Pony dreamland

[Denali6298]

@ynl063w

I will take your word for it since you are the one who said it, but that is really how it seemed to me when I read it: that you think it is creepy and disgusting that people are looking up the record of a USEF member in the USEF provided database simply because the USEF member in question is a minor. As though doing this to a minor is not at all okay. Why is that so offensive to you? I genuinely just don’t understand.

I find it weird people who take issue with what an adult writes looks for evidence through their child’s show record. I would feel the same if it was about a spouse and people looked up the spouse.

[PoochPaddock]

@inca

Yes, I also looked up the USEF record. When you put the number in print, people are going to be curious how that much money was spent in the FIRST YEAR of showing ponies. We aren’t talking Road to the Maclay. That number would not be shocking in that context.

There is an easy way to avoid strangers discussing your choices and looking at your kid’s show record: DON’T WRITE A BLOG ABOUT IT ON THE INTERNET. And don’t have a national publication post it on Facebook. And she could have made the same point WITHOUT specifying that she spent $150K in the first year and “even more” after that.

I’m sure kid is going to survive this show season with no problem. He’s probably going to have a ball. Not so sure about mom. :rolleyes:

omg. Yes!! All. Of. This.

[inca]

I look up all sorts of show results ALL.THE.TIME. Whether it is on horseshowsonline or USEF. That is the entire reason those sites publish results - so people can look at them. So weird for someone to think looking up show results needs to be “justified.”

[Denali6298]

@inca

I look up all sorts of show results ALL.THE.TIME. Whether it is on horseshowsonline or USEF. That is the entire reason those sites publish results - so people can look at them. So weird for someone to think looking up show results needs to be “justified.”

So I think looking up a show record of a kid/person just because a mom/thread is delusional and writes a blog is weird.

Y’all wouldn’t be looking it up without the thread.

[ynl063w]

@Denali6298

I find it weird people who take issue with what an adult writes looks for evidence through their child’s show record. I would feel the same if it was about a spouse and people looked up the spouse.

I guess the difference here is that you see people looking up the record as trying to find evidence to dislike someone, and I see it as just looking for more information on the whole subject in an effort to make sense of it. In other words, I don’t think anyone here who looked up the kid’s USEF results did it to use as a weapon, but rather to confirm points that the mother made in the article that is out there for all to see. Like, where in the world was this kid showing all year for two years that the mother spent more than 300K in that time period? What you see as nefarious snooping is what I see as trying to gather information to make sense of what the mother has said.

@Denali6298

Y’all wouldn’t be looking it up without the thread.

Of course we wouldn’t - we wouldn’t know about it. Again, weird post.

[inca]

I actually looked it up before this thread because I saw the blog on Facebook. If someone is going to tell the world they spent $150K on their kid’s first year of showing, most people are going to be curious how many shows, which shows, etc. What I think is weird is the need to tell the world that you spent that much on one year of showing. Tacky at the very least.

[Denali6298]

@ynl063w

I guess the difference here is that you see people looking up the record as trying to find evidence to dislike someone, and I see it as just looking for more information on the whole subject in an effort to make sense of it. In other words, I don’t think anyone here who looked up the kid’s USEF results did it to use as a weapon, but rather to confirm points that the mother made in the article that is out there for all to see. Like, where in the world was this kid showing all year for two years that the mother spent more than 300K in that time period? What you see as nefarious snooping is what I see as trying to gather information to make sense of what the mother has said.

Okay I see that view point. Don’t agree with looking up people’s show records from a blog but I understand.

[PoochPaddock]

@Denali6298

So I think looking up a show record of a kid/person just because a mom/thread is delusional and writes a blog is weird.

Y’all wouldn’t be looking it up without the thread.

We would not have looked it up at all if she’d left the mind boggling numbers out of the story entirely.

That story could have been quite easily told without actual numbers disclosed. And I promise mom would have found more sympathy that way too. Most of us normal folks who save and make everyday life sacrifices just to be able to ride and show (or even just to ride for some), would have been both sympathetic and empathetic to her woes if she had spoken in general terms about how it is too hard for people of limited means to keep up on the AA circuit financially. We all know that it’s a sport for the ultra rich but it CAN be done with some limitations, if you find a way to make it work to a lesser degree without unrealistic goals.

Many of us also know that there ARE kids out there with immense talent who aren’t lucky sperm club getting to ride horses most of us could never dream of sitting on. And they are getting those rides BECAUSE of their talent.

No one is saying the child would not have made it to that point in his riding. Ive never seen the kid ride, let alone go in and knock it out of the park in the SS or opportunity classes. Perhaps when he is a little older he will get that chance still.

The fact remains, though, that she DID blab her bad math skills all over the internet, so yes, inquiring minds want to know what $150,000 dollars thrown at a good riding beginner gets you.

ETA: we are looking it up BECAUSE the mom is delusional. (And also not too bright)

[ynl063w]

@Denali6298

Okay I see that view point. Don’t agree with looking up people’s show records from a blog but I understand.

So you think there should be rules regarding the reasons that anyone is allowed to look up another’s USEF record? How would that work? Who would police that? What if you, Denali6298, wanted to look up someone’s record, and were told that you, Denali6298, weren’t allowed because your reason wasn’t adequate? Why is it so awful to read about someone on a blog (that is out there on the internet for anyone to see) and then look for more information about that person on the internet? What in your opinion are appropriate reasons to look to the internet for more information regarding any individual, versus those that are not?

I might have made my point - if you don’t want to look up someone’s information on a public database because you think it is wrong, then don’t do it. But there is no reason whatsoever that you should look poorly upon those who do not share your views.

[Denali6298]

What the devil? Rules? No I just think it’s weird people read blogs and bounce their USEF record off them. Quit trying to make this into something it’s not.

[inca]

@Denali6298

What the devil? Rules? No I just think it’s weird people read blogs and bounce their USEF record off them. Quit trying to make this into something it’s not.

You are the one (and the only one) acting like looking up someone’s PUBLIC USEF show record is breaking some moral code. :lol: Not like anyone had to hack into some secret database to find it.

[Denali6298]

@inca

You are the one (and the only one) acting like looking up someone’s PUBLIC USEF show record is breaking some moral code. :lol: Not like anyone had to hack into some secret database to find it.

No I just commented it’s weird but carry on.

[PKP]

@Sswor

I’d say if you are going to go public with your private affairs, then you have to accept the commentary that results. This situation is touching a lot of nerves on both sides–professionals and students.

I’m personally pretty sick and tired of predatory trainers and the predatory horse business. It is so far removed from why I went into this field. It bothers me every single day. I have little sympathy for rich people who spend their money foolishly but I have even less sympathy for the trainers who prey on them.

I want to like this over and over again. Many trainers bank on their students’ ignorance (or that of their parents) and some work hard to keep the parents & kids reliant on their “expertise” so more and more money is spent. Between that and the prolific attitude to buy the winner instead of learning to ride what you have, any ethics in this business seem to be swirling the drain.

oh, and don’t dare stand up to these trainers and let them know that you’re onto their predation of your trust and finances. You will be shown the door quite quickly.

[ynl063w]

@Denali6298

What the devil? Rules? No I just think it’s weird people read blogs and bounce their USEF record off them. Quit trying to make this into something it’s not.

@Denali6298

No I just commented it’s weird but carry on.

First you imply that it is horrible for someone to use a blog (on the internet) to look up someone’s public USEF record (on the internet) under certain circumstances, then you act outraged (“What the devil?”) that someone would challenge you on how the internet would police that, and then you pretend you weren’t outraged by anything. Can you pick a side and stick with it?

[Sswor]

@Midge

If they are talking about buying ponies and Mom asks, ‘How much to buy a pony that will get to pony finals?’ and trainer says, ‘50k.’ and Mom says, ‘Let’s find one.’ How is that the trainer’s fault? As far as ‘best interest’, what do you mean by that? If the trainer goes to WEF for the winter and they want to go, how is that against their interest? The trainer is not a fiduciary. That’s like saying your hair stylist has a responsibility to point out a cheaper salon.

That’s an excellent point. When it comes down to brass tacks I suppose I’d be hard pressed to feel it was in any amateur’s best interest to pay to show at WEF. I suppose it depends on who’s idea it is. If it’s a client’s dream to do that, great. If it’s just- you/your kid should show, come along to WEF for the winters because that’s just what we do, I think that’s different.

Speaking of hair salons, they are almost as bad. Just not as big $$.

[atl_hunter]

@inca

I actually looked it up before this thread because I saw the blog on Facebook. If someone is going to tell the world they spent $150K on their kid’s first year of showing, most people are going to be curious how many shows, which shows, etc. What I think is weird is the need to tell the world that you spent that much on one year of showing. Tacky at the very least.

^this. Members who are able to look up the record will likely see that the classes and shows don’t really add up to the amount she’s quoted in the blog. Coupled with the supposed kids in $5000 boots cleaning stalls and her lamenting over her child having to actually groom his pony himself gasp the entire blog is a bit of a farce about her experience horse showing. It definitely makes you feel for the young boy who seems very passionate about the sport. I also agree he will be much better off in the long run, and if the talent is truly there then he will find a way to succeed because he definitely has heart and passion for the sport.

[dags]

Look, this lady is in no way unique to Horse Land. This type of parental unit can be found in every walk-of-life, every sport, every dance studio (hello there’s a show about it), every PTA meeting. The only difference is that when you choose to remain blindly privileged in the realm of equestrian sport you suddenly find yourself up against Big Boys with names like Springstein, Bloomberg, Gates, Jobs and good-grief how long I could go on with that list…

Dollars to donuts she looked at that early trainer, asked “How much does a good pony cost?” and trainer looked at her, laughed, and said $80,000! And from that point on by golly, this lady was going to spend $80k on a pony if it was the last thing she did.

Replace pony with new-age speed skates, private coaching time, the world’s best tutors, faked photos of your kid on the crew team, and you will see this is non-starter as further evidence the horse world is uniquely corrupt. The horse world is expensive, but I’m not sure it is any more corrupt than any other endeavor founded upon that corrupter of all corrupters: privilege.

< FTR, TPH has approached us about paying to write my own piece for the mag. Needless to say, I was befuddled >

[MHM]

@dags

< FTR, PH has approached us about paying to write my own piece for the mag. Needless to say, I was befuddled >

I would say this is one occasion when the initials are insufficient, since there are two horse magazines with the same initials.

I don’t know anything about the financial arrangements for this article.

I do know some people who were featured in the Plaid Horse not long ago, and they paid for the privilege. I did not see the receipts myself, but I heard it from the horse’s mouth. So to speak. .

[RainWeasley]

@MHM

I would say this is one occasion when the initials are insufficient, since there are two horse magazines with the same initials.

I don’t know anything about the financial arrangements for this article.

I do know some people who were featured in the Plaid Horse not long ago, and they paid for the privilege. I did not see the receipts myself, but I heard it from the horse’s mouth. So to speak. .

Oooh agreed about initials. I forgot the whole thread was about a blog post on the Plaid Horse, my first thought seeing PH was Practical Horseman.

[MHM]

@RainWeasley

I forgot the whole thread was about a blog post on the Plaid Horse, my first thought seeing PH was Practical Horseman.

Same.