Wow in over a dozen years of competing, I didn't have to do with
anyone who matched THAT description. On the contrary, I and my ..er, team....
routinely competed in 10-15 classes over fences in ONE DAY. Far from being
wimps, our horses worked exceptionally hard by the end of that one day,
and were pretty much the recipients of the very same kind of care we now give
our distance horses. Oh and my main horse was a whopping 13.2 and clearing 3'3"
fences - winning much of the time. He had heart. Please do not paint everyone
with such a broad brush. I know all about the dressage queens and the golf cart
club (the ones who ride only in classes or in a golf cart. We are not they.
Cannot WAIT to get a horse finished once again over fences!
You may have WORKED with them, I rode with them, taught them and... was one
- and hardly a wimp.
In a message dated 8/17/2008 9:02:14 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
am2aracehorse@xxxxxxxxx writes:
"It's because hunter/jumper people (and thus their horses) are big woosy
wimps. I've worked with them for over 20 years, and I've only met a
couple who actually leave their horses out for more than a couple hours.
I remember one owner who insisted her horse be walked and walked and walked
after a "workout" (30 minutes of light work in an arena) and not given water
for an hour because--according to her--he was sweating buckets. In
reality, he was a little damp under his saddle. Another owner would have
us bring all the horses in if it was cloudy out, because it might rain on
them. Another would only turn her horses out from 7 to 9 am, because
after than it would be too hot for them. These horses get to the point that if
one fly lands on them, they throw a fit, and I think the owners are certain
that if they don't have those little ear covers on, a bug will fly into their
ear and lay eggs in their brains!"
