All the Riderless Horses
I have the good fortune to live in a western state--Idaho--that's about as horse-friendly as you could want any place to be. Land's relatively inexpensive, the atmosphere's far more rural than urban, and places to get out and ride are almost unlimited. No surprise there, seeing as how 80 percent of Idaho is public land, owned by state or federal governments. If I had the inclination, I could ride from the edge of my property to a trail system that'd take me all the way to Montana.
I'm not the only horse lover who's been drawn here, or to other parts of the West, for the chance to seize all these equi-opportunities. Based on the numbers of horses I see as I'm driving to wherever, I'm in a secular Mecca for horse owners.
So why is it that I hardly ever see anyone out RIDING all those horses? I see plenty of pickups go by, loaded with hay for feeding the critters, and no shortage of the chase-'em-go-rounds otherwise known as the round pens made popular by natural-horsemanship gurus.
But riders? People actually USING their horses as something other than lifestyle ornaments? That's a different story.
Sure, I may see half a hundred riders at a local horse show or on an organized, well-promoted trail ride. What I don't see, on anything resembling a regular basis, are people out riding their horses for reasons that don't involve trophies, ribbons and door prizes. Riding their horses for R&R. Riding them for exercise. Riding them for the simple and glorious reason that they CAN ride them.
I'm not sure what this means. Do I just happen to do my traveling at the wrong times of day? Is everyone busy riding his horse while I'm tucked in bed, fast asleep? Is it just an illusion that the scores of roadside horses in my domain are grass-fat and underworked? Is the phenomenon of the riderless horses isolated to Idaho? Does my latest eyeglass prescription somehow filter out the sight of horseback riders?
Or--have we simply slow-loped into an era when people would rather feed and look at horses than saddle them up and ride them?
posted by Juli Thorson @ 1:44 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
Good question. Well, here's my take on the situation...I'd be willing to bet the number of people who feel comfortable just "riding," without the security of an organized event, is in decline. AND I'll bet there's also fewer and fewer broke horses available for people to buy. I'd also be willing to bet that 80% of the pastured horses you see aren't safe for most adults to ride let alone kids and probably 50% of those they can't even catch out of the field! If the pastures were filled with horses that had to make their living being ridden/driven, etc, even just for pleasure, there'd be a lot more people horseback and a lot less crap in their pastures.
That is a very interesting topic. I also live where I see horses in the fields not getting ridden. I think people go to events and see horses on tv, and say to themselves "how great it must be to own a horse". They go out and buy the horse and tack, and everything in between. Its alot of fun at first, and then it becomes a chore to feed, and generaly look out for the horse. Then first thing you know the horse just becomes part of the landscape. I know some people who just want to say that they own a horse. Its really a sad.
Are the horses well fed and taken care of? Then what is the problem really? While I agree with the statements concerning the training and safety questions to a degree, what is wrong with a pasture ornament if that is what they want and are providing adequate feed, water, care, and exercise?
Well I just had to say our barn is one of the best barns around here for people out trail riding for pleasure. We are in Ontario and there is atleast 20 people at our barn who ride at least 2 times a week or more, trail rides lessons and just practise in the ring. Some of them do go to compete but most are just in it for the love of horses. We have all ages too from a eight year old to 50+. Anyway just thought I'd let you know there are riders out there.
I too am relocating from a relatively horsefriendly County to extreme Northern CA where Federal or private lands can have you riding for days on end. I have yet to actually see anyone trail riding inbetween working cattle, 4H, County Fairs and the various horse clubs...is it a matter of priority or lack of time? Another important consideration is the huge financial expense these days of getting a young horse trained or a green horse finished. We often find ourselves purchasing a less than suitable animal to save money up front with every intention of having the "project" finished, like that happens. So the project stands there at the fence waiting for our ship to come in with a pot of gold for the right trainer. Get real - search harder and purchase an equine friend you can enjoy NOW! Our access to riding trails on private, State and Federal lands is under daily threat. Prioritize your obligations and move riding up to the Top 5 and DO IT! Join a riding bulletin board, blog it, use a phone tree, do whatever it takes to get the word out and RIDE TODAY your Horse will thank you!
May you always ride a good horse. Phoeninx, Monte Cielo Ranch Qtrs & Qtr Ponies, Macdoel, CA
Part it is the time of day, I live down the street from a house that has had two horses in the front yard as long as I've lived here. I've never even seen someone there, until this month, when I walked out my door and there was a horse & rider in my front lawn!
Other "type" of horse owner is the retired one...for instance, I used to ride for a lady that had grown up showing and breeding QHs, but after a while she didn't want to do anymore with it and just retired her horses...some of which were only 3 at the time! So these horse (some of which were very well bred WP horses) just hang out in the sun, living a very good life (although maybe a boring one!)
I've often wondered that myself, I live in Alberta where we have lots of horses, and yet you rarely see people just riding for the sheer pleasure of being on and with your horse. I trailride most days, and maybe go to a show once a year. Riding is the most relaxing pasttime I've ever come across and I cannot imagine why more people don't get out and enjoy what we already know.
We run a breeding farm with 3 brood mares that are pregnant most of the time, 1 stallion that is a Superior Halter Horse and was ridden many years ago, but we have no desire to ride him, just use him for breeding. We also have a weanling filly out of one of our mares that we will show next year, to promote our stallion. We sell most of our horses as yearlings, keeping the best fillies for broodmares. Only one of our mares is trained to ride...........
Maybe a lot of people up by you are in the same situation!
I am from West Virginia and here we ride our horses. You may not see us ride them because of the mountains and valleys in between but we are out riding day and sometimes night, weekends, holidays, you name it we ride it. This is the southeren part of West Virginia I am talking about.
I live in western Nevada, and take my horses out year-round. We have the Sierra Nevada to the west where I ride in the summer and fall, and another range to the east that I ride in the winter and spring. We have a lot of back yard horses that are minimally cared for, and it's always sad to me. Many of these horses are broke to ride and do fine on the trails, but the riders are hesitant to ride alone, don't prioritize their riding very high, etc. I find that my horses always seem to enjoy getting out and exploring with me. A riding buddy and I are frequently amazed by how many people don't get out to enjoy our surroundings! We kinda appreciate it too, tho, since we can go out & not see anyone else!
I know there are plenty of horses here in East TX that don't get ridden enough... and mine are in that category. Work and chores take up alot of my time, and then the internet sucks me in and I find myself reading blogs and commenting on them when I should be sleeping or riding! LOL
But, I also know that some of it is bound to be that we just aren't privy to all the goings-on of those around us.... definitely for me, since I work the night shift and most folks round here work days. I have happened to see a guy ride past our place on a couple of occasions, and I'm sure he's done it more than what I've seen...
I sometimes wonder if folks think the same of me, that my horses never get worked just because they don't see it with their own eyes .... we are right by the road and get quite a few "howdy" honks from neighbors. I've heard different comments from folks about our horses, such as one neighbor feels sorry for them because they live in dry lots and don't have a huge lush pasture like hers, and just when she had me feeling guilty I got to feelin' pretty good when my husband's boss (oil field) got to talkin' bout our place with my husband and the boss said that he sees me working with the horses nearly every time he goes by. At least someone doesn't think my horses are sufferin'! LOL I can assure you they aren't!
No, they don't get ridden as much as I'd like, but like one person said 'as long as they're well fed and well cared for' there's nothing wrong with pasture ornaments. The days that I'm too busy to ride or even too busy for groundwork, I am so VERY thankful to God for my sweet girls, because just going to the barn and being around them is like sitting down to a good conversation with an old friend.
In my part of the country, Wisconsin, it is often too cold or too wet to ride outside, so most people are forced to ride in an indoor arena. I also think more people are starting to enjoy just grooming and being around horses than riding. They still exercise their horses, but just don't want to ride.
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