Horse People - what is up with them?

[Alt1Sad]

So, I came to the horse world late in life. I have found horses to be wonderful, beautiful creatures. Unfortunately, I haven’t found the same to be true about horse people.

This is not meant as an attack, and I hope many of you will tell me that I just haven’t met the right horse people. For the sake of horses, I hope that is true.

I am in a profession that gets low marks for consumer trust. I have to say, the horse world makes the people in my field look like angels–not to mention competent and professional.

Horse People:

1. They will continually promise to do things and then flake out on their promises. I haven’t figured out whether this is dishonesty or memory problems. Maybe there’s a lot of post-concussion short-term memory problems in the horse world.

2. They will hide health issues to sell a horse–apparently more concerned about making a buck then whether the horse will suffer from missing needed meds.

3. If you express dissatisfaction or point out that something promised wasn’t done, they will never apologize or take responsibility. It always either “isn’t a big deal” or someone else is to blame.

4. They will try to snow you when they don't know something--instead of admitting they don't know or doing some research.  
   

5. They would rather you NOT be an involved horse owner and not show up at the barn frequently during the day… because then you notice things about your horse they would rather you not know (like that your horse hasn’t been turned out because they were too busy.)

6. They are disorganized. Does any horse professional have (gasp!) a calendar? Maybe a notebook to write stuff down in? These might prove useful to keep track of things like farrier appointments and vet instructions, but I never see them being used.

I am very, very sad that most of the experiences I have had with horse professionals have been disappointing. I don’t think I’m that demanding but yes, I expect people to be honest, to do what they tell me they are going to do, and to put the horse’s welfare first.

I’m sure many posters will disagree with me and like I said, I hope they are right and I have just seen more than my share of bad apples. I like to think the best of people. But right now I am really sad.

[KateKat]

So you seem to be griping more about horse professionals than horse people. Most of the horse people I have met (meaning the parents, fellow ammies, juniors, etc) are great.

Horse professionals though…yes, there are definitely quite a few like you describe. I attribute it to them never having to be out in the “real world” industries where a lot of what goes on in the horse world would not fly if they wanted to be successful (like basic customer service, accountability, communication, etc etc). The level of professionalism is part of the reason I chose my trainer-when I called her initially, she actually called me back within a couple hours!

[SCI]

I wouldn’t keep my horse with a trainer/barn that didn’t put my horse’s welfare first. If you aren’t happy with your horse’s treatment, or the way your trainer conducts business, then you need to move.

While I know there are people in the horse world who are not honest/upfront/etc, I’m not going to do business with those people. In this day and age it isn’t hard to find out about people and what type of reputation they have.

You have to be an advocate for your horse. Communicate directly with the vet/farrier/etc and find out what their instructions are. Or, be there for the appointment.

I know this sounds harsh, but you need to take responsibility too. It sounds like you are allowing yourself to be taken advantage of because you aren’t making a change.

[Alt1Sad]

[QUOTE=SCI;7772423]

You have to be an advocate for your horse. Communicate directly with the vet/farrier/etc and find out what their instructions are. Or, be there for the appointment.

I know this sounds harsh, but you need to take responsibility too. It sounds like you are allowing yourself to be taken advantage of because you aren’t making a change.[/QUOTE]

I try to be at every vet/farrier appointment. Oddly, that seems to make me a less desirable boarder because yes, I am on top of things and I know what the instructions are.

You are right, though–the fact that we have very few boarding barns within driving distance makes me put up with a lot. That, and the fact that I am a very nice person and try to get along with people.

However, what I have observed isn’t just one barn or one trainer…

[Appsolute]

Who are these professionals? Farriers? Trainers? Barn Owners?

There are others who are more experienced than I am, but I have had horses for almost 30 years now. From working in the big show barns, to boarding at private houses. Can’t say I have had the same universal experiences you have.

[QUOTE=Alt1Sad;7772386]

Horse People:

1. They will continually promise to do things and then flake out on their promises. I haven’t figured out whether this is dishonesty or memory problems. Maybe there’s a lot of post-concussion short-term memory problems in the horse world. [/QUOTE]

Specific example? I can’t say I have run into this issue repeatedly. What kind of things are you talking about? Missed lesson, or they didn’t give pookie the three gum drops promised?

@Alt1Sad;7772386

2. They will hide health issues to sell a horse–apparently more concerned about making a buck then whether the horse will suffer from missing needed meds.

Yep, there is occasionally dishonestly in selling horses. Have you bought a used car, piece of real estate, or other item of value lately? “buyer beware” was not invented by horse people. That said, I have never found that a seller was dishonest regarding any of the animals I have purchased.

@Alt1Sad;7772386

3. If you express dissatisfaction or point out that something promised wasn’t done, they will never apologize or take responsibility. It always either “isn’t a big deal” or someone else is to blame.

Again - what are you talking about? I am thinking about a recent complaint I had to the management at my boarding barn. Their reaction was “Thank you for letting us know! We will fix this ASAP!” and it was fixed…

@Alt1Sad;7772386

4. They will try to snow you when they don’t know something–instead of admitting they don’t know or doing some research.

Example? The professionals I hire are fairly knowledgeable, but open to learning. Thinking of a horse in the barn that was suffering a weird collection of aliments - I said, “I know I am not a vet - but I read about Silicosis” - Vet thanked me for the suggestion, followed up with UCDavis - and yep, the horse finally had a diagnosis!

Can’t say I have been con’ed by a vet, farrier or trainer.

@Alt1Sad;7772386

5. They would rather you NOT be an involved horse owner and not show up at the barn frequently during the day… because then you notice things about your horse they would rather you not know (like that your horse hasn’t been turned out because they were too busy.)

Thats a red flag you are at the wrong barn. Not true of my current barn, not true of the training operations I have worked for.

@Alt1Sad;7772386

6. They are disorganized. Does any horse professional have (gasp!) a calendar? Maybe a notebook to write stuff down in? These might prove useful to keep track of things like farrier appointments and vet instructions, but I never see them being used.

Back in the “dark ages” before Iphones and the like - my trainer had a calendar and a spread sheet on her computer that lived in the tack room for all of those things. Every training barn I have been a part of had a giant white board - schedule for every horse noted, including appointments.

@Alt1Sad;7772386

I am very, very sad that most of the experiences I have had with horse professionals have been disappointing. I don’t think I’m that demanding but yes, I expect people to be honest, to do what they tell me they are going to do, and to put the horse’s welfare first.

I think you need to re-evaluate, and perhaps do a better job of “vetting” the professionals you have choose to employ.

[Alternative1]

I’m not going to lie, horse people are absolutely crazy!!!

[Pipkin]

It’s not horse people.

It’s people.

I used to think horse people were the worst. Until I started working with the general public. The general public are the worst. Surprisingly, upper middle class people in particular. Can’t even describe some of the stupid things we have to deal with.

Do horses attract the dysfunctional? For sure. Same as any all engrossing hobby, you have to be a little mad

Saying that, I have had a run of dealings with some CRAZY horse people recently. But I’ve had a few years of only meeting nice ones, so I guess it was due

And sometimes I do worry that I’m one of them! Does hanging out with large animals all day make you brusque? I think perhaps we should all remember that it’s nice to be nice! And perhaps to pick the shavings out of our hair before going to the shops.

[red_mares]

Horse people are nuts.

Just got a call that they guy doing the heavy work at the barn my mare is at, left in huff (to put it nicely). Though, if I had to deal with my mom & the 78 yro barn owner for more than a weekend at a time, I’d probably leave screaming obscenities too.

[wildlifer]

Rule # 1: All horse people are crazy. You just have to find the type of crazy that matches yours. Trial and error.

Rule # 2: All horse people are different. Some have become amazing friends who have literally bent over backwards to help me in non-horse related crises and they will give you everything they have, including handing you their house keys 5 minutes after they met you (ok, that might just be eventers on the last bit, LOL)

Rule # 3: Ask 5 horse people a question, get 6 answers.

Those are the basics.

“My” people that I fit with: professional, but fun and down-to-earth, organized, ethical, horse(wo)men above all else, reliable, compassionate, & would lay in front of a train for their horse.

The rest…I just walk away. Well, I might watch a while for entertainment first…

[luvdogz72]

[QUOTE=Alt1Sad;7772386]
They will hide health issues to sell a horse–apparently more concerned about making a buck then whether the horse will suffer from missing needed meds.

/QUOTE]

Yeh, that’s why there’s a phrase “horse tradin’”. You don’t see anyone saying “dog tradin” or cat tradin". People will lie about horses to sell them. My husband trusts sellers too much and got sold an old (but very good still) horse when he wanted one that was 15.

[fmftrainer]

Your problems do sound farm/horse professional related. . . As a professional, believe me, I would rather have a barn full of people like you who are at every farrier and vet appointment! That being said, I understand that a lot of clients work, and I am expected to handle all of those things for them. I don’t mind doing that, so long as they realize that there is a charge for me hauling their horse to the vet and spending two hours there with him/her.

Educated, involved clients are great. Uneducated, over-involved clients are not. . . I don’t want to be told my training regimen is incorrect because you read an article in Practical Horseman and now you’re an expert (no, I’m not kidding), also reading online that going barefoot is the best for your horse because wild horses are barefoot is great, but wild horses aren’t galloped and jumped on abrasive synthetic surfaces, so if the farrier recommends shoes, please don’t argue with him, have your horse left barefoot and then complain when he/she is lame. . .

I completely understand how people become jaded with some horse professionals, and I don’t disagree that there are some unsavory characters in the horse world, but please don’t judge us all. . . Most of us do our best to be as accommodating as possible. My good clients have far outnumbered my bad ones, but if not for the occasional difficult client, I wouldn’t realize how lucky I am to have to good ones.

[Duckz]

[QUOTE=wildlifer;7772580]
Rule # 1: All horse people are crazy. You just have to find the type of crazy that matches yours. Trial and error.[/QUOTE]

PSA: The worst ones don’t realize they’re crazy.

[Ridergirl99]

Once someone is dishonest with me, they no longer have anything to do with me or my horses. Lie once and they will lie again. There are no short cuts in the horse biz.

[McGurk]

You are definitely hanging out with the wrong horse people.

However, ambitious horse newbies with money to spend tend to attract exactly the wrong kind of horse people.

Ask yourself if you dove into the deep end and didn’t know how to dog paddle. Ask yourself if you put too much trust in your advisors before getting an adequate education. Did you give the horse professionals in your life the same scrutiny and the same latitude that you would give a financial advisor? A babysitter? A business agent? Or did you hand over way too much authority because you didn’t take the time to learn for yourself?

There are very fine, upstanding, ethical horsepeople out there. Maybe not the majority, but a clear and distinct minority. I suggest you work on finding them, and perhaps on being the kind of client they want. Because they usually have waiting lists, and screen carefully.

[BeeHoney]

If you haven’t found the right people to work with yet, keep looking. They are out there. To choose good professionals, use word of mouth and personal recommendations. Don’t fall for glossy advertisements, good deals, etc. Look for people who have longstanding good reputations in your area. If you ask around about someone and don’t get resoundingly good reviews, move on. The horse world is a small place and people are often uncomfortable saying something negative about someone else. Also, don’t assume that good show ring results equate with good horse care, honesty, or good customer service. There is no correlation.

Definitely don’t give up on your search. As a newcomer to horses you need to find professionals that you trust to help you. Doesn’t mean you need to give anyone free rein or access to your checkbook, though, just people who can give you honest advice and be counted on to help you do what’s best for your horse.

[meupatdoes]

OP, you are not describing horse people that aren’t worth your time, you are describing people end stop that aren’t worth your time.

Find better people to hang with.

[BAC]

[QUOTE=Alt1Sad;7772439]
I try to be at every vet/farrier appointment. Oddly, that seems to make me a less desirable boarder because yes, I am on top of things and I know what the instructions are…[/QUOTE]

Sadly, you are right and in many barns this does make you an undesirable boarder. I can only say that there are some wonderful pros out there, but they are few and far between. I hope that you are able to find one of them eventually.

[Vindicated]

I was many of these. Back I the dark ages when I was a pro.
My biggest problem was wanting everyone to be happy.
“Yes, I will do that for you” No, it won’t be an extra charge" Then I never had the cojones to tell my customers they were asking for too much of me.

Not talking about major stuff. I always tried to fess up to that. However, when your stall cleaner goes home sick the day you are supposed to leave for a horse show and little Suzie’s mom calls to say she can’t make it out to clip Pookie…and no she really does not want to pay for it.
Thats why stuff doesn’t get done on time. I had a lot of clients that thought I was their private trainer.

When selling horses, I was as honest as I knew how to be. Now, I won’t sell horses for anyone but my closest friends. Quite frankly, I pissed off many owners selling horses. Lack of transparency is not exclusive to horse sales.

Why doesn’t BO/BM/Trainer want you there. Well, you get in the way and take up time. Specialty stuff, yes please be there. Routine stuff when you are asking the vet/farrier 400 questions-most which are not Actually relevant. It is taking up my time, and the other pros time. For me, it was a matter of expediency. It had nothing to do with hiding anything. It had everything to so with trying to get through 30 sets of vaccines & coggins, 4+ sets of bi-annual injections, and not having extra sets of ears around when discussing other customers horses. See above regarding selling.

If we are doing a lameness exam on your horse, yes you NEED to be there. If we are doing a lameness exam on Suzie’s horse, I would prefer you were not there

[Vindicated]

I just need to add-now that I am a boarder- I am never present for routine things for my horse. Unless I am asked to contribute.

[Mukluk]

It’s not hard to imagine that the OPs situation is not rare. I have been fairly lucky with my boarding situations- however, the best situation for me has been keeping my horses at home!!! I know exactly what’s going on and I hire the professionals that I prefer. I think there are some good reputable people out there but you probably have to look to find them.