Horse boarding and training facilities and their customers are always an excellent source of drama, created by "barn witches" who identify as richer, more talented, and generally better than everyone else. A bountiful sub-genre of the Barn Witch is the Dressage Queen (drives a Range Rover, owns a $500,000 horse, uses only the most exclusive trainers, has only the most expensive bridles, saddles, clothes, and treats everyone -- barn staff, other riders, like shit.
The overwhelming majority are women.
The various equestrian forums are a rich source of milk on barn witches, their defenders, and their detractors.
Some favorite topics:
- Somebody used their horse / equipment without permission
- Somebody fed / gave their horse treats without permission
- Somebody put their horse in a pen with the wrong other horses
- Someone's horse bit / kicked someone else's horse
- The barn manager didn't clean the stall properly
- The barn manager charges too much for feed
- Someone else was hogging the arena
- Their horse found a way to injure itself in a freak accident
- The barn manager gave the wrong food to the horse
- The barn manager threatened to kick them out for not paying their bills
- The barn manager threatened to kick them out for talking to someone at another barn
- The trainer entered the horse in the wrong horse show classes
- The trainer criticized the rider unfairly
- The trainer uses cruel methods to get results
- The trainer doesn't use cruel methods to get results
- The barn manager makes everyone use the "official" farrier (horseshoer) or vet
- The farrier didn't show up as scheduled
- The vet didn't show up as scheduled
- The farrier made their horse lame
- The vet made their horse sick
- Someone criticized their favorite farrier / trainer / barn staff
- The barn manager let the horse colic (tummy ache that frequently causes death)
- The barn manager let the horse founder (sore hooves that frequently cause death)
- The judge at the horse show unfairly gave someone else first place
- The judge at the horse show unfairly penalized me when everyone else was doing the same damn thing
I have no particular interest in horses or riding, but have lurked on equestrian forums for years because of the rich supply of milk. You do need to know a bit about the disciplines, breeds, top riders, big name trainers etc. to fully appreciate the drama, but it's a worthwhile time investment.
All barn witches hate
this guy because he calls them out hilariously.