Can't We All Just Get Along?!

What do you have when there are a bunch of exhausted, type A people (mostly women) who work really hard, spend a lot of money, are dirty and smelly most of the time and are really competitive? Horse people! It’s no wonder we are all a little nuts. Who else would put themselves through all that for an animal that would probably rather be out in a field with others of its kind than with us and who could kill us at the drop of a hat? I’ll say it again; we are all a little nuts…

It is also a scenario that is ripe for strife between said nut balls. I can’t tell you how many times I have been yelled at by a trainer or made to feel lower (or dumber) than dirt. Or how many stories I’ve heard about barn owners being unfriendly. Or how much complaining I have witnessed amongst boarders.

I get it. We are tired. We spend a lot of money and we want things to be perfect. We are under a lot of stress either internal or external or both. We are all competing with ourselves and each other. All of this puts a lot of pressure on relationships. I would be lying to myself if I said I wasn’t envious when friends were doing well at a show that I wasn’t. Or secretly get excited about hearing of another barn possibly closing. I can’t help it. It is a side of myself that I have come to accept, but not necessarily like.

But none of these things are reasons for people to be nasty to each other. We all do this for the same reason, right? We all love horses. Shouldn’t that be reason enough to be supportive and helpful to each other? At the very least pleasant? As jealous as I have gotten of others, I have always tried to my best to hide it and be civil and then cried to myself later! And we speak so much about relaxation being the base of the training scale for the horses and how they can’t learn under stress. In this student’s humble opinion the same goes for the people sitting on the horses.

If you are having a problem with someone, talk to them! Chances are they don’t know there is a problem. Most people don’t intentionally want to cause trouble for others, but feuds and bad feelings usually start with a lack of communication. Good advice for life in general, I suppose.

I guess what I am trying to say with all of this is; can’t we all just get along?! I just want everyone to be happy and enjoy horses. That’s why we do all of this in the first place. It is supposed to be fun! Let’s put aside our petty differences and help each other keep horses fun.