Horse rider and her 'request'

[Harmonyrays]

I need to know if im being unreasonable here in thinking that this lady was being deliberately awkward or something if its else. For contex, we are non white, they were white.

So My children (2 + 6) and I were having a great time exploring the woods when a horse box pulled in and two women unloaded their horses. Kids were naturally excited by this and wanted to get closer to see. I made sure we were a good distance away, at least 10 metres and we were up on the slope. The kids were watching the horses being unloaded for a few minutes. My son had a stick in his hands as he was ramble around and likes to do this. I made sure they were quite. The horses were quickly taken around the other side of the box to saddle up.

After a few minutes we decided to head down to the path and walk around the other side so they could see the horses more cleary and continue our walk. Again they were quite. We found a little bridge that was going the opposite way to where the horses were and my son wanted to explore that so we headed that way. We dissapeared from the womens view for around 5 mins and then i went back to bridge to wait for my son. At this point one of the women, in her 60's, walked over and said 'we are about to take the horses up here (a path that was no where near me and my chldren) can you just move on somewhere else. I said to her im sorry but we are here well away from you and your horses. She then said 'well cant you just move on because the sticks are scaring the horses'. Bear in mind there were no sticks in view at this point at all. As this was the second time she had said 'just move on' with a dismissive hand wave i was getting annoyed and said well were not doing anything to you or the horses. She then said 'well what ARE you doing here'. I said to her 'i dont need to tell you what im doing here, we are in the woods and free to go where we please'. She then looked like she was getting exasperated and huffed saying 'yes i know that but im asking you nicely if you can just move on until we move the horses up the road'.

Given that we were over a bridge and a good 20 metres away from the horses i think it had nothing to do with sticks. I feel she had an entitled attitude and like there was something else bothering her.

The irony is we have been around horses for many years so are aware of how to behave which is exactly why we kept our distance.

If i were alone this wouldnt have bothered me but my son heard and was then saying oh lets just go mum. I feel like she made him feel he shouldnt be there and that upset me.

So i need to know your thoughts, yes i am being unreasonable the lady was right in asking us to move on. No im not being unreasonable and she was out of line telling us to move on.

Thank you

She was being unnecessarily rude. If the horse was jumpy, she could have explained this to you.
I can't stand this entitled mind set- how dare she.

Op sounds like you wanted to stir up mumsnet

What an odd post....would love to hear the other sides version!

@SleepOhHowIMissYou
That’s completely irrelevant on the facts of this OP. It’s pretty clear that this lady wasn’t a traveller.

Further travellers generally handle their horses a bit firmer than you do and would unlikely make allowances for a horse spooking at a small child

@RaceDayCrumbs why is it clear? Because she had a horse box? So did my grandma.

I'm thinking maybe this woman spends too much time with horses & thinks everyone should be treated & herded like animals!!

That's an interesting point. Some people who like owning animals do so because they struggle with people.

@RaceDayCrumbs more prejudice. You know that there's no study to prove this don't you? In fact, a body conditioning scoring study proved the opposite. In general, horse welfare needs improvement across the board but you're showing your own racism with comments like this.

Shame on you.

You’ve inferred an awful lot into my comment, which wasn’t in anyway derogatory. I didn’t place a value judgement on travellers handling their horses in a firmer manner

@Floatyboat I think there's a link to pony-mad girls and autism. Can't remember where I read it though.

Wtf has it got to do with body condition?

@RaceDayCrumbs "Further travellers generally handle their horses a bit firmer than you do and would unlikely make allowances for a horse spooking at a small child"

You make assumptions about my heritage (than "you" do). You make a generalisation about travellers and how they handle their horses "firmer". What are you basing that on? Then assumptions that all travellers horses are raised to be placid, i.e. they all own Vanners coz there's no other breed is there? Pathetic.

What’s pathetic is you’re so intent on being a victim you’re making things up.

@RaceDayCrumbs I thought you were an experienced horse owner. Why are you asking me the relevance of BCS studies?

If my comment re travellers handling their horses a bit firmer was a racist generalisation what was yours re them seeing horses as currency? You racist you.

@RaceDayCrumbs read your last message. Would you say that to the OP too?

Clearly I meant how is it relevant to the context of this conversation. You brought it up. It’s not, if that helps.

Do you keep introducing irrelevant topics so you can score points in the argument you’re having in your mind?

@RaceDayCrumbs you clearly don't understand my heritage so stop making generalisations and racist comments please. Check your own privilege.

@RaceDayCrumbs read your last message. Would you say that to the OP too?

You introduced travellers to the conversation them became affronted when I continued that line of thought. If you want a one way conversation that travels only in the direction you desire I suggest you stand by yourself in a phone box.

It’s now becoming more clear why you can take offence by small children. I’ll leave you to get cross with yourself.

What’s my privilege? You obviously know. Generalisation much?

"Why did you mention that you are not white and that the woman was? I can't see why that is relevant."

"It may not be relevant in your world but unfortunately for those us that are not white, it's very relevant. "

Why on earth are you suggesting that every white person must be racist if they say something to you that you don't like 🙄
someone can just be a dick head with out being a racist you know

@RaceDayCrumbs your privilege shows in every generalisation and assumption you've made on this thread.

You said, I raised the travellers subject. Yes, I did. Because it's so far outside of your bubble you ascertain that horse ownership is a privilege. Perhaps you need to explore what other privileges you have, ones you don't readily recognise.

Sorry, but it sounds like you were being deliberately awkward.
And what has your colour got to do with anything?

This is quite laughable now. You’ve made a generalisation yourself and pushed that onto me. What was it you said upthread about becoming slanderous when the argument is lost? You’ve started a personal affront now. Sore loser?

@RaceDayCrumbs I'm loathed to stop because the more we debate, the more you expose yourself.

My personal favourite peek into your psyche is this little vignette - "What’s pathetic is you’re so intent on being a victim you’re making things up."

Class.