Little Steppers

pyrgirl · I am a gonner Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 1514

Really I did!
You all have spoiled me!!

I went to TSC today to get some bargains since it was "horse day."
They had someone from the pony club there with a pretty pinto and also someone with a mini. I went up to the mini lady to chat and pet the horse. She was sure different. All about competitiveness and breeding for long necks and tiny size and did I want to breed my horses to her stud for the remarkably low stud fee of $950?????
I asked if she knew C and that just sent her into a blathering list of the breeders that she got her horses from and there were only 3 studs in America that she'd breed to, etc. etc. etc.
(Glad she doesn't know you, C!)
I also told her I wasn't planning on breeding but if I did I already knew a stud that would be perfect. (Trooper has already been practicing, right?!)

Wow!
I said that "Aren't minis amazing and fun?"
And she looked at me like I was crazy. I don't think fun entered into her equation. Felt kind of sorry for the horse. Not alot of love for the animal there. I left with a cheery "Goodbye! Enjoy your horses!"

Yikes. Glad I got to know you guys first.
You are the greatest!!!!!!!!!!

McBunz · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject:

Lucky you... you met someone from the big B#%$es club.. Now I would love to see you break her butt in a driving class some day...A willing happy horse will do a much better job in the long run than one whose forced to do everything by some OUT TO WIN AT ANY COST B#%$h.

McBunz · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject:

You didn't happen to get a name did you... to add to our avoid at all cost list..

Sher · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 3:55 am Post subject:

There're a lot of stuck-up Mini owners around here, too. They think their poo don't smell, if you get what I mean. Your story makes me think of when we're little kids. We're in our family units, all happy with our parents and siblings and grandparents and aunts & uncles, then we have to go to school. We find out what the real world is like! I'm glad you're in our family, too, Patty!

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Character is doing the right thing, even when nobody is watching.

pyrgirl · I am a gonner Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 1514

Betty B · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 7:22 am Post subject:

LOL. They are not all nice! I meet a lady yesterday at that sale that said she was sick and tired of all the people who want Minis for pets. She said she sends them on there way in a hurry as her horses are not bred for pets. All i could say was Oh really? I am a breeder and there are a lot of great people out there that want them for pets. Not every horse is a show horse and there are plenty of "pets" that if with a trainer they could beat the pants off the champions out there. She didn't like me much after that. She took her dog and moved on

An old guy was grinning from ear to ear so i made some friends and i spose an enemy or 2 also. Oh well.
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Visit Bear Valley Miniature Horse Farm

Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.

Betty

McBunz · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 7:38 am Post subject:

Don't those people make you fume... These are living, breathing animals.
Not a used car.. I want all of mine to be pets first. If the owner wants to
show them fine.. but they had better love them first.. Maybe that is why I
don't make money on them..

Use to see the same thing with dogs at the shows. Bred to show.. and live in kennels.. Crap ... all of mine lived in the house.. slept on the beds and couches. Pets first.. every one...

Crocker's Critters · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 12:19 pm Post subject:

McBunz · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 12:39 pm Post subject:

I think what a lot of these halter types thinks is pet quality is anything they or one of their nose in the air friends has not sold to you for five grand or over. It doesn't matter that their legs would snap like twigs doing jumps and forget about driving them at all.. So what becomes of these horses when their show and breeding career is over.. They hopefully end up as someones beloved pasture pet..

Crocker's Critters · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject:

Yes, before they get too uppity about the "show quality-Halter-bred" horses, they should take a LONG HARD LOOK at what "halter horse" breeding has done to some other popular breeds. Eg: Quarterhorse, Appaloosa, Arabian.

With these breeds there is such a huge difference between the halter horses and performance horses, they've even so far as perpetuating genetic mutations, and fatal diseases, just to get that "perfect halter horse".

Sad-sad-sad...

Don't get me wrong, I love a beautiful head, and a nice hooky neck...but not at the detriment of a good shoulder, and substancial hip, with a nice butt that will make a good engine.

I applaud the horse that can do it all, and strive hard to breed for it.

Mini PETS...UNITE!!!!!!!!!!!
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Striving to make horses BETTER...not BIGGER!!

McBunz · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject:

Again it gets down to following the standard not a fashion.. Over doing what the standard calls for will give you these pretty picture horses that are almost
useless for anything else.. No darn wonder so many have breeding problems.
People did the same thing to my dog breed.. Dobermans are suppose to be a working breed.. guard dog. So many are now so fine boned and picture perfect that they can't work... They look like large min. pins.. a five pound lap dog...

Crocker's Critters · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 3:47 pm Post subject:

You are so right.

Look what the North Americans have done to several dog breeds. For another example, there is a world of difference between "our" spaniels, and the European originals. "We" have bred the dogs to be longer legged, and smaller/narrower headed in most cases...breeding a bunch of flighty, hair-brained idiots that "look good".

The horses and ponies are following the same trend.

Granted, with the Shetlands, I do prefer the American Foundation version to the original little tubby pony, but do wish they hadn't influenced them so much with the Hackney. (Modern and Classic??) I shudder to think of mini hackneys taking over our show rings. Not that I don't like to watch hackneys do their thing...but I just wish they'd kept them to their own breed. I am not one who thinks of them as having "improved" the Shetlands overmuch.

Not a popular stance, I know.

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Striving to make horses BETTER...not BIGGER!!

IZZY · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:10 pm Post subject:

I just think that there's no point in having an animal unless you love it....taking them to shows would be a blast, but I spend lots of time mingling with them and even just watching them just be horses. Every horse has it's reason to be loved by someone, every horse has it's own personality that makes it special.

Crocker's Critters · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:02 am Post subject:

Oh yes, you are so right. That is the type of person that has a monetary value placed on everything...even human friendships.

The horses I show are my beloved pets. Just ask Twister, my young gleding...he is the goof of the barn, and I have watched him grow from awkward colt, to maturity, being there for him like a mother...loving him every second. My broodmares, and stallion are pasture pets too. It makes my day...going out and having every one of them come over for cuddles and lovens...

Guess you could say that some of us show our pets, and other pets sit home and get treated better than some of the more unfortunate "show quality" horses.

I think we stole this post Adie...you and I and our tirade.

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Striving to make horses BETTER...not BIGGER!!

IZZY · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:18 am Post subject:

The whole nose up in the air thing is what has scared me off of going to shows, but I guess it's like that where ever you go, with different hobbies, which is too bad because it ruins it for the ones that are really into it for the love of the hobby and the animals.
It would make my day if I was at a show or activity and someone came up and thought my horse was so funny or cute or beautiful...