Yikes, that was a really sad & disturbing horse story! As a lifelong horsewoman—but never big into the show scene—I'm grateful all my barn environments were positive and supportive (except for one). When I got back into riding as an adult and had to lease & share a horse rather than own my own, I was briefly at a show-oriented barn, where the absence of camaraderie struck me, as did the superior attitude the riders had toward the workers. It was the only time I was at a barn where hired help did all the horse care of mucking & feeding, and some even had their horses groomed and tacked up before they got ready to ride. I've always cared for my horses—feeding, grooming, manure management—and feel that's an essential part of being a horse person. Your story saddens me (though very well written!), and I hope it's an anomaly and you experienced more positive barns.
This brings back memories for me of my own history with a deep love for horses. In my 20's, I had a beautiful 17 hand Percheron/Leopard Appaloosa cross who LOVED to jump! I remember how I loved grooming him, trimming him, and preparing for upcoming dressage/3-day eventing shows. I actually loved the training and preparing more than the shows themselves, which always caused butterflies and fears of failure! But thank you Holly for such beautiful writing about the beautiful nature of horses. I am no longer in the "horse industry" as I switched over to dogs (much cheaper than horses!) and have never looked back. But I think fondly of the scene where Elizabeth Taylor in one of her movies {Black Beauty, maybe?) smelt the scent of horses and took in a long, slow inhaling of horse scent and went, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....HORSES!" It's like puppy breath...you don't get to smell it often, but you just LOVE that scent!
We bought a team of Percherons identical in colour, size, and strength -a perfect Show Horse Team. One difference between them- someone had trimmed/docked a tail on one of them shorter than the other- easier to wrap it for showing was the reason, I was told. Yikes! Like you, I live on a ranch surrounded by green pastures, mountains and BUGs. Again like you said, Holly, horses need their long tails to keep those bugs from biting or stinging them, constantly, throughout the long hot days of Summer. Hair extensions were not a popular option back then, so they suffered. I was always glad when the cold days of Autumn shooed the bugs away for another year. Your story reminded me of this team named Jim and Dandy - the docked tails - but also the joy they gave us - pulling our wagon, the hay mower and the rake. How patient they were with two active kids running around their gigantic hooves that with one swift kick could cause irreparable damage to a small child. How they pressed their large, soft noses against the kitchen window, peering in at us eating breakfast - making us all laugh together. Horses talk to each other constantly and they always let us know when a grizzly came into the yard. Watch horse rather than a watch dog. Haha! So long tails or no tails - they were part of our family.
That’s just horrible!! I’m sad for the horses, but equally glad you didn’t have to go back. But geez what a sacrifice! I love reading your stories because I’m always there, with you. 🙏 thank you
Your horse showing experience sounds like mine! My first was a Shetland pony and he loved to go in the ring- stop, and refuse to move. I remember being five years old and crying in the middle of the ring (haha).
Yikes, that was a really sad & disturbing horse story! As a lifelong horsewoman—but never big into the show scene—I'm grateful all my barn environments were positive and supportive (except for one). When I got back into riding as an adult and had to lease & share a horse rather than own my own, I was briefly at a show-oriented barn, where the absence of camaraderie struck me, as did the superior attitude the riders had toward the workers. It was the only time I was at a barn where hired help did all the horse care of mucking & feeding, and some even had their horses groomed and tacked up before they got ready to ride. I've always cared for my horses—feeding, grooming, manure management—and feel that's an essential part of being a horse person. Your story saddens me (though very well written!), and I hope it's an anomaly and you experienced more positive barns.
This brings back memories for me of my own history with a deep love for horses. In my 20's, I had a beautiful 17 hand Percheron/Leopard Appaloosa cross who LOVED to jump! I remember how I loved grooming him, trimming him, and preparing for upcoming dressage/3-day eventing shows. I actually loved the training and preparing more than the shows themselves, which always caused butterflies and fears of failure! But thank you Holly for such beautiful writing about the beautiful nature of horses. I am no longer in the "horse industry" as I switched over to dogs (much cheaper than horses!) and have never looked back. But I think fondly of the scene where Elizabeth Taylor in one of her movies {Black Beauty, maybe?) smelt the scent of horses and took in a long, slow inhaling of horse scent and went, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....HORSES!" It's like puppy breath...you don't get to smell it often, but you just LOVE that scent!
Holly
We bought a team of Percherons identical in colour, size, and strength -a perfect Show Horse Team. One difference between them- someone had trimmed/docked a tail on one of them shorter than the other- easier to wrap it for showing was the reason, I was told. Yikes! Like you, I live on a ranch surrounded by green pastures, mountains and BUGs. Again like you said, Holly, horses need their long tails to keep those bugs from biting or stinging them, constantly, throughout the long hot days of Summer. Hair extensions were not a popular option back then, so they suffered. I was always glad when the cold days of Autumn shooed the bugs away for another year. Your story reminded me of this team named Jim and Dandy - the docked tails - but also the joy they gave us - pulling our wagon, the hay mower and the rake. How patient they were with two active kids running around their gigantic hooves that with one swift kick could cause irreparable damage to a small child. How they pressed their large, soft noses against the kitchen window, peering in at us eating breakfast - making us all laugh together. Horses talk to each other constantly and they always let us know when a grizzly came into the yard. Watch horse rather than a watch dog. Haha! So long tails or no tails - they were part of our family.
Then and in our happy family memories now.
That’s just horrible!! I’m sad for the horses, but equally glad you didn’t have to go back. But geez what a sacrifice! I love reading your stories because I’m always there, with you. 🙏 thank you
See horsetail crafts online.
Your horse showing experience sounds like mine! My first was a Shetland pony and he loved to go in the ring- stop, and refuse to move. I remember being five years old and crying in the middle of the ring (haha).
I grew up going to that arena and had a series of unfortunate events happen there too. Thanks for this reminder of home, even if it’s disturbing.
Sad story- well written ! Great description of the industrial show world.
Your pony, the one that was recovering from colic, did not have his tail cut, right? Cutting off a horses tail is just such a sick thing to do!
To bad the guilty person was never caught. How long does it take for the tail to grow back?