Beware [edit]

[thereadinghorse]

The smiling part is weird I was told to smile at strangers passing by and I do this quite often. But it depends on the context your in. And maybe your gender as well I was raised in the country side and it’s completly normal to greet people with “Guten Tag” “Hallo” or something similar or at least give them a slight smile and a nod. I know it’s uncommon in bigger cities and I don’t do it there. People are minding their own business so not interrupting them is polite. Whereas when you’re out hacking and you meet people in the woods or fields it’s unpolite to not greet them

As I try to explain it I realize how complex it is

I’m always on the friendly side, so I say hello and bye to cashiers and wish them a nice week/day/weekend and may talk to them a bit. But this isn’t common, I would say it’s more a 50/50 thing. So cashiers won’t start talking to you, if you don’t stark talking to them, because germans will feel “interrupted” or “harrassed” if somebody just starts a conversation while you’re busy minding our own stuff. We feel REALLY uncomfortable if some stranger just starts a conversation. Like shop assistants will ONLY ask, if you need help, if you seem to be searching something specific or if you ask them. This might seem as bad customer service, but we germans like to be left alone. We ask, when we need something and as long as we don’t ask, we’re fine doing on our own and asking us if we need help is “insulting” and “annoying”.

[2DogsFarm]

@Virginia_Horse_Mom

it’s some strange sort of logic.

And seems peculiar to sporthorses in this country (USA).
I’m old enough to recall when Hunters were pretty exclusively TBs - mostly OTTB.
There was even a division for Non-TB.
Then, sometime in the mid-80s, the WBs showed up.
Now, do I understand there’s a Division for TBs?

Concurrently, Dressage leaned to Friesians & PRE, the Vanner started commanding riddick prices (Irish laughing all the way to the bank…) & here came the DHH.

The only Breed/Disciplines I’ve seen this country stick to is QH.
And within the breed, standards have stayed pretty close to the Halter standard of overmuscled barbiehorses & WP frankengaits.
HUS has shown improvement, but - IMHO - could use more.
I have an annual running “discussion” (1-sided as my opponent has 1 note w/o room for argument) about why the unnatural gaits - jog & lope - are desired.
I’m told how hard they are to train, but no good response as to WHY

[DownYonder]

@thereadinghorse

Like shop assistants will ONLY ask, if you need help, if you seem to be searching something specific or if you ask them. This might seem as bad customer service, but we germans like to be left alone. We ask, when we need something and as long as we don’t ask, we’re fine doing on our own and asking us if we need help is “insulting” and “annoying”.

It must be my German blood but I hate it when I go into a store and some salesperson immediately shows up and starts trying to help me. I usually respond with “I’m just looking at the moment” but some of them still won’t leave me alone. I guess I look like a shoplifter or something.

[thereadinghorse]

I can confirm, this must be your german blood

[SimonSays]

I saw a couple pieces in this thread about Gypsy horses…

Funny story- I grew up riding hunter jumpers and basically anything else people would let me ride. And my husband decided he wanted a short fat hairy horse haha…he only wanted a gypsy (he saw one in a calendar haha). So I’m like what the hell are we going to do with one of those useless things…

So a 11 years ago we bought our first Gypsy as an unstarted 2 year old. Well now we have 3 of them. And I’ve had about a dozen others come through our little program. They are the BEST minded, funniest, easiest to train horses I’ve ever owned (not that there aren’t bad ones or over priced ones out there- there definitely are!). My husband has shown his gelding in lower level dressage- he unfortunately doesn’t ride anymore due to 2 unrelated back surgeries and fear of further harming his back but he’ll own that little fat hairy horse till the day he dies.

And then I ended up getting one of my own too- he literally will do anything we ask. He’s done ranch riding, parades, he started learning to jump and started learning his changes this past year. And he’s been a breed ambassador at Equine Affaire for the last 7 years. There is something absolutely captivating and so engaging about these little horses. I wouldn’t now trade them for the world. But it did take me a long time not to be semi-embarrassed to own a “barbie” or “fake horse” haha.

I certainly think there’s something to be said for a useful cob type. I’m in my late 30s, my husband and I both work full time demanding careers. And these little fluffy nuggets fit seamlessly into our lives. I do still drool over the fancy warmbloods and stuff but it’s just not a reality for my wallet or life at this time.

[DownYonder]

Uh-oh - I did not know they came in palomino colors! I have had a lifelong secret obsession with gold horses! I’m not sold on the hairy legs (all those feathers look like a PIA to care for), but your little gold nugget makes me smile.

[Willesdon]

“Gypsy cobs” tend to come in patchy colours because that is what is valued in the Traveller Community. Colour and lots of hair.

[floppyammy]

Jaysus - that blonde cob with chrome is gorgeous!
I would happily own a barbie horse if it looked like yours and had the same temperment!

[SimonSays]

He lives in a run in 24/7/365 like a regular old horse. He’s such a happy, kind fella!

[jvanrens]

@thereadinghorse

Yelling germans always sound… harsh Ther’s no way around sounding harsh when yelling in our language. But we can speak soft and nice, too

My father was very harsh sounding, english or dutch if annoyed, my mother I only heard speak in a harsh tone rarely.

[jvanrens]

@2DogsFarm

I have an annual running “discussion” (1-sided as my opponent has 1 note w/o room for argument) about why the unnatural gaits - jog & lope - are desired.

As opposed to the oh so natural gaits exhibited in Dressage lately.

[Montanas_Girl]

@DownYonder

I have had a lifelong secret obsession with gold horses!

Prepare to be jealous…

She’s expecting her first foal in 3-6 weeks, but he’s already sold.

[BatCoach]

@DownYonder

@thereadinghorse

Like shop assistants will ONLY ask, if you need help, if you seem to be searching something specific or if you ask them. This might seem as bad customer service, but we germans like to be left alone. We ask, when we need something and as long as we don’t ask, we’re fine doing on our own and asking us if we need help is “insulting” and “annoying”.

It must be my German blood but I hate it when I go into a store and some salesperson immediately shows up and starts trying to help me. I usually respond with “I’m just looking at the moment” but some of them still won’t leave me alone. I guess I look like a shoplifter or something.

Yes! I love supporting a small business, but there is nothing my awkward when you go into a small shop or boutique and you are the ONLY customer in there and they devote 100% of their attention to you. There definitely is a fine line between being attentive and having good customer service when needed vs. chatty Cathy following you around the store describing every item on the shelf.

I’m also the person who does not want to get into long conversations with the people seated next to me on airplanes or to my uber/lyft driver. Nothing personal, I just want to be in my invisible bubble of quiet and solitude. FWIW my Grandpa was born in Bremen, so I am fine exhibiting these German traits LOL.

[2DogsFarm]

No argument there.
Any gait not occurring naturally in any discipline is Fugly to me.
I’ve seen horses at liberty levade, passage, piaffe & even capriole.
I’ve never seen one do the jog or lope that gets pinned.
Maybe if they’re laminitic?

[2DogsFarm]

Driving Club friend bought a paint Vanner 2yo.
She rides Dressage & had him trained to drive.
He’s now 6 & could be The.Best.Driver.
Problem is she’s new to Driving & a tad bit afraid of him.
The few times I’ve gone out with her she kept handing me the lines.
Which I take… For a few minutes, asking him for trot (she won’t ) then hand them back telling her “He’s yours! You drive!”

She’s also lent him to a couple 4H kids for a neighbor who’s a Leader.
Jr. Kids have shown him Ground Driving, U/S, Halter & Showmanship.
Her friend took 2nd of 21 in our County Fair Ranch class last year.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@DownYonder

It must be my German blood but I hate it when I go into a store and some salesperson immediately shows up and starts trying to help me. I usually respond with “I’m just looking at the moment” but some of them still won’t leave me alone. I guess I look like a shoplifter or something.

I’m not German… at all… but I 100% relate to this remark. I really don’t like shopping - except for grocery shopping (I’m weird) - and it adds another layer of agony if a sales person tries to “help” me.

I literally have to work VERY hard to keep a halfway kind expression on my face, and not get snappy at them when I inevitably say, “I’m just looking, thanks though.” I try and remind myself they are just doing their job. It’s so irritating to me though… it’s hard.

I don’t think I look like a shoplifter? But I guess I look like I’m wandering confused, or maybe I’m easily persuaded into spending more? I don’t know. I do get downright icy when the salesperson doesn’t take “no thanks” for an answer, and tries to persuade me to buy something I totally don’t want though. Not gonna happen.

[fivestrideline]

@Virginia_Horse_Mom

I don’t think I look like a shoplifter? But I guess I look like I’m wandering confused, or maybe I’m easily persuaded into spending more? I don’t know.

Unfortunately, it’s often mandated by management that the employees greet and spend a lot of time with EVERY customer . Even if the employee knows the customer would rather be left alone, they have to do their spiel and check in constantly. I guarantee you most don’t want to be doing it . All cause someone hired a consulting firm or one entitled jerk didn’t feel worshipped enough by the employees and left a nasty Yelp review. Same goes for those credit card promos and rewards programs - they either have a quota or have to harass every. single. customer. about it. Hate that.

Small businesses are different - that’s often a personality thing. Doesn’t make me any less anxious as a customer though!

[chestnutmarebeware]

@BatCoach

’m also the person who does not want to get into long conversations with the people seated next to me on airplanes or to my uber/lyft driver. Nothing personal, I just want to be in my invisible bubble of quiet and solitude. FWIW my Grandpa was born in Bremen, so I am fine exhibiting these German traits LOL.

This is only tangentially related to the European vs. American personalities discussion, but I was listening to NPR on this morning’s commute and they were talking to a representative from the Estonian parliament about the letter signed by a number of countries trying to get the US House to bring the Ukraine bill up for a vote.

Anyway, he (the Estonian) did the full interview, then the journalist thanked him and he said, “You’re welcome, blah blah”. Then there was a pause like he’d just remembered something and he said “Have a nice day.”

I just cracked up. You know that some Estonian PR wag had briefed him for the interview and said something like “Be sure to tell him to have a nice day. It’s weird and I don’t know why, but with Americans you have to say that every time you talk to them!”

[Salty]

My jumping horse used to passage in the pasture.

[2DogsFarm]

They all do.it…
Except when you’re riding & ask