SWA
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{{{Heavy sighs}}}
I remember several years ago, we were in a parade with our minis and a I remember hearing a little girl so excited to see our horses, it must have been her very first time to see a horse so small, because she hollered to her mom in almost disbelief of them in saying "Look Mom, are they real?" She said it so loudly that it made me stop and smile and proudly proclaim their legitimacy to her, LOL. I just thought her excitement over them was just so adorable, and even when I let her pet them, she still could not believe they were "real". Her mom said she must have thought they were "Disney animated parade animals" or something. I can't help but feel those robotic "Butterscotch Ponies" at Wal-Mart might somehow be partly to blame for a child's confusion in that regard.
Although, her reaction was rather "cute" at the time, it still resonates with me to this day, in that, ever since, I am finding that it's not just children who seem to be of the assumption that minis are not (or don't "count as") a "real" horse.
Well, then fast forward to a couple months ago, when a nearby neighbor's horse was colicy. At the time I just shrugged off the comments, because the horse's condition was my primary concern at the time. But, when her horse was colicing, she came to me for help. I obliged whole heartedly, and thankfully the poor guy pulled through. I wrote about this incident on another mini group at the time, so won't go into the whole ordeal again here, LOL. My point of bringing it up though, was because of her initial comment when she came to me for help. "I know you just have minis...but I don't know anyone else with a "real horse".
He was her first horse, and didn't know that he was in full blown colic.
She was initially rather worried that because I "only had minis", that I would not have the first inclination as to what was happening to her "Real" horse, and wouldn't know how to help. But, she figured she'd ask anyhow, as she couldn't afford to have a vet out. (Thankfully, she gave him away a couple weeks later, and he's doing much better now...whew!!!)
Anyways...
Then, earlier tonight, was just...well, just suffice it to say... I was about fit to be tied.
{{{Heavy sighs}}}
Hubby and I went out for dinner, and was waiting for our turn for seating. While in the waiting area, we were having a really nice conversation with another couple about horses. We talked about our "old days" several years ago, when we used to go to speed shows, doing barrels and what not. Also, when our son used to do barrels & poles, etc. Then we started talking about our minis and all the stuff we do "nowadays". They were really interested in hearing all the fun we've had with our minis over our latter years with horses. The harness racing, trail drives, mini shows back when our son was little, and just recently attempting to get back into showing again, just this year. Just in general talking about our many years with horses, as were the other couple too...who was now into "welsh ponies", having come from many years with "biggies" too.
Anyways, well into our conversations, along comes this other couple... the girl heard us "talking horses" and wanted to join in, and we were all like, yeah, the more the merrier, we were all just having a grand time while still waiting for our turn for a table. Then, this new girl went and done it... while in the middle of talking about our horses, the topic went into their general care, what we feed, why we feed what we do, and how well we are impressed with the results of our choices, etc., along with our other care practices, such as worming and ferrier schedules, and what all vetting we do ourselves and what we leave to our vet, etc. and THEN she ask "THE QUESTION", she asked what kind of horses do we have now, and we proudly told her we no longer have Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds, we now have "Minis".
WHOA NELLIE!!!! She just got this weird look over her face and ACTUALLY SAID IT.... "Oh, those aren't "REAL" Horses, minis are just fairyland ponies". Then, she went right into telling us we had NO IDEA what we were talking about, and like HOW COULD WE, when we just have "minis". It's not like they are REAL horses, after all, according to her, minis are just little fairland ponies. Anything we do with our minis could not possibly be applied to the equivalentcy of "REAL HORSES".
Oh man....
Instantly, I was all like... "OH NO SHE DIT-ANT"!!!!
I held my tongue though, don't ask me how, cause I have NO IDEA...
Anyways, she was just carrying on now, like she was now just THE AUTHORITY on how to care for a REAL HORSE, and I'm sitting there like.... uh... WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE????
Did she just slap me silly and PUT me in MY dinky little "pony fairland" place???
All of a sudden, is this girl REALLY of the impression now that anything further we could have to offer in this conversation was just SO IRRELAVANT that it need no longer be said... in HER presence????
Round about then...we were called for our table. {{{Heavy sighs}}}
Lee was quick to scoot me along, before I could really react beyond my "SLAP ME SILLY" stupor!!!
Well, I was so steamed by her "Equine Bigotry" (sorry, I just can't think of any other way to term this), that I could hardly enjoy my dinner. Thankfully, the little bit of time over the meal, did help at least a little in getting myself recomposed...somewhat. By the time we were ready to leave, I was able to think a little clearer on what to say to her, as we passed by her table on our way out. And...YES, I was DEFINATELY going to make sure we passed by her table on our way out, even if she was clear over on the other side of the restaurant!
Anyways, I just handed her one of my new "farm business cards", and told her that it was "real", and on the back of it, I wrote the URL for Lil Beginnings, and invited her to join us "here" anytime she might like to learn more about just how REAL our little pony fairy land was.
I figure it best to just "TAG TEAM" with any of ya'll here, to better inform this girl, (should she desire to ever find out for herself FOR REAL) of all the REAL HORSE CARE that comes with owning minis, especially those of you who have extensive "FOR REAL HORSE" experience in breeding and foaling, color genetics, genetic studies of dwarfism, building fences, barns, pasture maintence, veterinary and ferrier care, training, conditioning and everything else that comes with owning REAL MINIATURE HORSES!!!!
Dagnabbit!!!!
(PS...please forgive any misspellings of this "vent fest"...I hope it doesn't reflect on my "real horse owning" intelligence...or lack of.)
Anyways...thanks for letting me "vent"...
I remember several years ago, we were in a parade with our minis and a I remember hearing a little girl so excited to see our horses, it must have been her very first time to see a horse so small, because she hollered to her mom in almost disbelief of them in saying "Look Mom, are they real?" She said it so loudly that it made me stop and smile and proudly proclaim their legitimacy to her, LOL. I just thought her excitement over them was just so adorable, and even when I let her pet them, she still could not believe they were "real". Her mom said she must have thought they were "Disney animated parade animals" or something. I can't help but feel those robotic "Butterscotch Ponies" at Wal-Mart might somehow be partly to blame for a child's confusion in that regard.
Although, her reaction was rather "cute" at the time, it still resonates with me to this day, in that, ever since, I am finding that it's not just children who seem to be of the assumption that minis are not (or don't "count as") a "real" horse.
Well, then fast forward to a couple months ago, when a nearby neighbor's horse was colicy. At the time I just shrugged off the comments, because the horse's condition was my primary concern at the time. But, when her horse was colicing, she came to me for help. I obliged whole heartedly, and thankfully the poor guy pulled through. I wrote about this incident on another mini group at the time, so won't go into the whole ordeal again here, LOL. My point of bringing it up though, was because of her initial comment when she came to me for help. "I know you just have minis...but I don't know anyone else with a "real horse".
She was initially rather worried that because I "only had minis", that I would not have the first inclination as to what was happening to her "Real" horse, and wouldn't know how to help. But, she figured she'd ask anyhow, as she couldn't afford to have a vet out. (Thankfully, she gave him away a couple weeks later, and he's doing much better now...whew!!!)
Anyways...
Then, earlier tonight, was just...well, just suffice it to say... I was about fit to be tied.
Hubby and I went out for dinner, and was waiting for our turn for seating. While in the waiting area, we were having a really nice conversation with another couple about horses. We talked about our "old days" several years ago, when we used to go to speed shows, doing barrels and what not. Also, when our son used to do barrels & poles, etc. Then we started talking about our minis and all the stuff we do "nowadays". They were really interested in hearing all the fun we've had with our minis over our latter years with horses. The harness racing, trail drives, mini shows back when our son was little, and just recently attempting to get back into showing again, just this year. Just in general talking about our many years with horses, as were the other couple too...who was now into "welsh ponies", having come from many years with "biggies" too.
Anyways, well into our conversations, along comes this other couple... the girl heard us "talking horses" and wanted to join in, and we were all like, yeah, the more the merrier, we were all just having a grand time while still waiting for our turn for a table. Then, this new girl went and done it... while in the middle of talking about our horses, the topic went into their general care, what we feed, why we feed what we do, and how well we are impressed with the results of our choices, etc., along with our other care practices, such as worming and ferrier schedules, and what all vetting we do ourselves and what we leave to our vet, etc. and THEN she ask "THE QUESTION", she asked what kind of horses do we have now, and we proudly told her we no longer have Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds, we now have "Minis".
WHOA NELLIE!!!! She just got this weird look over her face and ACTUALLY SAID IT.... "Oh, those aren't "REAL" Horses, minis are just fairyland ponies". Then, she went right into telling us we had NO IDEA what we were talking about, and like HOW COULD WE, when we just have "minis". It's not like they are REAL horses, after all, according to her, minis are just little fairland ponies. Anything we do with our minis could not possibly be applied to the equivalentcy of "REAL HORSES".
Instantly, I was all like... "OH NO SHE DIT-ANT"!!!!
I held my tongue though, don't ask me how, cause I have NO IDEA...
Anyways, she was just carrying on now, like she was now just THE AUTHORITY on how to care for a REAL HORSE, and I'm sitting there like.... uh... WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE????
Did she just slap me silly and PUT me in MY dinky little "pony fairland" place???
All of a sudden, is this girl REALLY of the impression now that anything further we could have to offer in this conversation was just SO IRRELAVANT that it need no longer be said... in HER presence????
Round about then...we were called for our table. {{{Heavy sighs}}}
Lee was quick to scoot me along, before I could really react beyond my "SLAP ME SILLY" stupor!!!
Well, I was so steamed by her "Equine Bigotry" (sorry, I just can't think of any other way to term this), that I could hardly enjoy my dinner. Thankfully, the little bit of time over the meal, did help at least a little in getting myself recomposed...somewhat. By the time we were ready to leave, I was able to think a little clearer on what to say to her, as we passed by her table on our way out. And...YES, I was DEFINATELY going to make sure we passed by her table on our way out, even if she was clear over on the other side of the restaurant!
Anyways, I just handed her one of my new "farm business cards", and told her that it was "real", and on the back of it, I wrote the URL for Lil Beginnings, and invited her to join us "here" anytime she might like to learn more about just how REAL our little pony fairy land was.
I figure it best to just "TAG TEAM" with any of ya'll here, to better inform this girl, (should she desire to ever find out for herself FOR REAL) of all the REAL HORSE CARE that comes with owning minis, especially those of you who have extensive "FOR REAL HORSE" experience in breeding and foaling, color genetics, genetic studies of dwarfism, building fences, barns, pasture maintence, veterinary and ferrier care, training, conditioning and everything else that comes with owning REAL MINIATURE HORSES!!!!
Dagnabbit!!!!
(PS...please forgive any misspellings of this "vent fest"...I hope it doesn't reflect on my "real horse owning" intelligence...or lack of.)
Anyways...thanks for letting me "vent"...
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