Do you think the horse industry attracts a lot of mentally ill people? Why or why not?
Tragically, yes, I think it does- and I am speaking from the perspective of a mental health professional, as well as a horse professional. I am a medical coder by profession now, but prior to changing careers seven years ago, I was a full time horse professional for almost 20 years. In that time, I saw and heard a LOT of things I’d rather not think about, remember, or repeat in this column- too many young eyes see this for my comfort. Most of the people I have met are okay, but there are some who seem to believe that their way is the the ONLY way to do anything, and if you dare cross them or suggest an alternative, they explode- and you can get hurt real bad. Then there are the ones who are only in the business for either sex or for the money- and these are the dangerous ones, in a lot of cases, because their obsessions make them that way. The ones who are there for the money are the ones who see the horse as a commodity, instead of a living, flesh and blood creature with a mind and wi
