I had a girl I just met as if her sons preschool could all come over and get pony rides... seriously?!?!
Another girl I met asked if her 2 year old could come over and feed and groom- meanwhile the kid was scaling the couches and tables at the persons house we were at and mom didn't say a WORD to the kid. Um no!
Does anyone else have people say these things to them?!?!
I don't run a petting zoo folks! I have performance horses!
And yes I have two young kinds but they have been raised around horses and know the rules.. and i am VERY strict with them!!
OK glad I got that off my chest lol!
I had one person at work ask if she could bring her 2 year old son out to see Fiction...but luckily he's boarded about an hour from where she lives so I used the distance as an excuse haha. When people think of horses they don't really think of performance horses - they just think of trail horses or ponies.
ReplyDeleteI'd say 95% of kids I don't want around my horses... parents just don't make their kids behave and I don't have patience for that. lol
DeleteThis is one of my pet peeves as well...I don't have kids and my horses haven't the slightest clue about them...I usually just try to direct people to the nearest lesson barn.
ReplyDeleteGirl I hate it, drives me crazy!!
DeleteI do have kids but you better believe my girls behave and know the rules around horses lol
Yeah i always direct people to my trainer lol
Yeah I find it spectacular that I get stuff like that and then they're offended when I tell them what I charge. Yes, I am a trainer. Yes, I will teach your kid how to ride, but this is my job, not some weird hobby of mine.
ReplyDeleteI actually enjoy sharing my horses with people...maybe not some random person off the street but I like to think I might spark some else's love affair with horses through mine.
ReplyDeleteI'm more like Alanna- but I also have Irish who LOVES children and is very gentle. I ignore the stranger's request. Last night in the Curling club dressing room a woman I barely know was hinting about her grandchildren. I just pretended I didn't understand. Others of my friends I have come over and pat and groom. I need to get some liability waivers though.
ReplyDeleteI think that most people just don't really understand about horses and so their requests come from ignorance. That said, it's weird that they ask that sort of thing but wouldn't dream of asking to come and play in my yard....
Always people wanted to bring kids to the barn to meet the horse. My issue was that when you board you def can't have other people's kids acting crazy like kids do and also parents underestimate what their kids reaction will be (either terrified of the horses or wild monkeys because of all the open space).
ReplyDeleteI get asked all the time. I don't mind if my friends bring their kids for a visit, but I make it clear that I don't have anything safe enough for pony rides. Usually visits include feeding a carrot or two and if they're big enough they might get a chance to brush one.
ReplyDeleteI've had a lot of coworkers want to bring their kids, but I usually play dumb if they aren't friends and if they are I'm pretty clear that Holly can't be ridden, and if their kids are small, she's sweet but huge, they may be scared of her. I agree with Nicku, it's hard at a facility because then the people you bring are your responsibility.
ReplyDeleteMy mom loves to offer my horse for free lessons. My horse takes care of beginners but I just don't. If someone is actually interested in making it a hobby or sport I'll entertain them though
ReplyDeleteAll the time!! It's so annoying!!!! One new coworker wants to bring a four year old over for Christmas and dress my horse up as a unicorn...... uh no!
ReplyDeleteThis happens to me ALL THE TIME. It gets old...
ReplyDeleteCatching up on old blog posts here.... I get asked all the time if people can come ride my horses. I don't have anything I'd feel comfortable letting just anyone ride. Now if one of my more experienced rider friends asked to come ride, Heck yes! Take the big grey thoroughbred and I'll hop on my husbands horse! But as for folks that want to lead their kids around, not a chance. I don't even trust the Shetland pony with random kiddos. As much as I wish I had a string of horses, I don't. I'm not a dude ranch. Even our back up/spare horse (when he isn't 3 legged lame)isn't beginner friendly.
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