Just a simple poll for all miniature horse owners

[Lauralee]

Please take my simple poll. I'd like to see the level of experience among miniature horse owners. Feel free to post any additional comments regarding your choices. Thanks!!!!!

 

[lyn_j]

[SIZE=18pt]I have been independantly responsible for horses large first and then minis for over 30 years... I chose advanced knowledge however because I dont ride english, nor do I jump but have taught 4h kids to do that. I dont feel I will qualify as an Expert in knowledge ever.....we can always learn more.[/SIZE]

Lyn

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

Ok well I have to say I have had 20 + years of experience but one thing that Hilda Gurney(sp) told me she was a pretty big dressage trainer.. when I was a kid and followed her around like a puppy dog begging to lunge and groom and watch...

She made a comment to me that the biggest key to a horseman who knew nothing was that he claimed to be an expert.

She told me that the key to knowing a true professional and a wanna be (not her word there) was simply the true professional is very quiet and calm with the knowledge they have, they never have to try and shove there wonders to the horse world in anyones face.

In the years since I can honestly say she has been right about that 100 percent of the time.

:

For me, I have been thru a lot and seen alot and I know without a doubt there is always a horse out there who at any given moment is willing to prove to me there is always much more to learn.

 

[New_Image]

I voted 6-10 years since Ive been responsible for horses Ive owned, which is going on 7 years.

And I consider myself somewhere around Intermediate. There are still many many things I have to learn, but Ive had a number of years of experience in some areas.

Interesting topic.

 

[Shari]

I just said 20+ plus years with horses, but only advanced. Why,, because I will never stop learning.

Calling oneself a Master in anything means you know longer listen and know it all. Have known a few horse trainers that have gotten that way..and it doesn't do their animals any good.

 

[Lauralee]

I have to disagree, Shari. I personally do know some that can honestly call themselves advanced or expert or professional. And I wouldn't want anyone to be discouraged from answering those options based on that statement. There truly are some experts in our business.....most of the time, like Lisa Ruffntuff said, they just don't toot their horns.

 

[Jill]

I have owned horses since 1995, starting with biggies. I would say I'm intermediate for sure. I can do things better than some others and some things not as well. I am constantly learning from my horses and from other people. That's what makes it fun though to be a horsewoman. If it was easy and on autopilot, it would not be interesting for long.

Really neat poll, btw

:

 

[Dona]

I have been riding ponies & full sized horses since I was a tiny child. My cousins had lots of horses & I practically grew up there! Then I had my own Welsh pony when I was a teen that I rode & drove. (yes, I was responsible for his care.)

After that, I owned & rode full sized horses (Arabs & Saddlebred/Arabs) my whole adult life until I got into the Minis in 1989. I will be 57 this year.......so that adds up to many years experience. But like others have said, I am always learning.

: I never stepped foot into the showring until I had minis...so that was most definitely a new learning experience. I also never bred a horse until the Minis. There are some areas I would consider myself advanced in.....but still many areas that I consider myself a novice.

:

 

[Marty]

It doesn't matter sometimes what I do know or what I think I know.

What matters most to me is that there is always so much more to learn and I have to keep an opened mind.

I can't exactly label myself in some of those catagorys but I'm pretty good in many areas of horsemastership. But in other areas, I prefer to consider myself a newbie who is always eager to listen and learn.

 

[Lauralee]

DANG DONA!!!! I hope I look that good and stay as physically fit when I am your age!!!!

 

[Lauralee]

Maybe I should rephrase "Expert" to be defined as "I have mastered all aspects of horsemanship in my chosen discipline."

In other words, you'd not expect one person to know everything about hunt seat, stadium jumping, dressage, CDE, barrel racing, calf roping, miniature horses, draft horses, etc and so forth...but would be considered an expert in their type of horse-related activity.

 

[littlearab]

I have been around horse all my life. My garndfather raise welsh ponies. I have always owned a horse. Started out with welsh :lol: (thanks grandpa). Moved up to bigger pnies and horses as i grew up and always siad I would never own another pony.LOL

But after a will placed kick by a 2 year horse i was working with I can no longer ride. But must have my horse fix.

: So I once agian own a pony. Grandpa is smiling

: Like he always said " Pound for pound give me a pony."

 

[justaboutgeese]

While I have cared for horses forty years I still went with intermediate. There is always more to learn and different and better methods to try. What works well for one animal might not work with another horse with the same traits or tendencies. Besides there was a snip in Readers Digest many years ago that has always stuck with me. A definition of EXPERT. An ex is a has been and a spurt is a drip under pressure. Never did want to come across as an expert.

:

 

[Sterling]

I have had the priveledge to own, work, ride drive and handle horses for over twenty years and still consider myself an intermediate. Altho I have participated in birthing foals and breeding, I have never bred any of my horses nor foaled them out on my farm. There are so manyother disciplines that I would love to venture into, even tho I have done Western pleasure, barrel racing, poles, cross country, hunter jumpers dressage and now driving.....I would not stop there if I don't have to. I too think that one can never stop learning....the road is long, I take the time to stop and smell the roses and bask in the beauty of educating myself soaking it up and learning as much as I can as I go.

 

[Shari]

I have to disagree, Shari. I personally do know some that can honestly call themselves advanced or expert or professional. And I wouldn't want anyone to be discouraged from answering those options based on that statement. There truly are some experts in our business.....most of the time, like Lisa Ruffntuff said, they just don't toot their horns.

Quite true. Was just thinking out loud about the two "trainers" I know that ...well lets just stay started training later in life, have only been at this for a few years,, and now they know everything.

Very scary to me, as they are not willing to listen.

I know there are good trainers out there,,,guess I just did not understand what you meant by Masters on the poll.

Me,, I am just a person that enjoys my horses a lot!! OK crawling back under my rock.

 

[wcr]

Maybe I should rephrase "Expert" to be defined as "I have mastered all aspects of horsemanship in my chosen discipline."

In other words, you'd not expect one person to know everything about hunt seat, stadium jumping, dressage, CDE, barrel racing, calf roping, miniature horses, draft horses, etc and so forth...but would be considered an expert in their type of horse-related activity.

That wording is probably better as you can't possibly master everything. It would take several lifetimes and you would still be learning something.

I have been seriously into horses most of my life and probably 47 years worth but the more I know the more I realize I have yet to learn. I look around and realize there are a lot of trainers out there professionally that don't have half my knowledge and abilities. I have always guarded my amateur status.

 

[Jean_B]

Almost 40 years experience here....started out being solely responsible for every aspect of caring for my barrel racing horses. Moved on to minis when I could no longer ride, which was back in 1991.

And I'll NEVER be an expert. Anyone who stops learning is no longer among the living....or a block head.

 

[liltnt]

I am a newbie but what I have learned in the last two years is amazing. From care to reading the babies is unbelievable.

I am learning how they talk to youm from the sad look in their eyes to giving me a hug. I have also learned how to harness them up and do some training. Lungeing, ground work for driving and harnessing. I do have dar-b working in the cart, not anywhere near where he would be safe to take on an outing but .......

With patience he will learn.

 

[Lauralee]

Well with any poll, it is well-understood that bias and opinion can skew the data. However, an honest appraisal is being requested and I do see a VERY significant trend in the data, which confirms to me that the poll is a valid one and the majority of the answers are honest.

Can you tell I made an A in college statistics? LOL

 

[Magic]

Although I've had horses for many many years, I'm still learning. I subscribe to several horse magazines to keep up on new advances and learn as much as I can about all aspects of horsemanship. This forum is a super place for learning, and I continue to ask questions and get opinions from friends and mentors. I'll never be an "expert", but I'll continue to do the best I can for my horses.