12/04/2025
Letâs Talk About the Ugly Side of the Horse Industry.
I donât care who gets uncomfortable reading this, it needs to be said.
The horse industry is broken in so many ways, and itâs not because of the horses. Itâs because of the people.
Everywhere you look, itâs the same story:
⢠Sh*t-talking behind each otherâs backs
⢠Lying straight to someoneâs face
⢠Smiling at you in the arena while hoping you fail
⢠Gossiping more than helping
⢠Spreading rumors instead of facts
⢠Jealousy disguised as âjust being honestâ
⢠People waiting for you to slip up so they can feel better about their own insecurities
This industry should be built on passion, hard work, and a shared love for horses. Not on stepping on each other to climb higher.
The truth is, a lot of folks donât want to see you succeed. They want to see you struggle, fall, lose clients, and fail. They pray for your burnout. Theyâd rather see you crash than clap when you do something great. And the most messed up part? Some of them are people you once helped or trusted.
We talk about the horses like theyâre everythingâ and they AREâ but the way we treat each other? Thatâs where this whole thing gets rotten.
People out here will lie to sell a horse, trash talk a trainer to steal a client, or twist a story to make themselves look better. And letâs not even get into the ones who smile at you at the show, then run their mouth the moment you turn around.
Why? Whatâs the point?
This job is hard enough. Long hours. Physical work. Emotional stress. Financial risk. And on top of all that, you have to constantly watch your back. Not because of the horses, but because of the damn people.
Instead of supporting each other, weâre too busy judging and comparing. Instead of learning from each other, weâre tearing each other down. Instead of shutting up and doing the work, too many people are worried about whoâs doing what and whoâs getting what.
Enough already.
We should be lifting each other up, not dragging each other down. We should be rooting for othersâ success, not secretly hoping they fail. We should be keeping our mouths shut about things that arenât our business and focusing on what matters, the horses and doing right by them.
This isnât high school. Itâs not a reality show. Itâs supposed to be a community.
So hereâs a little advice:
⢠If you donât like someone, be mature enough to move on quietly.
⢠If you have a problem, go directly to the source.
⢠If someone succeeds, give credit instead of criticism.
⢠And if youâre constantly watching and waiting for someone to mess up, maybe itâs time to ask yourself why youâre so damn bitter.
To the ones out here trying to stay honest, work hard, do right by horses and clients, and support othersâ keep going. Youâre the rare ones, and we need more of you.
To the rest? Fix your s**t. Youâre whatâs wrong with this industry.
Sincerely, a horse girl
-Brooke Szentes
![As the horses shed out and spring workup's commence. Im super super impressed with our "new" [last summer thru now] feed...](https://img5.petshops1.com/872/423/1465360368724232.jpg)
![Life with the 4 boys. Demanding to come in.Left to rightHiding in the back is Elvis [Grummon]Rooster [Rooster Rabbit]Coo...](https://img3.petshops1.com/925/943/1460008319259437.jpg)
