Rider Insider: Stuff Non-Equestrians Say

What's the funniest or strangest thing you've heard a non-equestrian say about horses?

By | December 20, 2012

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"Why are you blindfolding your horse?" your friend asks as you adjust your horse's fly mask.

"Oh my gosh, are that horse's legs broken?" your boyfriend wonders, staring at a horse in standing wraps.

"Why are you dressed like a sparkly cowboy?" your co-worker asks, pointing to the show photo you have proudly displayed on your desk.

As horse lovers, we accept that we can seem a little strange to the outside world, but when outsiders step into our world, they can be downright hilarious.

Have you ever been asked a strange question by a spectator at the county fair, or heard a completely off-the-wall factoid about horses from a relative who hardly knows the front end of a horse from the back?

It can be a challenge to smile and politely correct someone's misguided understanding of our horsey world, but you're among friends here. Tell us about the funniest or weirdest question or comment you've heard from someone who is not equine inclined. Click “Submit a Comment” below and share your story. Some of the responses may be selected for a future issue of Horse Illustrated.

One selected response may be selected by the editors to win a monthly prize! If you would like to be eligible for the prize, please include your email address in the comment form (email addresses are not publicly displayed.)

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Rider Insider: Stuff Non-Equestrians Say

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Madeleine    Mahtomedi, MN 5/17/2013 7:45:23 PM I was with my riding instructor and we were driving to a polocrosse match. We had to stop to gas up her truck and these 2 women came up to us and asked worriedly "Are these horses going to slaughter?" My team-mates and I were by the trailer checking the horses and showering them with kisses. The worst of it was, is that my instructor replied with a blunt "yes" and then turned for us and said. Get in the car girls!" We waved to the people but I think that they actually believed her. We laughed the whole rest of the way because we were in her 50,000 dollar truck and the horses were in the four horse ramp trailer. Non horse people can be so funny at times!! Olivia    Beaverton, OR 4/6/2013 8:39:22 PM my mom and i were listening to a song in the car called 'take a walk'. and i said "Omg this would be a perfect musical freestyle song" (because i do dressage) and my mom says "yea you could do that stepy-prancy thingy" and i just laugh. lol mothers (she was talking about the piaffe if you didn't get that xP) Justin Grant    Plymouth, ME 4/4/2013 4:44:36 PM Our neighbors' granddaughter came over one time. While she was talking to us she didn't realize what she was standing on. She looks down and asks "What is this stuff?" My brother and I laughed as I explained "It's a pile of horse manure." She dances around screaming "Eww, Eww!" I was surprised she even knew what manure meant. Tina    Hampden, MA 3/29/2013 4:14:21 AM My mother once showed a photo of my horse to a friend of hers, while stating, "He's a reserve champion." She continued, "That means if the champion horse can't fulfill his obligations, my daughter's horse becomes the champion." I had to break the news to her that a horse show is not run like a beauty pageant!