Why are ppl on here against vets advice and trainers advice?

Question

Alllllll too often, well hourly anymore it seems,

People are posting on here wanting advice for some bratty horse vice and when seeking professional help is recommend, they totally freak.

How do you think the professionals learned? Trial and error? They learned from other professionals. If its a money thing, then why have a horse in the first place to ruin beyond all means? Just because you get a horse, you can pet horse and you can brush it, doesn't constitute you being a trainer.

Also, why post vet questions and basically same thing, I don't have the money, I just want to see if someone had advice, I will wait a while etc. There is a reason there are vets people.....

I would love to hear why ppl writing in here about training and vet questions and then are so against it, are????

Emily, then my question would be, why buy an inexperienced horse if they, themselves are inexperienced? Wouldn't it make more sense to learn off something that could teach you?

As far as bad vets/trainers,, sure we all have our horror stories. Thats why you get references (suggested many times to ppl on here). I wouldn't send my mules to someone that I didn't know. What my suggestions have been is to take lessons on the problem horse and learn from them. Wayyy more valuable info to be gained that way.

I do also applaud those that are learning and asking questions also, however its just their negativity to well meaning help offered by those of us that have the healed bones to show that we know what we would of done in those instances.

Answer 1

People want a quick fix and they also want so much to believe that they "know all about horses" and are advanced riders. One girl posted that she wanted to buy a green TB and try to finish it herself, was an advanced rider because she could run and stuff?? I'm like what the hell?? If you are that advanced, why do you not have enough faith in your own experience and level of competence to make that call. I also don't feel like "running and stuff" constitutes an advanced rider. I also think that some people just don't like the answers given or that it goes beyond their understanding of training, vet care etc. When people post messages citing about abuse regarding using a crop or horse racing, it really makes me pause for a moment because while they feel that these practices are abusive, I feel that due to lack of knowledge and experience and an unwillingness to listen when caring for any animal is a form of abuse. It's called improper care and not meeting their needs.
I do applaud though all the novices and younger posters that do come on here and actively try to learn like the woman asking questions about breeding terms before sending her mare out to be bred. That's smart but I too feel that too many people think that having a horse is just like playing real life Howrse which is very sad.
To summarize, it's like "I see" said the blind wife to her deaf husband - makes no sense.

Answer 2

Everyone thinks they are an expert in horses, the only people that truley do know what they are talking about are the people that will willingly admit they don't know everything. When someone claims to be an expert in horses, or says they know everything, I immediately discredit them, a real horse person will recognize that there is always something to learn.

I think a lot of the problem is in this fad of training videos and books, people run out to a parelli clinic, or buy a john lyons book, and then they magically turn into a trainer. People need to start understanding, if training horses were easy, there would not be people out their that make a good living off of only training.

I took 18 years of lessons twice a week every week, I have kept my horses at a trainers barn 45 mins away just so I could learn from the best. I would not have done all this if I could have learned all I needed to know through some trendy trainers book. I have a few show accomplishments, I can now do most of my own training, I don't really work with a trainer anymore because I'm not as into showing as I used to be, but I am still considering taking lessons in reining, just for the sake of learning some new methods. Good horse people are always willing to learn, the people that are agianst trainers and vets are the same people out there breeding Billy Bob from down the street's stallion to their mare, then bitching about how much the vet costs to get out, they then produce a disaster of a foal, which they - suprise!- can't handle then ***** some more about getting a trainer out before they get injured by their little creation.

People on here asking for advice on some minor detail, or problem is fine, but then there are those people which just do not want help, they want sympathy, or someone to tell them how amazing they or their horse are. A good example- girl that keeps asking what color her clearly gray horse is.

Answer 3

I think that sometimes you are absolutely right. There are people that have no business getting involved in horse ownership because they are not yet ready to accept the costs or simply lack the experience.

I think when it comes to asking on forums, sometimes people want opinions other than "go ask someone with a title" because frankly they may not be able to. Some people live in the middle of nowhere, they are not lucky enough to be near trainers or vets.

I was shocked when I joined my military spouse and moved from NYC to the South where the nearest equine vet is 3 hrs from the base and no one seems to ever be able to see horses without a two week's notice. In that instance, if it were colic or something dire, I would trailer three hours and force them to see me. However if its a slight lameness or a gash I could treat myself, I may want to know what you as a community on this forum has to say about it.

Regarding training, many areas of the world have sub-par trainers. Recommendations don't always help because the recommenders don't know anything are being taken for "a ride" as well. Some of these "trainers" don't know how to handle situations. For example, when we were at the last base for a month, I attended some local horse shows. The "big" local trainer was a seventeen year old girl who sat like a sack of potatoes on a horse and her students were falling off left and right. It was downright dangerous. Yet to everyone in the area she was the big trainer. Well if I were one of her students with a rearing horse, I would want to know what others thought on this forum even though I can't find another trainer near me to help me.

I guess the vets and trainers would be the first, reactionary response. But these forums are the back up plan, the plan B for when plan A just will not work for whatever reason.

Answer 4

Hi Mulereiner! That is such a good question and I often wonder it myself!
I'm such a pro vet, pro trainer person that it is a bit difficult to understand why people are against experts helping them. I know that every little problem doesn't need an expert's help, but many of the questions posted are HUGE problems, ie. my horse is biting every time I go into his stall, my horse won't let me put a saddle on and freaks out, my horse has colic symptoms every week what should I do? All three of those problems are basically life and death problems! Don't expect an amateur who's never seen you or your horse to solve it for you in a line or two in Yahoo answers.
I will mention that for most of my life my training has been a "do it yourself" type of thing, and I managed well, in most cases. But I can think of examples where I hit a wall and didn't know what to do and never progressed my horse past that area. If I had gone to a trainer someone would have likely been able to help me find a way to go past our problem. An example - one of my horses used to get really bratty in showmanship classes even though he had super duper great ground manners at home. If I corrected him in the ring he just seemed to get worse and worse. I never did solve that problem with him. I think a trainer would have found something different to try than what I did!
I often tell people that the world's greatest hockey players and other sportsmen all have coachs. Surely you don't think Wayne Gretsky didn't have a coach? So why is it hard to imagine a horse rider having a coach!? They help.
Anyhow, I appreciate your question, I think it's great and I'll aware you a STAR!
Have a great day.

Answer 5

Because they do not like to be told that they are not smart enough to work out a problem that could get them killed. In my book, the smartest horse people in the world are the ones who will ask for help, take the vets advice, and learn something every chance they can. And if you do not think that the pros do not consult with each other, think again. You see it all the times at shows. One trainer will ask other about how a horse is going, moving, conditioned, etc. They rely on each other to get good professional answers and this helps keep them at the top of their game. IMO

Answer 6

Because people don't want to hear others tell them what they already know they should do. Some are here to have someone tell them they don't have to go to the vet or they don't need to get a trainer that way they have an excuse not too. Ok so you can get some great advice on Y!A but I think the majority of us can admit that most of the time a pro is the way to go when it comes to the well being of our animals.
If you don't have the money, don't have the horse. I have only had my TB since April and my Arab since May, and you would be shocked at my vet bill already but hey, that is part of being a horse owner. We took them in and it is our responsibility to take care of them.
My gripe is people who just write "Take your horse to the vet" or "Get a trainer". Trust me, if I thought my horse needed a vet he would be there already but sometimes I like to hear about other people who have gone thru it and get some advice from their experience. Isn't that what this forum is for? I am guilty for not having a trainer but they are trail horses and despite a little setback with my Arab being a brat they are great. If I do more with them you bet I will get a trainer so it is done properly.
Good question. =)

Answer 7

What experience/qualifications does this guy have? I've seen a certain franchised organisation that offers a similar deal and some of these trainers are let loose with just 6 weeks training.- they may not even have owned a dog before! Have you checked out APDT? I'd ring round a few other trainers, find out what they suggest and what their fees would be. Ha!!! K9King is obviously on the same wavelength as me!

Answer 8

It goes back to all the questions on getting a first horse, free horse, cheap horse, etc: when answers are posted that point out the great expense in a "free" horse, or just the general costs of any horse, people don't listen. Then when they run up against trouble, they are looking for more of the same: "free" advice! You get what you pay for. Case in point - little girl (maybe 7 or 8)approaches me asking questions about our upcoming horse show. She wants to show, but do I know anyone who will loan her a saddle, as they cannot afford one. I suggest maybe she just come and show halter, and I explain the class a bit. She says, "Oh, maybe I could do that. Can you loan me a halter?" True story, scout's honor!

Answer 9

I'm sorry, I didn't realize that this was the "horse" section, but I think I still gave you a valid answer at least as far as vet care goes.
you know, I wonder about that myself. if my any of my dogs had a condition that I thought warrented vet care, and I take care of them better than I do of myself, we're out the door. the last thing I would ever do is come, even though I love it here, and ask for advice. now, having said that, I am a dog owner of many years experience, so I don't freak out about little things. but 2 years ago, my 4 1/2 month toy poodle stumbled, and shattered his elbow, and broke his right front leg. I took my credit card to the vet, because I knew it was serious, and they gave me an estimate of $3000. at least. I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. THREE THOUSAND dollars. I handed them the card, and said, "do what is necessary." no mention was made of putting him down just what would need to be done to repair him. the total bill was more than $4000, including painkillers, x-rays, micro-surgery, followup care, and even the cost for him staying over night in the hospital. they get you coming and going, but I paid it.
so, I get frustrated, too, when people come here and say things that would have me rushing out the door, and make the pathetic excuse that they don't have enough money. vet care is part of animal stewardship, and if you are going to have a pet, you must be prepared to take care of it, even in emergency cirucumstances.

Answer 10

I agree with your sentiment entirely.
Sadly it doesn't just happen on Yahoo Answers. I'm a trainer and have many equine qualifications, however, I get sick and tired of some of my clients expecting me to replace their vet or farrier! So many times I have suggested that a horse has a mild lameness problem, and should be seen by the vet, yet they expect me to have x-ray vision and provide a full diagnosis and prognosis! I prefer to work WITH other professionals. No one individual can know EVERYTHING there is to know about horses! We should all continue to learn, and accept our own limitations. For the sake of the horse, we should know when to consult a professional. If you are a horse lover, you should ensure you have the means (financial, knowledge and experience) to look after a horse correctly BEFORE you decide to buy one for yourself.

I continue to learn, especially about how things are done in other countries (while looking at answers). But it distresses me when I see so much ignorance in regard to horse welfare.