Feedbag: DQ as First Lady?

Speaking of Ann Romney, Abby Gibbon’s post last week on Mrs. Romney’s “rich out-of-toucher” dressage hobby inspired Megan Kaiser to indulge in a little rant. Thanks for reading, Megan, and thanks for writing!

From Megan:

I am a snob.  I’m the first to admit it.  I only will eat good chocolate: no last minute gas station holiday candy for me.  I will only cook with real lemon and garlic.  And there is no way I am eating the imitation syrup type substance.  All of these things are my mother’s fault.  She will fully admit that she made me this way and that she is also a snob about such things (and also because we lived in Maine until I was two and I don’t think it is even legal to sell that other stuff there).

I am rather picky about other things as well: I don’t need a fancy car, but I really want it to start every time I get in it – no questions, just go, and do not do anything that might require me to know something about cars and how they actually work – therefore I tend toward certain manufacturers and newer cars.  As for communal food offerings at work: I really need to know who made it before I eat it (but might say more about some people I have worked with in the past).  When I’m spending good money on a piece of clothing it better be of quality.  I’m to the point where, once in a while, I will invest in something nice – and it better be well made.  This also goes for tack.

One area I am absolutely not a snob is riding.  Some may instantly assume this is where I would be most snob-ish (but obviously that falls into the food category).  The posting from last week about Mitt Romney’s wife and her riding (being of the variety where the horses are usually braided) focused on how being involved in horses obviously made them elitist and snobs.  And there are certainly equine circles where the first requirement to enter into the arena (no pun intended) is cash.

But I know this isn’t a requirement everywhere.  I know not to pass judgment.  I’ve seen the most well turned out, immaculately conditioned horses step off the oldest trailers or out of the smallest of backyard barns.  I’ve also seen some scary looking feet on horses at very fancy barns and riders that are indifferent to the fact their horse is a living creature get out of the most expensive rigs you’ve ever seen.  I’m interested in how you treat everyone (people and animals), not the brand of your breeches.

Through riding I have bonded with executives, landscapers, socialites, fast-food restaurant workers, law enforcement, organic farmers, and random people at the airport.  I don’t care how much they make and they don’t care how much I do – we have a common passion, so on some level we get along.

There will always be those who treat their horses as possessions and horses will always be expensive.  So I have become a snob in a different sense: I will do my best to surround myself with those who care about the animals and won’t have time for those who care more about bragging that they did X and Y at whatever qualifier/show/event/championship.  Sign me up with those who would rather talk about the silly thing their horse did last week, know when their horse’s grain changed last and for what reason, or can tell you where each whirl or favorite scratchy spot is on at least three different horses.