First of all, I agree whole-heartedly. But in my opinion, if your friends are actually laughing at something that is a big part of your life (which is in no way amusing), even if jokingly, I would be sure to make sure they realize right away that I take my horse career serious and that I do not enjoy it when my "friends" poke fun at me. Sad enough, there is such a thing as 'the wrong crowd'. Try to find the other horse-crazies and cling to them.