It's been a little while since I did a PSA at Oh HorseFeathers, and this one today just *screamed* out for it. Literally- It.Screamed.
What did it scream, you ask?
It screamed, "HOLY CRAP PEOPLE, TRY USING YOUR BRAIN- or what is LEFT of your brain- ONCE IN A WHILE! Horses and ponies are NOT Rocket Science!"
What got my knickers in such a knot? Weeeellllll.... perusing the local sale ads once again, (I know. Every time I look, I say I need to STOP looking. It never works...) Anyways- while perusing the local sale ad, I came across this "gem".
"I need a Pony Bid with some Whow........for a hard headed Pony. If you got one laying around and don't need it anymore please give me a call or text at XXX-XXX-XXXX"
First tip: READ YOUR AD PRIOR TO POSTING. Bit -- Bid, there really *is* a big difference. If you wish to "bid" on a "bit", that would be one thing. But somehow I don't think that a "bid" is going to help your situation.
Next tip: What the hell is WHOW? Is that "WOW" with a bit of a British accent? And why might you need to WHOW your pony's hard head?
Moving on, to what we can only assume the original poster might have been attempting to say in a request for a stronger bit for a pony who apparently has no whoa- please. Teaching a pony to STOP on COMMAND is truly not that difficult. Unless the pony just *happens* to be smarter than the handler. (Which in this case......)
I'm not trying to be an uber-biotch here. But teaching a whoa starts with consistent handling. It starts with the handler using one cue, repeatedly, consistently, until you begin to see the WHOA coming into place. Placing a tougher bit into the pony's mouth is NOT going to "solve" your problem with your hard headed pony. In fact, cramming a bit into your hard headed pony's mouth to FORCE a whoa is going to wind up with the pony probably flipping over on top of who ever happens to be mounted on him/ her. And since this is a pony we are discussing, one can only assume it is a child that will be mounted upon the pony. Child, mounted UNDER pony = A Very Bad Thing.
Listen, sale ad poster, please- take some time and think about what you are doing. Approach the possibility of TRAINING the pony, instead of FORCING the pony. There are lots of people who can help, who are actually QUALIFIED to provide the help. All one needs to do is ASK. 'K? K, thanx.
And yes, I DO need to stay the heck away from local sale ads. Too many things on there are shocking, heart breaking and make me spend entirely too much time wandering about wondering "WHAT THE HELL???"
That is all.
23 comments:
Oh man, you owe me a new keyboard :) That one was a classic!
Girl, I can't read them either. I can't go on Craigslist anymore, cause I see perfectly good horses so cheap right now, you just know they're not going anywhere good. Breaks my heart.
Spelling!!! Don't get me started.
Maybe they are hoping to wow him into stopping?? Yikes sounds like a wreck waiting to happen
Yikes!!! All I can say is, Poor Pony!
Grumble grumble growl. Poor pony.
aww poor pony ! and yes CL is horrible place right now.
Ha ha I edit peoples ads too! I just noticed someone had a thourughbred the other day. Seems to me if you knew anything about the horse you had to sell, you should know how to spell it correctly? Or pictures? You are trying to SELL it make sure its focused? or a good angle? Sheesh!
Poor pony is right...just got my Dover Sale catalog...wonder if there are any whow bids in that.
I rarely read local sale ads, but that was quite funny--maybe I should. Got a good laugh with all your commentary. You did a great job deciphering it--I don't know if I could have and, because of that, I don't think we'll have to worry too much about anyone answering it!
Yeah, the spelling thing really gets me! I use to go over to craigslist all the time, but haven't been there in ages, maybe got tired of all the idiots? Some people....
Ha hahahaa! That's funny - I mean not that someone seriously was post an ad for that - but because it is just so messed up!
Poor pony.
I tend to see a lot of "hoes" for sale here. They tend to go like, "I need to sale this hoes as I have a little hoes on the way". WTF?!? Learn to speak and spell, people! Either that, or there really is a prostitution ring on CL in Farm and Garden.
LMAO. You go girl! Love it. And they are horrible. SO far I haven't seen anyone misspell horse or pony. If so...the world is going down the shitter.
Oooh! Today instead of "hoes" we've got "hores"! WTF do I want with a "hore"?
Oh Yeah! I am sooo glad I am not the only one that does this! Lil Mama gets furious at me cuz I get so upset at all these moe-rons out there... ( taking a deep breath...)
But I can't stop either...
Mwahahah!
still laughing at Oregonsunshine BTW-
Oh, so sorry for that pony.
I don't look at the adds, just like I don't go to those local auctions. My heart just can't take it and I can't fix it so I stay away.
Drives me absolutely nuts to see people do that.
Don't you love it when Craigslist readers call someone out who posts something like that though? :)
Poor pony. Wish I could grab him right out of whatever situation that he is in. The hubs used to judge a few backyard type shows and it was pathetic. Those poor ponies would have bits with shanks on them a foot long and jumping in western saddles. Had to give it up, we just couldn't take it any more.
oregonshine - quote from an email I got:
"Hello Peter
The Friends of [...] School Trust are holding a fancy dress cowboy-themed disco and wondered if you had any old horeshoes available.
Many thanks"
WHAT can you possibly reply to that?
On the original theme of the post, at our previous pony club, of which I was pres at the time, I had an almost stand up, knock down argument with the mother of an 11 year old whose lovely, well mannered pony I had been shoeing for several years, for its previous owners.
The owners of the pony that is, not the child.
The pony was presented for gear inspection wearing a dutch gag and chain, and the rider was wearing long boots and spurs. Ok, they weren't roller spurs, but they sure as hell weren't stubby little dressage spurs either.
My suggestion that simultaneous application of "go real fast" and "stop real fast" commands tend to be interpreted as "best possible imitation of a helicopter leaving the clearing in the middle of a stand of old pine trees" sort fell on deaf ears.
Arrrgghh.
Peter- You reply back very politely that you need your "horeshoes" tonight because your "partner" is taking you out dancing and then to burlesque-style karaoke and you don't have another pair you can spare. That should shut them up and leave them wondering about you...
Hello! Hello! You have a blog award waiting for you over on my blog! I enjoy reading yours so keep writing..and recommend spell check to all who put up those horrid ads!!
http://openhorseshowjudge.blogspot.com/
Sadly...ask random people how to stop a horse and you will likely get the same answer: (I know because I asked just to see). The answer was (insert drum roll)---
You pull back on the reins! So then I asked...what if that doesn't work? Answer: You pull harder or get a bigger bit.
I told someone that a well-trained horse could be started, stopped, and turned without a bridle. I received various facial responses with this from -blank stare- to -you are full of $hi! eyerolls.
Post a Comment