>>IMO, just because it is done doesn't make it okay. <<
I completely agree. I did not say that it was OK. Just pointing out that
it IS done.
>>> IMO, keeping a horse in a stall 24/7 unless you come to ride is just not
an acceptable practice.... long mane and tail or not<<<
Absolutely, I couldn't believe it when she first told me about it. ("What,
no turnout?? Are you kidding me?") To my thinking, these people are putting
their wants far ahead of their horses' needs.... and the even worse part is,
they often only come out on weekends, and sometimes not even that regularly.
A little story... my sister was looking at a QH hunter for sale, they were
asking $8000, and he was being kept at one of these stables. The owner was
a doctor and her daughters... who were selling him because they felt he
wasn't scopey enough for the "important" shows... they basically only came
to get him to take him for shows, because the doc was busy with her life &
practice they really had no time for him, and so they let others ride him
periodically to 'give him exercise'... when the doc was talking to my sister
about him, she was saying how he was great and reliable and why in fact this
girl (who was also quite overweight) came by and took him out for a two-hour
trail ride (yep, after being stalled for weeks on end.. .and went right back
in his stall)... thinking she was going to impress my sister with what a
nice boy he was. But he was kind of nippy and my sister thought he looked a
little ouchy and grumpy... so I said to her, well, of course, think about
it, he's cooped up all the time, he gets no exercise, and when he does it's
chubby strangers plonking on him and riding him for hours and then
practically putting him away wet. You'd be bitchy and achey too! He was a
beautiful horse with very good conformation, and my gut feeling was that
this guy just needed to know who his people were, and needed exercise and
love and attention.
Well, she ended up somehow talking this doc into GIVING her this horse after
she had a vet check and found there was nothing serious going on in terms of
soundness. (That's my sister for you, sheesh, I couldn't talk someone into
giving me a $5 dog and she got an $8000 horse... and yeah, he was
overpriced, probably worth about $5000 in that market, but still, sheeesh :)
And I am happy to say I was right, he has been with her a couple of years
now. His attitude started to change within a few weeks and today you would
not know he was that same grumpy nippy ouchey boy. (Sorry for the tangent
there)
<<Again, I see a horse that LIKELY leads a sad, unnatural life, if some
don't
that IS OKAY>>
Well, I don't, and I'm glad that's OK.... :) it's good to be able to agree
to disagree, and talk civilly about our assumptions and impressions which I
all think helps everyone to better understanding of different folks'
perspective.
Again, not to be argumentative, but I'm still totally unclear as to what
gives you the impression this boy is likely to be having a sad life, and I
would be interested in what you have to say about why you reached that
conclusion, and certainly wouldn't flame you for it if you cared to
elucidate.
Denise
Peicasa Art: http://stores.ebay.com/Peicasa-Fine-Animal-and-Nature-Art
We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. Sir Winston
Churchill
