Mozzie

Spring has started to blossom here and the days are getting sunny and warm, so I have been able to take my arab pony's rug off so he can enjoy the day. However, last week a woman who boards her horse at the same agistment centre comes up to me after I unrugged him and told me that my pony was too fat, and that she would report me to the rspca for cruelty! She then started lecturing me on how to properly feed and exercise him so he loses weight! Now, I will admit my pony is fat, but that's the way I like him coming out of winter. What upset me was not that she called my pony fat, but that she called me cruel for over feeding him!

At this agistment centre you have to take care of your own horse, supply and feed him, worm him, get your own farrier and vet if needed, clean the manure yourself, and here is this woman, whose own horse is lame due to farrier neglect, telling me that I don't deserve to have a horse as I don;t know how to care for him! She spoke in such a loud voice, that a few other owners overheard- I was so humiliated! Afterward those people said that to just ignore her as my pony is in excellent condition and that I'm clearly caring for him correctly, but I felt like crawling into the manure heap and crying. I haven't been able to face her again, too afraid of what she might say. (In case you were wondering my age, I am 32 years old, and pretty shy.)

I was just wondering how is the best way to deal with a person like her as I can't keep hiding from her forever, and this is the only agistment centre in town, so moving isn't an option.

Has anyone ever insulted your ability to care for and ride your horse, and how did you get over it? Even when you know what they said was wrong?

Here in Australia, Lordosis is the term used to describe the behaviour a mare in season exhibits when she is ready to accept the stallion for mating- she lowers her rump, inviting the stallion to mate with her. However, I have lately learnt that in America, Lordosis is the name for swayback. So, I was just wondering, if Americans call Lordosis swayback, what do you call the behaviour of the mare inviting the stallion to mate with her?