"Give me"/"Let me"

[SGray]

IrishKarma's situation (and a few others) brings up, once again, the "give me syndrome" (as in give me something of yours) and the "let me" (let me use something of yours)

Fortunately I have avoided most of these but I do have a couple of examples

"give me": a co-worker at the office came up to me one day and said "a friend of mine wants someone to give her a horse - where can she get one?" After staring at her for a bit I gave her the name of a local resuce (was that bad of me?) and left it at that (rather than launch into a lecture about $, committment, time, knowledge, etc)

"let me": most common of course is "Let me ride your horse". I did give in to that for a time on a pony I had bought from the knackerman (i.e. rescue pony) that was too small for me really. The person was very sweet and nice and took good care of pony and all but there was never any thought of any $s to offset cost of care for pony or effort to keep up the barn. Eventually I got rider to clean the pony's stall when she came by and rode (whooohoooo).

"let me": use your mare as a surrogate. Oh sure, my mare should take on the risks of foaling for yours? My mare is a higher quality to begin with and why in the world would I put her at risk in such a way? Yes, I may breed her one day but that is quite another matter.



What are your best 'give me/let me's?

[Roan]

At the barn I constantly get, "let me ride your horse" from almost everyone. NOT!

Another "let me" was last moth with an ex-neighbor while we were in the process of moving from suburbia out to the barn proper (we are leasing the other house on the property). Here's the gist of the conversation:

Her: "How many horses are out there?"
Me: "Dunno. About 40."
Her: "Ask her if she will let me ride them for her."
Me: "Well, it's a lesson barn, Pony Club, and they do "A" shows. There are lots of kids to ride the horses. You could always come out and take lessons."
Her: "I already know how to ride. I grew up riding a horse. I just haven't ridden since I was a teenager. Tell her I can ride them."

Yah. Sure. Okay! NOT!

Eileen

[FlashGordon]

On the flip side....

"I will let you ride my super horse."

Horse is green and/or has training/behavioral issues. Hooray, it is so fun putting free training on your horse! And nearly getting killed in the process!

"I will let you work off your board."

That means doing 25 stalls, feeding, turnout, grooming, riding rank horses. For $3 an hour. 5 days a week. Awesome!

[ESG]

From every trainer that's come to look at my sale horse - "Let me take him on trial for a month". And it's always at least four hours' drive from me, with a trainer that I don't know from a bag of frogs. And they just don't seem to understand why I say no. :rolleyes:

[horsestablereview]

My employer used to do gymkhana when he was a kid (over 25 years ago). He asked me one day if I knew of anyone who would just let him get on and go ride on his own (and gallop, of course). I was like uh yea sure, if someone would like to let some completely inexperienced yahoo kill their horse out on a trail, I'll let you know! (I didn't actually say that but that's what was going through my head).

I now also don't let anyone borrow any of my stuff after losing several pieces of equipment - bits, wraps, and who knows what else. Frustrating!

[arabhorse2]

I've been hit more than once with not even a "give me"/"let me", but a total entitlement issue.

"Oh, you have horses? My granddaughter LOVES horses! I'll let you know when she's available to come over and ride them!" Um, no.

"You've decided to keep Casper? You're leaving him at the trainer's though, right? Because I'm planning to ride him in my lessons, now that he's not crazy anymore. He's sooo pretty!" I took Casper home not a week later.

"I need to borrow your truck and trailer to move a horse." I don't have a sign on either vehicle, saying they're for hire.....

I also get the morons who think they can ride, since they took lessons about 40 years ago on a school pony, and "volunteer" to exercise mine. You wanna ride my two highly trained horses, and probably get your sorry butt injured in the process? Naw, don't think so.

[MistyBlue]

Just got contacted last week by my old high school buddy from way back.
Very cool to chat for a bit...but as soon as she heard I had horses her first question was, "Will they buck me off?" No, it's hard to get bucked off if you're not on them. :winkgrin: Next question, "Well how about my kids, are they okay for pony rides?" :sigh:
The sad part is...I'm almost always up for getting kids into and onto horses or riding with friends who haven't had a chance to ride in ages. but do not automatically assume that since I have horses that I have them specifically for public entertainment purposes.

[equusvilla]

"Can I come out and ride?????"

LMAO over here...I get that all the time.. I stopped it by hanging a picture on my desk of my young gelding acting ...shall we say "naughty" ...okay - REALLY naughty while I was riding him one windy cold day!! If someone dares to ask anyway, I show them the picture and say..only if you are willing ride him!

[equusvilla]

Oh - I have to add...I had one woman want me to bring in a bag of fresh manure - into an office mind you!! - for her garden! She looked positively shocked when I told her NO WAY.

[saultgirl]

Her: "How many horses are out there?"
Me: "Dunno. About 40."
Her: "Ask her if she will let me ride them for her."



THAT is the WORST thing people ask me -- ask "so-and-so" if I can "whatever"... I HATE that!! Ask yourself!!

[MVR]

I get it all the time as well. "Can I have a horse?" Um...no. They all have adoption fees and you first have to qualify under our contract stipulations.

"Can I ride your horses?" Sure if you would like to volunteer, sign a waiver and first put in enough hours volunteering to prove to me that you are capable and willing to provide the work it takes to EARN your ride!

[SGray]

.........."I need to borrow your truck and trailer to move a horse." I don't have a sign on either vehicle, saying they're for hire......

oh yes arabhorse2 - forgot about the truck/trailer one

sure, I scrimped and saved to buy/maintain/put gas in my vehicles but would be happy to let you (inexperienced at pulling a trailer) take your horse (inexperienced at being trailered) take my only transportation any time you want to ---- ummm, NOT

[Deuce]

I used to love it when people would ask to ride my Deuce. I almost always said yes...

... and let me tell you, after their ride they never asked to ride him again! :D

[kewpalace]

When people ask to ride my horses (which I have no intention of letting them) I usually say,"SURE! I'll put you on Magic. He'll REALLY give you a GGOOODD ride! Can you hang on good? My trainer called him the psycho arab." :yes: They then say,"Oh, I was just kidding." :lol:

I don't do the 3rd party thing either - if some says some has asked them to ask me to do something I usually tell them they have to come ask me themselves. Never happens, though. :winkgrin:

[dalpal]

As Nancy Regan once said..

Just Say No. :lol:

[Mtn trails]

How about the ones who just assume they're coming over on a specific weekend to ride? I had a co-worker ask me what I was doing on May XX (just a date) and I said don't know, I don't plan that far ahead. She said "I'm coming over to ride." Oh sure, okay, I'll put aside my whole weekend for you to come out and lead you around on trails. I just told her I was busy afterall.

Then there were the ones that I invited out to go for a trail ride. I said 10:00 so at 10:00 the horses were tacked and waiting for them to show. Around 10:30 they called and said they were going out to breakfast and be out after that. Right, at what point did you forget how to tell time and the last time we spoke, 10:00 was the agreed time. I put the horses away and they showed up at 1:00 expecting to go for a ride. I told them to go away and when you learn to respect other people's time, we might work something out. Never heard from them again.

I get this kind of crap all the time. I invite people to come watch an event that I'm in and they think it's an invitation to ride. What do people think? My horses are for your entertainment?

[cllane1]

Telephone inquiry to my trainer, who runs a high level eventing/training facility:

Guy: Do you do birthday parties?

Trainer: No, I'm sorry, we do not. We do have a wonderful lesson program if you are interested in getting your child involved with horses.

Guy (direct quote): You mean you don't just let people come out and gallop around?

Uh, no. The only people "galloping around" are eventers who are in training and know what they are doing. Sorry.

[Hampton Bay]

When I went to buy my wedding dress, I was talking to the saleswoman and mentioned that I had horses. Of course she asks if they can be ridden, which it turns out means "when can I come ride them". When I told her that I would give her the number of the local public riding stable, she was no longer interested.

[Roan]

Have you ever noticed that the less experience a person has with horses, the more they will insist they know everything and and the more of a yahoo they really are?

The old adage, "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" is SO true. Mark Twain, I think.

Eileen

[ESG]

Have you ever noticed that the less experience a person has with horses, the more they will insist they know everything and and the more of a yahoo they really are?

The old adage, "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" is SO true. Mark Twain, I think.

Eileen

Alexander Pope, actually. ;)

[Roan]

Alexander Pope, actually. ;)

Oh, snap :D

[Silver Snaffles]

It's a huge pet peeve of mine when people assume because I have a horse / am involved in horses that I have all the time in the world for me to give their snot nose brats pony rides, provide them with horses to go "galloping down the hills" on for free of course, or will help them find a total novice a horse for free. They act like they are doing me a huge favour by offering to "exersize" my 3 * eventer / dressage horse. Um, you think that one time you went trail riding, and the "black stallion" bucked you off qualifys you to ride my lease horse, who when asked to canter over a pole on the ground last week dumped my sorry ass because she didn't like the wind?

I find more insulting when HORSE people take it upon themselves to say "let me / give me show tack/clippers/bucket/shampoo/showsheen/cooler/etc.

My family used to breed welsh ponies. SHOW ponies. The amount of pony club mothers that would turn up with the kids outgrown shetland or heinz 55 ponies expecting us to bred the mare for free. There catch cry was " Oh don't he want a mare to keep him company?" NO! He doesn't want your unwashed, unknown breeding wall eyed cow hocked short backed mare!

[seeuatx]

I saw a truck the other day with a bumper sticker that said "Yes this is my truck. No, I will not help you move". I thought it was classic.

I was riding a horse for someone and we had planned to try him at a local horse trial. A month or so before the owner told me he would be going to a dressage show instead. Not a problem at all, until the next breath was "but can you trailer one of my students to the horse trial?". Uhhhh, NO... if I am taking the weekend off of work and driving 75 miles, I am only doing it when I can show. Luckily my truck was in the shop so that was a great excuse. Then she wanted to know if I would sell my trailer to another student :rolleyes:

Someone did once ask me if they could rent my horse for their kids birthday party. I said "not if you actually like your kid and want him to see the next birthday"

[Arcadien]

My best buddy had the right response to the "can I come ride one day?" type response -

(Deadpanned with wry smile) "They buck." Then limp away from the coffee machine (or wherever) Any experienced rider knows how to limp painfully (even if not currently in pain, we've all been there and know how to pull off the act hehe).

Ends most such conversations for me LOL; if not I pull the "insurance says no" policy.

;)

[Arcadien]

ISomeone did once ask me if they could rent my horse for their kids birthday party. I said "not if you actually like your kid and want him to see the next birthday"

LOL!!!

[JoZ]

I work at home. The farm owner, who works in the next town over, will say things like "the cable guy is coming today, I gave him your number". Um, why? So I can let him into your house and then hang around while he's in there? Last time I just opened the door for the guy and went back to MY room and MY work. If my landlord didn't want someone unsupervised in his house, he should have planned to be here. But that's the thing... he doesn't ASK me to do anything, just says "I gave him your number". Grrrr...

Bringing this back to horse-related... it happens all the time with vet appointments too. The farm owner (AGAIN!) or one of the other boarders will say "I called the vet and she can come at 3 on Thursday..." with all sorts of assumptions built into those three little dots at the end where their voice trails off. Are YOU planning to be here at 3 on Thursday? Didn't think so! Better pick a different appointment time then. I freakin' WORK!!!

[avezan]

I get this one: "Oh, you have horses?" "Yes" "Will you give my daughter lessons?" "No, I don't give lessons, here are some places that do give lessons" "Would you give her some lessons if I paid you?" HaHaHa

But I get this one even more: "You are a mathematician? I was terrible at math. Will you tutor my third grader? she is having trouble with fractions." Ugh. No, I don't want to tutor your kid! But I guess its the same with just about any profession: "Oh, you are a doctor? Can you take a look at this?" as they strip down at a fancy cocktail party. "Oh you are a lawyer? Will you go with me to small claims court?" Of course the idea of paying for any of these services is out of the question. "Oh, you own a retail store? Can you get me one of these?" Free, of course.

People are funny. They are not being rude or obnoxious on purpose. They just don't know any better.

[copper1]

This doesn't happen to me very often but when it does, it is usually somewhere far from the horses so if I smile and say "sure, come visit me and you can ride sometime" I know it will never happen due to geography at least!
I guess it is because I am a trainer and most expect I would charge for riding in any capacity but my daughter gets the question all the time from co workers in her office. I try to be understanding and remember being a horse crazy kid and wanting to be around horses any way I could.Just petting them would fill my day.
One of my favorite laughs are the people who call the barn asking if we do trail rides or rent horses and the weather is horrendous! (I imagine them sitting around at home when it is storming or snowing and blowing and thinking to themselves :"gee, I think I would like to ride a horse today!")

[trubandloki]

"I need to borrow your truck and trailer to move a horse." I don't have a sign on either vehicle, saying they're for hire.....



I have to add to this one.

I actually let someone use my truck and trailer to transport their horse to a specialist for treatment.
The agreement was they would refill the fuel tank (that I agreed I would leave filled for their departure).

Upon returning they keys to me the person said, "I stopped filling at $40, there is no way I used more than $40 worth of fuel". That $40 got the tank to 3/4 full. I guess in their eyes I should buy a more fuel efficient dually for them to use next time or something?

And yes, they did have the balls to ask to use it again a few weeks later. I said no.

[jubilee43]

I have to add to this one.

I actually let someone use my truck and trailer to transport their horse to a specialist for treatment.
The agreement was they would refill the fuel tank (that I agreed I would leave filled for their departure).

Upon returning they keys to me the person said, "I stopped filling at $40, there is no way I used more than $40 worth of fuel". That $40 got the tank to 3/4 full. I guess in their eyes I should buy a more fuel efficient dually for them to use next time or something?

And yes, they did have the balls to ask to use it again a few weeks later. I said no.

I think this is because most people just think in terms of gas use, they don't get the wear and tear on the vehicle, the actual cost of maintaining said vehicle etc. If people realized how much it REALLY cost per mile to drive around instead of just the gas price, There would be even less people on the road but they just don't think into it that far. I would have been tempted to give those people a lesson in REAL cost.

[trubandloki]

I think this is because most people just think in terms of gas use, they don't get the wear and tear on the vehicle, the actual cost of maintaining said vehicle etc. If people realized how much it REALLY cost per mile to drive around instead of just the gas price, There would be even less people on the road but they just don't think into it that far. I would have been tempted to give those people a lesson in REAL cost.

I was willing to eat those extra expenses though and just have them refill the fuel tank so I had no out of pocked expenses (yes wear on the vehicle is an out of pocket expense but not quite so direct of one).

These people were not even willing to hold up their end of the bargain. They basically implied I was trying to rip them off that the truck could not have been full when they picked it up because there was no way they used more than $40 worth of fuel.

[ESG]

Well, be comforted in that that was the most expensive $40 worth of fuel they ever bought, because it cost them not only your friendship, but their future transport for their horse. Next time there's an emergency or they have another appointment with a specialist, they'll find out just how expensive their decision really was. :winkgrin:

[AndalusianMom]

Tow truck guy, at the farm to haul my car out of a snow bank:
"You got horses here?"

"Yes."

"What kind?"

"Spanish stallions."

"Cool! I wanna gallop one around, OK?" (There's a foot of ice-covered snow everywhere.)

"No."

"I'm not scared--betcha I can stick on him."

"NO."

"Well, I can come back in the summer and gallop around, right?"

"See, I don't want the legal hassle after my horse kills you."

"Oh."

[arabhorse2]

Well, be comforted in that that was the most expensive $40 worth of fuel they ever bought, because it cost them not only your friendship, but their future transport for their horse. Next time there's an emergency or they have another appointment with a specialist, they'll find out just how expensive their decision really was. :winkgrin:

Exactly!!!

Trub, it may have cost you some gas and wear and tear on your vehicle, but it was worth it to get rid of those entitled freeloaders! :yes:

I loaned my trailer out to someone I thought I could trust. Got it back full of horse shit, with the interior light cover shattered. I won't lend it again, period. They didn't even have the decency to sweep the trailer or let me know whatever psycho horse they'd had in it, had broken the light cover! :mad:

No good deed goes unpunished!

[ESG]

I never lend my truck and trailer - ever.

I did once or twice, with the previous 2 horse I had. Got it back okay the first time, but then got it back from the second "friend" with a looooong, deep scratch down one side (the trailer was white, so it really showed) a broken brake light, and not a word said; not even "thank you". That pretty much cured my generous impulses.

[LisaB]

How to get suckered into moving a co-worker:
CW on the phone: 'hey, the rental co. screwed up my reservations and co-worker2 said he can drive your truck and trailer. Can we borrow it?'
me: 'excuse me?'
cw: 'yeah, he said he can drive it. Or, he can pick up your trailer with his truck'
me: 'excuse me but he has a 150 short bed. And trailer is a gooseneck. Does he think just because I can drive a truck and trailer around that he can too?'
cw: 'what's a gooseneck?'
me: 'what's house situation like? is your driveway long and skinny? can a rig pull around in it?'
cw: ' the roads are fine, at the end of a cul de sac. can get moving van in here'
me: 'the driveway is not the problem, it's the turning around '
cw(getting the idea): 'yeah, no problems you can do such and such'
me: 'I'll come. a-hole cw2 is not getting near my rig'
cw: 'great! 7:30 on Sat. good?'
me: 'yeah, I'll be there'
hang up
Crap! Suckered big time!

[GoodyTwo]

In a moment of weakness I allowed a family friend to walk my horse around to cool him off after I’d ridden. After about 30 seconds he asked “so, can I just open him up on this long stretch?” Um, not if you plan to drive back to the city in anything but an ambulance.

[kellyb]

I have to add to this one.

I actually let someone use my truck and trailer to transport their horse to a specialist for treatment.
The agreement was they would refill the fuel tank (that I agreed I would leave filled for their departure).

Upon returning they keys to me the person said, "I stopped filling at $40, there is no way I used more than $40 worth of fuel". That $40 got the tank to 3/4 full. I guess in their eyes I should buy a more fuel efficient dually for them to use next time or something?

And yes, they did have the balls to ask to use it again a few weeks later. I said no.

Wow, just wow :eek:

I love the 'let me ride your horse' nonsense...yes, that sounds so appealing to me for so many reasons. I always say no unless it's someone I've SEEN actually riding a horse before. My s/o keeps asking to let his friend's wife come ride my horse. I said no and recommended a local lesson barn. She said, "I've ridden before, I don't need lessons". LOL. If there ever was any indication that she doesn't know what she's doing, THAT comment would be it!! That's all it would take is one accidental misplaced whack to the ribs and my horse would be GONE with a newbie. Just don't need that kind of liability!!

[msj]

I get a lot of people coming to my farm and asking me if I board horses. I finally stopped saying I don't board and having them beg and beg and beg me to take their horse(s). I just tell them board is $1000.00/month/horse. Boarding barns in the area charge between $300+ to ~ $550.00. That gets them out of here FAST! :D

[JollyBadger]

In the last year or so I've been on Facebook and reconnected with a lot of people I knew in high school and college, and others I currently know through church or other activities. Many of them aren't exactly what I ever considered "good friends." They're just people I happen to sort-of know. A few of the girls from high school were, in fact, quite mean and snarky back in those days. And none of them were ever involved or interested in horses or riding and rolled their eyes when I mentioned it.

Now, though, they all have children of their own and I keep getting messages from them asking if I still live in the area. They always want to know when they might be able to bring the kiddies out to see the horses. The barn where I board offers pony rides, lessons and guided trail rides so I have given them the number of the farm with the reply that visitors are always welcome to just stop by and see the place. Apparently, though, their expectation is that they are entitled to free pony rides on my own horse, because they sort of knew who I was in high school.

The only time I even consider the pony-ride scenario is for family members (specifically, my two nieces, because their parents are content with letting them be total princesses and I cringe at the thought of that). However, my sister in law once hopped on my horse to have her photo taken and later told me that she really wanted to take off and "run him down the road" because she USED to ride her neighbor's old horses out in a pasture. . .so that automatically makes her an experienced enough rider to handle ANY horse.:rolleyes:

I told her that if she tried to "run him down the road," he probably would continue to run the rest of the 32 mile loop around the neighboring park's perimeter trail. . .or at least, until he got her off his back. . .in which case, he'd turn around and come back home.:winkgrin:

Not sure she appreciated my comment. . .some people just don't "get" horse humor. . .

[vxf111]

Oh - I have to add...I had one woman want me to bring in a bag of fresh manure - into an office mind you!! - for her garden! She looked positively shocked when I told her NO WAY.

A friend is continually asking me to bring him mane hair from pulling mane. He's needlepointing a pillow and wants to stuff it with mane/tail hair. It is such a ***GAG*** thought to me that I don't even know what to say. I am just speechless every time he mentions it.

[Whoanellie]

I guess that being a rescue is synonymous with riding stable? I get calls & emails from people "willing" to come ride the rescues. I used to tell them that TIER is a rescue and not a riding stable. The horses are only to be handled by experienced horse people.

Well, of course, that doesn't fly as they all have experience; "I rode when I was a kid and I know how" (20 years ago!), "Little Darlin is taking lessons and is a wonderful rider" (No....she doesn't know how to catch, groom or tack up a horse); etc. etc.

Then you get the people who want to be a volunteer.....which means they will volunteer to ride the rescues. I explain that volunteer's clean stalls, scrub water buckets, groom, help with fundraisers, need to be here by 7:30 am as it starts getting hot by 9:00 am and by Noon you don't want to be out there working (because you are out of shape and I don't want to pick you up out of the manure pile when you overheat). I explain that the volunteer schedule depends upon my days off because you just can't come out here whenever you feel like it to play with the horses. And of course, your flip flops and shorts are not appropriate attire. You MUST sign a waiver. We don't hear from them again.

Now I just tell them...."If you can catch 'em, halter 'em, groom 'em, pick their feet, and have your own tack, you can ride in the roundpen" We don't hear from them again.

[ESG]

A friend is continually asking me to bring him mane hair from pulling mane. He's needlepointing a pillow and wants to stuff it with mane/tail hair. It is such a ***GAG*** thought to me that I don't even know what to say. I am just speechless every time he mentions it.

Sounds like your friend has romantic notions about horsehair stuffed cushions. :rolleeyes: :dead:

I'll bet if you made him come out and personally collect the hair after you've pulled the mane, he'd shut up about it. :yes:

[vxf111]

Sounds like your friend has romantic notions about horsehair stuffed cushions. :rolleeyes: :dead:

I'll bet if you made him come out and personally collect the hair after you've pulled the mane, he'd shut up about it. :yes:

I don't get him. I described the disgustingness of it and he just said he'd wash the mane before he used it.

**gag*** again!

Anyhow, it really doesn't fit in on this thread because it wasn't a presumptuous request and he was polite about it-- but what an ODD thing to ask for?!

I've posted before but the most presumptuous folks didn't even ASK to ride my horse. In GA I boarded at one barn with a pasture that had one side on a busy road. People were constantly throwing "food" to the horses, coming into the pasture to drink beer and smoke, etc. The pasture was ENORMOUS and wooded, you couldn't see much of it from the barn.

I walked out one day to catch my fairly newly OTTB and found a mother and father about to put their tiny infant on my horse for a ride-- no lead rope/halter, no tack, LOOSE in the field with 20+ other horses. Total strangers. Why they picked my horse? Totally random. They just hopped the fence and walked right in!

I just about had a coronary right there!

[FlashGordon]

I walked out one day to catch my fairly newly OTTB and found a mother and father about to put their tiny infant on my horse for a ride-- no lead rope/halter, no tack, LOOSE in the field with 20+ other horses. Total strangers. Why they picked my horse? Totally random. They just hopped the fence and walked right in!

I just about had a coronary right there!

:eek::eek::eek:

[LisaB]

Yeah my new farm was considered like 'old McDonald's farm' or some sort of crap like that. Hubby's employees would stop by ALL the time and expect me to drop everything to shoot the sh- with their DUMB SO's. Yeah, me, social ...
And since they were the bottom of the gene pool, I had to tell them more than once that my horses are not pets and cannot be ridden by you or your kids.
And they invited themselves to a bonfire that hubby specifically told his employees that it was just them to thank them for working so hard and that no kids were allowed. We just adopted a horse and not only that this was a bonfire (help burn the burn pile) out in a pasture in the back so we can't keep an eye on kids. And bring your own food. Lots of booze provided. So you guys get the idea. And I wasn't going to have anything to do with it. Just the guys (and girl) hanging out.
So I get home to families running all over the place waiting to be fed. Hubby is avoiding the situation by getting the burn pile ready. I join him :D And kids are running around our horse pastures barefoot. Ewwwww. I finally told a few moms that they will get worms and all kinds of fungus. They didn't care. The final straw for me before I officially disallowed unannounced visitors was 2 of the SO's were smoking on my porch and proceeded into the house. So house stank of nasty perfume and smoke. And one rather rotund one took a huge DUMP in my bathroom. So now my house is reeking of cheap perfume, cigarettes, and SHIT. That was IT.
And after that episode some of them even had the gall to try to come to the house again.
And yes, these socially inept people carry a badge and a gun.

[Nes]

"Let me ride your horse!"

Says the 28 year old DH's Best friend who is (a) scared to death of horses (won't touch them) (b) never ridden in his life & I have a very feisty green broke horse... Yeah, NO.

:lol:

My horse was pasture-boarding at a place with ALLOT of lesson kids. I told the BO I didn't mind if the kids wanted to run out & pat my mare but that she was completely unbroken, spooky, and maybe a little dangerous so they shouldn't go anywhere near her unsupervised. About a week later I brought her in to the barn - she had tiny braids in her mane...

The BO tried to explain to me that obviously she got them from running around the field... the wind braided her hair... RIGHT...

:D

My non-horsey one is that DH's buddy likes to invite us places together because he assumes I'll watch his 3 year old while they go and yuk it up with his friends. I may be a mom, but I am NOT a free babysitter!! If you want someone to watch your son you can ASK or pay someone else, don't just assume (Plus he's divorced and it boils my blood that he doesn't spend ever waking second with his child when he only gets him every other week).

[monstrpony]

I get a lot of people coming to my farm and asking me if I board horses. I finally stopped saying I don't board and having them beg and beg and beg me to take their horse(s). I just tell them board is $1000.00/month/horse. Boarding barns in the area charge between $300+ to ~ $550.00. That gets them out of here FAST! :D

I've resorted to this one, as well.

Another favorite is that I offer my manure pile to local gardeners. They ask if I can deliver, they don't have a "truck", which I will do because not everyone owns a pickup truck (shocking, I know). So, I load my truck, drive across the county, pull into their driveway, and there sits a shiny, new, detailed ... pickup truck. So, 'splain to me, when is a truck not a truck?? :confused:

[Holly Jeanne]

I've got a kid that lives around the corner. Nice kid. I like her. But, I've got one older super sensitive mare that even experienced riders sometimes have trouble with and two big greenies. On day, I was riding one of the greenies and kid was watching. Kid says "Am I old enough to ride her now?" Not sure what gave her the idea that I was waiting for her to get older to ride them. :lol: My response "SHE'S not old enough for you to ride her." Sadly, I would actually like to have a horse I could let the neighbor kids ride every so often but that's not the case.

[Jealoushe]

The answer to all the problem questions

"It'll cost ya!"

Can I ride your horse? "Sure, It'll cost ya!"

Can I borrow your truck and trailer? "Sure, It'll cost ya!"

if they ask how much, the price is always Thirty Thousand. They laugh and I say - I'm serious. haha:cool:

[TheJenners]

I must put out a vibe that no one asks me these things. I've invited people out to see the horses, and never been taken up on it...mayhap they know "see" means see, and not ride. Dunno. Never had anyone ask to borrow my truck/trailer either, but I offered it once and it was accepted by a friend who had a mare with wee baby that needed moving.

You guy's are unlucky, I guess!

Either that or I work with polite people (who, yes, carry a badge and a gun :rolleyes:)

[ManyDogs]

Umm, yeah.
Had a former co-worker who wanted me to let her kids, as in non-riding kids, come out for "lessons". Sure, I'll put them on my big 1300 lb not-been-backed mare and they can gallop away in the huge field behind the house.
Just be sure to put her back when you're done......:mad:

[BarbB]

I had a co worker show up uninvited one day to "ride" my horse "for me." Loved that description.
Said horse was a 17h 1500# TB jumper who was a sweetheart to handle but that day he decided to play his part and puffed himself up on his toes to about 19h, stuck his head up in the rafters, looked down his nose and snorted, repeatedly. :lol:

The "rider" ...all decked out in his cowboy hat and (suspiciously new looking) spurs and apparently ready to whip some little QH into shape for me......picked up his jaw off the ground and left....in a hurry.

I don't know what he told the office, but the "offers" to ride my horse stopped.

[kookicat]

The best one I've had so far is 'Let me move that truck for you. A little thing like you can't drive a big truck like that.'

Ugh, yeah, right. :rolleyes:

[Alagirl]

Sounds like your friend has romantic notions about horsehair stuffed cushions. :rolleeyes: :dead:

I'll bet if you made him come out and personally collect the hair after you've pulled the mane, he'd shut up about it. :yes:


LOL, horse hair is a very traditional furniture stuffing....I just don't see it to be very compfy for pillows...unless they are uncomfortable on purpose so the needlework stays preserved :lol:

(There is a village in the Spanish mountains some place, they have a herd of feral ponies they round up once a year and free them of their long hair, mane and tail, for furniture stuffing purposes)

[AppendixQHLover]

A couple of weeks ago I was loading up my guy into the trailer. This woman came flying up in her car. She is like..do you do Birthday parties? I am like excuse me? She is like do you do pony rides at birthday parties. OK I am giong to take my 16 hand horse to cart kids around at a party. He would get revenge on me if I even thought about it. I told her no, he doesn't like kids. Than she asked well does anyone else in this field do parties. I am like most likely not because we all own our horses. Here is the number of a pesron who does.

After she got that number she was like Can I ride your horse. At that point I packed up the horse and left.

I also get the "Let me" catch a ride in the trailer with you. OK that is fine but it is a 1.00 a mile. Well i can't pay you all the time. Um...that is not how it works. I paid 30K for my truck, and 12K for my trailer. Also 500 to get the hitch and 500 for new tires. No freebie trailering.

Same person...Give me a lesson. SO I help her out while I am riding. She gets mad when I tell her things to do.

I give up....

My mom and instructor are the only two people that can ride my horse. My boy gets real mad when people hang on his mouth. He tolerates to a point and if he gets sick of it he will dump you off. Mom gets to ride him because she likes to walk around the ring and that is it. he loves to do that..

[JollyBadger]

There are only a few people at my own barn who I am willing to let ride my horse. Not necessarily that I think my horse will do anything to them (though he'd certainly test them to see just how much he can get away with); I'm more concerned about what they may do to my horse.

It's a sad truth that I have seen how they manage their own horses (groom and tack 'em up fast, ride 'em hard, put 'em away hot) and I don't want them to touch mine. I don't care that they own their own horse and have been riding for so many years. . .

[cholmberg]

I used to get that all the time when i worked at the casino . .they'd find out I had horses and ask if they could come ride them/bring their kids. . .I'd tell them only if they were interested in flying lessons and signed a waiver first. . .usually got my point across, and if I mentioned having a lesson. . they'd say "gee, I thought you KNEW how to ride, why do you need LESSONS??"

No one rides my mare but me. Well I do let my kids sit on her while I lead her, and she seems to enjoy that. There's a few select friends I'd let ride her, but not many, and certainly not any of my former coworkers who'd be hard pressed to know the front end from the back end. She'd introduce them to the dirt in no time.

[oldenmare]

At my trainer's barn is really obnoxious mother/son combination (mom doesn't ride but precious son is the greatest rider in the WHOLE world - 15 yr old know-it-all who doesn't listen).

I haul over with my 2 horses - my big TB gelding (gets 7s and 8s for gaits) and my Oldenburg mare (also 7s & 8s for gaits). I have my dressage lesson on him, then ride her afterwards (he's calmly munching hay on trailer). I put her through a few cavalettis and jumps - very well behaved(with her, its always a 50/50 as to her behaviour).

Son is commenting how much he LOVES to jump and how much jumping experience he has and how sad it is that his current horse isn't jumping sound right now.... I know where this is going and ignore him.

Then the mother follows me out to my trailer to tell me how nice the Oldenmare is and how much her brat would like to ride her. I thank her and explain that the mare is NOT a child's horse. Then I get to hear how wonderful son is and he's such a great rider (yeah, I was there before you guys came and I've seen what a rider he is). At that point, I look her dead in the eye and say "NO is NO. I am the only person who rides this horse. Now, if he would like to take a lesson on the gelding, that can be arranged." The mother has the audacity to reply "oh, no, your gelding isn't a nice enough mover". :eek::mad::eek:

And to this day, the twit doesn't understand why precious son will NEVER ride one of my horses.... (well, that and the fact that as soon as he got in my horse's mouth, I'd pull him off and kill him - and he's not worth jail time).

And it just makes it that much sweeter everytime my gelding and I outscore son on his "nice enough" mover.... childish, I know, but I don't set out to show against him, we just seem to end up in same classes.

[billiebob]

My favorite is when people call the barn and ask if we do trail rides. The message on the answering machine specifically says we don't do trail rides, horse rentals, or birthday parties. And they still leave a message asking about one of those three.

Most of my friends don't ask to ride my horse after they hear he was a racehorse. I don't have the heart to tell them that he's quiet enough for nervous 13 y.o's to putter around on (under my supervision, of course). I have had some lesson people ask if he'll be on the lesson program--my answer is a super quick NO!

It's also fun when the walk/trot lesson people ask if they can ride the stallion now that they know how to post. Not happening. EVER.