How do you answer questions from non-horsey folks?

[ladyrider]

Are you patient and forthcoming, a smart-aleck, or somewhere in between? I honestly find it quite amusing discussing horses and riding with non horsey people. I was reminded of that today because we had a new guy start in the office, and the inevitable non-horsey questions started almost immediately after he saw the pic of my gelding sitting on my desk. I’m curious what other people’s answers are to these (and other) common non-horsey people questions, e.g. what answers do you give that satisfies them. I’m usually just honest and patient with my answers, but it’s so tempting to be a smart aleck sometimes.

• Have you ever fallen off? (Usually followed by a look of disbelief and shock when I answer 'of course')
• Aren't they expensive?
• What kind of horse do you have? ( This question especially, I'm never quite sure how to answer. With horse folk, I would answer with breed/gender/height. But with non horsey folk, that answer is often met with blank, confused stares. Especially when I used to own a quarterhorse, because they would think I was saying he's only a quarter of a horse, and 3/4 something else. Lately I've just started answering 'A brown one'. )
• How do you give a horse a bath? (Followed by the next inevitable question...how do you get them to stand still?)
• How much does it cost to buy a horse?
• Can I ride your horse?

Many other questions, but these are the ones that pop up the most for me!

[Guilherme]

Answer questions with honest, simple, direct information translated into “common English.”

“No, you can’t ride the horse. But here is where you can learn…”

G.

[Miss_Anne_Thrope]

I got this one just yesterday:

What do you do in this cold weather, just turn up the heat in their stalls?

[NoSuchPerson]

I can’t imagine getting snarky and smart-alecky with someone who is asking about my horses/mules. I treat every non-horsey person as a potential rider or parent of a potential rider who needs to be encouraged. Plus, a little knowledge may keep that person from doing something stupid around horses in the future. Also,I don’t really mind talking to people, in general.

Besides, if they aren’t really interested, about 3 minutes of serious more-than-you-ever-wanted-to-know horse talk will have them backing carefully away and making a quick exit.

With respect to how I answer questions, I do it honestly and in a way that I think will make sense to them (even if it isn’t entirely accurate). I think, for example, “A big brown one that I use to trail ride” is a perfectly legitimate answer to “What kind of horse do you have?”

In response to the “Can I ride your horse?” question, I generally make the sad face, express dismay and disappointment, and say, “Right now, I don’t have a horse that I can do that with.”

[GotMyPony]

As much as I love smart-assery among like-minded people, I don’t think it’s called for when some any-old-person is genuinely curious about something. Most people have seen horses all their lives - TV, movies, carriage horses - but may never have known someone who actually owned one. It’s not surprising they’d be curious. As for how much it costs to buy one, it’s like cars or boats - they can range from hundreds of dollars to millions.

I’d basically treat it as if someone was showing interest in a picture of my dog – as G. suggested, give simple, honest, direct info in basic English.

[2DogsFarm]

Um…
How would you like to be answered if you’d asked a question of someone?
Yes, you will get some eye-rolly questions, but I’ m sure there are things you are not expert at & if you asked, would expect a considerate reply in “laymen’s” terms.
Think:
Doctor or (at least for me) Mechanic
I expect each of the above to answer my stupid questions with info I can understand.

FWIW, most of my friends & family are non-horsy & I take their questions as an opportunity to share what I know about horses.
One guy was flabbergasted an animal so large lived mainly on hay.

[chestnutmarebeware]

I’m always happy to talk about my girls with anyone interested. I have OTTBs, so “what kind” is easy. I just say they’re ex-racehorses.

I’ve never had anyone ask “how much” exactly, but when asked if they’re expensive, my go-to line is “I used say it was cheaper than therapy, but with three horses…not so much.” If they’re genuinely trying to get a feel for cost, and not just being a busybody, I’ll give them a general idea of monthly expenses, and emphasize that the cost of the horse is often nothing compared to daily upkeep. As a spin-off, when I’m asked if I have kids, my answer is “I can’t afford kids and horses both, so I picked horses.”

And for the falling-off question, I’ll laugh and offer to show them the scar or crooked bone of their choice.

[ladyrider]

[QUOTE=Miss Anne Thrope;7944913]
I got this one just yesterday:

What do you do in this cold weather, just turn up the heat in their stalls?[/QUOTE]

:lol::lol::lol: And what did you say??? I wouldn’t even know where to begin answering this one…

I remember a story about a lady who had her neighbors call animal control on her because her horses where ‘on fire’ out in the pasture. Turns out they were just damp from the snow and the moisture was evaporating off their thick winter coats in the afternoon sun!

[tua37516]

I will pleasantly answer any sincere questions that non horse folk may have as long as their curiosity is piqued, and I will try to make analogies and generalizations so that they may understand. However, what I don’t understand is people who just think that as a sport it requires no skill or work… even learning to drive a car takes practices and skill??

“What kind of horse do you have?” I have a show horse, her name is Grace. We jump fences in horse shows.

“How expensive are horses?” It is a lot like buying a car. You can buy a really cheap old car for like $1k. You can buy a high end show horse anywhere from 10k into the 6 figures. It depends on what you want to do with it, if you enjoy trail riding or need to buy an athlete."

“Can I ride your horse?” This one loses my patience sometimes. I usually respond with: My horse is really young and untrained still, and I don’t own any lesson horses. When it is followed with, “well I just want to learn how to go fast, you could teach me that like in one day” my next reply is: If you owned an airplane would you let me hop in and fly it? :no:

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=Guilherme;7944901]
Answer questions with honest, simple, direct information translated into “common English.”

“No, you can’t ride the horse. But here is where you can learn…”

G.[/QUOTE]

THIS^. 30 or 40 years ago, the days when people were watching “Bonanza” and “Fury” on TV, you could assume most people knew the basics about horses. Ditto the people passing you doing 50 and slinging dirt on you with their tires; at that time, you gave the rude drivers the finger because they deserved it.

Today–it’s OUR job to educate people in such a way that they are invited to take part in the horse world; even if it goes no further than a conversation. Sadly, most urban/suburban people today have NO exposure to horses, not even in the movies, and really and truly need to be taught EVERYTHING. Which doesn’t make them idiots, not even today’s rude drivers who simply don’t know any better!

I was recently asked by a hairdresser “if horses eat meat.” Inwardly I nearly fell out of my CHAIR, but I stayed polite and explained that horses are “prey” animals which makes their eating and other habits very different from those of “predator” animals like cats and dogs. She was friendly and interested, just hadn’t a clue, which in today’s world is NOT her fault.

The fact that we are THIS much out of touch with the natural world, of course, scares the crap out of me! :eek:

[NoSuchPerson]

[QUOTE=ladyrider;7945002]
:lol::lol::lol: And what did you say??? I wouldn’t even know where to begin answering this one…[/QUOTE]

Heck, that’s an easy one.

“They love cold weather! They’re wearing fur coats, you know. ;)”

[SmartAlex]

[QUOTE=ladyrider;7944880]
Are you patient and forthcoming, a smart-aleck, or somewhere in between? [/QUOTE]

Please note my User Name :lol:

[Sunflower]

I am always happy to answer horse-y questions from non-horsey people. My non horse-y colleagues at work have taken an interest, and ask about the latest horse adventure or misadventure. They think having an OTTB is cool-- an ex race horse sounds like the ultimate kind of horse to them to have! It terrifies my boss and perhaps disturbs my boss’s image of me to imagine me zooming around on an ex race horse ( not that we do zoom around, but… hey). I try to reciprocate with taking enough interest in their hobbies to ask about them and try to keep up with their own adventures and misadventures.

[SuzieQNutter]

Have you ever fallen off? (Usually followed by a look of disbelief and shock when I answer ‘of course’) Yes you can’t ride until you have fallen off at least 100 times.

Aren’t they expensive? Yes Poverty is owning a horse.

What kind of horse do you have? ( This question especially, I’m never quite sure how to answer. With horse folk, I would answer with breed/gender/height. But with non horsey folk, that answer is often met with blank, confused stares. Especially when I used to own a quarterhorse, because they would think I was saying he’s only a quarter of a horse, and 3/4 something else. Lately I’ve just started answering ‘A brown one’. )

An ex racehorse.

How do you give a horse a bath? (Followed by the next inevitable question…how do you get them to stand still?) The same way you would wash a bus. They are taught to stand still and don’t even need to be tied.

How much does it cost to buy a horse? The cheapest thing sbout a horse is their purchase price it is the cost of everything else you have to worry about.

Can I ride your horse? No my horses are real horses. You have to learn on a school horse first.

[mp]

How do you answer questions from non-horsey foks?

Clearly and politely.

It would be rude to do otherwise. They are, after all, expressing interest in something I love.

[netg]

[QUOTE=ladyrider;7944880]
Are you patient and forthcoming, a smart-aleck, or somewhere in between? I honestly find it quite amusing discussing horses and riding with non horsey people. I was reminded of that today because we had a new guy start in the office, and the inevitable non-horsey questions started almost immediately after he saw the pic of my gelding sitting on my desk. I’m curious what other people’s answers are to these (and other) common non-horsey people questions, e.g. what answers do you give that satisfies them. I’m usually just honest and patient with my answers, but it’s so tempting to be a smart aleck sometimes.

• Have you ever fallen off? (Usually followed by a look of disbelief and shock when I answer 'of course') Never been asked this
• Aren't they expensive? Yep, which is why I didn't have them for years while I saved up so I could have them on a paid-off ranchette and am lucky I'm an engineer
• What kind of horse do you have? ( This question especially, I'm never quite sure how to answer. With horse folk, I would answer with breed/gender/height. But with non horsey folk, that answer is often met with blank, confused stares. Especially when I used to own a quarterhorse, because they would think I was saying he's only a quarter of a horse, and 3/4 something else. Lately I've just started answering 'A brown one'. ) An ex racehorse, a horse bred for war in Prussia, a horse who was rescued by someone else from a kill truck who I suspect was bred to work cattle on a ranch, and a horse who's half one of those black hairy horses like you see in movies. If someone's *really* interested, the conversation goes on from there about at least one of the horses, and if they're not, that's as much info as they could possibly want.
• How do you give a horse a bath? (Followed by the next inevitable question...how do you get them to stand still?) Never been asked this
• How much does it cost to buy a horse? Never been asked this
• Can I ride your horse? Sure! My horses aren't safe and I like you too much to put you on them, but my mom's horse is safe for visitors so you contact me about when you'd want to come out and ride. (Almost no one has.)

Many other questions, but these are the ones that pop up the most for me![/QUOTE]

I don’t get anything but well-intentioned comments that I’ve found! No need to be smart-alecky for that.

[Howlin_Wolf]

I LOVE introducing non-horse people to my horses - and yes, giving lead-line ‘pony rides!’ :yes:
I always hated and still hate stuck-up snotty people in ANY endeavor.
We all have to start somewhere/sometime: not everyone was “born with silver spoon in mouth, with riches and groomed horses brought 'round to to the mounting block.” :rolleyes:

[Abbie.S]

Politely and simple, if they mean well.

But if the question is accompanied by snark, well, that changes the game some. :winkgrin: A co-worker who works in another department found out I owned a horse and made a point of trying to embarrass me. “I heard you own horses, huh?Doesn’t that make you super rich or something? Only the filthy rich own horses.” I smiled cheekily and said, “Clearly you haven’t seen where I live. The barn my horse is stabled at is nicer than my apartment, her clothes are more expensive than mine, and she eats better, too. No, I’m POOR because I have horses.”

I’d venture most people mean well, but are just clueless. Horse people already have a bad rap, why give anyone any more reason to think of us as a bunch of elitist snobs?

[OverandOnward]

@ladyrider;7944880

• Can I ride your horse?

One stock answer: I grin maniacally and ask with enthusiasm “How fast can you ride?”

I continue looking happy and demented and let the silence grow - to date, everyone has withdrawn the question! :winkgrin:

Then they start asking more about this fast horse and when I mention he’s Thoroughbred they seem to decide that’s like saying Formula I Racing Car With A Stick Shift. They’re out.

Other than this bit of fun, I agree with not being snarky or snotty. Welcome the interest.

[Countrywood]

why be rude or smart alecky? Many people are genuinely curious, and they may love horses albeit from afar.

I’m sure many of us have asked skiers, runners, boaters, dancers, chefs (fill in the blank ), naive questions about their sport/passion