Highlands do it hairily!

[Mossy]

I was persuaded to investigate my local Riding Club on the basis of the chance to meet people: join in informal, come as you are events etc. I thought great since I am very isolated and the one thing Moss is very bad at is behaving in strange company.
He either naps badly or totally freezes and is generally an illmannered pain in the neck. I explained all this and was told no problem. They agreed that the only way to teach a horse to behave in strange company is to introduce it to said company so I thought my problem would be partway to being solved, as well as introducing him and me to low key informal competitions if we felt like it. The aim was to start by taking him to suitable low key events as a spectator, keeping out of the way and being a nuisance to nobody but just teaching him to get on with the job regardless of what is going on round about him. However I think I was very naive. The company is big blood 'oss types, some of whom have appalling manners, which are laughed off as "marish" or whatever but my "little grey pony" who, if I am asked is there to educate not compete, is patronised and belittled. Highlands are supposed to be small, chunky and hairy! Perhaps I should make a label,
" Highlands do it hairily!."
Apart from occasional - yearly - pleasure rides everything is very formal and cliquey. Yes I appreciate the dress code but how do you find out if you want to take an interest in a discipline without giving it a go, and I am not about to shell out for show coat, boots, and best joddy's for something which may not suit.
Are all RC's like this or am I just unlucky. Sorry to sound off.


[Edited by Mossy on 4th Feb 2001 at 06:47 PM]

[Nic]

A pal had a lovely hairy highland on loan (son of one of the Queen's stallions), and entered a local RC jumping comp. She had always done well on more 'showy' ponies - if you know what i mean, and when her 'peers' saw her on this big, hairy (lovely) monster, they all said stuff like 'oh, he looks like fun' which translated means 'no hope!!'. One person even said 'what breed is that?!' - and this is in Scotland!!
Anyways, she went on and won the class she was in, with all this big 'oss types next to her in the line up!! shut them up didn't it!! It is a shame when the more native breeds are downclassed in people's opinion for no reason. When my daughter started doing dressage classes on her little fell x the looks we got at our local comps were ridiculous, but now because she does well we are (grudgingly?) accepted. I don't care, we are having lots of fun with her. Keep on going - you will probably (hopefully) find people you can relate to. I love reading your messages, they are always sensible and hope you continue having a good time with Moss..
Nic

[Gill]

Hi Mossy, interested to read your post as I am considering joining a riding club with my hairy H but am afraid of the kind of reaction you experienced. I don't think all clubs are like that from my bit of research but I am still feeling wary. My friend in Scotland tells me that there are quite a few Highlands in their club and why not? Give me a Hairy any day above some of the bad mannered shiny types you describe. (not meaning that all shiny types are bad mannered of course).

[Wally]

This is one of my main reasons for likeing the Icelandic world, there is no dress code, not even at the British Chamionships! If you don't own a black coat and boots you can show in a sweat shirt and jeans, the judges look at the horse and the rider's ability. Yes, some folk do have the jackets and stuff, but it doesn't mean better placings!

There is no reason why normally gaited horses cannot attend any of the Icelandic horse society's pleasure rides or get toghethers. Anyone would be made welcome, the hairier the better!!

It is this dammned elitist attitude that perpetuates the idea, in the working car driver's mind, that riders are upper class snobs. Tradition is one thing, but when taken to extremes it makes me mad!

[LindaAd]

Just picked this one up, Mossy, and wonder if you've ventured into any more riding clubs. They're certainly not all the same: our local one is very friendly, and didn't make me feel foolish when I turned up on my hairy little pony (not even a Highland). At the club next door, they're far better riders and much more professional; I haven't dared to joing them, although my daughter has competed in a couple of their events, and they were very friendly too. Are there any more clubs near you? Or could you advertise in a local tack-shop or something for riding companions? Maybe that's a possible category for this board? There's obviously a need, only we're so scattered. Wouldn't it be fun if we could go out for a hack together, with Outrider and Maci and Silvia an Gwenllian, and Wally and Frances and everyone else ....?

[Wally]

You don't want that pair of hooligans (Frances & Hákon) on a hack, they are too disruptive. We'd have to make them stay at the back and behave!!

[LindaAd]

I thought they'd be setting the pace at the front... or do I mean setting the tölt?