cretin wrote:
I also look down on people/horses who can't ride outside of the ring or go on trails. image They say they prefer not to or they have no need to, but nine times out of ten they are afraid. I really have little confidence in a rider who is ring-bound.


Agree lol or they say "well my horse just doesn't like it" yeah ok.
Or boring...WTH. You make it what you want. I used to ride trails like a x/c course. I agree the excuses are limitless.



Agreed, agreed and agreed lol...my personal experience is that people are too chicken to ride out, or one - they didn't want their horse to get fit because then it would be crazy.



I have to disagree with this one. I've been a trail guide in a National Park (as an actual job, taking three to five groups out into the mountains in a single average day), as well as a serious dressage competitor, and when given a choice I will ride in the ring EVERY TIME. I frankly find trails really boring. Lah lah lah trees grass trees more grass water water field water trees. And awesome, about a billion biting insects. Whoopee.

I won't argue that there are people who are terrified of trails or being outside a fence, but not all of us who prefer ring riding are doing so out of fear.

Back to the original question: if I see a really, really pretty horse? I tend to assume that the owner bought it for looks, which really isn't fair, but I've just seen too many people with KYOOOT but insanely inappropriate horses for their skill level/riding needs.