I just find it amazing how many died in the wool capitalists become socialists over night when they want to have a horsie. Breeders are greedy. They should just breed for the love of breeding and give the horsie to a person who really wants him.
[QUOTE=Bombproof;8245684]
:mad: <Rant Mode On>
Ain’t it the truth! This is one of my pet peeves! I’m often reminded of when I was shooting competitively. At a regional match when we stopped for a break, the shooter next to me asked if he could examine my rifle. I’m picky about who touches my rifles, but I was standing right there, so I handed it to him. He put it up to his shoulder a couple of times and looked it over, then said, “I’ll bet if I had a rifle like this one, I could shoot like you do!” I took the rifle back and said, “If you shot 1,200-1,500 practice rounds every month like I do, then you might legitimately need a rifle like this one.” No amount of fancy tack in the world is going to make you a better rider. I’m not a particularly good rider, but I suspect that in riding as in shooting, the equipment makes maybe 1-2% difference. That difference doesn’t matter until you’re trying to shrink your 600 meter groups from 5" to 4". If your groups are 10", it isn’t the rifle that needs to be changed. Getting the saddle the winners are riding isn’t going to improve your score unless you’re already one of the winners.
<Rant Mode Off> :)[/QUOTE]
I get that response regarding my camera equipment- it’s the camera and lense that makes a different, not the skill of the photographer. 
Yeah, I know a lady with a small fortune in tack and show clothes, but her horses have to go 10or 12 weeks between trims and vaccines and dental work dont happen. Really irks me
[QUOTE=shamrock;8247721]
My favorite are the horse owners that complain they have no money or how broke they are, yet they are constantly buying expensive new (non-horse related) stuff. Such bull$hi++.
I used to board with this lady that would roll up to the barn in her brand new luxury vehicle, step out of it in her $800 Canada Goose parka with her Louis V bag, and attempt to sew (by hand, with regular thread) her horse’s ancient, full-of-rips-and-holes, leaky rain sheet. The attempt was futile of course, but she’d be doing it at least twice a week. Horse was freezing; poor old guy. The sheet was practically hanging in ribbons on him. Buy him a new one?! No way – this one is just fine! She was way too cheap to buy him a proper rain sheet. I even offered to lend her one, but of course she declined. She also complained about having to get the vet out when he was colicky (our BO had to plead) and the cost of the Omeprazole the vet recommended. Her saddle didn’t fit him properly either and hurt his back. She was too cheap to have the fitter out. She would complain about the cost of routine vaccines and the farrier too. This lady had a lot of money for herself, but not for her horse. He was such a sweet boy too. It was sick to watch. :mad:
I will do without before my horse ever does. People who are so cheap that their horse suffers for it, drive me insane. Please, just don’t own a horse if that is your mentality.[/QUOTE]
I wonder if it was more like her husband had plenty of money for her but she didn’t have any of her own for the horse. I’ve seen that a few times over the years.
I adopted a shelter dog last week. Adoption fee was 20 bucks. Spent another $12 at the shelter for a leash and collar because dingbat me didn’t think to bring one. $32 and I walked out the door with a really nice, sweet dog. Their contract states that adopters must take the dog to the vet within 3 days of bringing it home for a general exam, rabies vaccination and heartworm preventative.
I did just that, also ended up getting a flu vaccine vet recommended and opted for a year supply of the heartworm/intestinal parasite/flea preventative (Trifexis) since they were offering a $50 rebate. Vet visit ended up costing $350.
Didn’t bother me because not my first dog so I was expecting it but my first thought was how many people get sticker shock at that first vet bill with their $20 dog.
[QUOTE=Pembroke;8245774]
Fitting and comfortable tack makes a HUGE difference. I don’t have SUPERDUPEROMG expensive saddles at the moment. I had to sell my top notch high end dressage saddle because it didn’t fit. New one is half the price of the old one. I also have a 6 year old Kieffer jumping saddle. They are both comfortable and fit me and the ponies well. I feel they help me. But I have ridden other people’s horses a couple of times in tack that does not fit me at all. It’s horrible. If the saddle is working against you in all possible ways, you can not ride as well as in a saddle that helps you or at least doesn’t bother you. So, I think tack does matter, more than the 1-2%. But, no, it does not have to be crazy expensive to help/work.[/QUOTE]
This is only true if you already have some skill. If you put someone who cannot ride in a $5000 saddle, they still won’t be able to ride. Good equipment will possibly help someone with skill get into a better position etc, but it’s not going to turn a novice into anything but a novice.
My favorite was watching people, (especially this one woman in particular) post on one board that they were in dire straights due to layoffs, illness, yada yada, looking for donated hay, free gear, whatever.
Meanwhile…on another board this same wench was buying used tack and offering to take giveaway horses in. She would claim they were going to a “forever home” and would post that same horse up for sale for as much as she could two days later.
This same person fleeced someone I know for a considerable amount of money. I hope karma bites her in her ample ass someday. :mad:
Be very, very careful when dealing with people online only. The amount of scum out there is staggering.
Back in the dark ages–before internet and cell phones—I ran a newspaper add for a horse for sale, $1500. I receive an answering phone call. “I’m calling about the horse for sale. I ain’t a gonna pay more than $500.” I hung up on her. People haven’t changed. They still want whatever you have for nothing.
Well, it’s better if they figure out before they own the beastie.
There was that one thread in Off Topic recently where the poster couldn’t pay her rent, but she had 10 horses + several other pets. There’s a very good reason even the average horse person doesn’t have more than 1 or 2 horses!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
[QUOTE=sorrelfilly721;8248238]
This is only true if you already have some skill. If you put someone who cannot ride in a $5000 saddle, they still won’t be able to ride. Good equipment will possibly help someone with skill get into a better position etc, but it’s not going to turn a novice into anything but a novice.[/QUOTE]
Yeah. So I applied for and was accepted for a Hilda G. Clinic last year. Practically the first thing she said was that part of my problem was my much loved but older SW dressage saddle was too small. I had had it refitted when I bought my present horse, but that was a few years ago. A boarder at the clinic barn lent me her saddle for the remainder of the clinic, and that really helped. I went straight home thereafter and did some serious budgeting, decided used was the best way to go and within 2 weeks had a very slightly used Dresch for under $3.5K. It has made a major difference, but while I am no novice, neither am I anything more than a reasonably experienced, older AA. But unless you’re extremely lucky, you’re not going to find a saddle like that for $1.5 K or less, and I wouldn’t have dreamed of asking that saddle be sold to me for a bargain basement price, “because that’s all I can afford.” I had to sell some stuff and put the balance on my credit card, but while I’m always up for a bargain, I’m not ENTITLED to one. LOL
(Now I’d really like a Dr. Who dressage pad I saw on Etsy, but you know,$70 is an extravagance I can’t afford…unless some of you kind COTHers would like to crowd fund me!!! ;0).)
[QUOTE=Sandy M;8248529]
Yeah. So I applied for and was accepted for a Hilda G. Clinic last year. Practically the first thing she said was that part of my problem was my much loved but older SW dressage saddle was too small. I had had it refitted when I bought my present horse, but that was a few years ago. A boarder at the clinic barn lent me her saddle for the remainder of the clinic, and that really helped. I went straight home thereafter and did some serious budgeting, decided used was the best way to go and within 2 weeks had a very slightly used Dresch for under $3.5K. It has made a major difference, but while I am no novice, neither am I anything more than a reasonably experienced, older AA. But unless you’re extremely lucky, you’re not going to find a saddle like that for $1.5 K or less, and I wouldn’t have dreamed of asking that saddle be sold to me for a bargain basement price, “because that’s all I can afford.” I had to sell some stuff and put the balance on my credit card, but while I’m always up for a bargain, I’m not ENTITLED to one. LOL
(Now I’d really like a Dr. Who dressage pad I saw on Etsy, but you know,$70 is an extravagance I can’t afford…unless some of you kind COTHers would like to crowd fund me!!! ;0).)[/QUOTE]
Just tell them you’ll give the saddle pad a good home. Isn’t that what its all about?
My absolute favorite is the people who
1.) can’t afford lessons or prorides, or even a decent place to board
but
2.) have multiple horses.
For Christ’s sake just sell one of the horses and use the saved expenses to take proper care of the other one.
I could afford five horses if I was willing to board them all in a hellhole.
[QUOTE=Sandy M;8248529]
Yeah. So I applied for and was accepted for a Hilda G. Clinic last year. Practically the first thing she said was that part of my problem was my much loved but older SW dressage saddle was too small. I had had it refitted when I bought my present horse, but that was a few years ago. A boarder at the clinic barn lent me her saddle for the remainder of the clinic, and that really helped. I went straight home thereafter and did some serious budgeting, decided used was the best way to go and within 2 weeks had a very slightly used Dresch for under $3.5K. It has made a major difference, but while I am no novice, neither am I anything more than a reasonably experienced, older AA. But unless you’re extremely lucky, you’re not going to find a saddle like that for $1.5 K or less, and I wouldn’t have dreamed of asking that saddle be sold to me for a bargain basement price, “because that’s all I can afford.” I had to sell some stuff and put the balance on my credit card, but while I’m always up for a bargain, I’m not ENTITLED to one. LOL
(Now I’d really like a Dr. Who dressage pad I saw on Etsy, but you know,$70 is an extravagance I can’t afford…unless some of you kind COTHers would like to crowd fund me!!! ;0).)[/QUOTE]
That’s exactly it. While it helped you (a better than average rider) be able to be more effective, it didn’t turn you into Hilda G 
Too many people believe that it is the equipment that makes us good riders and not the hours of sweat, blood and tears in the saddle.
It’s actually great to read threads like this so that I can console myself that I’m not the only person experiencing these breathtakingly bold charity requests. I recently offered for sale a specialized piece of breeding equipment and had someone contact me about it. Speaking confidently she told me about the 2 dozen horses she had and how foals were sold before they were born… and then proceeded to offer me half the asking price, with three months to pay and oh, could she pick it up this weekend since she was in the area? A total stranger. I should basically hand this over to you for one sixth of the original asking price and hope like heck I’d see any additional money from you, ever? Breathtaking, I tell you.
But my favorites are still the people who call me from far, far, far away and want desperately to buy my $3500 horse because ‘I feel it’s my heart horse, just from watching the video.’ But you know, since they ARE on the other side of the country, and shipping will cost $1800, would I take $1500 for the registered, sane, sound, professionally trained, socialized 8 year old with show and trail mileage? 'Cause it will be a forever home, I swear!
Right.
And then people complain about how they can’t find an honest horse seller anymore. You know why? They starved to death! Only the scammers who are happy to make $50-100 flipping horses they bought yesterday are making money selling at that level.
wanders away muttering darkly
[QUOTE=BarbaricYawp;8249183]
It’s actually great to read threads like this so that I can console myself that I’m not the only person experiencing these breathtakingly bold charity requests. I recently offered for sale a specialized piece of breeding equipment and had someone contact me about it. Speaking confidently she told me about the 2 dozen horses she had and how foals were sold before they were born… and then proceeded to offer me half the asking price, with three months to pay and oh, could she pick it up this weekend since she was in the area? A total stranger. I should basically hand this over to you for one sixth of the original asking price and hope like heck I’d see any additional money from you, ever? Breathtaking, I tell you.
But my favorites are still the people who call me from far, far, far away and want desperately to buy my $3500 horse because ‘I feel it’s my heart horse, just from watching the video.’ But you know, since they ARE on the other side of the country, and shipping will cost $1800, would I take $1500 for the registered, sane, sound, professionally trained, socialized 8 year old with show and trail mileage? 'Cause it will be a forever home, I swear!
Right.
And then people complain about how they can’t find an honest horse seller anymore. You know why? They starved to death! Only the scammers who are happy to make $50-100 flipping horses they bought yesterday are making money selling at that level.
wanders away muttering darkly[/QUOTE]
They can always ask. That’s what I remind myself. It’s a free country (mostly.) Just like I’m free to say no. Then if they unleash the stream of abuse, I congratulate myself on a correct decision made. And I don’t feel guilty.
As for the kids begging…I blame the parents for that too. My parents would have BRAINED us if they told us it was our job to pay for something, then found out that we used free media to beg strangers to pay for something. When they told us that we had to pay for things, it didn’t need saying that meant we had to EARN money. Teaching trumpet lessons, getting a summer job, tutoring math, whatever. We could even negotiate for money for doing extra work at home. They also HELPED US FIGURE THIS PART OUT. Kept an ear out for friends needing odd jobs done, helped us with applications, offered “studio space” (basement space) for trumpet lessons, drove us to jobs. You know, support. They were also resourceful in sourcing secondhand equipment, and taught us to do the same…without resorting to public begging.
I think it’s borderline cruel to allow your child to enter a VERY EXPENSIVE luxury hobby situation, but only fork over money for part of the participation. It’s like signing your kid up for hockey, and buying them a stick, but telling them they are on their own for skates. Um, if you weren’t willing to pay or otherwise help them out with the acquisition of the necessary equipment…you should have told them what my parents did, when I wanted a pony. “We can’t afford it.”
[QUOTE=rugbygirl;8249237]
I think it’s borderline cruel to allow your child to enter a VERY EXPENSIVE luxury hobby situation, but only fork over money for part of the participation. It’s like signing your kid up for hockey, and buying them a stick, but telling them they are on their own for skates. Um, if you weren’t willing to pay or otherwise help them out with the acquisition of the necessary equipment…you should have told them what my parents did, when I wanted a pony. “We can’t afford it.”[/QUOTE]
FWIW this is EXACTLY what I do with my kids. Only I have the conversation with them well in advance about ‘how do you plan to raise the money for the skates, let’s talk about how long that will take’. If we don’t get a workable solution, we don’t buy the stick. It has to be a reasonably achievable goal, but I think it teaches kids to think creatively about how to get something, as well as how to work towards long term goals and delay gratification. All good things in my book.
Sadly I think your parents and mine are no longer the norm. People put things on their credit cards because they think the kids ‘should’ have it and kids internalize that you don’t really need to wait, there is always a way to get someone to cover it for you if you just whine hard enough. Little kids become big people. I suspect that is where the indigent army is coming from. No-one ever told them they should delay gratification or add more work to their day to be able to afford the luxuries, rather than randomly wandering around with their hand out and pleading poverty.
[QUOTE=rugbygirl;8249237]
They can always ask. That’s what I remind myself. It’s a free country (mostly.) Just like I’m free to say no. Then if they unleash the stream of abuse, I congratulate myself on a correct decision made. And I don’t feel guilty.
As for the kids begging…I blame the parents for that too. My parents would have BRAINED us if they told us it was our job to pay for something, then found out that we used free media to beg strangers to pay for something. When they told us that we had to pay for things, it didn’t need saying that meant we had to EARN money. Teaching trumpet lessons, getting a summer job, tutoring math, whatever. We could even negotiate for money for doing extra work at home. They also HELPED US FIGURE THIS PART OUT. Kept an ear out for friends needing odd jobs done, helped us with applications, offered “studio space” (basement space) for trumpet lessons, drove us to jobs. You know, support. They were also resourceful in sourcing secondhand equipment, and taught us to do the same…without resorting to public begging.
I think it’s borderline cruel to allow your child to enter a VERY EXPENSIVE luxury hobby situation, but only fork over money for part of the participation. It’s like signing your kid up for hockey, and buying them a stick, but telling t
hem they are on their own for skates. Um, if you weren’t willing to pay or otherwise help them out with the acquisition of the necessary equipment…you should have told them what my parents did, when I wanted a pony. “We can’t afford it.”[/QUOTE]
I never mind people offering less as long as it is just a, "Would you take x?, or “would you take less of it was cash today?” type of offer. That, to me, is negotiation or haggling and part of buying and selling, but I grew up with a salesperson who always tried to negotiate.
I would never ask someone to take less because of my own financial situation. That is irrelevant information to a seller.
I kind of agree about the kids as well. Horses are so expensive that it is pretty unrealistic, unless they’re only expected to earn the money for a pink saddle pad they want or a show, etc. The idea that a child is going to be able to afford the purchase and upkeep of a horse seems unrealistic to me.
I’m not one for Internet begging at all, especially for tack, showing, etc. I have seen a couple of dogs requiring surgery, etc. that really tugged at my heart strings, but I try not to read them because honestly I have enough animal expenses and I need to maintain my own emergency fund.
It is tough sometimes to see the different priorities. I knew some people with an old mare that didn’t feed her properly, didn’t have her hooves taken care of, didn’t keep her water unfrozen in the winter, and didn’t even have her put down because they weren’t willing to try feeding her more. They take regular vacations. They just didn’t see the point of spending their money on that horse, not even for euthanasia. That is something I can’t relate to.
Be careful what you wish for. Money is relative…you may think someone else doesn’t have enough money to have a horse, but then I or someone else may think YOU don’t have enough money - and so on and so on. Where do you draw the line? Do you have enough money for a $50,000 surgery? If not, does that make you an unfit owner? If you are only using a $1,000 saddle does that make you unfit? Do you know the people’s circumstances? Has some tragedy or emergency happened to change their financial status? Yes, it is bad when a horse is abused or suffers, but to make generalities instead of looking at specific cases is judgmental as heck - to say nothing of being ignorant…
[QUOTE=Faceman;8249439]
Be careful what you wish for. Money is relative…you may think someone else doesn’t have enough money to have a horse, but then I or someone else may think YOU don’t have enough money - and so on and so on. Where do you draw the line? Do you have enough money for a $50,000 surgery? If not, does that make you an unfit owner? If you are only using a $1,000 saddle does that make you unfit? Do you know the people’s circumstances? Has some tragedy or emergency happened to change their financial status? Yes, it is bad when a horse is abused or suffers, but to make generalities instead of looking at specific cases is judgmental as heck - to say nothing of being ignorant…[/QUOTE]
If YOUR horse is being maintained to YOUR standards using YOUR money, then you have enough money. The minute you start asking the world at large to fund your decision, whether it be at the front end of the process (buying horse, tack) or the back end (feed, vet bills, euthanasia), then you don’t have enough money. I don’t know if it makes you an unfit owner, but it sure makes you a bad decision maker and so probably someone who doesn’t need to be messing around with living creatures that might suffer as a result.
OMG!!! I just went to Go Fund Me and I am amazed and sickened. One request is $$$$ so a 560 pound man can cycle across the country. And people are giving him money!!!
And the number of people who want others to pay for their honeymoons. Gaaaah.
That site is beyond words. I could not find any people who wanted $$ for their horse activities because I did not know names. But, based on the sites I did see, I am appalled.
I’m glad I live in an area that it actually is relatively cheap to own horses. You actually can buy a horse and all the equipment for $1500-$2000, provided you aren’t looking for the last Congress winner who also happens to be kid-friendly. IF you’re lucky, you might be able to pull a very nice horse out of a kill pen for less than $500.
Board/hay/feed/farrier are all relatively cheap out here. So, yeah, when someone is on a Facebook group asking for tack donations, money for the vet, free this/that, etc. it IS ridiculous. I was always able to find good deals on things while still providing good care to my horse.
I even just sold my 2H BP trailer for $700 (older trailer, but still in good, sound shape and SAFE for hauling) and someone “offered” me $450 for it. Not happening!
