"Stereotype" horsey snobs?
Now I spare no expense when it comes to my horses as I want to ensure that they're comfortable first and foremost and anything I buy them has a reason - like boots - I want to protect their legs - sheepskin girth cover - one of my horses is prone to rubbing of the girth! Im just wondering - have any other horseowners been accused of this merely because they love their animals and want the best for them?
What these people who pass comments on us dont realise is that us horseowners often put our own needs behind those of our horses and what they said REALLY pi**ed me off!
Answers:
Me also being the proud answer of a horse, hold great pride in everything she does. Like yourself my horses comfort is the most important along with her health. I love my horse to look her best and am willing to spend unnecessary expenses on her to make her feel 'special'.
The love you have for your horse is unique and can not be put down to money 'flashing'. Equestrian people are probably the most bitchiest! It is most probable that your horse looks great in what you have bought for him/her, and they see need to pick upon minute factors of either riding techniques or in your case show wear, i would not be worried about it.
I have come across many comments of either my own horse or friends, it is hard not to pass a comment in return. My needs are often, actually always coming after my horse's, your doing the right thing.
Tell yourself what you need to, to make yourself feel better about the situation, but in my eyes, i never have enough equestrian 'gear' that my horse needs or just has to have.
I buy pointless things just for my horse to look pretty, everyone does, their just hypocritical!
All the best xXx
wow like omg, like thats sooo unfair, omg!
You know what I would do? Just ignore them. They are obviously so far up their own arses and jealous don't worry bout it..
If you win on the day you were by far the best..
Good luck
No i haven't had that, but i think the only snobs are the people who called you a snob. i think its great you want the best for your horse! keep up the good work!.
I'm more concerned about how big horse riders bottoms are...why do you all have such huge butt's and hips..can't tell where the horse ends and the rider begins!!
I have a horse too, and not only is it my beloved pet, he is also my hobby and I lavish every spare penny on him, for which he is NEVER grateful!!
Like you, I want him to be protected and I want to be comfortable when riding him.
Yes, I often get the glances, but they are just jealous glances, ignore them, although I tend to adopt a smug arrogant air about me, just so I don't let their stereotype down..
Seriously, bollocks to them. don't let them grind you down!
I think your right people do tend to stereotype a lot and i must admit i used to think all people interested in horses were stuck up and rich and to be honest i didn't like them mainly because of how they portray themselves and act but i now have friends who have horses and realise they are "normal" and just like me ,nothing snobby about them at all. So although we are wrong to stereotype and should keep our opinions to ourselves we're only human and we can all be bitchy at times. The best thing is to either ignore them or go and speak to them to prove they are wrong and you are actually a really nice person.
don't take it to heart, Ti's their own problem and dissatisfaction with their lot. Know loads of horse owners, some spend very penny on their beasts, because that's their life and have little money to spend else where, some are wealthy but spend their money on their beasts because that's their life too. owning horse is a life style that takes time and commitment.. Don't justify your love for your animal, you should be proud of her/him and any achievements you gain from this sport..
If your happy doing what you do - do it
Too many people pass glibe comments about things they know very little about. The never take into account that they may be heard by the person the remark is about or what they are saying has no relevance or meaning as it is based on no knowledge and further more and most importantly it is rude.
It happens to all of us at one time or another and is best forgotten that dwelled on. It might be slightly different if they were close friend and should have known better.
I'm not a fan of the horsey set.
They think the whole world revolves around them.
Get off the roads!!
I'm guilty of this myself, but usually in the opposite way. Rather than seeing a woman with a horse and calling her a horsey girl, I'll see a woman without a horse who I think looks like she owns a horse and refer to her as a horsey girl.
Did that make sense?
My wife and daughter have always loved being around horses. Sadly we have not been able to afford to own and keep a horse but we have paid for my daughter to go to stables where she was able to groom and plait the horses hair and have a ride on them if possible so that she could experience the pleasure of being around horses and she loved it, she was 5 when she started. If you want to give the animal you love the best, how can someone criticise you? This carries on from hamsters, cats, dogs, horses, whatever. I love gymkhanas myself because you see the young ladys (generally) that are truly passionate about the animal that brings them pleasure. It's only natural that you should want to give them back the best that you can. It seems to me that these badmouthers are jealous about the level of care and affection you give to your horse - maybe they realise that it shows them that they don't love their horses as much as you do. Why don't you use the famous Harvey Smith hand signal?
They are just jealous. It is pathetic really. Best to just ignore people like this and know that you are caring for your horses. People who judge when they don't know the facts are just shallow and probably insecure.
Good luck with your future competitions.
its just jealousy on their part
I grew up riding horses, but fortunately, during those years the bloody 'townies' didn't bother themselves with us. My advice to you, next time is to tell them to piss off in a local accent, and enjoy the companionship of your horses, I used to hate it when I had to go to boarding school and leave them, worse than leaving mum really!!
do what you think is best, just ignore them. Its great that you care for you horse so much. There should be more people like you out there
If we all took everything other people said to heart, god help us.
You know your not a "stereotypical horsey snob", so dont let others comments get to you.
I have a high metabolism and have always been very skinny, people stereotype me automaticly as having an eating disorder and if i took every snide comment to heart, hell I would be an absolute ball of depression. but i know this is how i have always been and i cant change it, so i tell myself that, and they are probably just insanely jelous anyway.
The moral is, just dont let it get to you, you know why you spend heaps of money on your horse, its none of thier business and they are just jelous anyway.
It's not just in showing it's everywhere. I like to fed my horses twice a day and I add vitamins and minerals to their feed, so many people have said "why are you wasting money on horses just let them eat grass"
Bloody morons. My horses look really good and I think that as a horse owner it's my responsibility to to give them the best care I can.
And GYPSY grow a brain Idiot.
And your right we do go without to care for our horses but that's our business not theirs.
People are just a**es and they show that most of the time.
Ignore them and do what you love to do.
Makes me value the time I spend with my horse that much more.
I like hiim better than most people anyway.
Don't let people like that get you down. You sound like a loving and responsible horse owner and that is what counts. Some people don't even have the brains of a flea, much less a horse! But if someone ever does say something like that again and you want to say something back, say what you just said here. They probably still won't understand and that is just sad.
maybe they decided since you looked like one of the horsey snobs that they figured you were one of them,hate to say it dear but they are out there,it is just not the way their horses are decked out,but the way they act to those who are less fortunate than them,there ARE people out there who look down their noses at other horse people just because they,do what they can to look good but it just doesn't quite make the "grade" as far as those with money are concerned,my daughter and i go to the shows and we hear it a lot from spectators/parents of those showing while sitting in the stands,it pi$$es me off to no end,people automaticly assume if you don't have loads of cash your horse is not being properly cared for and your tack is not as good as theirs,just because you didn't pay many thousands of dollars for your grade horse of uncertain heritage and you trained it yourself and didn't hire a proffessional it is no good and shouldn't even be there,so you see those people were probably as discriminated against as you were,they were just getting a little revenge,it was a clear case of mistaken identity though and i am glad to read that you are not one of those "horsey snobs" because believe me there are MANY MANY out there,keep being down to earth,it makes you a better person
Works the other way round as well. I have a lovely Highland pony and a coloured cob and no expense is spared with them. That said, Storm the highland i try to leave him in as much of a natural state as possible because of his breed. So, that means that people call him a 'pikey pony' all winter because he is never as clean as a stable kept horse. Thing is, the very same people see him at the shows in the summer, dont recognise him and snipe behind my back that im bringing an 'obviously county standard pony' to local shows and its not fair!!!
alot of spectators at horse shows dont own or have any idea what is involved in taking proper care of a horse.dont let them get to you.it sounds like you love your horses and are doing just fine.
ye it's well unfair. so wot if you want to spend money on your horse, for practical things and just to spoil it, such beautiful creatures deserve it!
those spectators are most likely stuck up pr**s, or just so jealous that they cannot look up to you, only down their noses, (even though you're a bigger person than them!)!
It's called being narrow minded, take no notice! I spend loads on my horse, am by no means a snob just want my fella to be comfortable.
Gypsy - what a twat
I'm a horse person and I have to say there definately are "horsey snobs" out there! The ones I think of as being Snobs are usually rich or act like they are and I make that judgment by the way the person acts, not their horse or how their horse 'dressed'. I, myself spend way too much money on all my animals.. :0). I have 3 horses myself right now but I'm not into showing them. I do trail riding mostly.
So all I can say is..YOU know who you are, so it doesn't matter what anybody else says!!
Well, have you ever met the other half? The people who don't care about their horses enough to warm them up themselves before a show? When I was showing, I dealt with girl that was really stuck up. She had her trainer and her daddy. They warmed up the horse and put him through his paces. She never got on him til time to go into the arena. The rest of us did our own training and were always sooo proud when we beet her at the shows. I like to buy the best for my horses, but you have to remember that there are people who do this just to show off. Try not to take offense and be polite. They might just come around.
i know the feeling. When i buy a horse i take on the responsibilty for keeping them happy and healthy. this often means buying expensive gear and paying huge vet bills. This leaves me little money for myself, but the feeling i get when my horse goes well at a show, or the happiness i feel when i ride through the morning fog, sharing the dawn with deers and breathing the unspoilt air, is priceless.
If i have to listen to the occasional nasty comment or hurtfull remark then thats fine. They can think what they want, they will never feel the joy and enlightment horses can bring to ones life.
It's funny how the people who are criticizing horse owners don't see themselves as being "snobby".
"Get off the roads!" Why does it belong to you? As a matter of fact, horses have the right of way. Don't be such a stupid douche and stop being a road snob. :)
Oh and "big bums"? Are you serious? Someone is on their imaginary "high horse" and needs to remove that stick in their a s s.
Most horse people are not snobs. If you are going to make assumptions then you are going to make an a s s out of yourself.
To the original poster: Yes, there are jealous little girls all over the show circuit and I seriously doubt this is the first time anyone's said bad things about you and your horse. The only difference is this time the bad guys were caught red handed. To make yourself feel better next time however, because you know this won't be the last time, you can always explain yourself to them while they sheepishly recover and apologize or you could tell them, "Well, that's because I love my horse more than your parents love you, considering what your wearing..eww." And then walk away.
Unless you are obnoxious to other riders, you are not snobby. But, I am guilty I acted like a snob at my last show(everyone else was too) but other shows I'm not it was just weird, I guess it was my biggest show so. I have expensive stuff for my horses because they are important too.
A few people in 4-H and around the barn consider me a snob because I ride English. I'm the only English rider in the whole group for 4-H. They stereotype me as rich even though their saddle cost more than mine.
I've also been stereotyped as a snob because I had a fleece girth for my first pony who would be rubbed badly and bleed if she had anything else.
Oh my, I have a leather halter and lead - There's NO WAY that I'm not totally rich!
Oh my, someone is helping me with grooming- I must think I'm too good to groom, nevermind the fact they volunteered to help because I had a broken collarbone. Let's just overlook the fact I'm out in the snow with my horse even in pain.
Don't let them get to you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting what is best/safest for your horse. You can laugh it off as a good source of entertainment later. They're almost as entertaining as the people who INSIST flymasks are actually cruel blindfolds no matter what they're told. People sure can come up with the strangest things to say!
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