My friend gave me a Daily Devotional called Unbridled Faith 100 Devotions from the Horse Farm.  It is written by Cara Whitney (a horse owner of several) who is also the wife of Dan Whitney “Larry The Cable Guy.”  All the devotions revolve around horses and the farm.  Really close to my heart.  Beautiful pictures of her horses and the beautiful countryside we all call home, no matter where we live.

Today, in my reading, she came up with something I just loved.  “We can catch a fly with honey, and we catch even more with a pile of horse manure.”  We as horse people really know the truth about that.

Her point was that just because a lot of people follow a particular individual doesn’t mean that the individual is accurate.  It just means that they have a good line and speak what people want to hear.  If it’s “Too Good To Be True” it usually is.

We, as horse owners, always want to believe that the newest feed is the best.  That the newest whatever will fix things.  That the new barn we’re looking at will be what the owner promises it will be.  With horses we all have found out, the hard way, that things aren’t always what they appear to be.  We’ve been told this horse is “bomb proof.”  Well my mare was bomb proof but an Armadillo sent her clinging to the nearest limb when it crossed her path.  A fire truck behind her with sirens blasting didn’t even make her blink, but you’ve got to watch our for those boogie Armadillo’s.  Bottom line is that they are prey, fight or flight instinct will take over when they least expect it.  Some are wired stronger than others, but it’s still a matter of the last one to get out-of-the-way is dinner.

So just because someone has a big following doesn’t mean they are the best at what they do.  Always go into things with eyes wide open.  Make sure it makes sense to you.  Check and recheck the theories and training habits.  It doesn’t hurt to listen to the doubters, they may have a point.

Remember, a sheep will follow the rest of the flock right off a cliff.  Someone want to explain this to a bunch of teenagers?????