The "This Might Be A Stupid Question, But...." Thread

[Mental Magpie]

What did you search?  I tried so many different things and couldn't come up with anything reasonable and/or easy.  Thank you thank you thank you!

[Harriet Jones]

"convert photo to line drawing"

[Mental Magpie]

I think your keyword is "convert"...I don't think I used it

[WolfWay]

I know there are quite a few horse-wise people here, so I figure someone here knows the answer to something I'm just idly wondering about.

I've been reading a fantasy series recently. The characters undertake a continent-spanning quest. The travel is almost constant and it's by horseback. The horses seem to be galloped over long distances for long periods without that many breaks (or maybe they just don't get mentioned in the text, but I get the general impression that they're moving almost constantly), and when they aren't galloping at breakneck speeds, they're sometimes riding them all day and night at a walking pace.

In contrast, I've seen a few discussions on eHell about show jumping horses that make them seem very delicate and easily prone to injuries that are debilitating and can drag on for months.

So I have a couple of questions:
1) Are horses really capable of that sort of level of sustained cross country effort?
2) Is show jumping an activity that leads to a higher level of injury than long distance travel would?
3) How hardy are horses in regards to heavy labour/long distance riding?

The author seems to be treating them like jeeps with legs, but the discussions about show jumpers seem to paint them as delicate and I can't quite reconcile these two positions to figure out what the real situation with horses is.

[blue2000]

I know there are quite a few horse-wise people here, so I figure someone here knows the answer to something I'm just idly wondering about.

I've been reading a fantasy series recently. The characters undertake a continent-spanning quest. The travel is almost constant and it's by horseback. The horses seem to be galloped over long distances for long periods without that many breaks (or maybe they just don't get mentioned in the text, but I get the general impression that they're moving almost constantly), and when they aren't galloping at breakneck speeds, they're sometimes riding them all day and night at a walking pace.

In contrast, I've seen a few discussions on eHell about show jumping horses that make them seem very delicate and easily prone to injuries that are debilitating and can drag on for months.

So I have a couple of questions:
1) Are horses really capable of that sort of level of sustained cross country effort?
2) Is show jumping an activity that leads to a higher level of injury than long distance travel would?
3) How hardy are horses in regards to heavy labour/long distance riding?

The author seems to be treating them like jeeps with legs, but the discussions about show jumpers seem to paint them as delicate and I can't quite reconcile these two positions to figure out what the real situation with horses is.

It entirely depends on the breed of horse and what they are trained for. Thoroughbreds tend to be delicate little things that do get injured a lot. And show-jumping or racing, like human sports, have more chance of injuries.

Your average farm horse wouldn't have a problem walking all day, pulling carts, carrying things, etc. as long as they get food and water breaks. People get jobs that keep them on their feet for most of the day, and they get used to it. So do horses. Horses have the additional bonus in that they sleep on their feet. So an hour break or a very slow walk could turn into a nap for your cargo pony.

[ladyknight1]

Most horses can walk all day, but to gallop for very long (hours) is beyond their abilities, and they need time to recover, like any other athlete. That sounds extremely unlikely.

What can you say to a family member who is trying to "keep up with the Joneses" about animal ownership? MIL has told us repeatedly for 8 years that she loves not having a pet to care for, but suddenly decided she needs a certain breed of dog. After doing a little more digging, it is because a woman in the neighborhood has this breed of dog and it is the best thing ever.

MIL doesn't want to buy a puppy from this breed, she wants to find a purebred one to adopt, preferably at no cost. She did go to visit a dog that is mixed breed and has the look of this breed, then decided she must have a purebred dog of this breed.

DH and I are extremely reluctant to encourage her in this, as she does not like animals in her house, this is Florida and it is 90 every day already, and all other dogs she has had were ignored unless it was feeding time or a vet visit. No socialization with other dogs, no walks, no visits to the park. We had to do that to save the dogs from boredom.

[Carotte]

Most horses can walk all day, but to gallop for very long (hours) is beyond their abilities, and they need time to recover, like any other athlete. That sounds extremely unlikely.

What can you say to a family member who is trying to "keep up with the Joneses" about animal ownership? MIL has told us repeatedly for 8 years that she loves not having a pet to care for, but suddenly decided she needs a certain breed of dog. After doing a little more digging, it is because a woman in the neighborhood has this breed of dog and it is the best thing ever.

MIL doesn't want to buy a puppy from this breed, she wants to find a purebred one to adopt, preferably at no cost. She did go to visit a dog that is mixed breed and has the look of this breed, then decided she must have a purebred dog of this breed.

DH and I are extremely reluctant to encourage her in this, as she does not like animals in her house, this is Florida and it is 90 every day already, and all other dogs she has had were ignored unless it was feeding time or a vet visit. No socialization with other dogs, no walks, no visits to the park. We had to do that to save the dogs from boredom.

If she wants a purebreed without paying for it there's only a very slight chance she'll find one no?
It might be months before she finds one at a shelter, and even then maybe they'll have such stringent formalities and questions that they won't accept the adoption.
She might have the means to care for the dog but if she doesn't plan on socializing him or walking him...

Of course you shouldn't encourage her if you know all that you have told us, pets shouldn't be a status symbol  , just because someone else has one doesn't mean she needs one, that's toddler/kid behaviour.

Apart from playing up the status boost that is a goldfish  I'd say bean dip every time she brings up the subject.

[Hillia]

She *might* find a purebred dog of her chosen breed at a shelter; a lot depends on how popular the dog is or has been recently (I know there were ridiculous numbers of chihuahuas in California shelters recently, because of celebrities and movies).  It will be cheaper than buying from a irresponsible parent of the human variety, but not free.  Breed rescues will have more dogs, but they will be more expensive, and they will definitely ask about plan for inside/outside, walks, playtime, etc.

[ladyknight1]

We have told MIL that we will only support her in this if she has inside time for the dog, plans to socialize and take the dog through handling classes (for her, not the dog). In her prior pet ownership experiences, until 8 years ago, she completely ignored the animals other than very basic care and this breed is not only very active, they are a larger breed and she is not of the physical ability to cope with an active animal.

This breed has a very distinctive physical characteristic and apparently that is her number one priority over behavior and health. 

[Carotte]

I'm curious about what breed it is now.
Bulldog maybe? I heard that especially purebred ones have tons of health problems, not the best one for a 'casual' owner!
I just hope for your sake and the dag that she tires of the idea before finding one..

[Onyx_TKD]

I'm curious about what breed it is now.
Bulldog maybe? I heard that especially purebred ones have tons of health problems, not the best one for a 'casual' owner!
I just hope for your sake and the dag that she tires of the idea before finding one..

When I read "very active," "larger breed," and "very distinctive physical characteristic" my mind immediately jumped to Dalmatian. I knew a very well-trained one growing up and he was a wonderful dog, but I've also heard they can really be a handful.

[ladyknight1]

Rhodesian Ridgeback and she is only interested if the ridge on the dog is very prominent. MIL is quite the fad follower, only caring about that particular thing for a few weeks before jumping to the next. I will be talking to FIL about it when he is in town.

[Luci]

Rhodesian Ridgeback and she is only interested if the ridge on the dog is very prominent. MIL is quite the fad follower, only caring about that particular thing for a few weeks before jumping to the next. I will be talking to FIL about it when he is in town.

I hope for the dog's sake that you talk her out of it. Good luck!

[magicdomino]

Rhodesian Ridgeback and she is only interested if the ridge on the dog is very prominent. MIL is quite the fad follower, only caring about that particular thing for a few weeks before jumping to the next. I will be talking to FIL about it when he is in town.

I hope for the dog's sake that you talk her out of it. Good luck!

I hope so too.  My impressions of Rhodesian Ridgebacks is that they are a potentially aggressive breed like dobermans and rottweilers.  Excellent dogs in the hands of an experienced owner who trains them well, but not for someone who can't be bothered to work with them.

[ladyknight1]

What is ironic is that we have many friends with search and rescue dogs who use Rhodie mixes, and a few with purebreds. They are too much for a sedentary person to take on.