When they just don't get it...

[Rt66Kix]

I was talking to an aquaintance of mine Friday. I patiently listened to her while she explained what was going on with her horse; her life; her job, etc. She rarely goes on even a trail ride; rarely rides her horse outside of the arena.

When it was finally my turn, I told her about my great hunt on Thursday, and how we ran a coyote for 3.7 miles in 22 minutes. I was so excited, and as I finished and waited to hear what her comment was…

(ready for this?)

…“well, I hope you had fun anyway.”

Anyway? WTF??? I LIVE to hunt; I LIVE to get on runs like that.

“I hope you had fun ANYWAY”???

Can anyone translate?

[Elghund2]

My 's guess is that your description of the run scared the hell out of her. That’s not your fault though.

[poneegirl]

I think Elghund2 is right, You will find that often when people can’t even imagine how to ride like that. Be ready to translate “I don’t like hunting” into “that would scare the crap out of me and I have no story to even relate or compare so I will shut you down now, by saying I don’t like it”

[SLW]

“I hope you had fun anyway” = “you went how far, how fast in pursuit of what, oh.my.gawd that would have scared.me.silly and I would have peed on myself riding Dobbin across unknown, broken terrian in a group of horses at high speed.”

It is no big deal, hunting isn’t for everyone! That WAS an awesome run you described!

Coming back in Saturday one of our members of over 50 years commented on how slow our hunting had been this year- pace wise. I am thankful it was this way as this was my mares first year and the ratio of runs/hunting pace to slower pace has been kinda nice.

[coloredhorse]

:lol::lol::lol: I have to admit, my response would have been similar!

I admire y’all’s bravery tremendously and generally find foxhunters to be tons of fun, but just don’t see the appeal for myself. (My endurance pals, too, are just wacky regarding what they consider fun!)

When regaled with tales of hunting or endurance-riding “fun,” I usually end up laughing and saying something like, “Whatever floats your boat; glad you had fun, but just in case you weren’t aware, you are certifiable!”

(BTW, I do trail ride, hack down roads around my home, gallop a little in big fields, jump in controlled circumstances … I just don’t have the guts for the level of yee-haw y’all enjoy!)

[armandh]

not for the timid

and thankfully not for the whining either

and with a sane horse it is not as wild as most believe.

[JSwan]

Yeah- not everyone gets it. Some folks spend their entire horsey lives trotting in endless 20m circles in an enclosed arena. Which is fine if that’s what they want to do.

I think a different personality type is attracted to hunting, and eventing, and jumping out of planes.

[Benson]

I didn’t get it before I tried it. To me, there was nothing more fun than a nice cross country course on a nice, forward horse. My nice, forward cross country horse took to Hunting like a duck takes to water.

[Wellspotted]

Sounds to me like your word “acquaintance” is right–doesn’t sound as if the two of you are close friends. Sounds to me as if the acquaintance and you feel the same about each other’s riding lives.

You say you listened “patiently” while she talked. To me this says you weren’t greatly interested in what she had to say. I get the impression she wasn’t terribly interested in what you said, either.

I personally would rather go for a nice quiet schooling session in the arena, or a quiet trail ride, than go galloping across country. (In my heart I’d rather do the latter, but my body just prefers quieter riding these days.)

I’m sorry she didn’t catch the spark of your enthusiasm and get into the spirit of what you were saying and share your excitement. On the other hand, maybe if you were to show a bit more enthusiasm (rather than just patience) for what she tells you, she would do the same. Patience is a great virtue, sure, but enthusiasm–that can be a real gift to the speaker, as you learned!

[Foxhunt4me]

’ hunting - whatever ’

And of course theres the " You are so mean and heartless chasing little helpless creatures " group of people and riders - they view you as some kind of knuckle dragging throwback because you enjoy traditional sports and hunting.

They are usually the first to complain if you do not accept THEIR lifestyle or all the things that they do with their horse though! Ill tell you what, I bet that chasing a coyote for 3 miles gives it less stress than locking a horse in a stall for 23 out of 24 hours in a day gives the poor arena bound horse.

[Equibrit]

In the old country you are STARTED OUT riding cross country. You don’t get in to the more precise riding until you can actually stay balanced and on top. Hacking out would include jumping , ditches, banks, opening gates etc etc. That’s what it is ALL ABOUT.

Hell - coyotes play with you for 3 miles! When they get bored they stick it in top gear and disappear into the distance. I swear once, one gave me the finger!

[Nada_Ranch_VA]

You guys are sooo funny!! As a brand new hunter, (first hunt as a guest last week) I know without doubt I have been driving my friends and family crazy with my endless talk of hunting! I want to shut up, I just can’t! I too try to wait patiently while others are sharing, but in my head I’m just waiting for the conversation to open up so I can turn it back to my new obsession! My life is pretty even toned, and this much excitement has just kicked me into 5th gear! I get the same reaction though, most simply can’t believe I would do something they consider so crazy. They can’t grasp the thrill of the hunt. I do have a sister that is excited about trying it next season, so I just bend her ear, and talk to you guys! I have hunting dogs next door and I get to fall asleep to the faint howling of the hounds! It will have to do til next fall!

[AnotherRound]

Good descriptions and stories. Haven’t hunted since I was 14 but wowser, I am a hunter rather than a quiet person.

Hell - coyotes play with you for 3 miles! When they get bored they stick it in top gear and disappear into the distance. I swear once, one gave me the finger!

They didn’t call him Wile E. fer nuthin!

[Hokieman]

I wanna talk about me

LOL makes me think of this song by Toby Keith.,

Uh huh, thats right
We talk about your work, how your boss is a jerk,
We talk about your church and your head when it hurts.
We talk about the troubles youve been havin wit your brother
bout your daddy and your mother and your crazy ex-lover.
We talk about your friends and the places that youve been,
We talk about your skin and the dimples on your chin.
The polish on your toes and the run in your hose,
And God knows were gonna talk about your clothes.
You know talkin about you makes me smile, but every once in a while,

I wanna talk about me, I wanna talk about i
Wanna talk about number 1 oh my, me, my,
What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see.
I like talkin about you, you, you, you usually, but occasionally
I wanna talk about me! (me, me, me,) I wanna talk about me-e-e. (me, me, me)

We talk about your dreams and we talk about your schemes,
Your high school team and your moisturizer cream.
We talk about your nana up in muntzi, indiana,
We talk about your grandma down in alabama.
We talk about your guys of every shape and size,
The ones that you despize and the ones you idolize.
We talk about your heart, bout your brains and your smarts,
And your medical charts and when you start.
You know talkin about you makes me grin, but every now and then,

I wanna talk about me, I wanna talk about i,
Wanna talk about number 1 oh my, me, my.
What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see.
I like talkin about you, you, you, you usually, but occasionally
I wanna talk about me! (me, me, me,) I wanna talk about me-e-e (me, me, me)

(I wanna talk about me) mmmm me, me, me, me, me
(I wanna talk about me) mmmm me, me, me, me, me

You, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you,
I wanna talk about me!

I wanna talk about me, I wanna talk about i,
Wanna talk about number 1 oh my, me, my.
What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see,
Oh I like talkin about you, you, you, you usually, but occasionally,
I wanna talk about me! (me, me, me) I wanna talk about me-e-e
I wanna talk about me! (me, me, me) no me-e-e! (me, me, me) :yes:

[Outfox]

[QUOTE=J Swan;3095468]
I think a different personality type is attracted to hunting, and eventing, and jumping out of planes.[/QUOTE]

I’m stealing this quote. :lol:

[Foxtrot_s]

Unless you do it, it is quite easy to understand why people don’t “get it”. Ever think how boring fishermen are when they tell those tall tales, yet they love the sound of their voices and think their stories fascinating, again and again and again?! I should know, I married one! Horse people are not much different, except we think we are interesting in our own group.

[mustangtrailrider]

I went three times for a couple of “rides to H3LL and back.” It was the best time that I ever had. I would love to go again. I really do miss it.

I am just now getting my gelding over the sounds of hounds. We now ride with ear plugs and an ear bonnet just in case he hears them. We live in fox hunt territory. What a wonderful place to be!

To those that don’t understand it, they never will. I love horses and riding. I never understood riding in a ring. I love galloping on trail by myself or with a group. My guy can go all day. There is nothing to riding with a group chasing hounds chasing fox or coyote. It is a wild ride. I love it.

The others don’t understand it. I guess it is just a difference in peeps then.

Like people who won’t ride a mustang.

[BaileyTW]

I have never gone on a hunt before (though it sounds REALLY fun!!! seriously.) but I trail ride on some of the tougher terrain of the area (nothing like some people I’ve seen, but the terrain here around southern PA is pretty gentle) and people just gawk at me. I go out for a whole day when I can. though the place I had to move to I can only go for about 2 hours until I start to cross and repeat trails. I jump logs when I find them depending on the horse I am riding and like to canter and gallop. People just gawk. Most people I manage to find here that ride dont like to leave the arena, or if they do, a trail ride to them is a quic hack down the road, or around a field nearby.
However if I could trailer just an hour away, there is amazing hunting and x-country land to ride on in Unionville and Chester County, or even down to Fair Hill, MD.

I know I had a blast when I went with a group to Fair Hill, MD they rode like crazy and it was wild and scary and AWESOME!! lol. Its nice to take a nice quiet day sometimes, but I like to get my heart pounding now and then.