Today, I sat down to write a post about riding my horse. (He's doing great. I'm really excited.)
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| RIGHT LEAD OMG |
And then I realized that I'm just not in a place mentally or emotionally where I can take the hate from internet idiots who either can't, don't, or won't ride their own horse but apparently have a firm grasp of the ONE TRUE WAY that I ought be riding mine (because I'm obviously a failure at it on my own.)
So I thought I'd write a post unrelated to me or my horse about whatever random horse shit I think up. I mean, I watched the Extreme Mustang Makeover last weekend (super impressive!) and audited an Alfredo Hernandez clinic (so interesting!) and either (or both) of those would make great content. I even have cool media to go along with both.
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| 100 days off the range and one cool customer |
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| light is magic |
But ultimately, I blog to share my journey with other people, not because I needs stats or comments or page views or ad clicks (fun fact: I make $0 on this blog and have since the beginning). No one pays me to sit here and think stuff up to talk about and it's a lot of work to pour in to something just for fun.
And frankly, it's not super fun to get publicly and privately eviscerated by internet idiots, though it does on occasion make for some hilarious jokes. (Ask me how my ride was. JOYLESS. rofl.)
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| teeny dog has spunk enough for both of us |
So congratulations, internet idiots. You win this round. For non-blogging reasons, I am not in a place where I can deal with your hate and let it roll off like I usually do. (And also wtf who spends time reading blogs they hate just to hate on them? like. don't you have literally anything else to do? i don't sit in your living room to tell you why you're a failure every day. even if i hate you. i have a life.)
I'm sure I'll disappoint the haters eventually and be back full strength. I'll still be checking in as I have things I want to share, and to the great people I've met along the way, stay in touch!
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| signing out |
People suck. Clearly some of them need to spend more time in the barn and less time bullying people online. We'll miss you and C-Rage! Happy I will still get to see y'all on the facebooks :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry people don't have better things to do. Keep doing you. <3
ReplyDeleteThis makes me sad. My um, expressive, gelding is a lot like Courage I enjoyed following along with your progress. Sometimes people just suck. I've dropped blogs for various reasons, who knew I was supposed to berate their writers instead :(
ReplyDeleteMakes me want to punch the hater(s) in the mouth. How ridiculous. We love you and love Courage. Monday morning quarterbacking is stupid and unproductive. You do you.
ReplyDelete:-( I really, really hate this. We generally have a great group of equestrian bloggers and readers, but there are always a few bad eggs in the bunch who ruin it for the rest of us. I'm sorry you're going through this, but just know that while those opinions might be the loudest, they are definitely not the ones that matter, and they're certainly not the majority.
ReplyDeleteFuck the haters.
This makes me so angry for you! People suck! We'll miss you and hope you check in soon with your adventures!
ReplyDeletePeople suck. You keep doing you. Your honesty is one of my favourite things about your blog. Your honesty about the hellmare and your incredible joy in rediscovering the fun with Cuna helped inspire me to move on from the Red Mare and buy the BestPony.
ReplyDeleteTracy took the words right out of my mouth - Fuck the haters.
You are one of my favorite bloggers even though I don't usually comment. I will miss you but your blog should be fun for you! I hope you update it occasionally. Have fun with your gorgeous pony!
ReplyDeleteHang in there and keep doing what makes you happy. :)
ReplyDeleteThis makes me so sad. I look forward to all your Courage memes.
ReplyDeleteMakes me sad too.
ReplyDelete😔 your blog is my favorite, I will miss your terrific writing and stories about the awesome and quirky Courage.
ReplyDeleteWhhaaaat...??? I just discovered your blog and love your TB and tack-ho-ness. Sorry for the haters, I'll be looking forward to your upcoming posts!
ReplyDeleteUm, wtf? I didn't even know there were haters here. That sucks, and I'm sorry. You don't deserve it - you do the best for Courage and yourself.
ReplyDeleteWelp. Now what the heck am I gonna read.
ReplyDeleteI'm so much more chill about riding and making goals now that I've slowed down the sharing train. Enjoy it! I think a blogging vacation is a good thing, and I hope one day you'll be back in a good spot in all aspects of your life! :)
ReplyDeleteLame, some people are just dicks. I'm sad you are stepping away from your blog and I'm more sad it's for the reason, your's is one of my daily favs, but do what you gotta do. Keep being you and Courage, just the way you are.
ReplyDeleteI'll look forward to your next post, and will oogle pictures of Courage on instagram in the meantime. Cosmo sends some slobber.
I've enjoyed reading your blog immensely over the last 2 years or so. As someone who just throws a leg over her very non complicated gelding and enjoys simply doing the trail thing, I have really enjoyed your very active and purposeful thought process regarding your journey with Courage. I think you have a wonderful point of view and it takes a someone who is very committed to their horse and their own riding to give up one path to pick another because it simply didn't work well for the horse. Plus, your sense of humor is hilarious. :-)
ReplyDeleteShame on those who felt it was acceptable to criticize your choices and actions that were clearly always made thoughtfully, deliberately and with the horse's best interest first and foremost. I don't know who they are, but they are clearly people who are missing something in their lives or just missing a few screws in general. I'm going to guess that there will be way more people that will miss your daily thoughts than those nasty trolls could ever imagine.
I'm a (forever) lurker and love/loved reading your (often) daily thoughts. Your blog is energetic, candid and most of all, fun!
ReplyDeleteDon't let the armchair critics get in your way.
I am so sorry you are experiencing this. I have read your blog daily since the Izzy days. So, literally, for years. Maybe a vacation is in order. I do hope you come back and check in. We'll be thinking of ya!
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth coming from an internet stranger- you've been listening to your horse and keeping his best interest first and foremost when it came to your training techniques. Regardless of the particular method, that's all ANYONE involved with any horse should be focused on. Someone that likes to issue unsolicited remarks about a horse or person they know very little about, is only advertising how grossly uneducated they really are. Everyone is trying to compensate for something and for those kinds of people, well, it's their own stupidity.
ReplyDeleteLet me at 'em, let me at 'em... my hormone level isn't as impressive as when I was 9 months pregnant, but I've still got big amounts of crazy from the postpartum period. They'll run in pure terror, wishing they'd never thought to poke the bear's friend.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that people are so lame with such boring lives that they have to bug you to have some excitement in their lives. I absolutely love your blog, your mindset, your journey, and your boy. It's a breath of fresh air to me, and so incredibly inspiring. I'll be sad not to get the full blog experience here. Maybe you can private message me what you would have written for the blog through your break? (I'm the center of the universe, dang it! Lol)
Noooooo! Haters can go suck it. I will miss your thoughtful posts about Courage's journey, and look forward to you coming back and showing them they were wrong.
ReplyDeleteLmao. This ^
ReplyDeleteThis makes me so sad. I have read your blog since the hellmare days and it is one of the blogs I most look forward to reading. I don't comment often enough but I love Courage and how honest and transparent you are and am sad someone has seen that as reason fo hate on you. You were one of the first people to follow and comment on my blog back when I had one and I will miss your blog even more because of that.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that this happened. You could turn on the comments approval feature- with no Venezuela the haters disappear ( I know from experience). But it's hard to celebrate good rises with criticism lurking everywhere. Please don't go. Your story gave me courage to carry on with my mare.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what happened, but this makes me so sad. Your blog and your journey have been such a staple of my life for so long. Don't go. :-(
ReplyDeleteNooo! I'm so sad! 😞😞😞
ReplyDeleteI totally understand, you gotta do what's best for you and for Courage. Looking forward to your return!
I really enjoy your posts and seeing your progress with a not easy horse. It IS progress and even though sometimes I might disagree with a choices or a method, I have respect that you are making a concerted and thoughtful attempt to bring Courage along. By being open and online you do expose yourself to criticism but you also help people think through their training methods and riding habits. JMHO
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear that haters have been getting you down, your journey with Courage has been so inspiring. I hope you guys keep doing you and you continue finding awesome stuff to to buy ☺
ReplyDeleteThe positivity will still be here if/when you chose to come back 😇
I probably have never commented before, so I guess that makes me a lurker, but I've always been an interested lurker. I read your blog because you write with a good sense of humour & I really love your photos. Though we ride different disciplines, I've learned much from you; I have especially loved 'Teach Me Tuesdays'.
ReplyDeleteTake the time you need to regroup, I think the admirers outnumber any haters, & I do hope you'll come back to SB sooner, rather than later. In the meantime, I'll miss reading about you & Courage.
I hate this post, love your blog. I'm another person who you inspired to get an appropriate horse and have loved following along over the years. Enjoy your break, hope to see you again soon :)
ReplyDeleteRandom lurker here, but I always appreciate how you are super down to earth and honest in your journey. It's helped inspire me to keep pushing forward.
ReplyDeleteThe world today is a sad place - the fact that there are people out there who live just to follow and send someone hate messages...I can't even. Ain't nobody got time for that and it's absolutely ridiculous that you are a target.
We'll be here waiting, hope to hear back from you soon. Your journey with your Courage helps give me courage in my journey. :)
-Jessica, random, nosy lurker without a blog.
This is exactly why I haven't posted since 2014. They wore me down. So sorry they got you too.
ReplyDeleteBoo hisss, people suck!!!! I'm a total blog lurker, but I always like your FB and IG stuff. I'm so sorry you're going through all this shizz, and that you need to step away from things. I will look forward to keeping up with you on FB & IG, and can't wait until the time is right and you start blogging again!
ReplyDeleteI've only ever read kind remarks in your comment section.. so I guess that means the hateful comments are coming to you privately? That lack of courage in their communication reveals a lot about the speakers.
ReplyDeleteNooooooo! I read your blog all the time but I don't always read the comments so I had no idea! I'm sorry. That makes me really angry! Fuming on your behalf right now...
ReplyDeleteThis is unfortunate. I respect your decision. Someone I admire who is a public figure (my pastor) who gets attacked online said once that he doesn't engage or involve himself in the negative "stuff." He takes such a high road. I hope you continue to pursue what brings you joy regardless of unkind/immature/bored/bullying types.
ReplyDeleteI will miss Courage! I really appreciate your honesty here. Have a good break, come back if/when you are ready. Is it possible to have a private blog, ie: a password and just let who you want in?
ReplyDeleteUgh, sorry to hear that happened to you. Similar thing happened to me on a internet forums. I finally just quit the forums. Too many toxic people. Sucks because I find that forums can be a wealth of information at times, and not all of us have a saddle fitter or other equestrian professionals hiding in our back pockets. I do hope you find your blogging mojo back as I have rather enjoyed reading about your adventures.
ReplyDeleteThis post makes me really sad. I don't know why we can't just all support each other :( I hope you enjoy your break and will be excited to have you back at some point.
ReplyDeleteAfter more than 46 comments, mine is probably not even worth reading. I felt like I had to chime in though. I don't read ALL of the comments before mine, but when I do, I rarely see any that are snarky. How are these people communicating with you? Do they send you an email?
ReplyDeleteI rarely get critical comments, but for a while, a local reader (who actually knows me in real life), would blast me whenever possible. I never responded, but other readers always did.
If I think a blogger is an idiot - there are a few out there, I DON'T COMMENT, instead, I QUIT READING!
What the hell, people?!
Shake it off as best you can and know that you and Courage have fans who want to hear about your day - good or bad. :0)
Yet another lurker coming by to say I will miss your daily posts and insights. I found this blog when I started volunteering with OTTBs last year. Not quite knowing what I'd gotten myself into, I poked around online to get some ideas. Through SB I was able to see what kind of information and feedback OTTBs need that might be different from other horses. I came for the info and stayed for your sense of humor! So, thank you for that and I hope to see you back in this space again.
ReplyDeleteKim
I hope you are back soon. I know you will do what is best for you, as you do for your horse. You have done a fantastic job with him.
ReplyDeleteHolla Holla I vote epic girls pony weekend, haters gonna hate, and we take the best group selfies. Also please don't leave blog land for long!
ReplyDeleteAnother equine blog lurker here, but I feel compelled to speak up after reading this. :(
ReplyDeleteI started devouring horse-related blogs b/c it's become one of my daughter's true passions (Yes, I've dreamed about owning a horse FOREVER. Go ahead and call it a mid-life crisis. Or foolhardy. Label it however you want IMO.)
I needed true knowledge/experience - not some BS fantasy sh*t where everything is perfect.
This blog - your journey/bravery/knowledge - helped me so much. We definitely wouldn't have recently acquired a talented, derpy, quirky TB on a budget if it weren't for you.
He may not be her heart horse, but thank you for inspiring us to make the jump into horse ownership.
And, seriously, a big f**k you to haters everywhere - no, you don't get to win. Never. B/c you're nothing but some miserable person who takes weird joy in bursting bubbles/confrontation/bullying/seemingly a perfectionist who never stumbles or make mistakes along the way.
Yeah, right. Sell it to someone else...
My industry attracts them like flies to a manure pile, so maybe this seems harsh, but why are you letting the loudest/most obnoxious jerks be on your jury of peers? (Reread the ^^^ comments from your kindred spirits/bloggers!)
Enjoy what you have in front of you! Goals are good, but not if they're unrealistic and making you (and Courage) unhappy...?
Boo an internet trolls! >:-O
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and look forward to your updates. I do not often leave comments, but I always find your stories engaging and leave me hopeful for the future when I finally own my own horse and can appreciate your struggles and triumphs even more thoroughly.
Now go out there and have a fun hack on Courage, a glass of wine, throw rocks in a pond, whatever makes you happy and forget about the haters!
Well that sucks infinite amounts. You are the first blog I started reading at a time when my own life with horses was a constant shit show and I wasn't sure what direction to go. It has been inspiring to follow your journey and I really hope we all get to share in your future successes and struggles. We have such a great blogging community of supportive amateur riders who I am sure all 'get' the struggle and are here for you in what ever way we can be.
ReplyDelete... what Jessica said!
ReplyDeleteI too am the random lurking reader brought here by another blog's links some years ago.
I have enjoyed reading about your horses, your candid product reviews and really enjoy all the pictures :)
Shame on the bleeping idj-uts. They need to fill out an ID-TEN-T form and make it official / endsnark.
... M inNC
(had to switch browsers to post..., maybe that's why I just read along quietly.)
So sorry to hear this, your blog legit played a major role in inspiring me to start my own. Internet trolls are the worst, and I hope that you get things worked out. Best of luck to you and Courage, and looking forward to reading your posts again someday!
ReplyDelete:'(
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your internet free pony time though, and I hope everything sorts itself out. Xx
I'm sorry to hear that you've been going through that kind of thing. It really sucks. People are just awful sometimes. We'll miss you, and I hope that you and Courage keep on growing like you both have been. Best wishes to you both, have lots of happy pony rides, and I hope one day we'll see you back here!
ReplyDeleteHi SprinklerBandit! I am another "lurking" reader that has thoroughly enjoyed reading about your experiences with Cuna and Courage. I've been enjoying your writing for at least 3 years and will miss you both. Hopefully, your blog hiatus will be good for both of you and you will come back soon. Missing you already! Wishing you the very best...
ReplyDeleteLee Anna (attnamedboo@gmail.com)
Sad to see you go, but any time we post anything, words, photos or video and expect people will comment, we open ourselves up for criticism. That's just the way it is. If this is in regards to my comment the other day that you deleted? I did not intend it to be hurtful in any way, but rather helpful instead. How it was perceived is not up to me.
ReplyDeleteAs a blog reader, we're also not privy to any side stuff (non horse related or personal) going on in your life unless you mention it, that may add to how you take it when something is said. I haven't seen any comments that I thought were hateful or mean, but rather the opposite. I know I've seen comments on my own blog that at first I don't understand or agree with, but given time may hold some merit. Our first reaction may not always be the right one or a good one. For people to be downright rude or hateful? It's sad and pathetic actually. What's going on in their life to make them that way?
So sorry to hear this. I hope you are back soon. Nothing is more powerful than someone willing to share their journey, I hope this doesn't stop you.
ReplyDeleteCome baaaaaaack!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you've been making a positive impact on many - hope the many responses have lifted your spirits some!
ReplyDelete