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Rider Insider: Stuff Non-Equestrians Say


“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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  • When we were looking into getting a horse trailer, I told my dad what my "ideal" horse trailer would be. He then asked," Would you like to ask your horse his opinion of an ideal horse trailer before we commit?"

  • I've had a few funny non-horsey friend experiences...
    I was talking to my non-equestrian friend about my horse, and I was complaining that she was lame. My friend's face just fell, and she said, "Well, that's not a very nice thing to say about your horse!"
    I was talking to a horsey friend and a non horse friend. I mentioned that the new horse I am riding is very green. You could see how confused my non horsey friend was just by looking at her; after a few seconds, she said "Wait a second...is she really green?!"

  • One incident that happened to me just recently was, I asked one of my friends if they wanted to see my new mustang (horse) and they agreed to. But, when we got there and I said, "There she is!" they looked around bewildered and then exclaimed, "Wait...where's the car?"

  • One time, I was telling my cousin about my horse. He was only 4, so he was still pretty green. Then she asked me, "Did you seriously paint your horse green??" I laughed so hard I almost cried! She was really confused until I explained what "green" meant. That is the funniest/weirdest thing I've ever been asked.

  • The weirdest thing I have heard anyone say was during my speech in school on how to groom a horse. They were watching clips I put together and they said "She just stands there". I said "yes, why". Oh well I thought horses were wild and they didn't like to be touched. So I had to explain the difference between a wild and trained horse.

  • My very helpful family helped me fix up our goat pen to hold a horse as well. My little brother thought that this was quite unnecessary and now he really seems to believe that a horse will search a new pen for a crystal chandelier. If there is none, the horse will simply turn up its nose and prance haughtily back into the trailer. I haven't yet gotten my horse, and while I look at horse ads, ("Ooh! Ooh! Come look at this one!")He will say, "but why do you want a horse? They're so picky!"

  • A while ago my sister and I were studying for a tack identification contest. I showed a picture of a bit and she has to say what it's called. She correctly identified it as a Tom Thumb bit. One of my little brothers was walking by and asked why Tom puts his thumb in a horse's mouth.

  • After my horse was born my Dad came to see him and asked if he was the color gelding. I didn't even know how to reply to that.

  • The funniest thing that I have ever had someone say to me about my horse was a phrase that went something like this," What are those things on her legs; are they moles or something?" Glancing down at my mare's chestnuts,I could not help laughing, and explained to my non-equine friend what they really were. The funny thing is that all horses have them!

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