. And she's not a plod but she's just exceptionally well manner and trained;(previous owners work).
 
Yes you are all right, to my mind tho its just saying you are not a good rider as if you were the horse would not be crazy!
 
Funny you should post this as i was thinking bout this yesterday :D
I too know somebody who always said her horse has a really bad buck but luckily she can sit it and she is a really challenging ride.
Truth turns out to be the buck is more of a fly kick and the challenging ride used to be used to nanny other race horses on hacks :rolleyes:
Gotta feal sorry for people that need to big themselves up ;)
 
I think some do it to cover up their nerves/ fear /lack of experience. I have a friend with a new horse - lovely 10 yr old ex race horse. A bit of a plod really. She took him show jump schooling recently and reported back to us at the yard that he was really badly behaved and spooking and bucking everywhere. However, when I spoke to another girl I know who was also at the schooling session she said the horse was fine - a little on his toes in a new arena - but nothing bad. The rider was just too scared to take him over the trot poles or even a little cross pole in case he "took off with her 'cause he is a racehorse". Oh dear, so my friend has always told everyone she is very experienced and can ride anything. I have even asked her for advice when I was feeling nervous with my new horse. But in reality she is just as insecure as I am about riding a new horse. The worse bit is she was really mean to a young girl on the yard who had a nasty fall from her horse when hunting, and told everyone that she was pathetic for losing her nerve. Just very sad really. :(
 
Urg, I know what you mean! My friend had a horse who used to throw his heels up when jumping. Literally 6 inches off the floor. Apparently he did really nasty bucks. Haha!

When I say Ned used to rear, spin and kick out, I mean it! Do I think that makes me a better rider? No! Did it scare the hell out of me? Yes! Do I think I'm the only one who can ride him? No! Infact, there was a lad who could ride him much better than me, but he lost interest and now ride something else. He liked the nutters :P
I don't understand why people think it's cool to have a bad horse. An excitable, funny horse, maybe! But something that bucks, rears or bolts is not cool.
 
Seems to be a lot more common than I thought!

Nothing wrong with being nervous, but why blame the horse? I could understand it if he was a bad horse but really hes not and when he does the odd buck or shy etc its nothing most horses would not do.
 
I was thinking about this yesterday, the girl that helps me on Saturday turned up early so brought in and turned out for me and I realised that all the horses on my yard are so easy to do that I could leave her to it without worrying.

I agree it is a reflection on the owners, most people seem to have the need to exaggerate in order to make up for their own inability.

I am amazed how many posters on here have horses that "bolt" in so many situations I would describe most as "taking off" not bolting .
 
While some say it for attention, i also believe that depending on your level of experience, an issue like bucking and spooking is just something you get on with, while to less experienced its a major drama in their riding life,
Theres a lot of " bolters" that imo just take hold and get a bit strong, to others its a bolter. Having sat a true bolt only twice in 40 yrs not pleasant but doable.
 
It's sad how common it is, and I think every horse that has to put up with it deserves a life times supply of carrots!

Changing the topic but another thing that gets me is people who 'big' up their horses.
In conversation it was suggested a lady took their horse out hunting a few times. Her reply was that she can't possibly do such a thing as it's a show jumper... BSJA yadder yadder.
It's been to 3 unaff, low key sj'ing comps in 2 years. ;)
 
On the other side of the coin it used to really wind me up when people used to go on about what a nice, kind horse J is and how well behaved he was - as though it was just because he was born a saint.

Yes he is a saint now. No he wasn't always. Yes I did have to teach the little sod some manners when I got him. The reason he is a saint is because ill-mannered misbehaving is not tolerated and because I keep him in a manner to ensure he retains his sanity. He's not innately better behaved than your horse, who you let walk all over you. He's just better trained :p


I don't get it so much now I have F&D showing similar characteristics ;)
 
Yes - this irritates me too! A tiny spook, turns into a death defying leap... sigh...

I also get, well your luckly your horses are good, ermm well I've had them for 20 and 11 years respectively, and I would like to think I taught them a thing or too over the years...
 
I wonder if I'm guilty of that? I'm always calling him bonkers and a nutter, when actually he is mostly very good. As a baby he used to have panic attacks and he still gets them. Perhaps i'm also guilty of thinking no-one else would ride or understand him like I do (but i think thats just a possessiveness thing, i don't really believe it). But I also understand that these things are a reflection on my training of him. If I had backed him better or trained him better he might be over these things by now. So i'm not proud of his nutty moments, and I don't think they make me a good rider. But I am trying my best, and I am proud of every moment that he is beautifully behaved and I am understanding of the imperfect moments and try to work on them.
 
I think for some people who are nervous it really does feel like a big deal though - For example, a horse may do a small buck but that individual honestly perceived that they were going to get thrown off. They build something small up in their own head, which then knocks their confidence. In reality it was just the horse being a horse.
 
KatPT said:
I wonder if I'm guilty of that? I'm always calling him bonkers and a nutter, when actually he is mostly very good. As a baby he used to have panic attacks and he still gets them. Perhaps i'm also guilty of thinking no-one else would ride or understand him like I do (but i think thats just a possessiveness thing, i don't really believe it).
Click to expand...

Tbf, I call Fergs a knobber and say he's a pest to hack alone and things... I appreciate that he's not dangerous or difficult though and I do admit the only reason I'm worried about hacking him alone is him ditching me and getting hit by a car on the way home! He certainly never gives any indication of misbehaviour when other people are around so I probably look like I'm bigging it up too.
 
JFTD, I hear you. My Abba gets a bad rap as for some reason when they see her doing her airs above the ground out playing that's supposed to translate to under saddle. She's a big long Warmblood/TB cross and I guess is supposed to be scary.

But the bit about losing nerve, it happens to all of us at one time or another. If you choose to ignore it and chastise others to compensate you will never get back. I had a bad accident at the track many moons ago. It was my job so I didn't have the luxury of taking time off. I came home from work daily and just cried myself into a stupor. Was afraid of losing my job and also knew I was a danger to not only me and my horse but everyone else on the track. I did switch jobs, talked with my trainer, and had help from good friends who let me know it was going to be ok. I got on all the easy ones til I was back in full swing again.

But most people are afraid to admit they may have lost their bottle. Therefore you make it much worse. Acknowledge and seek guidance. You will get over it much more quickly and properly. That girl that was making up stories at my yard. She had an accident before coming to us. She hopped up on my mare one day as at this stage I still believed she was as ace as she said. My mare did nothing wrong. She tried asking for a trot and started screaming at her. I said do not scream at my mare. Her reply is that she's not going to get hurt on unmannerly horses to which I said get off. I've had riding school kids on her feeling like super stars because they got to ride Abba so it wasn't my mare. Tried having a talk with her nicely about how it's ok to be scared and told her my story. She point blank said that has nothing to so with her and save my breath. There isn't much I haven't seen and I know scared when I see it. Really it is ok. To get over it and be the rider you want, acknowledge the fear. Talk to people and get help. Don't listen to naysayers. It probably hasn't happened to them yet.

Sorry so long.

Terri
 
This drives me bonkers!

I do not understand this whole having a badly behaved horse is cool and makes me a better rider attitude.

To me it's totally the opposite. And I completely agree with what JFTD was saying.

Mine are well mannered and well behaved and I take great pride in that cos neither of them were when I got them, they were bargy, bolshy sods and if they don't get kept in their place they revert back fast.

Yes they are angels at the moment! But it's taken a lot of hard work to get them this way, and to keep it, if issues arise we correct and sort it out.

But now all I get is people thinking I've got 2 ploddy easy cobs, who never put a foot wrong so that means I must be a novice who can't really ride... Aaaaaarghh!!

.... And breathe....
 
Equilibrium Ireland said:
JFTD, I hear you. My Abba gets a bad rap as for some reason when they see her doing her airs above the ground out playing that's supposed to translate to under saddle. She's a big long Warmblood/TB cross and I guess is supposed to be scary.

But the bit about losing nerve, it happens to all of us at one time or another. If you choose to ignore it and chastise others to compensate you will never get back. I had a bad accident at the track many moons ago. It was my job so I didn't have the luxury of taking time off. I came home from work daily and just cried myself into a stupor. Was afraid of losing my job and also knew I was a danger to not only me and my horse but everyone else on the track. I did switch jobs, talked with my trainer, and had help from good friends who let me know it was going to be ok. I got on all the easy ones til I was back in full swing again.

But most people are afraid to admit they may have lost their bottle. Therefore you make it much worse. Acknowledge and seek guidance. You will get over it much more quickly and properly. That girl that was making up stories at my yard. She had an accident before coming to us. She hopped up on my mare one day as at this stage I still believed she was as ace as she said. My mare did nothing wrong. She tried asking for a trot and started screaming at her. I said do not scream at my mare. Her reply is that she's not going to get hurt on unmannerly horses to which I said get off. I've had riding school kids on her feeling like super stars because they got to ride Abba so it wasn't my mare. Tried having a talk with her nicely about how it's ok to be scared and told her my story. She point blank said that has nothing to so with her and save my breath. There isn't much I haven't seen and I know scared when I see it. Really it is ok. To get over it and be the rider you want, acknowledge the fear. Talk to people and get help. Don't listen to naysayers. It probably hasn't happened to them yet.

Sorry so long.

Terri
Click to expand...

Sorry I don't quite follow? I don't think I'm great and I'm not "scared" of the pony - I do hack him out alone, I just don't push us out of our comfort zones too much alone as I would rather not risk him ditching me and getting himself hit by a car... I have certainly never been driven to tears by fear of him. I get the biggest kick out of riding him ever, and we do more together than most owners of similar ponies ever do :D

I know you're trying to be helpful, I just think you've got the wrong end of the stick :)
 
All of the above. Also, possibly it comes from inexperience, if youve never seen or ridden extreme behaviours (bolt/buck/whatever) perhaps the mild manifestations of this behaviour seem worse until you have a comparison to measure it against.

Also, if youre a nervous rider maybe telling people the things you are dealing with are worse than they are is less embarrassing (although being nervous is nothing to be ashamed of) and you can say, yes, was feeling really anxious today because my horse spooked really really badly, not im upset because my horse jumped a little bit and looked at a cow, and then walked on nicely.

JFTD said:
On the other side of the coin it used to really wind me up when people used to go on about what a nice, kind horse J is and how well behaved he was - as though it was just because he was born a saint.

Yes he is a saint now. No he wasn't always. Yes I did have to teach the little sod some manners when I got him. The reason he is a saint is because ill-mannered misbehaving is not tolerated and because I keep him in a manner to ensure he retains his sanity. He's not innately better behaved than your horse, who you let walk all over you. He's just better trained :p
)
Click to expand...

I get this a LOT off a certain friend. They were always saying how good my old horse was and I was so lucky. Then how good is the teenage horse I just backed, I was so lucky. Then my 4 yr old, I was dead lucky to have such a well behaved 4 yr old. Then my yearling, yes you guessed it, wow, isnt he good, youre so lucky. Saw me walking out a foal a couple of weeks ago, and you know...lucky shes so well behaved arent I.

FFS!! No Im not lucky, I work damn hard at having well trained well behaved animals because I dont think good manners are optional!! Its actually a bit insulting to keep saying im lucky as if its some kind of fluke and not my work :mad:

sorry went off on a bit of a rant there but it really is annoying me :o
 
I wasn't on about you being scared. Only the top paragraph was in reference to your post. Basically you said what I said.

The part about fear is in reference to people who refuse to acknowledge. Had nothing to do with you at all.

I hardly see hacking out as bravery. Depends on where you live. I'm not much of a road hacker. My horse's are fine but I have no control of silly drivers who aren't paying attention.

Sorry for the confusion.

Teeri
 
Equilibrium Ireland said:
I wasn't on about you being scared. Only the top paragraph was in reference to your post. Basically you said what I said.

The part about fear is in reference to people who refuse to acknowledge. Had nothing to do with you at all.

I hardly see hacking out as bravery. Depends on where you live. I'm not much of a road hacker. My horse's are fine but I have no control of silly drivers who aren't paying attention.

Sorry for the confusion.

Teeri
Click to expand...

Fair enough, I did wonder where that came from :confused: Just ignore me then... :)
 
It doesn't help I type mostly from my phone and can't use smilies and fancy paragraph chopping. In all fairness I'm a bit of an idiot when it comes to techno stuff.

Terri
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top