I really need to know- why are horse people so flipping crazy?

[FatPalomino]

The nutty ones really ruin it for the rest of us. Sometimes I'm afraid to ever mention I even own horses, for fear that that fact alone will have me written off as a "crazy horseperson" Let's see if my new COTH stalker will chime in on this one ;)

It is because they don't have kids, their horses are their babies, and their best (and only) friends? (Get a pet goldfish, or a robotic dog)

They didn't get the lead role on the soap opera, but they are working on perfecting their acting career? (Stop practicing)

Or maybe because they are wealthy, but all that money hasn't yet bought them happiness? (Give all your money away, and try out being broke and miserable for a while)

They didn't save the drama for their mama? (Therapy, lots of it)

They have too much time on their hands, and instead of doing something productive (mentoring kids, cleaning the house, working...), they'd rather start rumors and spread drama ??? (Get a Job. Or a 2nd job. )

Or is the world really packed full of crazy people, and horse people really aren't more crazy than anyone else? (Dear 6lb 8 oz baby Jesus, please let me be wrong on this one)

I've seen these sorts go after me, good friends of mine, and vets with a heart of gold. The easy targets- the ones who aren't hiding and aren't afraid to stand up for what's right.

Share your thoughts and experiences, please!

[AllWeatherGal]

Check out snopes.com and your spam folder. There's an awful lot of talent in the world not being used for the General Good. Horse people aren't any more crazy than many other groups. But that's just IMO ;)

[Ozone]

I think the whole kaboodle is crazy today and it just happens to have many horse people involved in the hoopla :)

[blue&blond]

You have a COTH stalker? Cool. Hehe, just kidding, sorry if you really are dealing with a nutter.

I don't know why it is but I too sometimes just keep it a bit hushed that I have horses for fear of people thinking the same thing.

It could be any number of things and you pegged a few of them. I've often wondered if it's some sort of control thing. Many of the really "nutty horse people" I've met/know do have a bit of a "control" issue. They like controling things I guess. Weird.

I'm not so sure it's just horse people though. I've met/know crazies that are total dog fanatics or cat crazy. (Ok, I have horses, dogs and cats...hoping that doesn't make me a "triple crazy") :lol:

[mvp]

I'm certain I have all the ear-marks of a crazy horse person. If I had more time, I'd certainly stalk you, FatPalomino. Who wouldn't?

I do make a joke of my Horse-centricity, and that helps ease the effects of my craziness for others.

For example, should it appear that my sound, working horse need a minor change in his shoeing, I'll say to my great farrier. "Look at the deep suffering in his eyes! Just look! Oh, the humanity!"

Meanwhile we can't see his eyes, because Horseling is really trying to figure out which of the three haynets hanging on the wall in the farrier's heated shop looks best.

We laugh, but every once in a while, FarrierHotty and I agree that the reason OnlyHorseOnEarth has stayed sound for so long is because I micromanage the snot out of his optimized life. That includes making sure that PreciousThing has no idea what goes on inside my head. He just thinks that life is pretty comfortable and easy with candy magically appearing from time to time.

[FatPalomino]

Blue&Blond- I'm so glad I am not the only one.

I wondered about the control issues too, and if that's why some of these middle aged woman without much to do get into horses. They can "control" such a big horse, have "control" over the boarding barn they pay, etc, etc.

COTH stalkers are kinda funny. Thankfully (?!?) at one time I did have a real stalker, and know all the steps to take. My 'real' stalker was convicted many times and served jail time. Well, maybe that answers my question, everyone is nuts...

I did begin to break it down years ago to "good crazy" vs "bad crazy". Good crazy are the ones with the right intentions but are just very eccentric ;)

[Miss J]

I don't think horsey peeps are all so crazy they just know everything! even if you don't need to hear it! sorry to hear someone is trying to ruin your good mood:( I've learned that when somebody is trying to bring you down or gossiping about you, they are jealous of you or what you have in your life and they have the need to make themselves feel better by putting other's down:( (rude and mean) it's hard to ignore sometimes but put it in perspective, who are these people and do they really matter to you? ((((((Hugs to you))))))

[FatPalomino]

I'm certain I have all the ear-marks of a crazy horse person. If I had more time, I'd certainly stalk you, FatPalomino. Who wouldn't?


The kindest words uttered all day!

[FlashGordon]

FP I could have written your post myself. Was just discussing with a friend last night. Your description is strangely applicable to my current situation...

The craziness of the horse world came as a shock to me as an adult. I'd spent the majority of my childhood at one, low-key, local lesson/boarding barn. Had the same trainer, farrier, and vet for years and years.

I don't know how we got so lucky-- but the BO's and everyone connected to the place were ethical, honest, and always looked out for myself and my non-horsey parents.

As I got older and wanted different horsey experiences, and also as the professionals around me started to retire, I had to expand my circle. I was definitely naive... and it has taken me most of my adult life to try and figure horse people out. I'm still not good at knowing what is what sometimes, so I try to go with gut feelings.

I'm too damn busy for the crap and I'm finding I have less and less patience. Sure there are crazy people everywhere but I swear there is a disproportionate amount in the horse world. Sometimes I think hell am I crazy too? Probably in my own way but christ almighty I would never cheat, lie, steal, manipulate, or instigate the drama and the situations that seem to be created in some horse people's heads and lives.

Then I see so many cool people on here, donating time, money or resources, volunteering with the OTTB rescues, or helping horses and people in need, or just extending support and friendship to others. There's lots of good out there too, I try to remember that....

Ok then, now back to my quest to find a damn trailer to get my horse OUT of the craziness he is stuck in right now.... :o (And where are we going?? Back to the boarding barn I grew up at. Again. :confused: Why I ever leave there I just don't know.)

[equinelaw]

Most everybody is crazy if you get to know them well. We spend most of our time with horse people, so we get to know them well.

And yes, horses do attract a lot of control freaks, but so do other sports and businesses. Its a pretty stressful endeavor so it does not always bring out the best in people. And most of it REALLY is a competition:D

[Miss J]

Then I see so many cool people on here, donating time, money or resources, volunteering with the OTTB rescues, or helping horses and people in need, or just extending support and friendship to others. There's lots of good out there too, I try to remember that....




I see that too!.........Fat Pali comes to mind.....:yes: (

[LauraKY]

I have to agree it's a control thing. I used to run gymnastics center. You haven't seen crazy until you get a good look at some of those over competitive parents living vicariously through their children. Same with ice skating, etc. Talk about truly crazy! See it in the horse world too with parents. Very sad. Didn't seem to be so nuts when I was growing up. Guess I'm showing my age, led a Leave It to Beaver kind of life.

[ShotenStar]

....Or is the world really packed full of crazy people, and horse people really aren't more crazy than anyone else? (Dear 6lb 8 oz baby Jesus, please let me be wrong on this one)


*star* pats FatPalomino's hand and says "There there deary. I'm sorry you had to learn this the hard way".

Yes, the world is full of crazy people. And what makes it worse is that sometimes even the ones you know and accept as crazy control freaks can surprise you by throwing you under the bus on an issue / at a time / for a reason you least expect. That truly sucks.

*Star*, with wheel tracks on her back

[FatPalomino]

Can we make our very own town, where there are no busses to runneth over us???

Think of how much happier the horses will be, to not ever have to deal with crazy people.

All we need to do is come up with a name, and have one of us win the lottery, right? I think one of those fancy CA farms for $10 million would work ok. I'd also take 100 barren acres in the middle of Iowa, if it meant we would be free of crazies forever!

[JoZ]

Can we make our very own town, where there are no busses to runneth over us???

Think of how much happier the horses will be, to not ever have to deal with crazy people.

All we need to do is come up with a name, and have one of us win the lottery, right? I think one of those fancy CA farms for $10 million would work ok. I'd also take 100 barren acres in the middle of Iowa, if it meant we would be free of crazies forever!

I've threatened to move to FarmVille! ;)

[Lori B]

The poster who mentioned gymnastics and ice skating was on the edge of an insight.

I think that competitive ice skating, gymnastics, and nearly any significant commitment to playing with horses are not hobbies, they are OBSESSIONS. And obsessions draw obsessive personalities, which are not always people who know what good judgment or balance are in any other part of their life, which isn't surprising, because they are obsessed. Knitting is a hobby. Stamp collecting is a hobby. If you leave a hobby in a closet for a week, and wander off to Tahiti on a cruise, NO ONE DIES, or fails to accrue points in a critical horse show, or becomes less than perfectly balanced in their flying changes, etc.

Also, some folks spend more time with animals because they aren't actually very good at interacting with people.

Boarding a horse somewhere is a very interpersonally intense activity, when you think about it. If you eat at a restaurant, even if you go there often, you never go there 7 days a week! So even if you irritate the crap out of the waitstaff, or they sort of annoy you, sometimes, it's no big deal, because you don't have to deal with each other every day. But I could be at my boarding barn 7 days a week, and if there was something pretty minor about my personality, or how I say hello, or how I hang up the broom, that annoyed the BM, that could build up quick. (Same goes the other way.)

Crazy is exhausting to deal with, especially when we spend so damn much money for the privilege of trying not to drive the BM up the wall. (Really, some do try).

This is why I don't find the craziness of horse world to be so surprising.

[Sandy M]

Y'know, I stopped being apologetic for being horse-obsessed a while ago. After all, a guy can obsess over EVERY STROKE of a golf game, and constantly be buying the latest putter, or golfballs, or recount EVERY moment of a football game (I know women who can do that too!), but no one dismisses them as crazy. SOmehow THAT's acceptable, but be horse-obsessed - you're the crazy horse lady!! Eh! They should be so lucky to have as satisfying an interest - and you get a RESPONSE from the horse that you don't get from a putter. LOL

[citydog]

It is because they don't have kids, their horses are their babies, and their best (and only) friends? (Get a pet goldfish, or a robotic dog)

Please don't damn a dog to that. :no: It's unfair and messes them up too.

(Unless you meant *this* kind of robotic dog: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41cNZNRsCDL._SS400_.jpg)

[oharabear]

I think that competitive ice skating, gymnastics, and nearly any significant commitment to playing with horses are not hobbies, they are OBSESSIONS. And obsessions draw obsessive personalities.....

VERY well-said! :yes::yes::yes:

[dalpal]

Yep, last boarding barn I was at...BO was extremely wealthy, but mentally the equivilant of a 15 year old girl...even in her 30s, she would run and hide behind her daddy if she needed to get "tough" with anyone.

After I watched their nonchalant reaction to a colicking baby while they were playing host to an inspection (baby had to be euthanized....when I ran to get help, I was told..."Yeah, she's been colickig all morning") I decided at that moment, no way in hell was I giving 30 days notice, nor was I paying the BO a dime more than the days that I was there for such shitty, piss poor care. It got ugly, but my horses are now in a safe barn where people actually seem "gasp" normal. Barn Manager seems to have a clue and Barn owner is an old farmer who really isn't interested in heading up a sorority club management.

Shame too, the facility that I left...state of the art....beautiful, couldn't ask for anything more in a facility...but I've never been around so many "up and down" people in my life.

Does that make you feel any better..FP????

I think we are all control freaks...I certainly am, but I actually do have people skills and have a regular job. I think alot of these crazy people grew up with money and have no idea what the real world is about.

[Lou-Lou]

Yes, the world is full of crazy people. And what makes it worse is that sometimes even the ones you know and accept as crazy control freaks can surprise you by throwing you under the bus on an issue / at a time / for a reason you least expect. That truly sucks.


Okay, that makes me feel better...I'm not the only one that this has happened to! :D

[SmokenMirrors]

I have to agree it's a control thing. I used to run gymnastics center. You haven't seen crazy until you get a good look at some of those over competitive parents living vicariously through their children. Same with ice skating, etc. Talk about truly crazy! See it in the horse world too with parents. Very sad. Didn't seem to be so nuts when I was growing up. Guess I'm showing my age, led a Leave It to Beaver kind of life.

You sure hit the nail on the head this time! Control...just because you have none at home doesn't mean we want to see you try to control a bigger beast by being rough...read Dr. Phil or talk to Oprah....

[Melelio]

Yep, I think you have to have a special bit of crazy to be a real horseperson. Some have more than others, in the 'good' or 'bad' way.....

I seem to be normal, but I guarantee I sound 'crazy' to some other horseperson...It goes along with the territory somehow.... :lol:

[vacation1]

I clearly don't spend enough time with horses, because I've never encountered the crazy people phenom. Now, dog people...:lol:

[equineartworks]

I clearly don't spend enough time with horses, because I've never encountered the crazy people phenom. Now, dog people...:lol:

wooooaaaahhhh....dog people. They ARE nuts. :winkgrin:

[blondmane]

OMG this is the million dollar question! If you can answer this then you should be a millionaire!

[SaddleFitterVA]

Everyone is crazy in their own way.

The secret to happiness is surrounding yourself by people whose crazy complements your own crazy.

Works for me.

But, I do have a coworker who frequently asks me how come I'm normal, when the rest of the horse owners he knows are crazy. I just let him know that I hide it better.:winkgrin:

[Bluey]

As one fellow told me once, when someone said I should not be such a worry wart:
"The moment you quit being obsessive over the care you give your animals, then is when I will have to start getting worried, so go ahead and worry.":cool:

I think that being obessive is what makes us good caretakers along with a pain in the behind to others.;)

As for this:

---"I'm still not good at knowing what is what sometimes, so I try to go with gut feelings."---

Maybe you ought to reconsider listening to your gut so much, as gut brains are known for being unreliable.:D

[mkevent]

I wonder if we were on a dog BB if they'd be saying horse people are the craziest!!

I used to sell dog food and have to work dog shows to promote the food-I met a lot of *interesting* personalities!

[Lazy Palomino Hunter]

Yes, the world is full of crazy people. And what makes it worse is that sometimes even the ones you know and accept as crazy control freaks can surprise you by throwing you under the bus on an issue / at a time / for a reason you least expect. That truly sucks.

This is really, really true.

:no:

[tkhawk]

Horsepeople crazy? -not so much. Real crazies I met are in the corporate world. The higher you go, the more crazier and deluded they seem to be. With horses, if you ride them enough, the horse will take you down a notch or two!:winkgrin:

I don't know too many politicians, but I bet they qualify to carry the crazy torch! This seems to be shared all over the globe. In a recent survey in China, it was revealed that the Chinese trust prostitutes more than their politicians!:lol::lol:

[FlashGordon]

As for this:

---"I'm still not good at knowing what is what sometimes, so I try to go with gut feelings."---

Maybe you ought to reconsider listening to your gut so much, as gut brains are known for being unreliable.:D

Well lord knows my actual gut is far from being reliable so...... ;) Maybe that's where I'm going wrong.

But IME, your brain can over-think and convince of you things when perhaps your instincts are telling you otherwise. I'd say in most situations my instincts-- or that little nagging feeling-- ends up being right.

There's an awful lot of smooth talkers out there, it is easy to trust the wrong people.

[gettingbettereveryday]

I think anytime you add money to the equation, it makes the crazy come out. Every crazy horse person I've ever known (and I've known quite a few) has also been obsessed with money. People who otherwise might be nice enough become obsessed with getting their fair share, and god knows, horses are expensive so everyone wants a fair share.

[matryoshka]

Can't speak for the rest of you, but I am crazy. I just happen to also be a horse person. Entirely coincidental.

[JanM]

I think anyone who's obsessed about a sport or hobby is a little crazy, but, most people stop at a certain point. The real crazies don't have any conscience, consideration or courtesy for anyone but themselves. I think some people are simply so self-centered that no one matters to them. I've met people who were obsessed with all kinds of things, but until it becomes public knowledge that they're certifiable loons we can kind of ignore them. And I don't think that a real whack job is going to be just a barn problem, but will be a problem for other people in every area of their lives-and we just see the barn problem not the total problem.

[blackcat95]

[QUOTE=tkhawk;4503879]Horsepeople crazy? -not so much. Real crazies I met are in the corporate world. The higher you go, the more crazier and deluded they seem to be. With horses, if you ride them enough, the horse will take you down a notch or two!:winkgrin:

This may be true, but horse people can be pretty crazy too. I know a BO who had about 60 horses and when anyone asked her what she did with them she was like "Oh! My goal is to get to 100!" wow...

Then again, everyone's a little crazy in their own way... why shouldn't we show our internal craziness around our horses? Better than, say, being a crazy who... doesn't wear clothes in public places? lives with about 1000 cats for no reason (i love cats and would gladly have that many in my barn to keep down the mice... that's a reason!), or... idk, randomly draw mustaches on people (yes, i know someone who does this!)

[LearnToFly]

God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy.

[Amwrider]

I think anyone who's obsessed about a sport or hobby is a little crazy, but, most people stop at a certain point. The real crazies don't have any conscience, consideration or courtesy for anyone but themselves. I think some people are simply so self-centered that no one matters to them.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by ShotenStar http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4503373#post4503373)
Yes, the world is full of crazy people. And what makes it worse is that sometimes even the ones you know and accept as crazy control freaks can surprise you by throwing you under the bus on an issue / at a time / for a reason you least expect. That truly sucks.

Too true.:( And the "crazy control freaks" always look for someone else to blame when their plans go wrong.

[nightsong]

To answer FP's question, it's because we ALL need love and companionship, and those who are too darned UNPLEASANT to be around that that they repel or drive away people and more mobile animals, like dogs and cats, turn to animals that you can keep confined. Although I wonder how many of their equines run through and jump fences/barns/shitty enclosures to get away ANYWAY...

[Equilibrium]

Well I am crazy because who else would get up day in and day out at 5am in all weathers to worry about every little thing that my horses may or may not get into. And do this day in an day out along with all the associated chores of farm and horses. But this brand of crazy keeps me fit and since my horses aren't complaining, I shall keep on! And yes, I'm very controlling with the horses.

But my brand of crazy stays with me. As I've aged I've realized I don't need to apply my crazy to other people. I keep my mouth shut as long as no horses are being harmed.

And as I told my husband one time when he called me crazy. No honey, crazy cuts up your clothes into little shards, crazy starts screaming at the top of her lungs in the grocery store for no reason, crazy burns the house down because she loves to see the pretty flames dance, and finally crazy lurks around every dark corner and likes to watch you sleep with big wide glassy eyes. Then I say, does any of this sound like me. I got a no and wasn't called crazy again. (insert smiley face here as mine have dissapeared!)

Terri

[jeano]

well, if the shoe fits....

Thinking here, as an old psych nurse horsewoman about the classic definition of insanity: doing the same thing repeatedly while expecting a different result.

So if you are doing the same things with your horse, or attempting to cope with barn drama the same way, or finding the finances to support your addicition, or if you have money to burn are throwing money (as opposed to work) at problems in an attempt to fix the problem, or if you are continuing to try to justify and explain and placate the SO who thinks your horse is a waste of time and resources, in short, if you are doing 99% of the things people end up whining about on a horse BB and ITS NOT WORKING and you are still expecting it to, then, yes, you're crazy.

Just involved with horses, having fun with them, doing your best to give good care and train humanely? Not crazy.

[GotGait]

wooooaaaahhhh....dog people. They ARE nuts. :winkgrin:

I was just going to post the same thing. Having shown both horses and dogs - dog people.
I've never been to a cat show, but I've heard rumors that they are even worse.

[equineartworks]

I was just going to post the same thing. Having shown both horses and dogs - dog people.
I've never been to a cat show, but I've heard rumors that they are even worse.

lol! I heard that too. I avoid the cat shows now :lol:

[theblondejumper]

FP I could have written your post myself. Was just discussing with a friend last night. Your description is strangely applicable to my current situation...

The craziness of the horse world came as a shock to me as an adult. I'd spent the majority of my childhood at one, low-key, local lesson/boarding barn. Had the same trainer, farrier, and vet for years and years.

I don't know how we got so lucky-- but the BO's and everyone connected to the place were ethical, honest, and always looked out for myself and my non-horsey parents.

As I got older and wanted different horsey experiences, and also as the professionals around me started to retire, I had to expand my circle. I was definitely naive... and it has taken me most of my adult life to try and figure horse people out. I'm still not good at knowing what is what sometimes, so I try to go with gut feelings.


Same here! I rode at a lovely, lovely, old fashioned, simple lesson barn with a very well-respected horsewoman in my area from nine until twelve. Oh how she warned me of the outside world! Lol.

I have since in the past eight or nine years run into some really crazy horse people. I've found that they all seem to congregate together! Now I'm just much more picky about where I ride and who I ride with. Makes it easier.

[eventersmom]

Hmmm....let's look at the evidence, shall we?

Horse people get up at the crack 'o dawn to feed/water/hook up the trailer/head to shows.

Horse people slog through pouring rain, raging ice storms, and several feet of snow to make sure their horses are warm, fed and happy.

Horse people have their vets on speed dial. Their own doctors? Not so much.

Horse people buy their equine friends $200 blankets and $100 shoes while wearing 10 year old stained t-shirts and jeans.

Horse people study equine nutrition and spend hours of time concocting the best mix of feed and supplements to feed their pony while grabbing whatever fast food (or worse, horse show food) for themselves.

Horse people spend immense amounts of time on COTH having rousing discussions with other horse people instead of working on that massive project that is due next week.

Horse people take all expendable income to the tack shop. Or use it to pay off the vet bill. Or sink the money into truck and trailer repair. If they are really lucky they use the money for a show, lessons or clinic which ensures the horse will go lame a day or two before the scheduled ride.

Woe to the husband who states "it's me or the horse!" Horse people will frequently respond "bye bye husband".

Yep, I'm a horse person and I am bat sh#! crazy. :winkgrin:

[Ponyclubrocks]

If you think someone is normal, you just don't know then well enough. Yes there are some wacky folks at the barn, but they are everywhere. I think one of the reasons we see it at the barn is because we spend so much time there. I just try to remind myself to be compassionate with the lonely misfit types and just avoid the dangerous crazies. The rest are just mildly neurotic (like me!)

[arabhorse2]

I fully admit to being completely, bugnut, whackadoodle crazy. I own horses, dogs, and cats, so I can't plead otherwise! However, I do try to get along with the majority of the human population. The 'you must do it MY way because YOUR way is wrong' people though, I try to avoid like the H1N1 virus. ;)

[redears]

I'm certifiable mentally ill (e.g. crazy) as well as complemented by a neurological disorder, and I happen to love horses (and cats, though there are just two cats in particular). I tend to draw other crazy people towards me, as in, I'm a crazy magnet. It's well-deserved, I suppose. My riding and horses also complement my therapy, and vise-versa. Things I worked on with my psych. through the summer really helped me accomplish my goal of completing a recognized horse trial this fall, confidence, follow-through, saving me from myself :lol:

Unfortunately, with mental illness, there is stigma attached and I don't believe that will ever go away, however, I'm not ashamed for going to a psych. for a mental illness any more than someone would be ashamed of going to an MD for a sore throat.

My horses are both a little crazy, one has a touch of OCD/loose screwiness and the other seems to think he's both invincible as well as the most important thing that has ever existed. We all compliment each other well.

[redears]

Matry, ahh thanks, I didn't know there was a difference on those two spellings, English was never my forte! :)

[matryoshka]

Glad you took it in the spirit is was meant. We crazies need to stick together! ;)

[catknsn]

I do think some people are so bored because their life is so unfulfilling that creating drama is literally the only entertainment they have. The people I've had trouble with online are all unemployed. There you go!

[matryoshka]

There are a lot of disorders out there that people are not even aware they have.

There are different kinds of crazy. Some are harmless (but annoying) to others. The sufferer is affected by it more than anybody else.

There are other kinds of crazy that are harmful to others, and animals are often the first ones to suffer, including horses.

I'm thinking FP and others are mainly complaining about the first type. Sure, there is selfishness out there and people who really don't care how anybody else feels (to me, this is more the second type of crazy). But many, many are suffering themselves and what ya'all are experiencing is the overflow that they are unable to contain. It is not necessarily on purpose and the individual is often unaware that others notice.

Perhaps this type of crazy is drawn to horses because they help ease our pain. They take our minds off our troubles and give us something to nuture. There is nothing wrong with that.

IMHO, the best thing to do is to set firm limits about what you will and will not put up with so that somebody else's craziness doesn't intrude on you. That goes for nasty people, too. People tend to treat us however we allow them to. If you let people walk on you or expect you to do things for them, guess what will happen? You'll get walked on and used. I see this quite a bit among horse people. Being kind does not mean being a door mat or a work horse for somebody else.

[JanM]

I think part of the problem is that we were all taught to be polite and not offend people. But with really deluded people (or others who don't seem to know boundaries or courtesy) you have to be firm in setting the limits and stick to it.

[Nic Nicodemus]

Quote:
Originally Posted by GotGait View Post
I was just going to post the same thing. Having shown both horses and dogs - dog people.
I've never been to a cat show, but I've heard rumors that they are even worse.
lol! I heard that too. I avoid the cat shows now

There are cat shows??!! People really are crazy :eek:

[chai]

It's time to fess up. I think we're all a little crazy, some definitely more along the fringe, but still, mr chai and I think horsewomen are a different breed altogether.

I once had a man pick hay out of my hair in the checkout line at the grocery store. Another time, I ran into a horse friend in the checkout line at the grocery and we started discussing my gelding's weird lumps in his sheath and how the vet had been out to ultrasound and I check them every day to see how big they are. Suddenly I noticed it got very quiet around us....

I, too, wonder about the sanity of a horse owner who wouldn't give me permission to let the vet put her horse down when he had a heart attack until I screamed in her face to do the right thing, or the co-op member who showed up once a month to see her horse but was down at Hunter's Inn 3 nights a week dressed to the 9s in breeches and boots. There are some real whack jobs out there, but thank God, most of us are just a little batty, and in a good way.

[Arbitrary]

Everyone is crazy in their own way.

The secret to happiness is surrounding yourself by people whose crazy complements your own crazy.

Works for me.

Love this. Crazy as charged.

Fortunately I am surrounded IRL with similar crazy horsepeople (all dedicated to good horsemanship and riding in all types of weather :lol:). No barn drama -just a love of all things horse.

Some of the people (seems to be mostly middle-aged women IME?) I've run across on the internet, however, are dried-up bitter bat-sh** crazy pot-stirrers. Whoever posted about the bad-crazy-types being unfulfilled in their real lives is spot on, as far as I can tell.

[MistyBlue]

If you think someone is normal, you just don't know then well enough.

I like that, too true! :yes: :D


Horse people are nuts. Always have been and to all different levels of nuts.
Many have few human social skills...probably why they got involved with horses in the first place. Unjudgemental and silent friendship. :winkgrin:
Many are also pretty dogmatic about anything equine related...and can get frothy about it.
And we're all a bit off in the haid. :cool:

[Arcadien]

There are cat shows??!! People really are crazy :eek:

Oh no, you really have to check out a cat show, it is too much fun -

as long as you go with the right attitude! Go to admire the lovely cats, and the cool blinged up kitty show stalls lining the aisles... be amazed by how many breeds there are of actual "cat" (really it's astounding!), and maybe funnest, stand back and people watch -

It's unreal, but seriously entertaining, I come away feeling much more sane and in touch with reality. ;) And when I get home, I get to enjoy "pretend judging" my barn cats, who are not totally impressed as I try to pose them, assess their head shape, fur quality and (cough) grooming job.

Truly a not to be missed experience, put attending a cat show on your bucket list! if you like kitties and have any kind of a sense of humor - but don't laugh while there, these people are DEAD serious! And for heaven's sakes, no matter how soft and alluring the fur may be - DON'T TRY TO TOUCH A CAT!!! This will get you rays of DEATH and kitties will be flounced away far out of your reach the rest of the show.

:) :-)
Arcadien who is completely sane, doesn't know what this thread is trying to get at -

and off to go watch some bull riding on ESPN so she can feel even saner! GRIN

[Arcadien]

Hmmm....let's look at the evidence, shall we?

Horse people get up at the crack 'o dawn to feed/water/hook up the trailer/head to shows.

Horse people slog through pouring rain, raging ice storms, and several feet of snow to make sure their horses are warm, fed and happy.

Horse people have their vets on speed dial. Their own doctors? Not so much.

Horse people buy their equine friends $200 blankets and $100 shoes while wearing 10 year old stained t-shirts and jeans.

Horse people study equine nutrition and spend hours of time concocting the best mix of feed and supplements to feed their pony while grabbing whatever fast food (or worse, horse show food) for themselves.

Horse people spend immense amounts of time on COTH having rousing discussions with other horse people instead of working on that massive project that is due next week.

Horse people take all expendable income to the tack shop. Or use it to pay off the vet bill. Or sink the money into truck and trailer repair. If they are really lucky they use the money for a show, lessons or clinic which ensures the horse will go lame a day or two before the scheduled ride.

Woe to the husband who states "it's me or the horse!" Horse people will frequently respond "bye bye husband".

Yep, I'm a horse person and I am bat sh#! crazy. :winkgrin:

LOLOL, thanks for this one - I'm printing it out and putting it on my fridge so I can just point to it the next time my parents complain "but honey, no one lives like this!"
:D

[Wellspotted]

They didn't save the drama for their mama? (Therapy, lots of it)

I try and save the drama for my llama. :winkgrin:

[tabula rashah]

Stamp collecting is a hobby. If you leave a hobby in a closet for a week, and wander off to Tahiti on a cruise, NO ONE DIES



.

Oh yeah, what about George's fiance on Seinfeld??? She died from licking stamps right;) LMAO!

Anyway, I totally agree, at some point we all have to be a little nuts to pick a hobby that generally takes our attention 24/7 and we have to be a little nuts to climb on the back of a 1200 lbs animal with a brain the size of, well not very big, and expect it to do our complete bidding. You wanna talk crazy horse people? I'm the office manager for a large sport horse farm- crazy calls me on the phone all day long:lol:

[ILuvmyButtercups]

You want to hear crazy? Years ago I worked for a woman who had 30 race horses. Six stallions, all racers, and breeders. All the mares raced after being bred, and were off only for a few months to foal out and nurse. This lady was TERRIFIED of horses - wouldn't even hold one on a shank over a stall door. Granted, her racers were just as jumpy and active as any other elsewhere, and the stallions were all typical; would bite, strike, whatever if given the chance. But she didn't believe in gelding anything, didn't let a mare's chance to prduce go to waste. It was absurd, the only reason the numbers stayed fairly constant was if a mare didn't take, or she aborted.

I only stayed long enough to earn a horse - I galloped them all up, put the studs on the mares, got gate cards and published workouts on the two year olds one year. Couldn't wait to leave there, that woman was certified NUTS.
Only a few of her horses, including the one I took in payment amounted to anything at all, claimers, mostly, a handful of minor allowance. I wasn't sure which I felt the most pity for, the horses, or this deluded nut case. Both?