No doubt, being involved in the horse industry you will all have come across people who are more than happy to throw in their two cents about how you feed your horse, the way you ride, the tack your use, the discipline you choose to ride... and a lot of time, you havent even asked for their opinion!
I guess we are all guilty of doing this at some point, because there is SO much information out there, SO many professionals (vets, naturopaths, barefoot trimmers etc) and SO many 'sideline experts'... so you simply want to share your knowledge of what you think works best.
But what works best for you, isnt always what works best for others. Where is the line?
So I put it to the people of Barnmice Forums... how do you deal with pushy (but possibly well meaning) colleagues?
How do you say NO to the vet or the farrier or an equine therapist?
What do you think is considered the right etiquette in situations such as these?
What frustrates you about these situations?
Does age/years in the industry mean the person knows better?
You hit the nail on the head when it comes to the equine industry. Everyone has an opinion, and they'd love to share it. To me it comes down to a few things. 1) We all need to remember to keep an open mind. This industry is forever changing, we are forever learning. My coach is one of the most accomplished horse women I know, and she has always preached to me that the day the learning stops is the day we limit our progress. 2) When it comes to your own horse, do what you feel is right. Always. 3) Take a little of this, a little of that. You dont' need to follow a strict mindset. Learn about all of it, take what you like and what works for you, and apply it. 4) Only use professionals that you trust. It's a long hard road otherwise.
When it comes to dealing with those who like to express their opinions, I do a three step process. Smile-Nod-do what you were going to do anyway. Works everytime.