Things I wish I could tell non horse people......

We used to have to punch my old gelding in the guy to tighten the cinch because he WOULD hold his breath. He'd hold it so much so that if you didn't, the saddle would slip sideways as soon as you led him off. You'd then have to tighten the cinch again after you got him out to the arena so it wouldn't slip when you tried to mount.
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In my experience its not a holding their breath they are flexing their muscle due to the fact that they don't like getting cinched up. Look at a horse when it is breathing where is the expansion is it up by the cinch or back by the flank?

I wish people knew that NOT all horses (especially ponies) are safe to pet. I swear, non-horsey parents will bring their kids up to horses and, without asking, tell their kids that they can pet them. And then they will instruct them to pet them on the nose -_-
I see it as, if you saw someone walking their dog down the street, wouldn't you ask them if it was okay before you started petting it? Horse or dog, it's just too easy to lose fingers (or limbs, for that matter) all for a lack of courtesy.

1.15 hand doesnt mean the horse realy has 15 hands and theyre hooves
2.when I say my horse is green it doesnt realy mean he's the color green

Yesss I want to say that sooo often.

Me: There's this horse who's really green at the stable I ride at.
My friend: I didn't know they came in that color. Can you get blue ones?
Me: "facepalm"

No, my horse is NOT "like a big dog" he is a horse.
No, I do not run barrels. (Nothing wrong with it, just everyone here seems to run barrels)
Horses are expensive, that $50 bridle was a steal!
No, you cannot ride my horses. 1, I barely know you. 2, can I drive your car? How about sleeping in your bed? No? Oh, okay, the feeling is mutual...

I take lessons at a pretty fancy showjumping barn, and was telling my trainer about a trailride I went on with rented horses. The horses we rented were Argentina Criollos, which is the cheaper 'country' breed here. In the stable there are pretty much only warmbloods with good lines (ie zangersheide and other reputable farms, some imported from europe :o) This guy who I had the lesson with looked at me in disbelief and asked why I would ever get on those 'terrible' horses... I corrected him and explained that those horses are very well trained to be trusted out on the beach with beginners on their back, and that they are worth three times their weight in gold... Hell, just cause they don't have the 'slim' warmblood build doesnt mean theyre crap!

Then the other day I was asking my trainer about something I had read, and the same guy commented 'You really like horses right?' in a way that made it sound like I was completely crazy to want to learn more... Yes I like horses, that's why I'm paying half my salary to take lessons twice a week! -.- I wonder why he takes lessons...

Hahaha I like that
"Can I ride your horse?"
"Can I drive your car?"
Lol

I ride through neighborhoods and sometimes I take the horses I'm training to help get them used to things. Kids will bolt out of their houses bare foot to run up and pet them. I can't tell you how many times I have to yell at other people's kids just to have the parents come out and say 'oh I told them they could pet YOUR horse.' Yea well why not ask me first!

I've also had this conversation a billion times, you'd think i'd have learned by now.
'what breed is he?'
Quarter paint.
'oh, what about the other quarters?'

Love it!
Continued version:
1. NO THIS IS NOT A PHASE!
2. You measure a horse's height with hands, no not literally your hands
3. Not just any saddle will fit all horses
4. Using a whip is not automatically abuse
5. Yes, I spend all of my free time with the horses, NO IT IS NOT A PHASE!