I had some woman with her three small children flag me down on the road I used to ride on and ask if the kids could pet the horse. Now, I’m all about that - it makes for good neighbors and gives the kids a positive experience with horses. Plus, my last horse liked kids. I stopped, they patted him but he was clearly ready to move on. She kept asking questions, the kids were still thrilled but I had to keep him moving around them in a circle as he wanted to go home. Out of the blue she asks if the kids can ride him - right then! I said no, he was getting upset and the children weren’t appropriately dressed and I just didn’t allow other people to ride him. She continued to insist, I start moving away - still saying NO - when she announces to the kids “That mean lady won’t let you ride her horse.” Kids burst into tears and she starts berating me and using abusive language (nice example for your kids). I just trotted off, shaking my head. Whateverrrrrrr…
I’m grateful to have a horse who pretty much anyone can ride. I tell my friends who say “that sounds fun, I’ve never ridden a horse!” that “I have my mom’s horse who she rode until she quit riding, and she’s really good for new people to ride. Just get in touch with me and let me know when you want to.”
It turns out most people are saying it more to make conversation than an actual desire to ride! But I have given nearly every kid in the family pony rides or longe lessons. I actually put one on my gelding who is schooling some upper level dressage work, on a lead rope, and taught him all the lateral work at a walk. Let a little kid learn he can control how a horse bends and crosses over, and watch the kid light up! I would NOT let anyone but a more experienced dressage rider on my gelding off a lead rope anymore, because it’s too easy to get him to canter or do other unexpected things. I explain that to people, too - he has so many buttons, they can be hard to miss pressing. 
[QUOTE=shiloh;8217556]
she announces to the kids “That mean lady won’t let you ride her horse.” [/QUOTE]
Holy cr*p, that takes the prize.
I met my BFF in Stats class. We sat next to each other in the final. While waiting for the start time, she showed me pictures of her horse, and my eyes lit up. I asked her if we could be best friends, and she answered, “Yes, you can come out and ride.” I hadn’t been on a horse in over a decade, and wasn’t sure I was even physically capable of riding anymore with two herniated discs in my lower back. I walked and trotted around for about half an hour on her sweet little QH, and promptly fell on my butt when I dismounted. I’ve been out to see her horse a few more times, and she helped me find my first lesson barn. Now I’m leasing a horse and she comes out to my barn to watch me ride, give me pointers, and just enjoy barn time and chatting. I was mostly kidding when I asked if we could be besties, but it worked out great. I don’t know what I’d do without her now.
[QUOTE=shiloh;8217528]
God bless know-it-alls - they provide us with so much amusement.[/QUOTE]
this one came across my local listserv several weeks ago; no one responded, that i’m aware:
"Does anyone in the area have horses (or other equines) and would like some free training? I haven’t worked with equines yet and would like to get some experience in exchange for my free training services. Behavior problems, husbandry skills, and foundation behaviors.
I practice training that’s pretty rare and new to the horse would [sic], no coercion is used. I use a lot of clicker training and will be happy to show you. This is how they train animals in zoos and aquariums.
I can only do later in the day and with same day notice. Thanks. Please feel free to ask any questions."
:eek: :rolleyes:
I was riding down the road in the neighboring village and a guy walking his dog asked if he could “drive” my horse. At first I thought he was asking if she was broke to cart, which she isn’t, so I said, “No, she doesn’t know how to do that.” (and of course, if she was, I’d totally let random strangers take her out… oh, wait)
Dude gave me a befuddled look and said, “You’re driving the horse now. I know how to drive a horse.”
[QUOTE=RocketRidge;8216640]
Oh wow!
I constantly have Co workers asking if I have my horses home yet so they can bring their kids out to ride.
My horses are currently in Ocala at my parents farm and will be moving up in a month or so to my farm in TN as soon as we finish the fences. We just bought the farm last year and have been doing the work ourselves. They have actually gotten upset with me that my horses aren’t here yet. I asked them when would they like to bring a load of fence posts and boards and if they can bring extra tools. It shut them up fairly quickly. No one seems to want to put in real manual labor anymore…[/QUOTE]
I get this too. I work a full time job and try to ride and show two horses. I sometimes feel like people that I’m not close to asking for their kids to ride my horse is an invasion of my personal space and time. I have a hard time saying no to a definitive date and time, but I can usually put off general requests. And then they come out with screaming toddlers, and two dogs and a camera while I do all the work and the kid who I don’t know sits up there and tries to look cute. Argh…I truly cannot believe how presumptuous people are and they certainly have no idea just how much work it is to simply get a horse ready to ride, etc.
I had a coworker that once asked me what I was doing on a particular date. I responded with I wasn’t sure. She told me she was coming out to ride. I said no you’re not. Also another sent me a thank you card for a wedding gift and wrote she and her new husband would love to go for a fall ride.
Oh sure, I’ve got nothing better to do than play outfitter for free not to mention find another horse so their kiddo could come too.
People just continue to amaze me.
Well the thing is they all picture themselves galloping through the fields as if they were on Gunsmoke. Then, faced with the reality… Many don’t have the guts to get on, much less walk.
I remember back in college when my show horses also had a lot of road mileage on them and I could actually take your average college guy, put him in a western saddle, and trust my second horse to follow my first horse down the road.
I want a horse that sharts in the service elevator. I really do.
I’ve been getting a ton of horse questions lately that have been irking me - but not a request to ride my horse.
A family friend asked me to send her an ad for the draft cross I had mentioned in passing a few days earlier. She had talked to her cousin and they decided they were going to go “halvsies” on the mare and share everything and it was going to be super duper awesome! I had to explain why this was a super duper bad idea and how the “halvsies” never ever work out in the real world. I gave her some real life examples of why it’s a bad idea. Not to mention, the mare was $500. If you have to go “halvsies” on a $500 horse - you can’t afford the horse.
Then this morning a friend of mine messaged me asking for a barn where their 9 year old daughter can work off lessons. I respond that all of the professional barns that I would recommend have regular staff that do the chores and that this is for the safety of the horses and children. It also keeps things consistent for the horses which is imperative to their well being. Friend mentions that they’re going to be buying a horse for the daughter in the near future. Now, this is a family whose cat I have because they couldn’t afford to properly care for her. All of her vet records start with “Owner has limited budget and cannot spend more than $100-200 at this time.” I politely explained what budget they should be anticipating. I also threw in that my old mare, who is chronically lame and pretty much retired from riding, requires $300 aluminum eggbars, pads and packing every 6 weeks just to stay pasture sound. I pay that and I don’t even get to ride her. If the daughter wants to lesson, they’re going to have to board at a barn with an indoor which will run them between $400-600 a month. She said “Oh, I know horses are expensive. I’ve ridden a few guided trail rides and I know how much I had to pay to go on those!” WTF?!
I’m just so annoyed with people thinking horses are like motorcycles - that you can ride them and have your fun and park them until next time. You might have some storage fees but no real maintenance until the spring tune up. Horses don’t work that way.
I was accosted by a pair of 6 and 7 year old girls the other day. I was just walking my horse out the gate for a hack when I saw them come around the corner, and I thought “uh oh”. They threw their bikes down on my front lawn and wanted to pet him, so I dismounted to mitigate any behaviours typical for the horse. Of course they asked about riding, which I turned them down. They live several streets over and decided they would join me on my ride…
Then asked if they could stay at my house, and ride my other horse. I hate to be the bad guy and all, but…
I’ve had a few former coworkers from 6 hours away say they want to come out and see my “ranch” (5 acre hobby farm) and go for a ride. Oh please no!
[QUOTE=Beck;8216873]
My husband delights in introducing me to acquaintances and co-workers who say they ‘ride’ and then standing back. Thus far (for the last 30+ years) 98% have been the “OH we go for a trail ride at those trail riding places every year!” -type. The second stage is when they announce they should bring all their family out to ride my horses with me - since I have enough to go around. Some of them ask every time I encounter them - for years. Funny: the ‘real’ riders do not suggest anything of the sort.
Third stage is when I get even with beloved hubby for setting me up.[/QUOTE]
O. M. G. This is my husband. Every time… Oh “sos and so’s date rides horses” and then the awkward 5 minute convo starts…
I have to say I’ve had great luck with roadside children. Even the teenage boy whose pitbull was off the leash (in his own yard), circling my horse and freaking the heck out (horse is dog proof). I know his family doesn’t own horses, but he asked if the horse was safe to approach, spoke and touched my horse on the shoulder to reassure him and then put his dog in it’s place. Some people are just born with sense. Some are not.
[QUOTE=Frostbitten;8216669]
My favourite, in a lifetime of horse ownership, was a woman I hardly knew saying “I’ve decided to let you teach my daughter to ride”. Shades of Hyacinthe Bucket, for those of you who remember “Keeping Up Appearances”.[/QUOTE]
$500 for 15 minutes
Some of these stories are hilarious! Fortunately most people I talk to don’t ask to ride my horse specifically, but they do say they want to ride hint hint. I shut that down with “here’s my trainers number, and lessons are $60 a pop!”.
I will say that I feel like a lot of “oh just lemme borrow your horse” stems from a lot of ignorance versus entitlement. People just don’t realize how much it costs to own a horse, or what actually goes into riding. Its not their fault…after all most of their experience likely comes from trail riding outfits. I know I was shell shocked by how much went into it when I first started.
[QUOTE=SmartAlex;8217877]
I have to say I’ve had great luck with roadside children. Even the teenage boy whose pitbull was off the leash (in his own yard), circling my horse and freaking the heck out (horse is dog proof). I know his family doesn’t own horses, but he asked if the horse was safe to approach, spoke and touched my horse on the shoulder to reassure him and then put his dog in it’s place. Some people are just born with sense. Some are not.[/QUOTE]
Thank you for posting that. It warms my heart in this thread.
Oh my goodness, some of these stories have me shaking my head. I must not look very friendly because people often say “what a gorgeous horse”, but it is usually never followed by “can I ride it?” Sometimes barn kids will hint at it, in which the answer is a resounding no!
I assume, mostly, because my answer has always been “well, can you ride a bucking bronco?”. Most people at my work have heard the stories of his wild antics, and that’s enough for them! 
[QUOTE=charismaryllis;8217609]
this one came across my local listserv several weeks ago; no one responded, that i’m aware:
"Does anyone in the area have horses (or other equines) and would like some free training? I haven’t worked with equines yet and would like to get some experience in exchange for my free training services. Behavior problems, husbandry skills, and foundation behaviors.
I practice training that’s pretty rare and new to the horse would [sic], no coercion is used. I use a lot of clicker training and will be happy to show you. This is how they train animals in zoos and aquariums.
I can only do later in the day and with same day notice. Thanks. Please feel free to ask any questions."
:eek: :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]
OH!OH!OH! I have a question - WTF??? Really? Oh, wait - sorry - that was two. my bad :rolleyes:
[QUOTE=melhorse;8216770]
A few years ago I had a couple ask if they could use one of my horses for a wedding photo shoot. The wife really liked my black horse with the big white star and thought she would look stunning on him with her wedding dress. “oh he is short so I won’t fall off” umm he is a year old and not broke to ride… “It is only for photo’s silly, not real riding”. After I said no a few times-more than five- she started with the water works, balling her eyes out. The husband then offers me $200 for the horse lol The wine was sure tasty that night![/QUOTE]
Well, these situations don’t all work out so badly. I had a woman come out to my barn and ask my BO to ask me if they could use my large white horse in some of their pre-wedding photos. He was simply supposed to be background - well, guess who didn’t get the memo…:rolleyes: He photobombed every picture. The worst was when the happy couple wa standing side by side and she was holding up her hand to show off the pretty ring. My horse stuck his head in between them and I swear if he had had fingers he would been holding up bunny ears behind both their heads. The worst worst one was when they were seated underneath a large oak tree and he was supposed to be white horse in the background. Oh no, there they were looking soulfully into each others’ eyes and there he was leering around the tree at them like some giant white peeping tom. I was mortified.
