Biggest fears for the horse industry?

Question

What scares you most about the present state of the horse industry? Is it...

The fact that all the baby boomers are leaving or get to old to compete, and taking all their money and experience with them?

Maybe that there is not a good influx of new people into horses?

That the people that are coming into the industry haven't got a clue.... but think they do?

The lack of good riding trails and areas?

That someone else just broke your high score on Howrse?

Or whatever other fears you have about this industry.

Answer 1

One of my biggest fears are the impractical and inexperienced people that are coming into the industry and the problems that will cause both in terms of how business is run and how farms are staffed. I've had 20 somethings come in that have degrees out the wazoo but are unable to catch a mare and one did a 4 year degree and had no idea what prostagladin was - I despair! They think that because they have a degree or showed as a kid that they should be in a management position earning big money when they don't have a clue. Nobody wants to come in at the bottom and learn anymore and that's a big problem. Degrees aren't worth the paper they are written on unless you can back it up with some experience.

I worry about the rate of value added tax levied by the British government on the big TB sales and how that makes it much more difficult for the breeders there to compete in the international market.

I worry that one day Sheik Mohammad will yank all his horses out of training and close his farms on both sides of the pond - too scary to contemplate!

I worry about PETA and their scare tactics and anti-racing propaganda.

I'm extremely concerned about the horse overpopulation since the slaughter ban and would like to see the AQHA limit AI stallion books because that is seriously getting out of hand. With live cover, you have the stallions certain physical limitations, with AI, infinate numbers of breedings are possible.

I'm also concerned that the FEI World Equestrian Games coming to Lexington will send farm prices sky high in this area at a time when I am looking to buy my own :-)

I am aghast at the prospect of the Natural Horseman of this world taking over and it will become the mainstream as opposed to the alternative.

Answer 2

That more and more quality is being sacrficed for quantity. That more and more of the true horse professionals are being replaced by all of the so callled "NH gurus" who offer nothing more than a microwave approach to training.
That a lot of the youth who show or even just own a horse do not have the first clue about care, upkeep, or responsibility.
That horses are being turned into fashion and political statements, not good working animals.
That people who continue to whine about horse slaughter are the same ones that are also supporting the back yard breeders because they think if the have to pay over $1000 for a horse, unless it is a fully trained World Champion, it is to much money, but will plunk down $500 to a BYB for an animal that never should have been bred in the first place.
That people will breed anything with a tail and two ears and then wonder why the horse market is in the dirt.
That people will run out and buy a horse, a few DVD's , spend an hour a week, "training", and then trash everyone else when they get beat.
That the breed associations have become more paper generating machines who will issue papers as long as the check or credit card clears, instead of actually trying to improve the breed or at least make sure the horses being registered can halfway meet the breed standard.

Answer 3

My biggest fear for the horse world is that the modern person is far removed from the animal world. We live in a push button society and the new rider expects that if they 'push the right button' the horse will do what they think it should and of course it just isnt so! There is real need for good and sensible information amongst the new riding population and it worries me that it is being filled by the 'holistic' 'natural' lobby. If the rider is educated and skilled, they dont need to play games with their horse or join up with it because they have incorporated all this into classical and uncomplicated schooling. The wave of fads now infesting the equestrian world is a worry. Most of it is ill thought out or outright money making hype. I am concerned by people who will have a lame horse they can't ride for two years so that the miserable brute can eventually be ridden 'barefoot'. The willingness to have a horse going hollow and on the forehand so it need not wear a bit, and of course the saddle has no tree. Its as if there is a need to throw out every bit of knowledge so carefully gleaned over hundreds of years, yet not one international rider rides barefoot, bitless or treeless. There is evidence that these things may be of limited use in certain situations, but are no replacement for well fitting tack, properly used by skilled and educated riders and the only investment that is never a waste are lessons from talented trainers without egos or quirks.

Answer 4

I agree with mulereiner.
I've read and heard about a lot of horses, especially in my area that are sick or have died with very mysterious symptoms and with no warning.
It's scarey to think of all the diseases that vet's don't know how to treat, and all the things that horses could ingest that would make them sick. Someone could easily give your horse something back for them, whether it be an inexperienced horse person who didn't know, or someone trying to hurt your horse.

It's not scarey, in the same sence, but more frusterating, that people decide one day they are going to buy a horse, and don't know anything about them. Then they just turn them out to a pasture with no vet or farrier care, or any care at all for that matter. It does somewhat scare me about where my horses would go if I couldn't keep them, I would give or sell them to a friend, but if they had to get rid of them...

Another thing I fear is a barn fire, a wildfire near the stable, chemical spill, or some other unusual disaster where my horses wouldn't be safe. We have plans for everything like that, like where to take the horses, or what to do, but it is still scarey.

EDIT ::: I agree COMPLETELY with lisa m about the slaughter thing. You are the first person I've seen on here to think the same way I do!
Before they stopped slaughter they should have stopped breeding. That was the problem, and still is.

Answer 5

I find that my instructors are becoming a little protective and worried about sueing because of injury. I don't mean carelessness, of course not, but they are way protective. It's like they don't trust you and are always worried if you fall off. Falling off is a part of riding (and trust me I don't mean doing something stupid or irresponsible)! What I mean is it takes you about 43912349 bareback lessons before they let you canter and it has nothing to do with skill level because I've seen people who are great at it but the stable is always too worried. Also, things cost so much. Horses are really expensive, especially if you want a show-horse or one that's not completely crazy. Lessons and boarding are expensive too! I can't afford a horse because of the cost of boarding. It's very distressing because I know of places that board for much less than here but no, we have to live in Ottawa. Lol. Also, I find that people are a little rude in the "horse world" and if you don't know much about one certain event they don't seem to open up to you and tell you about it. That's only from MY experience though! And my opinions and I respect everyone esle's opinions as well.

Answer 6

Worrying...
The fact that people can take courses and gain degrees in horse care, stable management etc without even having seen a horse and stand a better chance of actually getting the job than someone who has been around horses and muck since they were 3 years old but hold no formal qualifications.
The pervading influence of "fashion" items as opposed to good solid plain well made stuff that lasts for ages. Trade name t-shirts at inflated prices being one such item I saw lately - I mean, £45 for a polo shirt ?
Trends such as NH etc that people dabble with without ever going deep enough to make it worthwhile.
Animal rights groups that victimize people and do nothing to help[ where they are really needed.
Mad uncontrolled breeding of substandard animals with other substandard animals which is slowly creating a new equine underclass.
Gradual chipping away of bridle paths and places where people without arenas can actually go. ( sorry but in my opinion "going green" should involve supplying hitching posts at Asda)
A creeping concern ( also echoed in the local dog community) that vets artificially hype prices because the insurance companies will cough it up. This raises the premiums for everyone and starts a vicious circle.

I could go on but I have to feed the boys.......

Answer 7

As a trail rider, my own selfish concerns are the efforts by some to ban horses from many of our national parks and trail systems. I agree that equestrian users should have to pay adequate fees to maintain the trail systems...but as with everything else, there are a few greedy bastards who think only of themselves and they want it "all" for themselves only.

For the industry in general, I think that sloppy, careless breeding practices that are producing marginal horses (at best) is creating a soft, glutted market that is resulting in the neglect and suffering of horses. This is going to get more and more clear as expenses go up in price.

The new use of bio-fuels will raise the cost of feed...for you and your horse. Great for the farmer...tough on the wallet. (Maybe they shouldn't have converted all those cornfields into McMansions...) The saddest part of this all is that decent people who realize they can no longer afford to keep a horse will not be the problem...it's the moronic hilljack ******* that breed willy-nilly and don't take care of their stock who will keep on doing as they always have.

Answer 8

I see alot more ppl being 'sensitive as to what the horse feels' instead of training the horse to be a good all around.

I see alo tof ppl making excuses for horses behaviour -- ie *abused* etc. When the horse is just a brat.

So with this, I see alot of the older more knowledgable folks dying off and not being replaced by ones of equal value.

The horse market situation. How bad it is. I have a hard time at sales seeing the sick horse go through to just no sale and no they will be suffering until they die in pasture.

ok the rest of my thoughts ....

Fuel prices causing me to not show anymore since all my shows are 300+ miles away.

Drought causing the hay shortage I am facing, although I am very blessed to have all my hay in now till June.

These freaky diseases that are becoming more and more prevelent with such a huge force, like West Nile, pidgeon fever and Neuro Rhino that really were unheard of *by me at least* up until 4 years ago. I just worry bigger badder things are coming.

More later if i think about it.....

Answer 9

the AQHA shows are getting smaller and smaller. some people say it's because of gas prices. i personally think that alot of the older youth have aged out now and there wasn't enough younger (11 & under and 12-14) coming up. they had to actually lower the qualifying points for the youth world.

oh. and the fact that 75% of the 'horse lovers' on here haven't got a clue how to handle horses or to properly take care of them but are buying them and probably getting themselves hurt. and wanting to adopt wild mustangs as pets? sheesh. thats scary.

Answer 10

Working as manager of the equine section of a Co-Op I feel that my biggest fear is the lack of knowledge people are having... well let me rephrase that , the people who buy horses have no idea how to care for them or ANYTHING is what scares the crap outta me. I see on a daily basis folks coming in who have NO business owning a horse. I have one lady that comes in and the ONLY thing dhe will feed her horses is corn and some hay... she even adds corn oil to the corn in winter time..... i have tried and tried and tried to talk with her about proper nutrition and she just wont listen , even tho she has admitted her horses are too skinny... that is what scares me people who buy but will not educate themselves about the proper care of the horse