Understanding The Tall Poppy Syndrome

Don't listen to the "frenemies"

Criticism means nothing, but it feels like it means everything.

One thing breeders have to learn, especially if out competing with their horses, is that negativity, and comments from others not as successful, will follow. It is often thought that this comes from a place of jealousy, but that is not the case. It is part of the "tall poppy syndrome" that is unfortunately part of Aussie culture. Nowhere in the rest of the world is this the case; in particular, successful people are honoured and often copied, by those who aspire to be as successful.

Therefore, criticism comes from a place of weakness, from people who think "I'll do it my way or not at all." This forms a self-perpetuating cycle of arrogance, even if it is sub-conscious, which ultimately holds them back. By putting others down, they think they will somehow feel bigger, better. People who make a habit of doing this, are known in the industry. They are constantly seeking new friends, new admirers and attempting to pull back those ahead of them.

Don’t lean in to these people who want to pull you down to their level. Ignore their remarks as ignorance or misinformation, and don’t believe their gossip. (There are two sides to every story.) They likely will not be operating after a few years having shot themselves in the foot through their manipulation and agendas.

Those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter.

Successful people have no envy of others. They have no need to criticise someone’s methods or horses. They accept constructive criticism as feedback and not a personal slight. They are always learning from others, copying, researching, reading, doing the hard yards, and assisting those who truly have sincere intentions. They put themselves and their horses out there, and the industry is the judge of their hard work and integrity.

There is no shortcut.

DID YOU KNOW?

A horse’s chestnut is not a remnant of toes as is popularly believed. Sometimes, horse chestnuts on legs are referred to as “Night Eyes." The reasoning behind this is because it is believed that the chestnuts on their legs give them an ability to see in the dark!!!~

The splint bone is the rudimentary fifth limb of pre-history, when the horse was more the size of a goat. If one looks at comparative anatomy, such as the bones of our wrist, the fifth digit (thumb) joins in below the wrist i.e. below the knee and hock in the horse. However the horse’s chestnut is above the knee, and below the hock.

So what are they?

No-one knows what the chestnut is really for. It might be a rudimentary scent gland, similar to those found on llamas, or a place for salt storage. It is loose on the skin, soft and will peel off and grow back, so definitely not boney, but formed of keratin which is slightly oily and scaley to touch.

We know that they are unique to each horse and can be used for identification.

Don’t forget -

The stud season is about to get underway here in Down Under. Foals are being born, and others are scrolling through breeding contracts and stallion advertisements to find that special horse to breed to their mare.

Get The Thinking Horse Breeder to help you with the search, or gift it to a friend.

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COMING SOON - for paid subscribers - A regular podcast where I interview leaders in the breeding field. Here is a quick snip.