Comments on: Catfight at the OK Corral

By: Buffy

Buffy — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:10:05 +0000

It is so hard when people do not live by the “Golden Rule”

By: Lorie

Lorie — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:22:36 +0000

I’ve seen some nasty fights between parents of horse 4-H kids and it makes me wonder what these people are thinking. Aren’t we suppose to be setting an example of sportmanship like attitudes for our children? I’ve learned how to stay out of the politics and nastiness and just enjoy being around pleasant horse people and having fun. Unfortunately there are people out there who think they are better than others just because of their wealth or expensive horses, etc. But I just go on with my rescued Paint Mare and a smile on my face knowing that “What goes around, comes around”.

By: Barb

Barb — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:01:32 +0000

“Pretty soon there will be those who are somehow deemed worthy of owning a horse and those who are, somehow…. not. And that will be a very sorry day.”
I wholeheartedly agree…and those involved with such nonsense need to take a look in the mirror…because, with just a few more changes in the circumstances of the economy (personal or national), the circumstances of a person’s health, or anything that can change anyone’s life & we could all be not only wondering what happened, but also wondering how we are going to take care of our favorite equines, feed them, feed ourselves, figuring out where they will live, where we will live, etc., etc…We can never be assured that our circumstances will remain as they are regardless of who we are, how much money we have, and where we live…Those individuals need to grow up & think about what truly matters in this life…

By: Tina

Tina — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:55:53 +0000

I no longer belong to the local horsemens group in my area for this and other reasons. I want to have fun and enjoy my horse, not be judged by others who think they are better than me. Very sad that it is this way.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:45:05 +0000

This reminds me of last weekend. I was out riding my horse in my own large field next to the road. I don’t have any problems with cars, my TB mare doesn’t mind them or the constant honking of people trying to get my attention. But after a couple of cars honking at me some little black sports car speeds by (speed limit on this road is 35 mph almost no one does that – I’m guilty of going 40 mph usually, I do 50mph if I really have to pee) anyway, the man in the sports car yells out to me and calls me a w%*^# What right did he have to call me a w%*^# just because I was riding a horse?

By: Dawn

Dawn — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:58:15 +0000

The barn I board at now avoids fights by having a schedule for the arena… Western riders and English riders co exist peacefully and most of us ride in jeans/t-shirts/sweatshirts… there are no class wars… I didn’t realize how spoiled I was until I read your blog… I live in Ontario, Canada 🙂

By: Cindy

Cindy — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:39:10 +0000

That sounds a lot like the place I was in while still living in So Calif.
Even though words were hardly spoken, the vibes were if you didn’t ride English & have a warm blooded horse you just were not good enough! Since moving to Texas the attitude is so much different! Now as long as you ride, treat your horse with care & love, it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing or what discipline you ride. Which helps me a lot since my riding is a fusion of both English & Western – Hahaha – I guess you’d call it Engwest?
Too bad you had to witness that cat fight and spoil your day.

By: CINDY HALE

CINDY HALE — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:29:29 +0000

I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS. YES, I DO LIVE IN SO-CALLED “HORSETOWN, USA,” WHICH IS ACTUALLY NORCO, CALIFORNIA. WE’RE STRUGGLING TO REMAIN SEMI-RURAL AND ANIMAL-FRIENDLY BUT IT’S GETTING TOUGHER EACH YEAR. AND UNFORTUNATELY, AS HORSES ARE CROWDED OUT OF OTHER AREAS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY ZONED FOR HORSES, THE SITUATIONS LIKE I DESCRIBED IN THIS BLOG POST WILL JUST BECOME MORE COMMON.
SAMANTHA’S USE OF THE WORD “ENTITLEMENT” IS CORRECT. SOME HORSE PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THEY’RE AUTOMATICALLY ENTITLED TO MORE/BETTER/EXTRA STUFF JUST BECAUSE OF…. WHAT?
AND BY THE WAY, I LIKE A GOOD MULE! 🙂

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:15:45 +0000

Sadly, I’ve seen this in all areas of horses. Like the book title says, There’s no bad color for a horse. We happen to have Paints because we like a little flash. Our best riding friend loves Appys, because she likes spots. We have no problem with anyone that rides whatever, as long as they enjoy riding. Western/English, who cares? But we have had a lot of folks call us elitists because we have Paints or Appys & not a Bay or Palimino, etc. It’s really silly, but they won’t even accept an offer of a trail ride/picnic. And we’re not talking kids here. We’re talking suppossedly mature adults, 35m – 65 yrs of age. I think I’ll get a mule next!

By: mad about grass

mad about grass — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:12:15 +0000

Heck I have to deal with that at my own boarding barn facility. We even have a scheduling system on a public calendar in the barn for the riding area and round pen because everyone wants to use it at the same time. Especially when the only place that has grass is the riding area and the round pen because people let their horses overgraze and claim the fields! But some people in my barn feel that since they pay for full care instead of self care like I do, THEIR horses get to graze whenever and whereever they want them to! SHEESH!