I think we have to remember that everyone brings something different to the table, and for some people this horse world is sort of a social networking thing and has absolutely nothing to do with horsemanship or learning new things...and when their relationship with their horses is looked at closely...has nothing absolutely to do with horses.
Wanda - you have that exactly right. There are a couple of ladies at the barn where I board who want so much to be a part of the whole horse scene. Neither of them actually rides more than occassionally. When we're out doing our endurance "thing" we have wondered about them, but we have decided that for them this is okay. If they take pleasure in providing excellent care and lots of ground training exercises for their horses, then there are three horses in Oregon that are benefitting from a high level of husbandry. Every now and then we do a fancy catered "barn lunch" or all get together and go somewhere for lunch. This sort of social interaction is way more important to these women than any time they actually spend riding. And lest you think I'm picking on women, there's a man who enjoys owning a nice gaited horse, a beautiful 4 x 4 truck, a top of the line trailer and enough fancy Western clothing ensembles to outfit a movie cowboy. His poor horse hasn't been ridden in about a year and is for sale. Nancy
