Banning the Trimming of Whiskers

Moomince Pie said:
I refuse to trim my horse's whiskers even for showing. Then again, I only do a bit of local showing so suppose it doesn't really matter!
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^5 this


I also show but refuse to take whiskers off..

welshie left natural my lad and his late mum i refused.


If the show knocks me down for freeze marks or whiskers, they can get stuffed. Not removing them just because some lame judge tells me too.
 
Leviathan said:
^5 this


I also show but refuse to take whiskers off..

welshie left natural my lad and his late mum i refused.


If the show knocks me down for freeze marks or whiskers, they can get stuffed. Not removing them just because some lame judge tells me too.
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Love it! :)
 
FMM I believe it's only muzzle whiskers, not hairy chins/ears etc.
And humblepie - wash your mouth out and leave those dressage tails alone :O

FWIW, I keep my horses clipped/trimmed but always leave muzzle whiskers on, and am actually fairly 'pro' the new ruling although do agree there are probably bigger welfare issues to address first. And I'm not even convinced yet that removing whiskers falls under a welfare issue anyway.
 
I think I'd be more concerned about misuse of draw reins, Rolkur and other vile training methods before I began worrying about whiskers!
 
Having spent many hours writing for judges, I fail to see why anyone would trim their horse's whiskers 'for dressage' - I have never noticed that a horse has/hasn't had it's whiskers trimmed - I really don't think dressage judges care THAT much either!
 
Surely horses have whiskers because they have a blind spot under their mussel so the whiskers are there so they can feel what they are nibbling on. Imagine if your finger tips were numb. How would that affect you?
It seems odd that anyone would want to shave them off. If you want to know how sensitive they are just try tweaking one.
They are there for a reason and maybe there are bigger fishes to fry but this is a start.
 
I don't really see the point in trimming whiskers for dressage. I don't bother trimming mine, I don't even notice them half the time!
I hate seeing horses with all their ear floof trimmed out though. I cringe at the Thought of stuff falling down there and think it must have some effect on hearing?
 
MillionDollar said:
I still think the same. There are far bigger issues out there to deal with and I still clip/shave whiskers off, IMO looks far smarter BUT I don't have any issues when people leave them on either :)
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But why does that mean there is no point to a relatively simple and completely positive ruling? That's like saying no one should worry about rolkur/nerving/whip rules because horses are starving.

There is no reason to take whiskers off, growing evidence that they are there for a reason, and it's easy to tell people that if they want to show under FEI rules they should leave well enough alone. The German horse industry hasn't tanked because of their national ruling.
 
humblepie said:
I show so they are trimmed. Strangely enough I do sometimes when I see pictures of dressage horses notice the whiskers and also want to chop dressage horses tails up to showing length.
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If they are German it's because it's against the law in German to cut them off. I do think this is how attitudes change, too - when one of the most dominant nations in a sport subscribe to a "new normal" it stops looking like such a good idea for everyone else.
 
Zeus said:
So in Germany they have banned the trimming of whiskers but still allow branding.....
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It's more than likely on the way out with the standardisation of the UELN, microchipping and DNA testing, but the argument, such as it is, has been that there are positive to branding beyond fashion. No such claim can be made for whiskers.
 
I don't trim whiskers, and wouldn't. I don't even notice that they're there, but I do notice when they aren't, and I think horses look weird without them. Most of the time you are either sat on top of your horse (where you hopefully can't see too much of it's face!), or viewing it because you're feeding/grooming/patting it or whatever - where surely it having whiskers or not is not THAT big an issue for you... or do you plait up on a daily basis because it looks neater? :p Otherwise, you'd probably be looking at photos from shows etc, and I honestly barely notice whiskers in these? :confused: They're so fine, they often barely even catch the light!

I have heard of many horses having issues with their whiskers being trimmed.

I'm certainly happy to leave my boys with their whiskers, and a ban wouldn't worry me! :)
 
Worried1 said:
Just to lower the tone... Who shaves their armpits? :p do we actually need that hair?????
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Whiskers aren't hair. :)



You're all too young and too English but there used to be a group called the Thompson Twins. I heard a great interview with one of them, where she talked about their super cool idea one day to look "different" by shaving off their eyebrows. They were very pleased with the idea until they went out on stage and started playing . . . at which point they realised WHY we have eyebrows, especially if one is sweating and wearing stage make-up!
 
Miss L Toe said:
Men are fools, look at the new Andy Murray look, its pathetic.
Horses are not men however, and spend 12 hours a day in the dark, my boy is kept "au naturalle" as nature intended, and as for baby oil, don't start me!
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I personally hate the smooth look on horses, they need their whiskers and its another thing which is done purely to look "pretty". I've never taken my horses ones off. My new horse arrived with them off and so is sporting a decent stubble now!
 
If BD want to micro manage people's horse care, then let it be on their heads on whiskers I think there are things that are you banned from doing that they could look at allowing first having to use nosebands being one I can't get brain around why do you have to wear a noseband does anyone know?.
Loads of things you could ban or require if you get going on it .
Lots of fun for someone.
 
I'm actually renowned for my anti-noseband stance ;) and I still don't see how it's a trade. Surely any conversation about what is necessary and/or comfortable for the horse is one with having in the larger context. One argument is that we should not have these conversations because that way PETA lies ;), and the eventual end is do we have any right to do anything to horses? I prefer to believe that frankly we do, as that's what horses are for, but that does not preclude a discussion about things that have only negative effects vs practices that could go either way. No one can argue any benefit to whisker trimming whereas one might argue that nosebands CAN be beneficial and within the narrow confines of dressage requirements, acceptance of a noseband is one of the aspects being tested.

I agree, it's small potatoes but it is a simple thing that people can agree on, leaving aside vanity. Perhaps it's a place to start?
 
Well I suppose from where I sit I see the whiskers thing as a sort of giant red herring.
I was a welfare officer and have seen what I would call "proper cruel ".
So that any one in the context of Germany banning the trimming of whiskers that taking thirty seconds of time banning whisker trimming in a country that part of an union that allows horses to be transported massive distances for slaughter many injured many potentially carrying potentially dangerous diseases just seems to me frankly a joke.
What about insisting that horses have the right to turnout ?
Or period a Rest from shoes every year ?
I am just sure where this route will take us , there are people out there who do believe the use of horses is right .
I am aware that this post is not entirely coherent but I don't thing my own views in this area are fixed I am not sure what I think.
PS Tarrsteps my horse says can he come and live with you he can't wear a noseband ATM and is in a micklem but does not like his mouth tied shut he wants to trend the racehorse look.
I think I am going to let him .
 
When Clayton Fredericks gave a clinic in Ontario recently and took off/loosed a bunch of nosebands at least half a dozen people sent me a link! :D

I see what you mean - we have much bigger fish to fry - but I still maintain things like shoes and nosebands can be necessary evils in some circumstances so far more complicated to legislate. Whiskers are easy and the topic at least gets people thinking about things they've 'always done' without thinking if they might have negative consequences. We can work up to optional nosebands! ;)
 
TarrSteps said:
Out of curiosity, how do people KNOW their horses don't feel (;)) the loss of their whiskers? Their purpose wouldn't be to stop things like horses banging into walls, anyway.
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My TB bangs his head on just about everything possible, and for that reason alone I wouldn't rim his whiskers! My ID tries to eat the clippers so I can never be bothered trying to do hers either, maybe why I am not a showing/dressage diva!
 
I've never trimmed whiskers on any of mine as assumed they were there for a reason! However I think in the domesticated horse, who isn't having to forage through scrubland for food, they have very little need for them.
 
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Goldenstar said:
If BD want to micro manage people's horse care, then let it be on their heads on whiskers I think there are things that are you banned from doing that they could look at allowing first having to use nosebands being one I can't get brain around why do you have to wear a noseband does anyone know?.
Loads of things you could ban or require if you get going on it .
Lots of fun for someone.
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THIS.

Also why are people allowed a double bridle, but not allowed to go bitless? Surely the minimisation of unnecessary equipment is more important?
 
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