Why.. just why...?

metalmare

metalmare

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For months now I have wondered at the behaviour and motivation of an acquaintance who owns a pony.

Said person started learning to ride in their mid-fifties (all credit for taking on a new hobby) but after approximately 6 lessons, still unable to canter, decided to buy a horse and go it alone... not even on a yard but on private land.

This person has admitted to having financial woes and is on the waiting list for a major op. She is very nervous of horses. She has had several falls. She will walk and trot in the school and allows her husband to lead her on the road, on a lead rope. This person appears to take very little pleasure from horse ownership and even less from riding. They are rigid with fear when on horseback.

Now on their 3rd horse (others having been rejected), they have chosen a NF which has chronic sweet-itch, is head shy and throws huge bucks when cantered (by me, not the owner!) Latterly, this pony has been more or less left to its own devices in the paddock, looking very miserable in a sopping wet sweet itch hoody. They're so scared of him, he's led everywhere in a chifney.

Why do people do it? What possible motive could they have? Sorry, don't really expect an answer... just want to vent.
 
I often ask myself this question. :( I can only assume they have dreams of themselves on horseback that have been inspired by Black Beauty and are too ignorant and stubborn to face up to reality or see how the animal is being affected by their idiocy. In their minds they are still galloping across fields to the Black Beauty sound track. Certainly, when you hear these idiots holding forth in the pub or at work, the impression they give is of the dream and not the reality.
 
I think your asking the wrong people :( If you cant say it to them then how about writing them a letter explaining how you feel and what you see (they obviously have blinkers on!)

If you lose the friendship because they turn sour about what you have to say then you havent really lost anything other than an idiot who brought a pony and shouldnt have ...!
 
The problem is they're next door neighbours and have strong tongues. It could make day to day life very difficult!

I've been trying to give friendly advice... too strong and they won't listen - I'm young enough to be a daughter, so I don't have their respect really.

I check the pony most days, over the fence, to make sure he isn't in danger. It's hard - mostly it's things I disapprove of, like leaving a nylon headcollar on in the field and the sopping wet fly rug, but they do get the farrier out and even had his teeth done recently, so it's not what you'd call a welfare case...

... just a case of stupidity that could end up with an even more dysfunctional animal (I wouldn't want him if he were given to me!) and an even more terrified owner. I did advise them to sell, but it had the opposite effect and made them more stubborn.
 
Ask if you can ride it, then at least you will be able to help with a bit ofe its care, and take the fly rug off etc, no point moaning whilst sitting on the fence so to speak.
 
I have ridden it on a few occasions... and recommended they get its back and tack checked. It bucks for England - nearing 4 foot and it means it. It must have managed 15 bucks around one half of the school. This pony seriously wants the jockey off. Could be behavioural but they need to rule out physical causes. This advice has been ignored.

I shan't be riding it any more - partly because I can't risk a fall, partly because now the nights have drawn in I barely have time to ride my own horse, let alone someone else's (I work long hours), but also I'm on increasingly uneasy terms with the owners, due to various other trivial disagreements.
 
It is a shame if they are too afraid to ride, but if they weren't happy owning horses why would they keep getting new ones? I know people who would be better off owning pet ponies as the riding is obviously a problem for them, but still they persevere with higher maintenance horses they don't ride and are a bit scared of... I don't really understand it but its their money and their life!

The wet rug is not very nice though, is it still conditions to worry about with sweet itch there? It's quite cold and windy here and we have loads of flies at the worst times.

I suppose there's not much you can do other than keep an eye on the pony and try to maybe offer friendly advice or general conversation so they may ask for help.

Do you think they just need to buy a bombproof super safe horse and their budget hasn't allowed it? I think that's what often happens!
 
Cold and windy here, too now.

I don't have an issue with field ornaments at all... but they don't even bring him in to be groomed or loved. As you say, it's their money and life, I just hope it doesn't end badly for all involved.

They did have a bombproof veteran but gave it away because it was 15.2 and too big... then they had a bombproof coloured cob and sold that for reasons unknown.

They don't have enough experience to really know what they want and they went horse buying alone without any advise. Proud, I suppose.

As you say, it's entirely their business... it just puzzles me. She first started talking about buying a horse when she found out I had one...
 
Poor horse. I would say that it probably is a welfare case of sorts if it's standing around in a wet rug all the time, do they not realise that is completely inadequate for this time of year? Is the horse alone in the field as well?

These people sound ignorant and rude, as well as stupid to buy a pony. If possible, I would shock them with a visit from the RSPCA or similar.
 
The lady who owns the field turns her two out with him, so no, not alone, thankfully. He's is in a starvation paddock, so separated by electric fencing.

The fly sheet is on underneath a lightweight, so it's his neck and around his shoulders that is wet. He's probably not going to catch a chill, but the poor thing looks so miserable. I think people should be able to talk basic horse before they buy one. He stands with his head down, looking thoroughly depressed - his face says it all. He cries whenever anyone comes past, despite the other horses being close by.

He just looks so glum. I actually think they brought him in last night - they have built a stable at the bottom of the garden (which rocks from side to side when he itches himself) so hopefully the rugs came off then!

There's no doubt they love him, I'm not suggesting they don't - they just don't know enough to go it alone... I think they have underestimated the responsibility.

RSPCA could shock them into at least making sure he's comfy, perhaps?
 
Tash88 said:
Poor horse. I would say that it probably is a welfare case of sorts if it's standing around in a wet rug all the time, do they not realise that is completely inadequate for this time of year? Is the horse alone in the field as well?

These people sound ignorant and rude, as well as stupid to buy a pony. If possible, I would shock them with a visit from the RSPCA or similar.
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^^^^^
This
 
metalmare said:
I have no faith in the RSPCA, but they are compelled to visit, if they get a call, aren't they?
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I'm not sure how it works, but they need to hear what they are doing wrong from someone who they will listen to; unfortunately that doesn't seem to be you so maybe an authority figure in uniform might get the message across. I would also be concerned about the safety of the stable that they've built, especially if it's as windy where you are as it is here in London.
 
Yeah, I think you're right about an authority figure.

The stable is nuts... it was bought as a stable by a man who builds garden sheds and has branched out into stables and it sits on concrete, not concreted in.
 
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