Another reason to boycott Baileys...

[Kaylum]

About 15 years ago I wrote a letter to a horse magazine that she was a specialist on answering questions. I actually asked why horses are in this state at shows. The answer was its condition and topline. That was 15 years ago. It was published as well.

 

[Lois Lame]

Also in my opinion, and I may be wrong, is that if you teach a horse to go like that it will be one that always “hides” behind the contact and over curls/ bends, which I think is often harder to fix than one which is a little above the bit.

Yes, I have heard that too.

 

[Lois Lame]

About 15 years ago I wrote a letter to a horse magazine that she was a specialist on answering questions. I actually asked why horses are in this state at shows. The answer was its condition and topline. That was 15 years ago. It was published as well.

GAD. Makes you think, doesn't it.

 

[Tiddlypom]

As in the dog show world, it's often the judges who need a kick up the arse. At the end of the day they are the ones who can change the way things are done. Penalise an overweight horse enough and others will change their thinking also. But there are so many back handers etc that nepotism is rife (plenty of people will vehemently deny this of course).

Spot on, SLH.

If judges put obese horses down the line, or preferably ordered them out of the ring, the problem of obese horses in showing would stop.

 

[dorsetladette]

Spot on, SLH.

If judges put obese horses down the line, or preferably ordered them out of the ring, the problem of obese horses in showing would stop.

I'd hope this is not to far away. You never know it could come hand in hand with the weight shaming of riders seen in recent years. And how long has it been acceptable for people to be riding horses that should not be carrying their weight?

Problem is in most societies the younger judges starting out on the judging panel are 'trained' marked on their judging by the older generation. Not necessarily wrong but I think it does stop progress.

 

[Goldenstar]

How about radical solutions and I am tongue in cheek here .
Weight ranges for horses based on breed and type and height and all of them on a weigh bridge at the big shows .
This could be a gala event the night before with canapés and drinks and the great and the good like the weigh ins before boxing matches .

 

[ester]

Someone would need to pay for the research first though.

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes that would be the problem , perhaps Baileys would should we ask

 

[tristar]

That’s bloody horrific, poor thing can barely walk. 😢

the discomfort is horrible, the horse should be able to stretch its neck every few minutes, it cant even walk let alone stretch!

 

[tristar]

i know how about a prize for the fittest looking slim horse, in any class, a special rossette, but of of course then you would be able to see the real conformation of the horse and that would never do, would it?

 

[Cloball]

I'm not sure that would give the desired weight limits within the intersts of their profit margins.

 

[Goldenstar]

I'm not sure that would give the desired weight limits within the intersts of their profit margins.

Well if they did the research to set the limits .......

 

[tristar]

well as they make feed to plump up show horses they are hardly likely to view it as a good idea

 

[windand rain]

It would help even if it was slowly introduced to have a system where points were based on condition scoring and other points were added or deducted if the horse was not compliant. Judges unfortunately are to blame every obese horse should be sent out with loss of entry fees Stewards could also be trained to recognise obesity. If they can weigh and disqualify riders on ponies they can condition score the horses

 

[ester]

There is already a points system for most if not all showing judging, would be an easy one to add.

 

[Cloball]

I'm on a welsh cob page and its very disheartening to see people complain when the vet has said their horse is obese and people pile on saying it can't be fat look at this show horse etc. and welsh cob are supposed to look like that. Amateur and impressionable people use horses in the ring as examples.

 

[milliepops]

according to FB they've withdrawn sponsorship of LR.

https://www.facebook.com/BaileysHorseFeeds/posts/10162537076670322

 

[Rosemary28]

according to FB they've withdrawn sponsorship of LR.

Good news

 

[JFTDWS]

Which is really good news. I mean, I still wouldn't feed their products, and I think it's self-serving in the face of the negative publicity, but I have considerably more respect for them than if they'd continued to ignore it!

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Brilliant news, they actually emailed me back just now with the following:

Dear Rebecca



Thank you for your e-mail. We have now made a statement on Facebook regarding the video posted on Wednesday, by Lynn Russell, and withdrawn her Baileys sponsorship, with immediate effect. Please accept our apologies for the delay in our response, while we followed our investigative procedure, but rest assured that we have taken your comments very seriously and hope that your confidence in our feeds and brand can now be restored.



Best Regards



Minty Knowles

Baileys Horse Feeds

 

[dorsetladette]

That is good news - hopefully people will vote with their feet as well and not send their youngsters to her to be started.

 

[Xmasha]

according to FB they've withdrawn sponsorship of LR.

https://www.facebook.com/BaileysHorseFeeds/posts/10162537076670322

Fantastic news. I was going to boycott Baileys, glad I don't have to now as I use there youngstock balancer.

 

[milliepops]

Which is really good news. I mean, I still wouldn't feed their products, and I think it's self-serving in the face of the negative publicity, but I have considerably more respect for them than if they'd continued to ignore it!

I'd say the nature of sponsorship is that it is self serving but at least this shows some kind of sanity in the self-servingness

 

[JFTDWS]

I'd say the nature of sponsorship is that it is self serving but at least this shows some kind of sanity in the self-servingness

Absolutely

 

[FlyingCircus]

Good on Baileys. They were obviously closely linked with LR and were by far her biggest sponsor. Hopefully this will make the others think twice about being involved with her along with anyone thinking about using her "services".

 

[milliepops]

the only Baileys stuff I feed are the treats that come in the giant (and very useful to repurpose) buckets but I'm pleased that they have openly spoken out against this.

 

[FlyingCircus]

Wonder if she used to get a discount on her feed bill!?

 

[milliepops]

I'd say that's a given

 

[cobgoblin]

Wonder if she used to get a discount on her feed bill!?

I'm sure she got her feed free!

 

[Tiddlypom]

They should have got shot of her after the Jovian furore, but at least they’ve done the right thing now, so belated credit to them.

I imagine that LR thought she was untouchable. I hope that anyone who currently has a horse with her removes it ASAP.