[dofm]

I am not sure I disagree, and I certainly don't mean to disagree very fervently.

But I think if you want to really learn to ride well, understand horses well, there might be some benefit in learning how to shoe a horse. At some level it should never only be someone else's job.

[verdverm]

At the same time, most people can drive without understanding how a car works.

[saganus]

You actually do need some understanding of how a car works, no?

For example, you need to know it uses gasoline (or diesel), it requires oil changes every certain amount of time, break pad replacement, etc.

You also probably need to know that you can't operate cars over a certain amount of water, that you need a driver's license, stopping at red lights, etc.

Sure, you might not need to be a mechanic, but that's far from not understanding how a car works, which to me sounds similar to knowing how to shoe a horse, which is different than being a horse vet.

[coldtea]

Yes, and they're all the worse, more at the mercy of car companies and mechanics, and less aware of the world they live and operate in, for it...