So, you want an intermediate + rider to take on this horse? An intermediate rider is someone who in my opinion that can handle a young, green horse, offer training, feel competent riding in and out of an arena and can handle unplanned circumstances. That said, you expect someone who considers themselves an intermediate rider to read your post and not DIE laughing? Yikes.
Let's pull this apart piece by piece:
Meet River, a 17.2 H registered North American Spotted Draft. Please don't fall in love with his color as he is almost all white at 12 years of age. So why exactly have you posted a photo of him when he was 2-3? Is it really possible that you've have this horse for 12-13 years and you don't have a single CURRENT photo of him? River is a nice riding horse, but a bit lazy. Right, ALL drafts are lazy -- um, no...every draft horse I used to exercise ride was the complete opposite of lazy. But you're right, he might just be unfit. Nothing bothers him on the trails but he is not use to going out alone. That's an oxymoron...he's not bomb proof on trails if he can't hack out alone. Will need an intermediate or better rider just because of his size. Hm, while I could almost agree with this based on the given information, his size, nor breed has anything to do with why he might need an experienced rider. In my experience, drafts have some of the best brains/temperaments in the horse world. He is a beautiful mover and might do well with low level dressage but forget jumping. He can not get his big body in the air and everything breaks under him so why bother. WHAT IN THE HELL!?! This is where Stacey would be losing her mind. River hates a bit so we ride him bitless. Hates a bit? Maybe. Oh and bitless, do you mean you ride him around in a halter and lead rope? He does really well and I can even manage to keep his head up in the alfalfa field, but it is a challenge because eating is River's favorite thing. Grrrr. His back is broad so saddle fitting is a challenge. I gave up and ride him bare back. This is where I nearly threw a brick at my computer! Although you've hinted to the fact that you've given up on nearly every aspect of training this otherwise lovely horse, you now openly admit that since saddle fitting was a "challenge" you simply stopped trying. I just have to keep pulling myself forward so I don't slide off his rotund bottom. *head desk*
River needs a friend. No, no he does not. He needs someone to take him far away from you, and if you haven't completely ruined his chances of being a riding horse, he should at least be allowed to live out his life happily without the risk of eating himself to death/founder. I will lease him off my farm in Honey Brook for $100/month to cover his expenses or you can take him to your farm with no cost. I will, however, keep him local and check on him. He is really a sweet heart just too big for me.
Perhaps I am being a little bit harsh, but I really don't think so. There are a lot of stupid ads on Craigslist offering horses for sale/lease. Most of the time I scour them thinking that some hidden gem might be lying there...but usually it's for a little bit of entertainment. This one stood out against the rest as completely moronic. I hope the horse in this case gets the best possible rider/situation...though I fear that won't likely happen (especially at a rate of $100/month).
I need a like button!
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of Craigslist horse ads and I want to smash my head against the desk after reading most of them. There needs to be a blog with cl ads picked apart like you did!
ReplyDeleteYou are not so much being harsh as capricious and unreasonable. (Harsh would imply that you were accurate and fair, if hard.)
ReplyDeleteLook outside your own experiences, goals and understanding, and consider the basics:
- The ad is written is coherent English. Win!
- There is no hyperbole or 'optimism' in the ad. Both his good points and bad are described plainly.
- The owner is considerate to her horse, letting him go in a halter when he was uncomfortable in bits, and knows enough about saddle fitting to not force an ill-fitting one on her horse.
- She also cares enough about her horse to dictate some reasonable terms for a lease (local + checks), and even offers a good deal on boarding. She's not just tossing him to the wind.
- Although the picture is not recent, at least it shows the horse in good condition and in good surroundings. There's no mud, barbed wire fences or car parts to be seen. Or helmetless children demonstrating how 'safe' the horse is.
Further, if the horse is well-cared for, I don't see what business it is of yours to decide what another owner should be doing with their horse. If someone wants to have a pasture pet, or a quiet riding horse for the occasional hack, or a kids pony for 4H, or a cart-horse for their business, or a mini to show in-hand, or a high level eventer, what's it to you? Isn't the pasture pet probably just as happy (if not MORE happy) than the competition mount?
Your post reads as if your main problem is that she's not doing what YOU would be doing with the horse, and you have over-dramatized or read into each sentence you have a problem with.
For example, you say "Right, ALL drafts are lazy -- um, no...every draft horse I used to exercise ride was the complete opposite of lazy.": Well, she never claimed that ALL drafts are lazy. She said that THIS horse is lazy - being that she rides him, that seems an entirely fair and innocuous statement to make.
"WHAT IN THE HELL!?! This is where Stacey would be losing her mind.": Why? Because this horse is a draft, and Stacey's draft jumps brilliantly? The rider isn't claiming that 'he can't jump because he's a draft', she's giving a plain description of the results of her attempts to jump him. It's useful information for a potential lessee, who might be looking for something with more jumping potential. She never blames his breed - you are the one inferring that.
"This is where I nearly threw a brick at my computer! Although you've hinted to the fact that you've given up on nearly every aspect of training this otherwise lovely horse, you now openly admit that since saddle fitting was a "challenge" you simply stopped trying.": Training? She describes him as a nice riding horse. He sounds quite happy to w/t/c around without being 'trained' further. And YAY, someone who knows/cares about saddle fit!
"He needs someone to take him far away from you, and if you haven't completely ruined his chances of being a riding horse, he should at least be allowed to live out his life happily without the risk of eating himself to death/founder." Ruined his chances of being a riding horse?? Sounds like he's a fine, if not fancy, riding horse. What is it that makes you think he's being ruined? If he's happy being ridden bareback and in a halter then he sounds like a kind, stable horse that would be a pleasure to ride. And eating himself to death? Based on what, the fact that he likes to eat? (What horse doesn't?) Nothing in the ad suggests that he is overweight, and the old photo of him shows him in lovely condition.
You've mentioned a job and room-mates previously, so I'm guessing you are in college. Unfortunately, your post reads as if you are much younger. There ARE a lot of concerning CL ads out there, but this isn't one of them.
I scanned this response quickly and thought above all things, it would be best left to a more personal format (ie. an email). You seem unreasonably upset about my observations which I will certainly address point by point (later). I don't think I am being unreasonable in the slightest. Perhaps if this horse was being represented in the best possible way I could agree with you. I've read and followed your blog recently, I find it unsettling that I would receive this response from you. Craigslist is full of ads that provoke criticism and hilarity and I don't think for a second that I am being out of line in my abstract judgement.
ReplyDeleteFor the record I am not in college nor naive and un-experienced. I would however LOVE to see an ad you see fit for this kind of tongue-in-cheek scrutiny.
If you'd like to harshly attack me further for my blatant lack in judgement, please email me. I'd welcome the insight.