Comments on: the cowboy way

By: enlightenedhorsemanship

enlightenedhorsemanship — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:20:36 +0000

thank you for writing such a galvanizing post. this subject is near and dear to my heart, as I consider myself to have learned a thing or two about horses in spite of being a a unaccomplished rider.
I find the greatest impediment to getting clients in my massage and ground training business is this obvious lack of “butt-in-the-saddle” skills.
if I don’t ride up front with the speediest and most dangerous crowd during a fox hunt, if I don’t enter the classes with the high jumps, and I poke along with my filly and still manage to hit the dirt on occasion, it seems I lose credibility in the eyes of more traditional-minded horse people in my area.
while I know that you can be a good horse person without being a super skilled rider, I wish others did, because I have a lot to offer their horses.
to your “acquaintance,” I offer the a big, fat, horsey raspberry award for complete lack of awareness.

By: jdp

jdp — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:49:52 +0000

It looks like you are doing a great job with Jasper and I absolutely agree with you that being open-minded is the best way to approach working with horses.

Thanks for stopping by!

By: cdnmich

cdnmich — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:08:47 +0000

Great post! Personally, I am trying to soak up as much as I can – for the betterment of my horse. Whether that means reading books, watching videos, going to clinics. Having an open mind and figuring out what works best for your horse I think is the sign of a good horseperson. Unfortunately I’ve run into the close minded opinionated asses more often than not – lol. Before I got my horse I only knew how to ride. Learning groundwork has opened a whole new world for me and has helped me better communicate not just with my horse, but horses in general.

By: jdp

jdp — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:13:59 +0000

GHM, Michelle,

Thanks for coming by – it’s nice to see there IS an open-minded contingent in the horse world. I personally love to learn, but then I still have “beginner’s mind” where I know that I don’t know everything!

By: michelle

michelle — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:40:32 +0000

Here here. I’ve always felt ‘weird’ because I’m as or more happy working with a horse on the ground vs. in the saddle. As long as the horse is treated with care, openness to diversity/new ideas is good. Otherwise we’d miss those ongoing lessons that are an important part of the relationship with horses (agreeing with GreyHorseMatters). Great post!

By: GreyHorseMatters

GreyHorseMatters — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:18:23 +0000

It really is a shame that some “horse” people close their minds to any new or different way of doing things just because they think they know it all. There is always something to learn. I agree with your entire post, and hope this guy checks his ego at the barn door someday soon before his horse is lost.

By: jdp

jdp — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:25:26 +0000

I hadn’t heard that saying before – but it’s a good one.

Thanks for visiting.

By: onthebit

onthebit — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:42:20 +0000

An old saying, “It’s what you learn about horses after you know everything that matters”. Sounds like your friend turned acquaintance needs to hear that one a few times over. I hope his horse doesn’t have to suffer for his ignorance.