EquestrIan Journey Hop: What won't you do?

On this horseless night, I decided to join in on this interesting blog hop from Equestrian Journey:

horse porn - velvety soft muzzle ;)

        "We all like to share on our blogs what we do with our horses and what we would like to do, but I want to know what you will NOT do.  For example I will not carry a bag of feed into the middle of a herd of horses, especially if I don't know some of them.  I will not teach my horse to rear on purpose.  I will not ride my horse into a field full of loose horses that could kick me in the leg and break it.  Things like that.  I look forward to hearing what you have to share!"

Often times I don't even think about what I WON'T do.  I'm so focused on what I will do, and what I want to do in the future.  So this is an interesting thought.  What won't I do?

Well, until last night I would NOT wash Gavin's disgusting, greasy sheath (yeh, thats right - my horse has hygiene issues… ick!!).  I still haven't done it, but I need to and I'm committed to it because it's gross, he's obviously uncomfortable, and I can't afford to pay the vet to come out for a special trip.  So check that off the list ;)

This greasy guy here has issues down south… grrrrroooossssss!

So - on with the list of things I won't do.

1.  This wasn't always true, but I won't work with a trainer who is unfriendly and who acts like they're doing me a favor by even looking in my direction.  I recently wrote to a trainer to see if I could come watch her give lessons, with the hope that our styles would sync up and she could give me some lessons.  Her response was so unfriendly, so "I'm sooo busy, and soooo important, but I guess if you're a serious rider I can help you" that I never responded.  And I won't.  I ride for pleasure, not to be treated like crap.

2.  I will not own a horse that scares me, and I won't put myself in a position with my horse that scares me.  It isn't worth it to me.  If I'm scared, it means I'm not ready. <-- because I'm scaredy-cat this means I wind up not doing a lot of things, including: trail ride alone, jump alone… you get it!  I like the buddy system!

3.  This is a strange one - but I WON'T allow my dog off-leash around my horse.  Since I've changed barns it isn't even an option as my poor puppy isn't allowed out.  But regardless it's a safety thing for all of us.  I don't want my dog doing something doggish, freaking my horse out, who accidentally hurts me, himself, or my dog.  None of those options would be cool at all with me.  I realize some dogs are my horse-savvy.  This only relates to my dog.

Save me from myself!!!!

4.  I will not stand for abuse.  In the past I've witnessed people doing things to horses that should not be done (tacks on the outside of cavalettis or jumps, jumping off a horse after a little spook to beat the shit out of them, hitting a horse in the face with your lead rope for no obvious offense).  I stood by, and said nothing.  Not anymore.  If I feel that someone has crossed the line, I'll say something.

And that's it!  Those are honestly the only things I can think of that I WON'T do.  :)  I like the list, actually!