Hello everyone,

I had to stop at Rebekah's (December 14, 20001) comment; I will read up on the rest when I have the time.

I would appreciate you listening to my view on this:

1) The main point of the article was to make people think about what they want in a horse and to READ, TALK and LISTEN to horse people they trust.

2) I never said that horses teeth fall out, but to watch and make sure that the horse has teeth so you are not spending a fortune buying special feeds. (been their done that)

3) The reason I wrote the article was because I got REALLY mad at countryside for publishing 'selecting a horse' articles that were breed specific, I personally felt that it would be better if they had something that covered more than just whatever breed they were focusing on. (Generalized article)

4) I have no interest in if an albino horse really exists or not. Albino is still a common term where I live so I used it. The general point was that horses with pink skin burn and take a lot more up keep. (Do you really want that for your first experience?)

5) I like the Color of Horses book granted I probably should have added to look at all the PICTURES. I don't care about the genetic composition of the hair follicle or if the density of the hair makes the hide or hooves stronger, its all a bunch of bull$!%% as far as I am concerned, however again I like the PICTURES. The reason I chose that book was because it is the only one I know of that has so many PICTURES of the different colors with so many different breeds. The PICTURES is what I was meaning for people to focus on. I have had far to many people come out and look at my herd and go “Oh, I like the beige one” or “That one that is rusty colored is pretty” and I am left trying to figure out which one they are speaking of.

6) No I do not encourage newbie horse people to buy a 2 year olds and younger. If you would have noticed I encouraged people to buy OLD well broke horses. However when people come out and look at buying a horse for them or their kid everyone seems to gravitate towards the babies. Yes, we gave a 28-year-old well broke mare to a friend to learn on and I am happy to say she is now 32 years old and still being ridden and running around his pasture. I know of many old 20+ horses that are still making their way on the trail rides with the rest of our youngin’s.

7) We have had 4 palominos and all have had eye problems at one time or another, the comment was purely personal experience. Again with such things I suggest you READ about, TALK and LISTEN with a horse person you trust, about horses.

8) Yes, the article was meant to be VERY generalized.

9) The characteristics that I attributed to the different breeds are what are considered common in the area that I live in. I however did not try to put negative connotations with any of the breeds. Yes, the comment on weanlings and yearlings being cheaper than older broke horses comes from the area I live in and yes I have also encountered weanlings and yearlings much much more expensive than older well broke horses.

10) Yes, I am Bev Sandlin’s daughter. Yes, I have been raised with horses my whole life my first horse (at the age of 3, me not the horse she was 6 I think) was an Egyptian Arabian/Quarter horse cross and was one of the best horses my mother said she had ever met. Yes, I know that there are some fiery Quarter horses I own one.

11) No! I did not mean in any way shape or form to encourage anyone to train a young horse with no prior knowledge of training. It is FAR FAR to dangerous.

12) The article was not meant for people who own horses or people who have been raised with horses their whole lives.

The article came from me ranting and raving around the house for 2 weeks over another countryside article about selecting a horse before my mom told me to shut up or write an article myself. However I was of the opinion of “what could I write that could be of any use to someone just looking at getting a horse, I’ve been around horses my whole life, half the stuff people ask me about horses I view as common sense.” So my mom talked to me and told my all the things she wished people had told her before she just started buying horses for herself, the things she still tells people getting into horse and yes I did interpret her words in my own manner. Yes, I am sure there are things in the article that some people consider old wives tales but I have enough (17) horses and have trained enough for other people, and I admit it been around too many –old timers- to not believe them.

However, I would absolutely LOVE to read some of your articles on horses. I hope to be seeing them in Countryside soon!

Lots of Love, Mt Storm :-)

-- Montana Storm (mtstorm@usa.net), January 07, 2002

Answers

It was very nice of you to respond to the forum in such an adult way .Alot of comments in regards to your article where not very nice .I am not sure I could have done it as nicely if it where me .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), January 07, 2002.

Well said Montana! I'm afraid just about every horse question on this forum ends up in a disagreement. Ask a horse question and you will get a million different views. All of which are the right answer! Thanks for contributing to Countryside and happy riding to you!

-- cowgirlone (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), January 07, 2002.

Very sensible and articulate response Montana!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 07, 2002.

I applaud you Montana. Keep up the good attitude and keep up with your writing.

-- Sher in se Iowa (riverdobbers@webtv.net), January 07, 2002.

Hey Montana,I took it exactly the way you wrote it.Don't sweat the critics,strength is born of adversity,but then you know that already!!!

-- teri (dnsmacbeth@aol.com), January 07, 2002.

Wow, Montana, VERY impressive response to some of the nasty, nasty things that were written in that older thread. (Your comment got me curious and I just went and ground through the whole, miserable thing.)

I'm not going to go point by point, but I did read your article, and thought it a was well-written and articulate sharing of your experiences with and knowledge of horses. If we, as readers, can't feel free to do that in an article submitted to Countryside magazine, then the magazine will perish, and I think we'd all hate to see that happen. I really appreciate your taking the time to put together an article for this magazine. Warm regards,

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), January 07, 2002.

Well done Montana. Articulate, points made, concessions without groveling, and an invitation issued with good spirit.

Hmmm, wonder who'll take you up on it?

Personally, I feel there was nothing wrong with your original point of view. Some people just need a mental boink with the proverbial 2x4.

Again, well done, hope you'll keep us informed and on track in this regard.

-- HarleyinFL (cruisindog@juno.com), January 07, 2002.

I enjoyed your article.......and the response.......good read for newbies with horses like myself. But my better half didn't care for some of the advice. She grew up on a horse ranch and has seen (and had a hand in training) literally hundreds of horses.

So?....cowgirlone said it best..."Ask a hundred horse questions and you'll get a hundred different answers".

Bottom line to all the postees who attacked or disagreed......write it down and send it to the magazine. See if you can do as gracefully as Montana without the anonymity of the internet.

-- Jason in Southern Tenn. (AJAMA5@netscape.net), January 07, 2002.

Kudos from me, too, Montana. I'm GLAD you wrote the article, even if everyone doesn't agree with every point in it. I felt you were writing your own opinions and experiences, and took it that way. There is another "wives tale" about horse intelligence, which has to do with how close to the eye the little swirl of hair on the side of their face is, if they have one. The farther from the eye, the dumber the horse. At least that is the old timer's story around here. Now, I've had some that had swirls clear down on their necks, but were the smartest horse in the corral, while one with a swirl right between the eyes couldn't find the feed trough with all four hooves. Hope you will write more! (We also have two mustangs, and I'm amazed at how smart and tough those two critters are!) Jan in Colorado

-- Jan in CO (Janice12@aol.com), January 07, 2002.

What you guys said. After the critical post from a few weeks back, I actually went back and re-read the article. Could find nothing in it that warranted the kind of hostility that was directed at Montana. I thought the article was just fine, and I learned a thing or two myself!

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), January 07, 2002.

Hey Montana, Arn't horse people fun? Especially the ones that show! Can't argue with them 'cause you will never win or make your point. If it weren't for my love of the 4 legged hay burners I wouldn't deal with them (horse humans). Just go your way and take everyone else's opinion with a grain (or a bushel) of salt. Don't forget the selinium! LOL Have a happy horse life, Susan in Michigan

-- Susan in Northern Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), January 08, 2002.

Hi Montana,

I think you did an admirable job trying to write about a subject that you would surely get bashed for. Giving advice about horses is about as dangerous as riding a three year old stud upside down through a herd of mares. You're either gonna get bucked off, reared up with, or laughed at by someone watching.. Now that you've got a nice visual going... I think your response shows a great deal of maturity. You were trying to help and got slapped down. Well, here's to you! If I live to be ninety I won't know everything about horses - but I betcha I'll know an albino when I see one! :>)

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), January 09, 2002.

WOW! I went back and re-read some of the post. Some were down-right mean. If I ever get that out of hand contact my mom, she'll back hand me for you. Good luck Montana in the future with horses and writing. There are some things that we know that we want to be able to share with others but you can count on there being people who want to let everyone know how wrong you are and how right they are. the only problem is we will never read an artical from them because they are to busy tearing apart someone else's artical.

-- george (bngcrview@aol.com), January 09, 2002.

Cindy, that was soooo funny!! Thanks for the good laugh!! Best wishes!

-- cowgirlone (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), January 09, 2002.

LOL, Cindy! (big grin) I'd really like to see an equine albino too. But, sadly, they're like unicorns- they only exist in the imagination.

Maybe someday...stranger things have happened.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), January 11, 2002.

I do not know much about horses so I have to ask this, why can't there be albino horses? I thought that could happen in any animal.

-- george (bngcrview@aol.com), January 11, 2002.

Hey George,

So far, there have been no true albino horses reported. To be considered albino any animal, or human, must have white skin/hair, and pink eyes. It is a genetic anomaly but it has never been documented in horses.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), January 11, 2002.

Stacey, I do have to say that I do not remember ever seeing a white horse with pink eyes. I have seen lots of white horses with blue eyes though. I think it is odd that there has never been a documented case of an albino horse. I know I have seen an albino in almost every other type of animal.

-- george (bngcrview@aol.com), January 11, 2002.

Wow, great rebound! I really admire the grace and poise you have in confronting all the critics of your article. Which, by the way was well written. I don't know how long you have been on the forum, but I wanted to mention that for a long time this forum reflected the magazine's tone of, "Family" until recently, then folks joined that just seemed to critize and find fault with anything. Sort of like if, "The sun out, nope, see rain clouds!" type adages. Please don't take their inconsiderate and disrespectful remarks to heart, and it appears you haven't.

Take care.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), January 12, 2002.

Patty, cowgirlone, Melissa, Sher, teri, Laura Jensen, Harley, Jason, Jan, Shannon, Susan, Cindy, George & Bernice:

Thanks!!!!!!

-- Montana Storm (mtstorm@usa.net), January 12, 2002.

Montana, wow! I read the article in CS magazine and thought it was a fine, basic article. I would expect anyone who is considering making as large an investment in time and money as a horse would do more than simply read your article, and you basically said that too. I find it amusing that you sign your name Mt Storm, because you seem to have stirred one up!!! You know, this could be as big as which way to hang the toilet paper was to Ann Landers! Don't sweat it...just keep up the good work. I'll be looking forward to reading your words in CS magazine again in the future.

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), January 12, 2002.