I happened to be going through some classifieds today just to see what the prices of horses are going for. I've been trying to avoid looking knowing that I can't bring anyone home and are currently maxed out.
What threw me were two ads. One was someone trying to sell a 29 year old mare for $800. Why do people insist on using horses until their very last day on earth and then expect someone else to buy them? Why aren't horses allowed a decent retirement? Oh sure, maybe a little ride here or there but these owners were suggesting that she teach another young person to ride and that she could be used hard still. Maybe she can but I guess I'm a bit of a softy. Let these oldsters enjoy a relaxing ride and a good long retirement.
The other was someone complaining about the quirks of their horse and that was the reason for getting rid of him. Most horses have quirks and most horses find new homes because of those quirks but these quirks were outrageous. The quirk that blew me away was that the horse wouldn't tolerate having his bridle path clipped. Do you know how many horses at Borderlands can't stand a clippers? The other quirk was that the horse didn't like loading and standing patiently IN the trailer. Umm, again, I have at least one that freaks out in the trailer and a couple that don't have the patience to stand in the trailer like good boys and girls.
"Quirks" like rearing or bucking or something along those lines, I've seen time after time. But the quirks that this person were complaining about?!?! Be realistic. Everyone has quirks. Hell, I have WAY too many quirks for this person.
I guess my mind is simply boggled by the expectations people have on animals. They expect perfection every time, yet we ourselves are never perfect. I'm a "Type A" sort of person who expects perfection, but I'm learning to get over it and simply be happy with what I have until I can concentrate my time on fixing the issue. It's like loading Bo. He freaks out in a trailer. I haven't worked him much to expect him to not freak out. It's on the list of things to work with him on and we'll get there. But I wont' get rid of him because he gets upset standing in a trailer or being hauled 1/8 of a mile.
Come on people, let's be a little bit more realistic in our expectations of what a horse should and could do. And don't forget that the old deserve a retirement too. We are all working towards retirement, why aren't horses allowed the same thing?
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