I hate horses: therapeutic rant. (Long)

[CavinMan]

If I had my life to do over, I'd have gotten into two things early on in life.

English riding and playing the piano

There are about 20 women/girls into English riding for every 1 guy/boy, most of them are very good looking and many of them have lots of money.

And women are suckers for good piano playing.

I'm not knocking how my life has turned out, very well actually, but I can tell you that would have been a fun route too!

 

[dmccarty]

Re: I horses: therapeutic rant. (Long)

I wonder if this may be contributing to the neglect cases, ie; people cannot afford to keep, yet the slaughter option is off the table.

I have read that this is the case. I don't know if I read this in the Wall Street Journal or if it was on TBN years ago. If you have an old worn out horse what do you do with it? The only option is to put it down and dispose of it. I swear I saw a mackers/rendering truck the other day. I don't know if one has to pay to have the horse hauled off though.

Its not like one can easily bury a horse. And some places might have rules against burial.

Later,
Dan

 

[Soundguy]

Horses are huge, expensive, belligerent and dangerous and despite that, they are also incredibly stupid, needful, fragile and high maintenance. I'll admit it. I just don't 'get' horses.

They are big

they are with limited exception, expensive.

They have unique personalities depending on breed and bloodline and handling.. not all horses are belligerent.. just like not all humans are.

As they are an animal, and big, yes.. they are inherently dangerous. many states recognize this and have passed equine liability limit laws due to the dangerous nature of the animals and their associated sports.

They are not incredibly stupid. As with the comment above in reguards to breed, bloodline and unique handling and personality.. some are 'smarter' than others.. and in general make 'much' better decisions that other herd animals. like.. cows for instance. You have a much better chance of being trampled by a cow than a domesticated ( even green ) horse.
You have to understand that they are a herd animal, and a prey animal, and have a strong 'flight' instinct. ( and yes.. a 1200# thing trying to get away from something it percieces as a threat can be dangerous. )... Also keep in mind the way a horse's brain process data... an object seen by the right eye may not be recognized by the left eye when it observes it again... quite an interesting issue..

as with any 'Pet'.. they are needfull. They 100% rely on their handler to care for them.. just like your dog, goldfish or parakeet.


fragile?.. perhaps in some areas.. like digestive track.. in which case.. they are quite fragile.. in general terms of health though.. they are a quite robust animal.

As with any 'pet' there are maintenance costs and issues. And yes.. bigger means more.

I'm sorry you had some bad experiences. It's one of those things about men and the size of their toys.. the second verse referes to price... lare toys cost more... cost more to maintain.. cost more to replace.. cost more when they damage other people's toys.

I know 3 people who have lost horses in that price range this month.. one due to lightning, one to encaphalitis, and one is still having a necropsy done..

it's a sad event...

best wishes to the people and equine involved.

lastly.. yep.. you just have to 'get' horses.. or you probably shouldn't 'get' any horses.

soundguy

soundguy

 

[shvl73]

Most of my friends gave up horses years ago and got Harleys.

They only think they're cheaper.
I could show anyone how you can buy a "bargain" Harley for $7500 and put $20,000 into it and still have a $7500 bike. It's only money.

 

[Taylortractornut]

One of my friends by the name of Willie Linto went up north in the late 40's to workin Detroit Michigan when he was a young man driving a dump truck. He said he was eating at a local cafe and had the best burgers around. He said you could almost eat them 3 meals a day. One day talking to the cooks telling them that was the best Danged burger hed had, but he had never seen beef that was that brown before. The cook told him thats not beef that it was canned horse meat from a military depot sale. He said that was the last D**)* burger he ate in detroit.

 

[dex3361]

Some of these replies are hilarious!

Horses are just like tractors.

You start off small, and then have the possibility to get over in your head. One horse can set you on the path to financial freedom or ruin.

At least when my S10 dies, I can get to the postoffice and grocery store accordingly.

Somehow a cow or donkey would not be the cool thing to show up on.

You may have a point here but I will have to say that I have never been kicked by my tractor.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

George,

I feel for you.

Growing up we always had 1-3 horses. I really enjoyed riding and going to horse shows. But that was when dad was paying for them.

Now you could not give me one! Things may be different if I had the time to ride and the money to burn.

Buy your daughter a mule, they are smarter!

 

[john_bud]

Re: I horses: therapeutic rant. (Long)

From what I understand, horse meat actually gets better with age as opposed to the animals that we normally eat. I never had the pleasure thank you, but, if I was hungry I sure would.

In Japan I've had Horse sashimi (raw). It's a very dark, lean meat much like deer but richer.

Most westerners won't touch it from culture. I'll eat about anything that isn't moving too fast so I get along well with hosts over there. In fact, they won't eat all the stuff they give me!

jb

 

[riptides]

Re: I horses: therapeutic rant. (Long)

In Japan I've had Horse sashimi (raw). It's a very dark, lean meat much like deer but richer.

Most westerners won't touch it from culture. I'll eat about anything that isn't moving too fast so I get along well with hosts over there. In fact, they won't eat all the stuff they give me!

jb

I'd forgotten about the raw aspects of it.

Agree on the cultural issue.

I don't try and eat grubs, either. But if you think about it, insects eat about everything man plants and ae a geat source of protein.

 

[ZetorShaun]

I like my horses, they were cheap but they have been good. Just don't let them become a burden then you will start to hate them. My buddy's wife just kept getting more and more and he is their permanent caregiver and she gives him **** because he is always cutting hay for them. The thankless work, thankless wife, and thankless horses made him detest the herd.

I like my girls, they are pasture ornaments. I set an out of pocket expense limit for my wife right off the bat, no more than $3K, after than I start digging the hole.

Like everyone else, she wanted horses to ride and she has ridden them twice in two years, I have killed myself building stables, run-ins, laying waterlines, cutting hay, but the horses are pretty good sports.

I do it for my wife, the horses are our kids, as it was already so well put earlier, I spend more taking care of other people's two-legged mistakes than I will ever spend on my horses.