What are some of the silly questions/remarks you've been told or asked from non-horse people?
When I was a teen, I boarded my horse at a friend's small farm up the road from where I lived. They went away for an Endurance ride and asked our non-horsey neighbor to look after the remaining horses on the farm. The neighbor asked me how to clean the horse's "litter boxes" (stalls) After I died laughing, I told them that I would take care of the litter boxes.
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Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway. - John Wayne
That is so cute! My favourite has always been "why do they need coats?" Whenever a non-horsey person sees my horses in the feild. It makes me picture the horses in little parkas. Another memorable one was when my boyfriend first met my appaloosa- "Why does he look so scared???"
I've had someone drive in my driveway to ask why I insist on "blindfolding" my horses when they're in the pasture (fly masks). The person was quite incensed about how abusive this practice must be!
I'm pretty sure I must have neighbors who wonder why my horse is in a dry paddock when there are eight acres of forage all around him, eyeball high. (The grass and alfalfa is so high a mother deer is keeping twin fawns out there and my dogs haven't figured it out yet). No one commented on his having a muzzle on when I turned him out occassionally, but I think they've just decided I'm crazy and so don't ask questions.
They are, I got a picture of the mom with one of them, but when there are two jacking around I couldn't get both at the same time they were moving so fast! THey are almost big enough to jump the fence, the mom has been given them lessons each day. Today I didn't see them so I think they made it over and she may have moved them up the hill into the forest with the rest of the deer. I think she was pretty smart keeping them in our field. I guarantee no coyotes come in our field (because of the dogs)and there are a bunch around here.She must be a very good momma to look after twins.
That is so amazing Marlene, we can all take a lesson from animals (and nature) sometimes or most of the time I should say Hopefully you see them again! Very clever momma keeping her little ones in your field!
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Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway. - John Wayne
I get asked quite a lot by non-horsey people why I have a coach and need to keep taking lessons! This really annoys me because it's so stupid -- everyone, including Olympic athletes, are always taking lessons and learning.
I also get a lot of questions related to domestic horses vs wild horses, such as why we put shoes and blankets on when they don't wear them in the wild. Maybe I'm petty but I find it frustrating having to explain such basic things to people!
Wait a minute! You mean I am supposed to put shoes and blankets on my horse? I was told not to do that. Maybe that's why some people don't understand such a basic thing.
I hear you, Trouble Horse, I am often told by animal activists that we are cruel not not let horses run wild. Then you get into the whole domesticality speech. Fun wow. Really, for working maybe an hour 5-6 days a week, my horse gets taken care of for life- not a bad deal!
When it comes to shoes, blankets, the need for a Chiroprator, massages, teeth floating, etc....my explaination is always that horses in the wild do not work as hard or use their bodies as much as we ask of domesticated horses. And no, Marlene, not all horses need blankets and shoes, etc. Some are lucky enough to have easy keepers! I was blessed/cursed with an anemic appy who required ridiculous amounts of food and to be blanketed nearly all the time. His brother has never seen a blanket. It's all about the individual- much like with people.
one time my friend and i were hacking when we came upon a couple walking. they asked us why our horses had socks on! (our horses had the bell boots with fur on top) we replied "so their feet stay warm!" and continued on our way trying not to fall off of our horses in laughter!