Maybe the tack catalogs should show them installed?
Happy Friday!
I got a picture in my in-box that made me feel compelled to write yet another rant
on the topic of WHY people need to TAKE SOME DAMN LESSONS before they
go out and buy a horse.
Yes, this is a saintly Missouri Fox Trotter gelding being ridden with a Tom Thumb
bit.
Which is on backwards.
I've observed before that gaited horses often have this kind of crap inflicted upon
them, merely because they will put up with it. They tend to be good-tempered and
tolerant sorts. Put a Tom Thumb backwards on a Thoroughbred or an Arabian,
crank on that, and you'll be in the emergency room before you can finish saying
"giddyup horsey" but the saintly, long-suffering MFT in this picture is standing
there quietly, wondering why his mouth hurts and why he's wearing his
breastcollar the way Eminem wears his pants.
(If you are in the Illinois area and genuinely might want to upgrade this nice horse,
he's for sale for $475...e-mail me with MFT in the subject line and I'll give you the
info. I do not want hate mail scaring the ad away.)
Horses should come with an instruction manual. People acquire them with no
more forethought than a vague idea that it would be fun to own horses. Hey, we
got a new place with 2 acres, let's get a couple horses for the kids! I rode a horse
once on vacation and it was fun! If we have any questions, we can ask Grandpa -
they had horses on the farm where he grew up eighty years ago. They have no
idea about how complicated good horse ownership truly is - things like tack fitting
or being able to recognize good hay are a complete mystery to them.
So here's our Friday topic - what's the most clueless thing you've seen a beginner
horse owner do? I have seen english saddles put on backwards, bits on
backwards, halters on upside down with the throatlatch going over the top of the
nose. I have seen all kinds of health conditions treated with "home remedies" that
made them worse. I have seen owners who were completely clueless about the
idea of conditioning take out a horse after sitting all winter and ride all day on a
trail ride. You name it, I've seen it and I'll bet you have too!
If it were up to me, we really would have a basic knowledge test and a license to
own a horse, but failing that, please, please, please take lessons before you buy
a horse - preferably for at least two years. We all take driver's ed to learn to drive
a car, out of consideration for other drivers. Please invest in some rider's ed out of
consideration for your future horse - he will thank you!
Happy Friday!
I got a picture in my in-box that made me feel compelled to write yet another rant
on the topic of WHY people need to TAKE SOME DAMN LESSONS before they
go out and buy a horse.
Yes, this is a saintly Missouri Fox Trotter gelding being ridden with a Tom Thumb
bit.
Which is on backwards.
I've observed before that gaited horses often have this kind of crap inflicted upon
them, merely because they will put up with it. They tend to be good-tempered and
tolerant sorts. Put a Tom Thumb backwards on a Thoroughbred or an Arabian,
crank on that, and you'll be in the emergency room before you can finish saying
"giddyup horsey" but the saintly, long-suffering MFT in this picture is standing
there quietly, wondering why his mouth hurts and why he's wearing his
breastcollar the way Eminem wears his pants.
(If you are in the Illinois area and genuinely might want to upgrade this nice horse,
he's for sale for $475...e-mail me with MFT in the subject line and I'll give you the
info. I do not want hate mail scaring the ad away.)
Horses should come with an instruction manual. People acquire them with no
more forethought than a vague idea that it would be fun to own horses. Hey, we
got a new place with 2 acres, let's get a couple horses for the kids! I rode a horse
once on vacation and it was fun! If we have any questions, we can ask Grandpa -
they had horses on the farm where he grew up eighty years ago. They have no
idea about how complicated good horse ownership truly is - things like tack fitting
or being able to recognize good hay are a complete mystery to them.
So here's our Friday topic - what's the most clueless thing you've seen a beginner
horse owner do? I have seen english saddles put on backwards, bits on
backwards, halters on upside down with the throatlatch going over the top of the
nose. I have seen all kinds of health conditions treated with "home remedies" that
made them worse. I have seen owners who were completely clueless about the
idea of conditioning take out a horse after sitting all winter and ride all day on a
trail ride. You name it, I've seen it and I'll bet you have too!
If it were up to me, we really would have a basic knowledge test and a license to
own a horse, but failing that, please, please, please take lessons before you buy
a horse - preferably for at least two years. We all take driver's ed to learn to drive
a car, out of consideration for other drivers. Please invest in some rider's ed out of
consideration for your future horse - he will thank you!
4/3/09 from the Fugly Horse Blog.....man I love that lady who writes this stuff!
She is directly to the point and very educational.
She is directly to the point and very educational.
