Equine Education Balances Econimic Woes

I need to step away from the issue of rescue horses for a moment. I believe with all my heart that they way to reduce equine "abuse" is to educate novice horse owners about what it really takes to keep a horse well and safe. If education can be achieved, and issues of the economy aside, perhaps horses will not suffer at the hands of ignorant people. I do not mean that in a rude manner. Ignorance, then embarassment for hurting the horses, and then anger becuase people do not like to be told , or arrested...

For every horse owner you meet there are 100 opinions about how to care for horses.
The problem is only exacerbated because the internet provides so much information that sounds plausible and sensible for people who want to do the right thing.

Professional horsemen are always learning and comparing and trying things to make their operation the most efficient and keep the horses the most healthy. I do not understand why some people resent horse trainers or individuals trained/expereinced in horse husbandry. I have been told on more than one occasion, "You trainers are all alike, you hoard the information and Lord it over us, dole it out for a fee. I can just get the information on the Web, and it contradicts what you tell me."

However, the irony is lost on those 5 or 6 people out of the 300 some people I have had as clients, when they are telling me about their anger as they have the horse on the trailer to come back to me because what they were told by two more internet trainers did not fix a problem....

I cast this out to the blogosphere..

How about a novice horseman series of classes this winter at a nice covered barn area or an indoor pet/feed store...Or a list of reputable horsemen that novices can turn to for information before, and during the first years of horse ownership. Boarding horses is a great option, but I ran across several Pony Clubbers who did not even know what their horses ate every day and what sort of feeding schedule. This type of horse ownership does not create lifelong horsemen.

I seem to be controversial in these last few posts, and it troubles me. I guess it is because I see so clearly that proper education and practice would help children and their parents keep horses smarter, cheaper, and more efficiently, and reduce the number of horses dumped on the market in harder times....or turned loose in the woods...


Your opinions are welcomed.

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