Tuesday, December 2, 2008

But, She's sooooooooooo Beautiful!!!!!!

So one of my clients boards at a stable with another woman who is probably as crazy as the days are long. She is an older RE-Rider. She used to ride as a kid, however, never took formal lessons or learned about horse care, or anything for that matter except how to get on a horse, kick it and hang on. And that's exactly what she does, flopping all over the saddle arms waving like she's going to take off into flight. It's not even funny it's down right scary. OK so what type of horse does an absolutely GREENIE GREEN rider acquire??? Well what else, but an off the track T-bred(OTTB).

Ah yes the Thoroughbred. Classic in it's beauty, graceful in it's movements, a talented animal that knows no bounds, hyper-active, strong-willed, hot-temperament, nothing but energy and strength wrapped up in a bay skin... OK WHOA! Stop for just a damn minute!!!! *slap, slap* Hello wake up call!!! An OTTB for a Green rider??? How on earth did this happen??

Um...because she's perty. I'm serious, that was the explanation that was given to us one day when we asked her why. This mare is a typey bay thoroughbred with a star. Uh like THOSE aren't a dime a dozen??? Anyway so this mare very obviously rules the roost in this case. She kicks at the woman and bites her, bucks and rears, won't stand to save her life. When the woman is riding her she has one gait. Gallop to the left. Well, now technically the mare is doing what she's supposed to because she hasn't been taught anything different. But, this woman has been dumped into a river, tossed from side to side, and then has the gall to put her 7 yr old daughter on this mare!!! *head slamming to desk*

So, one day I was approached to help her out and the maybe teach the mare some manners. So I did what I always do when first working with someone and a new horse. I sit back and observe them in their natural habitat. I want to see everything that they do, everything that happens, every kick out and tail swish. I want to see what habits have already been formed and what they consider "normal behavior." *Gulp* And it wasn't pretty at all.

The mare kicks at the woman while she's brushing her and she giggles and says what is she doing??? Hee Hee. So I tell her to use a softer brush on that sensitive little T-bred skin and see what happens. Well it's better, but when I step in to brush the mare and she kicked at me she got her tummy swatted by the palm of my hand. And the funny thing is she never tried to kick out again. Hmmmmmm.

OK, let's skip straight ahead to ride time. Um well, what more do I say? She gallops to the left. Wildy may I add. So I start having this woman go straight back to the basics of a mellow, under control walk and trot. No cantering for a long, long time. Well this goes on for a couple weeks and then one day she says to me "can you get on her, she's just not listening." So I do and I relax my body into the saddle, relax my hands and ask the mare to trot forward, slowing her down with my posting and body every time she goes to fast. So I work with her for an hour and the woman is just saying how beautiful her mare is and how perfect she looks, and blech. So again, I instruct the woman on what to practice on every day. Well I'm still getting a very hyper active, not at all controlled horse like the one that I had 2 days ago. Why? Why is this happening to me? The mare quit listening and her ground manners reverted back to her old snotty self. So as I'm talking with the barn owner and some other people the answer to my questions slaps me in the face. "It's because she's pretty." What? WTF does that mean? Well little miss mare and her oh so genius owner have come to some sort of sadistic agreement that as long as she's pwetty, she can do what she wants. So, huh? I know I know! Crazy right?? So, during our lesson I'm teaching her some new things and the woman is telling me how I ride her so much better and how well she behaves for me, but frankly she's just much prettier galloping blindly to the left. I know you all think I'm joking about this, but I'm as serious as a heart attack! This woman truly believes that beauty supersedes any form of training, or SAFETY!!! She's always telling people "I know you want to ride my mare, she's soooooo bootyfull!!" So after my eyes were done bulging out of my head and I'd regained some sort of composure, we decided to part our separate ways. There is no helping someone who wishes not to be helped. You think this story is over don't you??
Well I still train and give lessons at this barn so I see the woman often and we're on good terms *cough psycho cough* well come on she kind of is... OK so I hear through the magical horse barn grape vine (which at ANY barn always runs like wildfire!!) that the woman has been hurt numerous times and things have gone from bad to worse *really?? That was possible??* And that she's going to send the mare to training. Now at this time everyone in the barn is telling her that she REALLY REALLY needs to just get a new horse, one that more fits her abilities (or lack there of). But Oh, no this is the horse for her. So it finally dawns on me. What good is training going to do for this mare, when it's really the owner that needs training??? How do you get through to someone who is so blind to their own horse?? I mean I understand a person loving their horse, and OTTB can truly become some of the best damn horses under the right training, experience and riding. But, as of now here we sit. Just waiting for the dynamite to go off. Now even though I do not train her anymore doesn't mean I still don't worry, it's a train wreck on it's way, and the woman should know better, she's a nurse for heaven's sake!!! But I suppose you could say even I have learned an incredibly valuable lesson from this... Nothing else matters when your horse is PERTY!!! *sigh, head shake* Whatever...

27 comments:

Amanda Nicole said...

A bay TB with a star?? How rare!! Of course she doesn't want to trade in for something with a BRAIN. What are you thinking Trainer X??

***rolls on the floor laughing at this woman***

Granted, I wasn't exactly experienced when I got my OTTB as a first horse but he also wasn't bat s**t crazy either. Too bad this mare will probably never amount to much as she is in the wrong hands. *sigh*

horsesandponies4ever said...

Sounds like the typical novice to me. I think when she has her brains bashed in, and she has to relearn everything from the head trama, that just maybe she'll get a new horse. But even than it's still highly unlikely......

Trainer X said...

I know SILLY ME!!! LMAO!!!!

2toads2luv said...

OMG, I had a friend who bought a pretty TB. She was such a GREEN beginner, and he needed an intermediate rider. Not advanced, not experienced, but a solid intermediate. She asked me for some help, I show up, and the halter isn't even on right.

She was in tears when I rode him, because he acted like a normal horse, going thru the paces on cue. She kept asking what she was doing wrong- Um, where the hell to start, sweetheart? YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO RIDE. AT ALL. He literally raced around the arena with her- it's a wonder she didn't get hurt. And to top it off, she put her small children on this horse she couldn't control.

Fortunately, she sold him before anyone got hurt (thru their fault, not the horses). Besides her pride, that is, but she deserved that and is lucky that's the only thing that got bruised.

Trainer X said...

I'm almost thinking I should have called my blog "Stupid people and the horses they torture" Or "I hate Stupid ignorant horse people that need to get a damn clue" LOLZ!!!!!!!!!!!

2toads2luv said...

I like the second one... ;-)

Completely OT, but I was wondering if you wanted to take a road trip with me and BEAT THE F*ING SH*T OUT OF SOMEONE...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBYG-oNqjJ4&feature=related

This makes me see RED! ARGH!

Trainer X said...

2Toads~ OK #1 YES!! I'm always down to road trip! Especially if involves beating the F**K out of some Jack-off! OK, #2 Why was that a Necessary video??? A rendering truck picking up a horse?? Yeah we get it Assclowns, but we don't need that crap on youtube. Damn neanderthals! Ugh, I'm so down... *grrrrrrrrr*

2toads2luv said...

Man, what the hell??? Horses die, that's reality. But even make the video, let alone to title it in the sarcastic asshat way he did, to laugh, to keep the other horses their while loading the dead one? Does that really make him feel cool? And to even voice his "threats" about the other horses? Is this person really so sad, pathetic, and lacking basic compassion that this sort of thing is funny to him? I just don't get it. What a sad way to cover up an unhappy soul.

It continues to floor me the pathetic depths people are capable of.

Pack the food, I'll hook up the trailer and gas up the pickup (so we can take the rest of the horses home with us), I'll pick you up in a few! ;-)

OldMorgans said...

Some people are just to stupid to exist. I feel sorry for the horse because when she finally kills or seriously hurts someone, she will be blamed for it.
As to the YouTube--I have being with each horse I have had to put down. But I cannot watch the rendering truck take them. I meet the truck at the pavement & lead them into my place, point at the tarp-covered body, hand them the cash & leave. How sick that someone filmed it in such a manner.

sagebeasties.blogspot.com

Trainer X said...

I know, I know. People's loserness truly knows no bounds. I'm starting to believe that there isn't a boundry that they won't cross...

Serendipity said...

My general experience with pretty horses has been that they usually have a pissy attitude, while the fugly ones are bombproof and honest.

This story sounds just like a woman in our barn. Her dad (our landlord) got her an ottb, and she has no idea what she is doing. She can ride okay, but is nowhere near capable of retraining a green ex-racehorse.

This mare has shit manners on the ground and under saddle, and her owner lets her do whatever she wants. When my trainer tried to help her she got really catty with everyone. She hasn't gotten hurt herself yet, but it's gotten to the point that the mare is dangerous. She kicks out when she goes by people, charges other riders when we go for trail rides, and throws bucking tantrums when asked to work. Considering that with the way her owners feed her it's only a matter of time till she founders, it's no wonder we've all washed our hands of trying to help them. I still feel bad for the horse, though. I can see what's at the end of her road and it's not good.

GoLightly said...

2toads2luv
Call me when you're going to kill this "person" with the video.
GOD I hate stupid people.
I've mentioned the story of the (never ridden before) woman who decided at 40 to buy a grey horse. She instead bought a lame, bay TB cross with a real good buck, and a smart streak. He almost broke her back. She never rode again, which in itself is a blessing.

Horses are just too damn nice to us.
Gotta go cry some more for Call Again Cavalier...

2toads2luv said...

GoLightly,

We'll stop along the way and pick you up. This might even become fun!

About Call Again Cavalier, sad deal. I'm sure there is going to be some fallout for that. I guess there already is, what am I saying?

Trainer X said...

2toads... We just keep on getting a bigger and bigger group to go asshat beating with us!! I love it!

2toads2luv said...

And when we load up the rest of asshat's horses, we need to take them here...

http://wenatchee.craigslist.org/grd/937175688.html

P.S. TX, check your hotmail...

Trainer X said...

Yes, that would be a good place for them to go... :)

Brooklyn Equestrian said...

Hey, I gota a bay OTTB gelding with a STAR on his forehead too!

I am his THIRD owner off the track. I am pretty sure that the only way he survived is that he's REAL PURTTY.

In the year that I've owned him, I learned how to teach a hyperactive mouthy TB some ground manners and had him treated for EPM. Based on the stories from past owners, I am pretty sure that he has been suffering from EPM for a few years.

Why the fell did the past two dunder-headed owners deal with this maniac horse? Oh yeah, he's pretty.

Why did I get him? Because I'm a sucker for problem horses.

Seriously, if he wasn't eye candy, he would have been Alpo a long time ago.

Amanda Nicole said...

PS: I'm coming on the road trip to beat up asshats.

Trainer X said...

It's an ASSHAT PARTY TRAIN *WOOT WOOT!!!* LMAO!!! Sweetness...

Hyena Overlord said...

Count me in on the road trip. I have a big rubber covered wonder whip that will flay that asshats hide down to the bone.

Nicole Falk said...

LMFAO

This reminds me of this psycho woman we met when our friend Wendy bought a real nice Appy gelding from my best friend Shay-la and began boarding him at a local stable in the provincial park. This woman owned two horses, a real old Saddlebred mare (who apparently has won everything from here til next Sunday) and a half crazed OTTB. She was nucking FUTS! We called her Cruella De-vil, she was in her late 40's with long bleach blonde hair and I swear to god, kid you not, three inch NEON ORANGE finger nails. I had to hold back so many times from telling her I was pretty sure it was her nails scaring her horse. Anytime she saw us she'd just go on and on about how he was soooo sweet when she bought him, and sooooo gentle, and didn't even want to trot and now he's just LOCO. Um, can you say DRUGGED much? All she does is whine and whine about how he bolts and bucks and he's so dangerous. We told her to call a trainer, and she launches on this tirade about doing things yourself and not being a "give up" wussy who needs to go running for help! And sell him? Oh no, that's giving up!

We learned to RUN when we saw her. The woman was certified grade A loony bin. She couldn't have topped 5'0" and she's trying to instill manners into a 17.2hh (yes, exact height) Thoroughbred straight off the track by standing three feet away and yelling everytime he paws the ground. Thank goodness Wendy doesn't board their anymore, my patience can only go so far!

Just the Girl Next Door said...

I am a 28 year old re-rider who just got my first horse. I will admit, I fell in love with him at firsst site, simply because he is awwwfull purrty. He's a big grey GELDING.

Anyway, I found out he was for sale, and took a trial ride on him. And he was awesome. THEN, I took lessons on him for 6 MONTHS at his barn BEFORE I decided to buy him.

He is also a Perch/QH. I mean, come on, how much more mellow *cough-lazy-cough* and sane *cough-stubborn-and-lazy-cough* cane you get?!

Just the Girl Next Door said...

And I totally want to come on the Whack-an-asshat-Tour!!

EveryoneThinksThey'reGoodDrivers said...

I used to feel bad for people who got in on too much horse.

Now I just CAN'T STAND THEM.

kestrel said...

The problem is that they'll also get YOU dead. Runaway kicker owners just can't understand why all the mean horse people won't ride with them...and how dare you whack their horse when the evil bastard tries to kill you. Why, you just weren't holding your mouth right, and that's why dear sweetie snookums tried to take a chunk out of your kid. (Whacks horse, whacks owner....)

Serendipity said...

Hey, that's my favorite kind of (non)horse person! The ones that yell at you for abuse if you hit a horse, even if said equine beauty was trying to stomp you into the ground. Nope, you're not allowed to strike a horse, ever.

Fucking morons.

lytha said...

this reminded me of that mare:

http://despair.com/beauty.html

~lytha in germany
http://horsecrazyamerican.blogspot.com/