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Tuesday, June 7, 2016

What Do Wednesday: Breeds

Again, trending with the theme of not exactly what do you do, but "what is your opinion" this week.

Also, I have great news on the Bacardi front and so much to update I haven't even sorted through all the corresponding media. Its coming!

Sneak peak picture of a picture, lol
So this week was inspired again by Facebook. I spend far too much time there, scrolling scrolling scrolling mindlessly in the middle of the night when I can't sleep (often). I classify myself more of a "lurker" than an active poster or comment maker, but sometimes I can't help myself.

This past week I read a comment that I haven't been able to dismiss yet. Perhaps because I am so sick and tired of hate becoming the norm online, or perhaps I just can't grasp why people have to be so nasty for no reason when hiding behind a keyboard. I also will never understand why people insist on forcing their opinions on everyone at every opportunity and then making those who disagree with them feel idiotic or horrible for disagreeing. They're called opinions for a reason, we don't need to hear yours for the hundredth time. We get it. You hate *this* for *this reason*. What is the actual point of repeating yourself all over social media?

What I am speaking of, and what I read on Facebook that night, was an absolute disdain for Thoroughbreds.

Which I can understand.

They aren't for everyone. I am well aware of that. They can be hot, lunatic, batshit insane, unsound, skinny beasts. I've been there, done that.

Jumping attack mode; engage
I have also seen and personally experienced the heart, work ethic, athleticism and love a thoroughbred can have for its job and its human.

But the unnecessary bashing needs to stop. Regardless of what it is about. Breeds, discipline, talent, money...whatever. Why do we all hate SO much? We are so quick to judge and spew distasteful comments and I am sick of it. It sometimes makes me want to quit blogging altogether because of the few select Queen Bitches that reign.

Breeds are a choice, and those choices are made due to personal taste, comfort level, goals and experience. Who are "we" to judge anyone else for their choices?

For me, there will never be another horse like my Yankee. He is one in a million. When I sit on his back, I am home. Everything else dissolves and I only feel him listening beneath me and I am content. There is absolutely nothing better than that creature in this entire world. He is perfect in every way to me and I will treasure him until the day he dies. And guess what, he's an OTTB. Suck it haters.

Kiss our perfect asses
I am so SICK of people vehemently preaching their hate for OTTBs/Thoroughbreds specifically,  and then casting out those who love and own them....considering them lesser people with minds of an ape.

NO.

I  love thoroughbreds. Its okay that "you" don't.

I just don't see the point of spewing the hate repeatedly (like, all the time on Facebook) with derogatory and condescending comments.

I absolutely 100% take offense to that, even if those comments aren't even directed at me (most of them usually are, for the record).

Thoroughbreds will always be MY breed. For the reasons I listed above. I would appreciate not being hated for that opinion. When someone insults thoroughbreds, intentionally directing the comment my way, you are essentially saying my horse(s) is/are a piece of shit. When in reality, Yankee is the lightest, most responsive, consistent and athletic horse I have ever owned or ridden. He glides over 4 ft fences (and above). His halt to canter transitions are almost flawless. He responds to my aids without hesitation and he is happy to please and work his ass off for me.

Halt to canter betches

Bacardi too, despite his green horse flaws, is an incredible animal. His athleticism continues to amaze me and when he's paying attention, he absorbs training like a sponge. I taught him turn on the haunches in ten minutes yesterday, and today he did them like he was an old pro. Sure, he's green and sure he can be a a handful but I LOVE the spunk and heart and ability that horse possesses.



How DARE you assume otherwise, or think they are lesser creatures, or label me as an idiot. How fucking dare you.

I will say this one time only and for the sake of this blog post.

I have breeds I really don't care for too. Paso Fino's, Arabians and Saddlebreds. I think they're abominations of the equine world and would rather not associate myself with them. Paso's are like tiny bombs with no brains and I think they are useless creatures. Their gait is confusing and boring and I think it looks manufactured. I also had more trouble handling this breed than any other I've worked with. So stupid. Arabians are more insane than Thoroughbreds, and I will NEVER own another (fun fact, I've had 2). Never. They are impossible and I won't do it.  Additionally, MOST of them are too refined for my taste. Too man-made and dainty. I like some meat and bones on my horses. Also, too small for my tall ass self. Saddlebreds are just ugly as sin and I cannot make myself like them even if I tried. Plus, I only know of one that is good at jumping/dressage- which is MY sport.

But you know what, thats fine. That my opinion and I don't give a flip if you own one of those breeds, because YOU love them. Its YOUR choice.  & I sure as shit will NEVER make you feel bad about it or berate you for owning a certain breed.

They all have a purpose and have those humans that love them. Its not okay to hate someone for the breed they choose to love.

Can we please end the hate?

So what I want to know is what your favorite breed is and why! If you want to share your least favorite you can as well, but you don't have to.

39 comments:

  1. I'm a standardbred and Arab person. Love me some standardbred...but I do endurance and after doing endurance on a standardbred and then getting myself a nice fat sturdy no nonsense polish arab mare the difference was night and day and I've been sold on (certain individuals within) the arab breed ever since. Arabs aren't for everyone but they are damn good at 100 miles.

    Breeds that I don't care for (and yes, I keep my mouth shut about this 99% of the time). Stock horse breeds. I think that most of them are ticking time bombs that are dull and sullen and since I don't do cow work I probably don't see them at their best. I also have to admit that I'm not a thoroughbred person. It seems like they are all "quirky" and while it endears them to their owners I can't STAND the their quirky personalites. That being said at my polo barn I've seen some awesome deadbroke polo ponies that don't fit into that "I've got quirks" category, but since I am short, don't jump, and like to keep my horses barefoot if possible (another generalization I know...) they just aren't for me.

    I think breed bashing is like mare versus gelding bashing, or "you HAVE to ride bitless", or any other false line in the sand between horse people. It boils down to a YMMV conversation and it's wise to remember that.

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    1. I appreciate your honesty here! See, we disagree and can still be civil holy shit haha. :) thanks for the comment!

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  2. Man you must be hanging out in the wrong corner of the internet! I see a whole lot of OTTB love out there, way more than the TB haters. I'm, obviously, a pony person. I love riding a small horse, I love their freaky intelligence, I love their cheeky attitudes, I love the sturdiness and concentrated power of a well-built sport pony. I love that when I trail ride I am far less likely to get clotheslined by low-hanging branches than my buddies on "normal sized" horses. I just love everything about ponies. Love. LOVE THEM. I will take a pony over a fancy WB or TB any day. But the great thing about the horse world is that there is literally a breed and discipline out there for everyone. No matter your preference, you can find something that you love and enjoy horses in your own way. And I think that's awesome. It may not be MY cup of tea, but as long as you and your horses are happy, you do you!

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    1. Oh I have plenty of OTTB lover friends, but the haters are starting to piss me off

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  3. Thoroughbreds all day. Work ethic try and and lion hearts. Love love love

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  4. I ADORED my OTTB. I really hate the bashing people do about them. They're not for everyone, but I'd be willing to bet there's more lazy and quiet ones than fire breathing ones. I think they usually have hearts of gold and they have incredible try. That said, when I lost my guy, I set out to buy as much warmblood as I could afford because I made a switch to dressage from eventing. My very generic OTTB did well at 1st/2nd level recognized shows, but he couldn't compete with fancy warmbloods. The horse I got is 75% TB/25% Dutch Warmblood. That 25% makes a huge difference in dressage skills- it's just easier for my new horse. I feel horrible for putting my OTTB through 3rd level work... that he willing did but it was very hard for him. I guess my preferred horse has a mix of TB and warmblood. There's nothing like the try and work ethic you get from a TB, but mix in a bit of warmblood to help the sporthorse conformation.

    Horses I don't like? I'm going to say the stock breeds and Saddlebreds and Arabians. I just don't get them or like the look. I know they're purpose bred horses, but they're not bred for my purpose, so they're not on my "love it" list.

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  5. You know, I really feel like I can appreciate a really nice horse of most breeds. There are certain breeds that are not a good fit for me as a rider. There are some breeds I have not had as much exposure to. But I really can't think of a single breed that makes me go "EW". A nice animal is a nice animal. I can appreciate good, purposeful breeding when I see it.

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  6. I am an Appy lover, that said I strongly disagree that a real Appy is a solid colored stock QH. Sorry not sorry. Give me a loud patterned, attitude streaked, broom tailed appy any day. Incredibly versatile, super quick and usually very smart, I love their independent thinking.

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    1. They are damn good at eventing too. Quite a few in the Midwest. I think they're adorable, never ridden one though

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    2. Exactly appy!!!!! They are not colored quarter horses! That is so annoying. I love a true foundation Appaloosa!

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  7. Frankly if it even resembles a horse, I like it. But I sure as shit have gotten some NASTY comments about Hampton - who is TB/Clydesdale/Hannovarian. People really need to get a life.

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  8. I've got some nasty/judgemental comments about how my two look, as well. Either "there is no way that's a purebred welsh...it has to be a (insert favorite breed here)" or "OMG you'll never be able to do anything with that breed in this discipline!" So, I take it with a grain of salt...pretty obvious the naysayers are limited in their exposure to different breeds or disciplines. I wouldn't say I dislike any certain breed, nor would I say I have a definite favorite. If I had to choose, maybe a welsh or connemara crossed with TB, so not even a 'real' breed :)

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    1. For the record, I love your horses.

      Also those crosses would be legit amazing

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  9. What about a percheron x welsh or a Clydesdale x fox trotter? That's part of the crazy mess in my backyard.

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    1. I think you mean hot mess because your horses are fire

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  10. And see, I'm so weird since I grew up Saddleseat and on Arabs I LOVE Arabs and ASBs, National Show horses and the like. Walkers are my fave breed for distance riding, and they're the most forgiving horses in the world. Plus, hello Jake my OG and despite his many issues with being a real live Eventer in terms of gaits he was a solid dude.
    However for training, and my current sport I'd tie OTTBs and Trakhners. Traks are the OTTBs of the Warmblood world and I love them both. Obviously my boy Smokey is an OTTB and he's incredibly athletic and a worker (and really cool!) but he's never gonna be as competitive at Dressage as a Warmblood (though still a great guy!) and Kosmo the giant 18hh+ hunk of man is a Trak and he's just, amazing. But he's also a Windfall baby and waaayyyyy out of my ever price range haha. So OTTBs double rock if you're a young pro for that reason!

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Jake is THE horse mentioned in my post btw when I reference the one SB I know...so yeah, Jake is an OG.

      I KNEW Kosmo looked familiar! Looks like windfall no doubt. I wonder if I backed him when I worked for his owner. What year is he? Also not surprised he's expensive, all the windfall babies are incredibly overpriced. I believe I was once told by she who must not be named that "they're worth than my life". OKAY. Ha. But they are nice and good for dressage, can't deny it.

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    3. Well Jake is a Walker though, so you'll have to switch your love for the SB and put it to a TWH haha! But I'm flattered he was mentioned and you remember him so well, he's a good guy.
      He was backed and trained to 1* at the Hollings place I'm pretty sure. Jon Holling campaigned him through all the levels was my understanding. I guess he could have been sent out for the young horse stuff though so you may know him! His real name is Kompass and I believe he's 12 so 2004 baby. He was completely ruined by some Hunter people the Hollings trailed him out to so they sent him to Deb so she could fix him and see if he'd be suitable for Dressage so he came with a way lesser price tag I'm sure since he's was basically unrideable when he got here!

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  11. I'm an Arabian girl 😁 that is all my 3 kids (human) know and they've taken care of every rider on their backs. I currently own 3 pure or almost pure breed Arabians. Btw, they're all short (so am I!) But are not dainty or fragile looking, totally old school Arabs with pretty faces and hearts of gold!!! I've own several other breeds and I keep coming back to my sane and athletic Arabians!

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    1. One of my Arabs was a total fatty haha. She was stout too and just had a super dainty face. What I was referencing was the show horses you see, so freaking tiny! Happy to know there's some good ones out there! My mates were sweet but also incredibly difficult xD

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  12. I'm totally one of the OTTB bashers lol XD
    That said, I've been verbally savaged enough times whenever I open my mouth about them that I've basically shut up and never talked about it again! Nobody is more rabid than an OTTB owner defending their critter, that is for sure.

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    1. Well, when we are told we are idiots for owning them, yeah, we get defensive.

      I could say the same for Arab owners or paso owners etc etc but common courtesy means I don't. Just sayin!

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  13. Well, my favorite breed is the Paso Fino. My great grandparents and my grandfather bred their own for work on their haciendas and plantations. If you want a horse that can go all day and still give you a smooth ride, and that has a solid brain between his ears, you go with a Paso. My first horse was a Paso Fino. Ungelded colt. I raised and trained him myself. I was 13. He stayed a stallion well into his teens because he was so well-behaved there wasn't a reason for gelding him. I rode him all over creation and he was one of the most solid and trustworthy horses I have ever owned. (Gelding stallions is not as popular where I come from as it is in the U.S.) I've trained horses professionally and worked with everything from OTTBs to Arabs to draft crosses to stock horses. My favorites have always been the Pasos. Easiest horses to train because they are brilliantly smart and it doesn't take much effort to get them to bond to you. And yes: I even worked at a Peruvian Paso breeding facility and broke ALL of their babies to saddle. Didn't have an issue with a single one of them. They were also the only horses I could ride when I was broken due to a cracked hip.

    They are born with that gait. You can't train it into them. It's not artificial.

    My current horses are a TB cross and a KMH, both mares. I don't breed bash because each horse is an individual. I rode my fair share of OTTBs and honestly am not a fan. I loved many of them dearly, but if I have to own a TB anything, I personally prefer the crosses. But I'm not going to criticize people that love them because I can understand why they love them. I am also not a fan of Arabs, though I have met some truly incredible individuals as well.

    To each their own. We all have our reasons for loving the breeds we do.

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    1. Like I said, I will say that once for the post only. I don't like to offend people and I understand why some people like them. Unfortunately the breeding farms where I worked had incredibly difficult Pasos. They were not smart, not calm and not well mannered. I hated them. I'm happy you have known some that were brilliant! Also I know the gait sn't artificial ;)

      I appreciate your honesty as well and I concur. Everyone loves their horses for their own reasons. That was the point I was trying to make. I like your input about all the breeds you've worked with! Thank you :)

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  14. I love me some TBs. I owned two of them before getting the haffy bug and long to own another one someday. Haffies get some online hate too -- not sure why! ;) I am just happy when I hear about a horse that I know I would be incompatible with being loved and appreciated by someone else. Now if were talking about mares... haha just joking. :)

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  15. I completely agree with your stance on OTTBs, but I'll (sheepishly) admit I haven't always felt that way. When I lived in Texas, I rode a few OTTBs, and quickly discovered that you cannot deny the amount of "try" in Thoroughbreds; they wear their heart on their sleeve and want so much to please you, which is one of the best things about the breed. Not to mention, they are athletic as hell and incredibly versatile.

    With that said, when my trainer suggested going to look at a (then) 4-year old OTTB that had had the winter off, I was pretty skeptical. A 4-year old OTTB? That had had the winter off? Was she nuts? Because I was playing into the stereotypes, I was envisioning a hot and dangerous horse, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Roger was (and still is) the total opposite of hot or dangerous or wild, and as they say, the rest is history. I adore the hell out of my OTTB and doubt I'll ever own anything else. Roger has completely changed my perspective of OTTBs with his goofy personality and incredible work ethic, and he's a total joy to be around. I especially love that the big-name riders are doing so much to promote OTTBs, showing their versatility is "good enough" for the highest levels of the sport.

    There will always be OTTB haters out there, but for me, there isn't a better horse than an OTTB: haters be damned.

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    1. Agreed times ten!! My boys have the greatest personalities on earth and will work until day's end for me! OTTBs for life

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  16. Since getting my little Welsh Cob mare, I have fallen in love. Not sure if it is the breed or just her! Daughter has had 2 OTTB's - while they were not my favorites to ride, I did love their heart and personalities.

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  17. I found this whole conversation interesting. I am less of a breed person than a specific type. I love hot and sassy horses. I grew up with quarter horses and they will always hold a special place in my heart.

    I love the OTTBs and honestly expected to end up with one but instead I have a saddlebred. I'm not going to lie the first time I saw a video of him I went WTF but my trainer D talked me into taking a chance. He is exactly my type of horse. He is smart and tries so hard. And we are looking more and more like a sport horse. And yes he can jump unfortunately due to the EPM I don't know if or when I will jump him but that won't be because he couldn't. I say to each their own but don't write them all off based on a few.

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  18. First of all, I think it is extremely stupid, rude and hateful to bash you just because you love a certain breed. I just don't understand people who spew hate twenty four seven just because they are so bored of their lives they have to start drama... but whatever. I just do my best to ignore them to be honest. It's not worth my time and effort (and health and sanity) to let them get under my skin and stress me out. Don't let the haters win. All they want is to get a rise out of you. Obviously I understand defending your breed (more on that below), but I just choose to keep my mouth shut because I know I will never change their minds and all they are trying to do is to drag me into an argument so they can use that as an excuse to be total asses for no reason.

    Enough on that though. I don't necessarily dislike certain breeds, but maybe types within the breeds... For example with QHs and Arabs I can't stand the halter types. In the AQHA halter world, they have huge bodies on toothpick legs and with halter Arabs (a lot, not all) are just insane, because they want them to show off and be nuts to get the judges attention. All of this extremist breeding (in dogs too) all started out because something won someone some money and everyone started copying and then took it to the extreme. I despise specialized, extremist breeding that serves no purpose and is detrimental to the animal. I tend to prefer the foundation types of breeds. I love foundation Appys and Morgans for example. I also prefer stocky horses with bone, over dainty one, but that's probably due to me being a giant like you. I also have stronger preferences on color, rather than breed. I don't like anything with pink skin or too much white, yes including grays although Chrome is slowly changing my opinion on that one lol. He will be gorgeous to me no matter what color he is though because I'm barn blind when it comes to him. :D

    Now for favorite breed, that's obvious to anyone who's been on my blog or talked to me. Friesians all the way! A LOT of people despise Friesians (especially in the dressage world). One of the dressage trainers who does clinics regularly in my local area is a Friesian hater. I've never said anything about it to her, but trust me I won't be riding with her and giving her my hard earned money. She lost a customer by being loud, obnoxious and rude about her dislike for my favorite breed. That's her loss. I just think she's a close minded, judgmental person (because she hates a whole breed based off a few difficult ones she's worked with when there are plenty of difficult ones in her breed of choice including one in her own barn that she thinks is endearingly insane) and not worth my time or money... so yeah I can be a snob I guess, but I do it quietly hehe. I don't think my trainer is particularly favorable toward Friesians either, but she is intelligent enough to keep her opinions to herself. ;)

    The cool thing is that even when I'm not a fan of certain breeds or colors I still love certain individual horses. There are certain pintos, cremellos, QHs (Rocky!), Gypsies, etc. I love. You get the idea. The particular horse's personality is way more important to me than the breed or appearance. I'm the same with with dogs. I'm just not a "breedist".

    So keep on loving your OTTBs and ignore all the haters. If they want to fill their lives with that negativity then let them, but don't let it encroach on yours.

    P.S. Sorry if I sound like some peace loving hippy... I promise I'm not. I get pissed off at plenty of people (drivers) doing stupid things (hello blinkers you idiots), but I try really hard to keep all of that garbage out of my life, because negativity is just not healthy. It's definitely a work in progress for me though, because I am a passionate, opinionated, stubborn person. :D

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  19. I don't have a lot of personal experience with lots of different breeds, but that said I do really like the Quarter Horse and Appendix breed. I own a Thoroughbred now and I really like him as well. I guess for me it's a lot less about than the breed than the individual. What is this particular horse's personality and abilities?

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  20. Yo the amount of hate for OTTBS is stupid. OR actually just all hate, period. My new neighbor is an old racist rancher and talks about how Thoroughbreds are useless .

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  21. I have ridden and enjoyed many OTTBs, I always swore my first horse would be a thoroughbred.. but ended up owning a registered warmblood mare. Long story short I got her for free because she was a basket case, with time and training she's become my heart horse. I recently moved her across 2 states and she stepped off the trailer like a pro. Anyway, I've had the opposite, I've had OTTB owners attack warmbloods unprovoked. So it definitely goes both ways. Breed prejudice is extremely frustrating from any view!

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