Recent content by SuzyQ

I have electric fences around my paddocks and as there are a million things for the horses to do other than touch the fence and a million places for them to go, I don't consider that the fence poses any threat to their welfare. In the riding situation, the horse's opportunities are somewhat...

Martlin, it wasn't supposed to prove anything. Just maybe hone in on what we are actually discussing here. Does caring for an animal entitle a person to punish that animal for performing behaviours unwelcomed by the person? What do you think? I may get myself a goldfish and I may wish to...

Why would it baffle you? I am keen to know Suzy

Martlin, does my last post somehow shock or baffle you? Suzy

My personal opinion on my individual horse is that any failure of ours to reach Grand Prix is entirely down to that stroppy mare and if I do give her a hiding for it, it's only fair since she eats up my savings and lives like a queen. Yes. Feeding and caring for animals by the book entitles...

quadro, there is one flaw in your argument, and that is that - as far as we know and as far as anyone has been able to document - horses do not know the difference between good and bad behaviour, so you can't classically condition the horse to know that if he is bad, he gets whipped, therefore...

[ QUOTE ] Maybe the horses you know are more noble and pure minded than those I've met but I've met and seen horses who very well knew what was expected of them but they still just wanted to know if they really had to jump, that particular obstacle with this rider (= older riding school pony...

[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] As for the hunter which bites and strikes out after other horses, the secret would be to find out what causes the behaviour and then remedy the cause. Unless we believe that the horse is simply "bad", punishing it with the whip seems a pretty short term solution. What if...

Surely, all science is theory. Nothing is ever PROVEN. But when my horse is sick, my vet will prescribe whatever drug has been shown to be the most likely to cure the thing which ails her.... in the same way, if there are studies showing a correlation between - say - biting and motivational...

[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] You could judge it by noticing if someone hits their horse when it's refused and police it by banning them/giving a warning if they do so. Simples. [/ QUOTE ] Ha, but how are you going to judge if it was 'negative reinforcement' or 'punishment'? [/ QUOTE ] I suppose...

In so far as I can read the Scottish directive, they have not banned whips. Just classified the use of the whip for punishment as an abuse. So if you use the whip for negative reinforcement, that would still be okay. Is that right? As for the hunter which bites and strikes out after other...

Yes... I have those days. And I have a blue toe nail to prove it. Have a glass of wine or two and think about something other than horses. You'll feel better in the morning. SuzyQ

Hello again, I have now read the book, and I have to admit it was an eye opener for me as well. So just a quick note to apologise for my initial post. I suppose someone has to stick their nose out to highlight these issues. So thanks (And, no... it wasn't a particularly funny book, but you...

Oooh *LMAO* (And I don't normally swear) - I have seen the rest of the clip now and this chap doesn't pull his punches. My favourite quote (I wonder if it was aimed at anyone specific): People who cannot hold their horses don't have a dressage horse. They have a trained monkey that has learned...

No, maybe dramatic was the wrong term. But surely, if horses were breaking their jaws and "killed", something would be done about it? Perhaps I am just being naive. SuzyQ