What are your biggest red flags that you notice in horsepeople?

[clanter]

@Malda

“Winning ribbons doesn’t mean you know how to ride.” Usually coming from what I call “lifetime beginners”, people who have been riding for years and never had lessons. Having no clue about riding themselves, they often make fools of themselves by criticizing a good rider who shows and wins

My daughter put a young girl from the inner city who had never ridden until a few months in a Class A show where the girl won high point junior. She was on one of our horses who knew what to do (and could keep the rider centered in the saddle by sidestepping).

Daughter was out to prove a point to another barn from out of state that also showed at that this show as this horse had been the mount for the two prior years with different riders. She was kind of dared by a friend at this other stable that she couldn’t do it again, but she did.

This horse was also known by some judges to understand voice commands, those judges would mix up the gait changes to see what the horse would do, she followed the announcer or if she heard the ring steward would change in their commands

[SnicklefritzG]

My red flags are:

When looking at barns:

1. “We are a DRAMA FREE facility”
   Most places that preach they are drama free I’ve found to be the opposite. Every place has some drama, it’s just whether or not you can put up with the variety and type at that particular place.

2. “We do X, Y, Z, A, B, C, D, E for each horse. It’s all included in full board !!!”
   I’ve never boarded at a place that does 100% of what they say they will do. Doesn’t matter what the price is, from $300-$1000+ everyone makes a cutback in some way or another.

@Another-Bay

I am skeptical of those that blame the horse first whenever something goes wrong.

For example, “Skewball picked the long distance and completely unseated me.”

As well, if I first meet a barn manager and within an hour I’ve already heard 4 stories about horrible ex-clients. That gets me worried.

What are your red flags for horse people?

[EmilyM]

The blind hero worship of trainers. Even worse, ones who have this blind worship and tend to leave trainers a lot. then can’t say enough bad things about the one they gushed about endlessly when they were still the hero.

[16_Hands]

@TMares

People who think that teaching a horse a new thing will be a battle. Friend has a super nice, sensible mare who will be shod for the first time soon. She’s all ‘this outta be interesting, I hope the farrier is planning to dope her’…I mean why? Why assume TheBattleIsPending in every little thing (different horse trailer, clipping her,etc) when honestly, the mare is super good minded and easy.just annoying and tiring to listen to.

When I was having a young horse shod for the first time the farrier asked me how she will react when she hears her feet on the concrete aisle way. I said “well, since she’s never had shoes I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?” It was a non-issue and I never used this moron again.

Red flags - Natural horsemanship trained
Horse sale ads that claim the horse is trained in whatever discipline but the ad doesn’t show the horse doing any of it or is just grazing or running around like a maniac in a round pen. Either the owner is afraid of the horse or the horse isn’t as well trained to do this discipline regularly, or the seller is lazy.
People who describe their horse as a “left-brained introvert” or whatever nonsense, major eye-rolling.

I had a heck of a time trying to convince someone that a horse does not think it is bleeding or its brains are leaking out when an egg is smashed on its poll as a cure for rearing. Horses don’t have the concept of bleeding. The horse is reacting to the whack on the head. I was called stupid and shouldn’t own horses.

[16_Hands]

Like S1969 said, skimping on hay is not an option. I was at a show where a trainer showed up with a bunch of kids and a few school horses. The horses all looked dull both in coat and attitude. They were dirty, thin, and not a shine to be seen on any of them. I saw a glimpse of the feed they had with them, it was a bag of multi-animal general livestock feed that was the same as feeding pedigree dog food as far as nutritional value was concerned. Just sad to see.

[ecileh]

@Magicboy

My red flag is not folks that occasionally forget something since we all do that. What I meant was people who have a pattern of elaborate excuses not to ride.

This.

I know a lady who bought a nicely trained [fox] hunter over a year ago. When she brought him home, he had to settle in for a month. Then, he was too fresh and something might be hurting him, so he needed a full vet work up. Then, he needed a custom saddle and she couldn’t possibly get on him until that arrived. Then, she needed a pair of MDC stirrups just for his saddle (as opposed to using the pair from her other horse’s custom saddle that is also never ridden in because of a whole host of different reasons) and couldn’t get on until THOSE arrived. Then it was a special bit that had to arrive.

THEN she finally got on this horse that hadn’t been worked in months and he dumped her (shocking!) so he went into what I like to call “hollistic training”, complete with essential oils, reiki, an animal communicator, and 9 million YouTube videos/books on how to connect with your horse’s inner child and help him move through past life traumas.

So, he sits unworked and not required to behave himself on the ground and she’s now waiting until May to send him for training because she thinks he’ll “be emotionally ready by then”.

[CPL713]

I tend to go off of my gut reaction…it’s something with a person’s eyes…you can absolutely feel and SEE the crazy in people! :lol:

[sophie]

@ecileh

This.

I know a lady who bought a nicely trained [fox] hunter over a year ago. When she brought him home, he had to settle in for a month. Then, he was too fresh and something might be hurting him, so he needed a full vet work up. Then, he needed a custom saddle and she couldn’t possibly get on him until that arrived. Then, she needed a pair of MDC stirrups just for his saddle (as opposed to using the pair from her other horse’s custom saddle that is also never ridden in because of a whole host of different reasons) and couldn’t get on until THOSE arrived. Then it was a special bit that had to arrive.

THEN she finally got on this horse that hadn’t been worked in months and he dumped her (shocking!) so he went into what I like to call “hollistic training”, complete with essential oils, reiki, an animal communicator, and 9 million YouTube videos/books on how to connect with your horse’s inner child and help him move through past life traumas.

So, he sits unworked and not required to behave himself on the ground and she’s now waiting until May to send him for training because she thinks he’ll “be emotionally ready by then”.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[WildLittleWren]

@ecileh

This.

I know a lady who bought a nicely trained [fox] hunter over a year ago. When she brought him home, he had to settle in for a month. Then, he was too fresh and something might be hurting him, so he needed a full vet work up. Then, he needed a custom saddle and she couldn’t possibly get on him until that arrived. Then, she needed a pair of MDC stirrups just for his saddle (as opposed to using the pair from her other horse’s custom saddle that is also never ridden in because of a whole host of different reasons) and couldn’t get on until THOSE arrived. Then it was a special bit that had to arrive.

THEN she finally got on this horse that hadn’t been worked in months and he dumped her (shocking!) so he went into what I like to call “hollistic training”, complete with essential oils, reiki, an animal communicator, and 9 million YouTube videos/books on how to connect with your horse’s inner child and help him move through past life traumas.

So, he sits unworked and not required to behave himself on the ground and she’s now waiting until May to send him for training because she thinks he’ll “be emotionally ready by then”.

:lol: I think I know a couple of the same type of people

[Another-Bay]

@ecileh

This.

I know a lady who bought a nicely trained [fox] hunter over a year ago. When she brought him home, he had to settle in for a month. Then, he was too fresh and something might be hurting him, so he needed a full vet work up. Then, he needed a custom saddle and she couldn’t possibly get on him until that arrived. Then, she needed a pair of MDC stirrups just for his saddle (as opposed to using the pair from her other horse’s custom saddle that is also never ridden in because of a whole host of different reasons) and couldn’t get on until THOSE arrived. Then it was a special bit that had to arrive.

THEN she finally got on this horse that hadn’t been worked in months and he dumped her (shocking!) so he went into what I like to call “hollistic training”, complete with essential oils, reiki, an animal communicator, and 9 million YouTube videos/books on how to connect with your horse’s inner child and help him move through past life traumas.

So, he sits unworked and not required to behave himself on the ground and she’s now waiting until May to send him for training because she thinks he’ll “be emotionally ready by then”.

Oh boy. This takes the cake.

[meupatdoes]

@ecileh

This.

I know a lady who bought a nicely trained [fox] hunter over a year ago. When she brought him home, he had to settle in for a month. Then, he was too fresh and something might be hurting him, so he needed a full vet work up. Then, he needed a custom saddle and she couldn’t possibly get on him until that arrived. Then, she needed a pair of MDC stirrups just for his saddle (as opposed to using the pair from her other horse’s custom saddle that is also never ridden in because of a whole host of different reasons) and couldn’t get on until THOSE arrived. Then it was a special bit that had to arrive.

THEN she finally got on this horse that hadn’t been worked in months and he dumped her (shocking!) so he went into what I like to call “hollistic training”, complete with essential oils, reiki, an animal communicator, and 9 million YouTube videos/books on how to connect with your horse’s inner child and help him move through past life traumas.

So, he sits unworked and not required to behave himself on the ground and she’s now waiting until May to send him for training because she thinks he’ll “be emotionally ready by then”.

Ah yes.

Every time I meet one of these I silently resign myself to the fact that in a matter of weeks they will be telling anyone who will listen that I push whatever horses they see me riding much too fast for expecting them to walk trot and canter on a training level contact as a matter or course.

[amb]

@BigMick

I just left a barn where another boarder was extremely toxic and talked smack about every single person. She “shadows” the trainer, observing everyone’s lessons and makes comments about the riders throughout. So many students abhor this person, but dynamics as they are it continues, unchecked. At a show, she made snide comments about me and others while we rode our jump rounds.

I really dislike that kind of boarder, but I also have some issues with the trainer who’s letting it go unchecked. If somebody wants to be a trainer, people skills are also required, and drama or lack thereof ultimately comes from the top.

[Against_All_Odds1]

A red flag for me is someone “totally made up with no where to go” think Barbie trainer. These, mostly women, have hair perfectly dyed and done, nails done, make up done, wearing the latest and greatest equestrian wear. These “trainers” typically have young girls flock to them and often the “trainers’” success is on the back of those kids as free labour. Someone THAT made up is not doing the work themselves. BTDT

[Gainer]

@Against*All*Odds

A red flag for me is someone “totally made up with no where to go” think Barbie trainer. These, mostly women, have hair perfectly dyed and done, nails done, make up done, wearing the latest and greatest equestrian wear. These “trainers” typically have young girls flock to them and often the “trainers’” success is on the back of those kids as free labour. Someone THAT made up is not doing the work themselves. BTDT

I’m always suspicious of someone that spends much time at all around a horse and never gets dirty. I don’t seem to last more than two minutes without green slime, dirt, hay, etc. everywhere.

[HPFarmette]

@Gainer

I’m always suspicious of someone that spends much time at all around a horse and never gets dirty. I don’t seem to last more than two minutes without green slime, dirt, hay, etc. everywhere.

Those who remember the book “Heads Up Heels Down” might remember the 2 pictures of female riders. One with fancy hair and all made up, and another one looking tidy and ready to ride. Made an impression on me as a kid.

[luvmycabanaboy]

My barn lets boarders bring any trainer they want in to teach them lessons. I was riding my very average, very broke 16hh TB around the outside of the ring during another boarder’s lesson the other day. The “trainer” exclaimed, “OHHH WOWWW that’s a HUGE horse.” I chuckled and kept riding. Next time around she says, “OH MYYY I’d hate to fall off a horse that enormous! So far from the ground!! Aren’t you afraid?!?!?”

Um, if you are a professional horse trainer, in any discipline, a 16hh horse should not cause such a commotion. RED FLAG

[necryptonix]

Anyone who doesn’t seem to care if their horse is, or might be, in pain. Had an instructor INSIST on working a lame horse (claimed the horse was “just lazy” and needed to be forced to work harder to fix her attitude) barn manager ended up putting a literal lock on the stall door to stop instructor from sneaking the horse out. Turned out horse had suspensory injury. Instructor still works there, never did apologize or admit to her wrongs. Needless to say I left that barn, and that instructor.

People who don’t do their own work with the horse (mucking, feeding, turnout, etc.). I don’t mean the people who don’t have time, I mean the ones who have the time but refuse/dread doing it. I would have killed just for the chance to muck stalls when I was younger, and even now my favorite part of the day is morning feed. I’m in the sport for the love of the horse. The horse isn’t just an accessory piece to success.

People who think they know more about your own horse than you do. Brought in a trainer to work with my OTTB while I was injured. After 4 rides she insisted she knew him better than me, had him doing questionable things after I told her he was still recovering from a soft-tissue injury and needed to work up to full-work slowly, and ended up turning him into a bucking bronco and then refused to get him on again (and somehow managed to tell me that it was my fault???). She then told me he was never going to get better. Little did she know, the weekend after I fired her I rode him, did the “difficult” transition perfectly, no bucking or antics, quiet as a lamb…some people, man.

[lovezehorses]

@SnicklefritzG

My red flags are:

When looking at barns:

1. “We are a DRAMA FREE facility”
   Most places that preach they are drama free I’ve found to be the opposite. Every place has some drama, it’s just whether or not you can put up with the variety and type at that particular place.

This!! Every barn owner who mentioned they are drama free and have no tolerance that they will kick boarders out, they tend to be the most opinionated people I ever met. Although, I found them to take amazing care of the horses, just not to have conversations as they tend to be negative about everything.

[trubandloki]

People who can not think outside their own box.

[Belowthesalt]

@Chall

People, under stress who raise the volume of their voice as they explain in English to the horse what they want it to do.
Why does it bother me? I’ve done it. It was the mark of my inability to handle the situation.

Oh, Lordy. There was briefly a boarder at my barn who never once rode her horse without coming off. So she took to ALWAYS lungeing it first (not a totally bad idea), but she would SCREAM at it: WALK!! TROT!! CANTER!! All in the same tone and cadence, so the horse had no idea what she wanted. Then she demanded an entire half of the arena to lunge her nearly out of control horse - a Fjord pony! I politely said, “Well, I can easily lunge my 16.2 TBXApp in 1/3 of the arena, so…” And she had a hissy fit. She left, because NO boarding bar could fulfill her needs. She moved down the road and got kicked out of that barn too,