You’re right: what you see as whinging I saw as a joke. I didn’t credit it with being serious enough to be a whine, or a punch. I don’t think the OP is literally slapping his/her head, or gnashing his/her teeth or literally commanding CEASE AND DESIST!!
I do think the OP is rolling his/her eyes so hard that they’re probably stuck in the back of his/her head, though.
[QUOTE=CarrieK;7769389]
I don’t think the OP is literally slapping his/her head[/QUOTE]
Oh, I have noooooo problem if s/he wants to abuse herself. ;):lol::lol::lol:
While I don’t particularly like the term “Heart Horse” either, primarily because it seems (to me) just another trendy adjective, I most certainly relate to what that description should mean.
I’m one of those apparently not too bright owners with inferior horsemanship skills because ta da - I did have a horse I loved more than anything else in the world with the possible exception of my two children and my sister. I would gladly give everything I own to have that horse back.
He’s been gone for 10 years now. Where does the time go? I still miss him every single damn day!
I’ve had several very nice horses since that I enjoy and appreciate for what they are. They make me happy. If they didn’t they’d be on someone else’s dime (actually closer to $1,500/month).
They get the best feeds & hay (and plenty of it!), regular vet & farrier care. They are groomed, if only lightly, everyday. I am at the barn 2x/day to feed and inspect them even though I work full time (and the drive is 25-30 minutes each way). They are boarded at a place that doesn’t have all the riding amenities but has great turnout.
And while I care about each and appreciate them as individuals, I don’t consider any a “heart horse”. That type of connection comes maybe once or twice in a lifetime. Call me an old fool if that makes you feel superior but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 
[QUOTE=prairiewind2;7768927]
It’s very tricksy to have a thread the whole point of which is to bash a group of people and then claim they are the negative ones for defending themselves.
Very tricksy indeed.[/QUOTE]
So this excuses all the personal digs delivered, because you feel threatened in your happy fluffyness?
[QUOTE=Alagirl;7769534]
So this excuses all the personal digs delivered, because you feel threatened in your happy fluffyness?[/QUOTE]
Again, very tricksy! :lol:
What personal digs?
I love my current horse enough that I will keep and support him “through better or worse” and we are having “worse” right now…but I don’t think I will stay up 24 hours weeping like I did when I learned my “heart horse” died. (I did not own him.)
Don’t laugh - but I couldn’t help notice a sign at a Chevron gas station today -
“I heart my CAR” !!!
An object that cannot bail you in moments of disaster, cannot nudge you when you are down, cannot go the extra mile for you, ,
BTW - it is not so much about loving that ‘heart’ horse, but connecting. It has nothing to do with comparing it with loving your children equally or unequally in my opinion.
[QUOTE=ayrabz;7768989]
alagirl…you can spin a position so fast no one can keep up. My entire point was: WHY the negativity and the attachement of judgement of the opinon of POOR horsemanship in all I can read of anyone using this term. You keep investing in diminishing what it means to any of us who have experienced it, but I see no one bashing anyone else for NOT using it. WTF?[/QUOTE]
then you are practicing selective reading.
the OP has been chastised for not having this special connection to an animal, has her qualification as horsewoman, even as human being questioned…yep, that’s bashing.
and for those of you who felt to respond like this…you do know that illustrates the OPs frustration perfectly, right! :lol:
Carry on.
and C&C.
it is non of your business if anybody owns horses or not, nor if they intend to purchase one, nor if they have ever seen one, in person, film or print.
Not to add fuel to the fire, but the phrase “heart horse” grates on me just as much as “sustainability”, “evergreen process”, and the eleventy-billion other buzzwords that follow me around in a given workday. I know we have to speak a common language, but overuse cheapens the sentiment.
That doesn’t negate (general) your feelings towards your horse(s) any more than it says that I hate/use and abuse mine (just to be clear: I don’t).
Definitely agree with the OP re: the appeal to emotion to justify unwise/unkind actions for the “heart horse”.
[QUOTE=Alagirl;7770343]
it is non of your business if anybody owns horses or not, nor if they intend to purchase one, nor if they have ever seen one, in person, film or print.[/QUOTE]
Perhaps not, but it does ponder the question of WHY a completely non-horse person who doesn’t own, lease, ride, ever intend to ride or own, and never even sees horses outside of celluloid would bother to spend so much time on a horse board.
[QUOTE=arabhorse2;7771793]
Perhaps not, but it does ponder the question of WHY a completely non-horse person who doesn’t own, lease, ride, ever intend to ride or own, and never even sees horses outside of celluloid would bother to spend so much time on a horse board.[/QUOTE]
Wait, is this about me? I do, in fact, own, lease and ride - currently all three at once, actually!
My new horse is actually supposed to arrive this week - maybe he’ll be the one (majickal butterfly emojis here) and laurierace et al can stop feeling so sorry for me!
[QUOTE=french fry;7771798]
Wait, is this about me? I do, in fact, own, lease and ride - currently all three at once, actually!
My new horse is actually supposed to arrive this week - maybe he’ll be the one (majickal butterfly emojis here) and laurierace et al can stop feeling so sorry for me![/QUOTE]
No.
A personal dig because the ‘argument’ ran out against me.
Save me some rainbow dust, will you!
[QUOTE=french fry;7771798]
Wait, is this about me?[/QUOTE]
Newp. Don’t believe I named anyone in particular, but if the shoe fits certain posters and all that jazz.
I don’t feel sorry for you. Am I supposed to?
[QUOTE=arabhorse2;7771793]
Perhaps not, but it does ponder the question of WHY a completely non-horse person who doesn’t own, lease, ride, ever intend to ride or own, and never even sees horses outside of celluloid would bother to spend so much time on a horse board.[/QUOTE]
it’s a case of MYOB.
I also don’t ice skate and talk to figure skaters, I can’t toot, my own horn or others and talk to tubists…
See, I still try to learn.
In case of horses though, I have paid my dues and ate my share of dirt.
[QUOTE=arabhorse2;7771793]
Perhaps not, but it does ponder the question of WHY a completely non-horse person who doesn’t own, lease, ride, ever intend to ride or own, and never even sees horses outside of celluloid would bother to spend so much time on a horse board.[/QUOTE]
I heart arabhorse2’s post.
[QUOTE=Alagirl;7771883]
it’s a case of MYOB.[/QUOTE]
Goodness, such hostility. Hit a nerve there, did I?
I personally don’t care who posts here, as long as they don’t pretend to be something they’re not. As long as those who don’t have, use, see, or spend any appreciable time with horses aren’t making claims of being the end-all be-all to horsedom, I couldn’t care less. Merely pondered the question as to why they’d want to bother, is all.
[QUOTE=arabhorse2;7771980]
Goodness, such hostility. Hit a nerve there, did I?
I personally don’t care who posts here, as long as they don’t pretend to be something they’re not. As long as those who don’t have, use, see, or spend any appreciable time with horses aren’t making claims of being the end-all be-all to horsedom, I couldn’t care less. Merely pondered the question as to why they’d want to bother, is all.[/QUOTE]
Goody.
Flinging personal attacks then ‘ponder’ why somebody might rebut…
Keep pondering.
Maybe you’ll have an epiphany yet.
Does anyone else think this has just gotten beyond ridiculous? Maybe it’s time for everyone to just move on…
It’s just a term.
Just because some people use it to describe a bad/dangerous horse/situation doesn’t mean that’s the only way the term can be used.
I had a horse that was very special to me, and a time or 2 I used the term ‘heart horse’ she was not dangerous, I was not in financial crisis to have her, She just held a special place in my HEART compared to other horses I have owned.
Wow. Some of you are WAY too emotionally invested in this thread. Might I suggest y’all back away from the keyboard, have a drink, go ride, anything more productive than this? Yikes! 
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