[HappyJoy]

I'm sure everyone has seen what unique and diverse opinions and ideas people on this forum have. This is a thread for us to learn more about each other and to share our feelings without getting heated or yelled at. This has potential to be really fascinating and a great way for people to get to know each other, providing that everyone plays nice. *looks stern*

What I would like people to do is simply say whatever they feel about anything horse related. Things you dislike, things you love- anything you feel strongly about. At the end of this thread I'll go, and you can see what I mean.

For this to work there will be a few guidelines:

Most importantly, no one is to make ANY replies to the posts of others. Good or bad. None. This is to be a frank presentation of opinions and beliefs with zero conversation or debate about that. Not that you can't talk about it, but not here, do it through PMs. If you think something was really interesting then I encourage you to send that person a PM.

Please keep in mind the reputation guidelines set forth by the moderators.

Reputation scores should be given on a post by post basis and should be based on your reading of the message, not your opinion of the messenger. More importantly, reputation scores should be based on the quality of the post, not on whether you agree with the point of view.

What are good and bad things to give positive reputation for? Reputation should be given to people who post meaningful, helpful, and thoughtful posts. Any post that contributes to the thread in a positive way probably deserves positive reputation. This does not mean that you agree with what was said; the point brought up may be completely opposite to what you believe, but it may be a good point nonetheless, and worthy of a pat on the back. Giving positive reputation to someone because they are your friend and deserve to have a few more green dots next to their name is not a good reason to give positive reputation.

What are some reasons to give negative reputation? We do not want the reputation system to inhibit member’s participation within the forum. We ask members to think carefully BEFORE giving negative reputation.

Possible reasons to give bad reputation:
• post attacks other forum members
• post violates forum regulations

Disliking a member is not a valid reason to give bad reputation. Disagreeing with what the member is saying is not a valid reason to give bad reputation.

Members who abuse the reputation system may be subjected to a large reduction of their own reputation points, removal from participation in the reputation system, temporary or even permanent bans.

Use common sense.

I'm really excited about the potential of this thread, I would love it if everyone participated!




Here is my post:


It really bothers me when I hear of people breeding their mares, even their amazing mares. Most of the time the mares aren't as amazing as the people think. Even if they are good, there are simply TOO many foals. Even great ones. Chances are a foal better than one your mare will produce was put down, slaughtered or abandoned because of overpopulation. Just because you love your mare doesn't mean you should breed her.

I really strongly dislike fake tails. I think it is stupid that we make horses wear them. A waste of space and money. When I saw the video where two fake tails fell out at a big show I felt an evil little chuckle inside of me.

I HATE slaughter, and I think the transportation and many of the processes cause terrible fear and panic and pain. I do consider horses bought out of slaughter to be rescued. That being said, I am for slaughter, because it is better than the alternative.

I think a lot of horse people tend to be snotty about their knowledge or even the fact that they have ridden or own a horse.

I love that people on this forum will spend so much time to help each other learn about the world of horses and everything else. I don't mind that people will give their opinions to others even if it isn't asked for, because it is done for good of the horse and also of the person receiving it, even if it ticks the **** out of them. It's the internet, it happens .

I am saddened and angered when people say things like, "The man who tortured that horse should be shot!" "I'd like to (insert terrible thing here) to the guy and see how he likes it!" Yes, animal abuse is terrible, disgusting, and makes me physically sick. But a human life can't even be compared to an animal life. I love animals dearly, but even if a man burned a horse alive, I would never wish that on a human being. I know that when people say these things that for the most part they don't really mean them, but it troubles me to see them tossed about so lightly.

For a lot of people to get a realistic view of their horses and their own riding skill, they need to give the horse and them self a rating on a scale of one to ten, and knock off a couple numbers. The phrases, "your horse is so cute!" "What a gorgeous horse, I love it!" get tossed around wayyy too much. Most of the horses aren't that cute. But that doesn't mean the horse isn't wonderful or terrible and unique all in a way of its own.

A pretty horse isn't a better horse.

Backyard riders aren't worthless.

I don't know why a pulled mane is the standard look for so many shows, I think it is darn ugly and ruins much of the beauty of an otherwise attractive horse.

Not everyone has trainers and instructors to run to for help. For some of us the forum is the only place we can learn. That is why when someone posts something ridiculous or even dangerous that they think is right or that they do, a little grace, understanding and gentleness goes a long way when you explain the correct way.

I don't wear always wear a helmet. I could die or be a veggie or whatnot. I know. I'm pretty sure everyone who doesn't wear helmets knows.

One stereotype that I kind of believe, even though I know in my head that it isn't true, is that people who show are rich. I see a heck of a lot of money get tossed around on this forum, and I feel rather insignificant with my homemade lunge whip and ugly used tack, but I know that there are plenty of people who don't have anymore money than me who show. But I still haven't quite shaken that stereotype image in my head.

I really wish people would be honest about how much they know. It doesn't help anyone if you pretend to know what you are talking about or if you give advice and try to come off as an expert. It makes you look foolish, because chances are a real expert reads your advice and corrects you, or at least loses respect for you. Admitting ignorance is wonderful and refreshing because only then can you learn.

I think it is ridiculous how much stuff people put on their horses and pump into them. There is a time and place, but it sure isn't as often as all that.



So there is my frank display of thoughts. I hope you'll post yours.

You are welcome to make as many posts as you please if you think of more later.

Just remember, don't reply to, refer to or comment on any of the other members posts

[Tuxie]

If I say this is a really neat post, is that responding? If so please ignore the previous sentence.

It drives me nuts to read all the advice some people give about horse husbandry, management and healthcare, when you KNOW they haven't had their horses vaccinated/floated/feet done on a regular schedule/consistent feed/or whatnot, just by their pictures and other posts. If you know in your heart that you haven't had a vet within 50 miles of your horse for eons, and post about husbandry, then maybe you should reflect within yourself.

I love that as time goes by, I get to know people on a more personal level. Some people are true friends. <3

I am impatient with people who can-not afford to keep the horses they have, yet are looking to buy new ones!!!! Eg, if you post that the vet will be coming to look at horse "A" who has been lame/sick/off for 3 weeks, but you can't get him till after the new year or whatever, then why ask about horse "B" that is for sale?

I LOVE the humorous threads, and reading about peoples real life situations. I really enjoy the Off Topic and will probably enjoy the adult section once I am a senior!!! Lol.

[mandiemoo]

The only thing that really annoys me about this forum is that some people just dont respect other people and their opinions, thoughts and feelings.

I hate reading threads where i see people getting put down. INstead of putting people down for their opinions we should be educationg everyone of the right and wrong ways to do things, not getting angry at them.

ANd i also dont like the way that some new members are treated. We were all new members once, and i can remember i was pretty scared, so many people who knew so much. I got a few negative words from people and it nearly made me leave, untill i meet my new and great friends who i love dearly and now cant ever imagine not talking to them

I dont like reading of threads about people who "dont like their horses" and want new ones". instead of not likeing them, shouldnt you have a reason behind it?

So thats the only thing on here that i get unhappy with.

[ThisIsMe]

I hate the anti slaughter people who put too much emotion and not enough thought into their arguments. As horse lovers, we can all agree its a terrible thing but until people put up a sensible argument about what to do with all the unwanted horses then it'd be a much better debate. We all know banning breeding isnt going to help, yet thats the only solution people can come up with.

I hate when people ask for critique and all they want to hear is how pretty their horse is. If you cant handle opinions, good or bad then people shouldnt ask for them. Same goes when you put yourself up there for critique, no one is perfect so don't get offended when people point out your faults.

People who basically repeat what has already been posted above them several times, but just re-word it. You wonder about people's advice sometimes, whether they just reword other peoples posts to make themselves look good.

[griffin]

Great idea......

OK, I absolutely hate the parents of the children I teach. Just because they went on a couple of trail rides as teenagers obviously gives them the knowledge to interupt MY lessons.

For example, I have a teenager that i teach and at the moment we are working on her walk/canter transitions. All I hear is the parent saying "oh sweetie your leg is far to far behind the girth put it back on the girth where its meant to be" ummmm excuse me......but what is one of the canter aids??????? which is then swiftly followed by "sorry Shel but I know you cant see the outside leg......." ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I also totally disagree with horse racing in such young horses. I think it is disgusting that most TBs careers are over by the time they are 3 years old. I will plead an ignorant attitude to this as I dont actually know anything about it so i welcome PMs to correct me.

My biggest hate is parents who buy very young horses for their fantastically wonderful 8 year old proteges who dont know that mane from the tail......

Film starting.... if i think of any more i will post

michelle

[Stormyheart6160]

O.K...here goes....Things that bother me, are people who use an animal up to the point that it can't be anything to anyone anymore, and simply just "get rid of it", after it's given it's "ALL" to them. It's a living, breathing, feeling animal and deserves better from it's owners. Those type of people are nothing more, nothing less than selfish and suffer from the "ME" syndrome.
Another thing that bothers me is the slaughtering of horses. I will fight that until the day I die!! Horses are our companions and will do anything for us that we ask them to do. Some, in cases have lost their lives to even save it's owners life. Rare, but true! I've never heard of a cow, sheep, pig, ect...do that! Horses just flat out deserve better from their human companions.

I don't like it one bit when someone disagrees with another person on a topic, and instead of arguing their point maturely...they start saying childish and immature things to you. Usually, it's intentional, to get the thread heated up, and closed! Those people should be banned from posting in threads that they do this in.

I love how most people on this forum can have a disagreement with you on one topic, and want to reach out and choke you. But, then on another thread, that same person will take your side and defend your opinion and help you!!

I love hearing about someone rescuing any animal! I can be having the worst day, and as soon as I hear about a rescue....It just brightens me up!

I don't like unruley kids! It's not the childs fault, it's the parents! Sometimes I'd like to shake some parents!!!

I don't like all the drugs, alcohol, and crime in this world, or the gambling too! It all has cost alot of people their livelihood and homes!

I don't like selfish people who won't reach out to try to help another.

That's all I can think of for now.

[Blistering Winds]

My opinion....

I think this thread is not a very friendly thread, not a productive thread, and honestly, people know how I am, how I feel, and if they don't....it will take them some time.

I feel that a thread like this is going to turn newbies and even oldies away from members that post on this thread.


Something even I am not willing to do.

Oh, and another opinion.....I'm THE most opinionated, most vast person On this forum...and I promise I don't bite. I just carry a hot shot and a baseball bat....they don't hurt..... MUCH




**SNICKERS**

NEXT to JOHN that is.......his posts are vast, opinionated, and border insanity at times.....

.




ok, after mulling over this thread,.......I've got to throw a few more 2 cents into it.


First things first.....


this is a forum. You must remember, you cannot see my smiles, nor my frowns, nor the big ol baseball bat coming your way.....




Mind you...not all of us are "smiley friendly". You'll be lucky to get a out of me....

cause, well, to be honest, I've been trying even harder NOT to get back into that habit because I have a TON of essays to be writing and it became very clear, that my "CHAT" writing has taken over WAY too much......so you will see more info and even more less "smileys" out of any of my posts.

So enjoy them while you can...






As to the overall forum.....don't jump into a debate then think everyone is out to get you.

I promise, if we were out to get you, this will happen....





No one here is out to get you. Just there are a lot of information, and not enough time to add sugar.

then, there are those of us in the 20 lb club that are avoiding sugar. So we HAVE NO sugar in the house and it is really mean to make us use sugar. it is a Tease, and JUST NOT RIGHT.



And Remember.....it takes YEARS to develop friendships face to face.....it almost takes just as long on the internet as well. While I know a GREAT many friends on here, only a few are my Real Fake Friends. So don't get upset if you aren't "INVOLVED" in quips and teasings. Because until we get to know you, we don't know HOW to interact. because people seem to not even get the 'TEASING' jokes and take them personal. So some of us have quit all together since no one these days knows how to take a joke.



So to all of you stuffed shirted members that fall in the "can't take a joke" category







OK, I feel better with this thread now.



All my "frustrations" are out now....

[LilEquineLuva]

I'm disgusted by the lack of compassion and work done by my generation as far as I've seen at most shows/competitions/etc. I'm 18 and I know 4-H is about learning to do things with your horses, learning to do them well, and learning to do them for YOURSELF, ..and also about helping others. A LOT of kids in the State shows dont do a D*** thing for themselves. I'm not saying this out of jealousy either. At the end of the day I know I am where I am because I have friends to help me back up from falling but I've DONE the work myself and I've put blood, sweat, and tears into what I do. My gelding and I aren't perfect,..but we are a great team and I love him..we work a lot together, and we accomplish goals. I'd rather take last place and know that it was all of my own doing than win first and know that up until show day ONLY my trainer rides my horse, my parents saddle it, and some other random person grooms and bathes him. How do people that have almost NO hand in the process even feel a sense of pride from winning? I don't get what makes it so nice to win something that you barely contribute to the success of! Ok..done with that!

I beleive that everybody should (if they can) witness the birth of a horse at least once in their life. I've witnessed it countless times and it NEVER gets any less exciting or magical. I'm not saying "everybody breed their horses!" because thats a BAD idea..but if you do ever happen to have one of your own..or if you know someone who is expecting try to be "on call" and ready to make a run for the barn..its so GREAT and amazing.

I wish I could feel the pleasure a horse feels after a bath..and they look back at you like "oh yeah..a BATH?! WATCH this LADY!!" and they proceed to roll in their stall or in dirt as soon as you let them go.

I hate that at the world show's you'll often find little pampered girls riding around in air-conditioned golf-carts...waiting on their trainers to hand them their show ready horse right before a class..they go and basically just SIT the class out..as soon as its over they collect their ribbons, and hand their horse back to the trainer to return to the A/C. OK..if you can afford it,..the trainer on call 24/7 and the golf cart and the travel to the world show and the entries...and you do it and actually have a part in it I'M NOT talking to YOU! I'm talking to the "brats" of the show world,..who turn their nose up at the "common-folk" who try to pay them a compliment on their horse or show outfit. GrrRrrrrr!

I love a challenge. My new mare is very crabby and moody all of the time, but I also feel that she's be handled really roughly in the past. Some horses are just "like that", but most of the time its a past people-problem. I don't know that she was really harmed...just rough-handled. She shies to a raising hand, she's jumpy at every clap or slam of a door. She's shaky when you really work with her hard on something. So I have to take it very light and easy and patiently with her..and it will be a challege for her to finally TRUST that I'm not going to slap her upside the head. I really want to be there for her, and I hope she'll learn to trust me.

I rarely get involved in the slaughter issue,..I know what my opinions are..and I know what my reasons are. The only person I've really had in-depth conversations about it with was the vet whose clinic I worked at..and he also had a lot of interesting points that I admired. (Plus he kept me up-to-date on what was being said at some of the big conferences! )

I love all horses. Just because I only own Paints and Quarter Horses doesnt mean that that's all I love. I hate to see people who criticize an entire breed or discipline, when they clearly have NO idea about it. I've been asked by someone "why don't you like walking horses?" Where did THAT come from. Just because you don't always see me on a certain breed doesnt mean I hate it! That's silly. And actually, my gelding runs with a Walking horse (my step-dads) named Scout. Scout is a lovely horse, and though he was also rough-handled by his past owners and would hit the wall at first sight of a rake or muckfork or anything long and skinny (HMMM?!! I WONDER!) He still has a very big and kind heart and I love him so much. I think every horse needs the chance to prove how great they are, and prejudice against a breed, color, riding style, location or ANYTHING when it comes to horses is wrong. They all deserve a chance to prove that they can be wonderful!

I hate it when people complain about how they placed in a class. Even when a horse commits enough faults in a trail pattern to be disqualified five times and I go through and do everything to the pattern...if I place lower than the other person I'm NOT going to complain because A.) I don't want to openly put-down the other person B.) I DON'T disagree with a judge, I'm not certified, they are...end of story. PLUS you never know when you'll get the same judge twice. C.) What do you prove by griping besides the fact that you are a griper and a sore loser (fair or unfair it doesnt matter).

You are only as good a showman as you are BEHIND the judges back. That's where the truth comes out. You'll find less confident riders and less prepared riders jerking or maybe just checking on their horses while the judge isnt looking. I'm not saying I've never felt the need to, or even that I've never done it...but just that the BEST preparation is when you can continue the same when the judge isnt staring you down as you do when he's glaring at you.

God bless those who put their time and hearts into rescues. (and money!) Your equine friends are eternally greatful.

I love this board. I joined a while back,..posted a bit..then fell off into college world! Lately I've re-discovered it and I love it! Thanks everybody for making it such a great place!

[lilrider]

well... *looks around nervously* if you promise no one will attack...

here is a readers digest version of my dislikes...

It really bothers me when... people over horse themselves. By that I mean they are green and get green horses or they get too many horses when they can't handle it. Especially when people say that the only way to learn is to train a green horse and its just not true. I knew about training well before I got my first green horse.. because I trained older horses to do new disciplines and worked with off the track horses... I may have learned some things when I first actually broke my first horse to ride.. BUT how on earth do you expect to teach a horse how to do something when YOU yourself do NOT know how to do it? This is my biggest thing with green and green...

But my biggest pet peeve is when people ask for advice and then completely ignore or get angry when they don't agree with the advice you give them. Basically they just want to hear how great their idea is or how great they are etc. What really really bothers me is when someone is doing something that is obviously not smart yet everyone seems to coddle them and tell them oh that's a great idea because that's what the person wants to hear.

I also hate when people breed their mediocre horses or stallions and feel that its all right because "Someone has to make a nice family horse" and "not everyone can afford a fancy shmancy purebred".

Oh one more... people who when I am nice to them are then rude to me yet I get in trouble for it

Last but not least...The anti slaughter over emotional people who can not see the big picture as in the fact that getting rid of slaughter would open up a whole new can of worms... they get on my nerves as well.

Oh and I should also tell you all... I often do NOT realise when I have gone overboard and when I should take a break from a thread and step back and take a deep breath. If you see me behaving aggressively (as I am prone to do especially in the morning before my pills kick in...morning can mean noon as I am a lazy college kid) just tell me... be like "Hey, cool off" whether on the thread or in a PM... at first I will be like "Hey, you cool off!" (great at comebacks I know) but then I will see that I do need to chill, take a deep breath, and step away from the thread. I just get very upset about certain subjects.

[Kitari]

OK then

I really hate it when someone patronises me on a subject I know very well about the facts, and does their darndest to get it closed despite repeated request to leave or be quiet.

I quit honestly HATE it when I go to get my horse critiqued (anywhere not just here) and only get "She is so Cute!" "How adorable!" Because when I go to get a critique I expect hard facts, Is her shoulder too straight? Ect. I ask for a critique because I am not good at it AT ALL (aside from the obvious of course. IE: Cow hocked, sway backed)

I dislike the argument put on by the anti-slaughter people. And the simply fact that they dont/wont (most of the time) be against the slaughter of all animals.

I REALLY DISLIKE seeing threads that go "I want a horse, tell me how to get my parents to get me one" or "I'm getting a horse! Which one should I get?" And then proceed to list several horses In the double digit THOUSANDS.

I hate it when people gripe and moan about simple care for their horses. Cleaning out the stall, or brushing them

I hate the idea some people have when getting a horse to "get a young one so they can grow up together"

If I'm giving advice on something I most definatly know something about, I do NOT want my advice just thrown out the window with the rolling eyed smilie.

I really dislike seeing some threads taken off topic into a "I must get you" type deal between two or more members. Like they have a personal vendetta against each other.

I dislike seeing a thread, any thread and seeing the reply "This has been worn out, do a search" Sorry but if I want to post a thread on a topic that has been "worn out" then I have every right to do that. Just like any person has any right to simply ignore it and move onto better posts.