Oregon Dream Ponies

1 month ago

THROWAWAY HORSES, THROWAWAY DREAMS

Too often, I see people tossing away horses instead of educating themselves...

But...

Too often, I see people mismatching themselves with a horse who needs more than that person has the resources for: time, experience, emotional or financial investment...

I see the romanticism of matyring ourselves with a horse who is inexperienced or damaged.

I see clinicians marketing and exploiting that romanticism.

I’ve seen people lose passion, lose confidence, get hurt...

Not every person has the ability to save or fix every horse.

Like with people, the individual doesn’t always have the ability to fix what is the result of a collective or systemic problem.

People often get shamed by themselves or others into sticking with a horse who they are very unhappy with.

Is it selfish to want to pair ourselves with a partner we can enjoy our time with?
Is it selfish to have any personal goals at all?

Between throwaway horses and demanding a robot, and giving up on our own dreams or sanity or safety, there must be a balance.

Sometimes it’s as simple as letting that young horse go to another rider who has more time and experience, and finding a partner we can find confidence in again.

Maybe it’s letting that damaged horse go to sanctuary, or retiring them to pasture, instead of hounding them to submit to the human world.

There are a lot of romanticized stories of people who stick with difficult horses.

Sometimes that needs to be done. Sometimes all we need to do is become more aware.

But those are often stories of privilege, where scarcity of time, money, emotional or physical energy, is not an issue.

Sometimes the constant investment of managing a damaged horse when we have our own wants and needs and limits and demands, is impossible.

Sometimes it ends in tragedy.

We need to have the wisdom to know when it is simply not a good fit.

To cast our ego or guilt aside in favor of common sense.

To let go of the belief we are the best home for a horse. To let go of any selfish projection wrapped up in our reluctance to let go.

We need to have the integrity to make sure we do what is right by the horse, but that doesn’t mean always trying to force the relationship to work.

I’ve seen a lot of horses thrown away, but I’ve also seen a lot of people throw away their confidence and their dreams trying to make something work that isn’t going to.

Sometimes it’s easier to prevent.

We must stop matching ourselves with horses who need more investment then we can afford.

I recently rehomed several of my children’s projects and matched them with older, steady mounts.

The older horses often get overlooked.
But they deserve to be appreciated, and they are worth their weight in gold.

There are many riders who would be much happier with an older been there done that type than the ‘projects’ they take on.

Pick your partner, not your poison. ... See MoreSee Less

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Oregon Dream Ponies

2 months ago

Sunday the gypsy horse is wonderful ❤️❤️❤️ Thank you to Kirkland Justin Molly for braiding her mane and tail. She looks gorgeous❤️❤️💕❤️❤️ ... See MoreSee Less

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