Pet Pony Peeves
Here are some of my pet pony peeves, if you email me yours I will post them.
- When a farrier reschedules and you change your schedule and then it happens again
- False advertising on the internet, HorseloverZdotcom or equiteric advertised boots of fine grain leather that are plastic. When I asked them I got the answer of yes they were plastic, then I got the answer" I checked with the mfg. they are leather". There was not a tag telling what the boots are made of.
- Quality products mixed with plastic...Ariat boots have a plastic or vinyl rim on the tall boots. My lining rubbed at the back of my knee by the gusset to expose the threads in the vinyl fabric.
- Devon Aire Hampton tall boots with back zip have a vinyl lining in the shaft. My pant leg and socks get totally wet with perspiration.
- People who blame their horses for their own lack of ability.
- People who aspire to high level competition but don't ride more often than once or twice a month.
- Trainers and Barn Owners who want to collect money from the public, but don't have legitimate business licenses or insurance.
- Over-Priced horses that are "prospects".
- Owners who are afraid of their horses but won't change their own behavior to help the horse change.
- Plastic Fence that looks nice, but is not structurally safe for
horses. I know of several horses who have popped through PVC
plastic rail fencing and required stitching.
- Breeches that have a stifffly stitched seem on the back and rub you raw on long rides.
- Breeches that are made of materials that do not "breath"
making them very uncomfortable in hot weather
- Clothing makers do not make enough sun-sensitive clothing that is
cool, yet providing protection from harmful rays of the sun
- Helmets that do not have interchangeable brims, so that the
brim will
protect your face from the sun on long trail rides. I make my own brims.
- eye glasses that get crooked under your helmet, the ear pieces need to fit closely and comfortably to your head
- Professionals (medical doctors, physical therapists) who don't understand that when I say I train/ride horses it means I am an athlete and that my body is like that of a professional athlete.
- Barn and riding clothes that look filthy as soon as you are near
the barn!
- Horses that put their ears back and make a sour face when they are
fed. This isn't the horses fault, it is related to who feeds,
fed the horse without paying attention to what the horse was
thinking. I never feed a horse with a sour face. If he
thought I was feeding him, caring for him, why would he make a sour
face at me. He wouldn't. If he thought that the food was
his and he was making me leave quicker to have his feed, he
would. So, watch the horses face, eyes and ears. If the
face says "get away from my food", then you are not perceived
as feeding, you are perceived as merely being near
something that belongs to him. Eating, next to water and
reproductive drives are the most powerful training tools that can be
used, either correctly, neutrally, or wrongly.
- Having to be web master, office manager, facilities manager, pr manager, part-time mucker and everything else that goes along with the training business!
Emailed
to me:
- Young horses who are jumping 3 ft courses or
started over cross rails at 2. The issue here is the growth
plates in the horse's joints. If the growth plates are not
closed, that is, they are not mature, it is very likely to cause
damage or arthritis in the horse. Very good point.
- People who are too concerned with how they look to have fun
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