Best of HN 2013, #5: 17 Things horse people do that shock and sometimes disturb non-horse people

With 93,576 views, this was HN’s 5th most popular post of the year.

17 Things horse people do that shock and sometimes disturb non-horse people by Karlie Mitchell, published Nov. 22, 2013:

I get a lot of shocked and sometimes disturbed looks from non-horse people over things I do or admit to doing regarding my horses quite regularly. Here are a few from a never-ending list:

•  Wearing old worn out clothes while your horse runs around tearing up brand new blankets

• Refusing to get a manicure or pedicure or anything along that lines, yet your horse needs regular trims and perfectly clean and moisturized hooves

• Sheath cleaning

• Temperature taking

• Eating a sandwich or snack in the barn with your dirty hands, yet once in the city you are reluctant to touch door handles

• Getting up super early on weekends for horse shows

• How much you spent on vet bills

• Talking to your horses excessively: “GUYS stop fighting over food right now!” “Awee did you like your treats?” “BOYSSS come get your treats!!” “Ooo you like when I scratch your rump don’t you??”

• Family pictures but instead of a family it is just you and your horses

• When you get upset because your friend or family cannot tell your horses apart

• Your “nice” or “expensive” clothing is your show clothes or fancy barn clothes

• Bought a truck with nice leather seats that smells soooo clean… let’s just throw this sweaty and dirty tack on these nice clean seats and enjoy the aroma of barn while driving

• When company comes over to your house and you have to abandon them to go do chores because the horses do not like when their feeding is late

• Discussing mares in heat with horse people around non-horse people

• Discussing worm counts and vet fecal tests

• When a friend opens your fridge and find horse vaccines

• When someone notices horse teeth somewhere in your house being stored like treasures

About Karlie: I am from Alberta, Canada and live on a farm with my equine crew (a Paint, QHx Arab, and two OTTBs). I mainly do English and jumping, but also enjoy western and trail riding. I love riding, training, learning about Equine Science related topics, and having a great time with my horses.