Mrs. Glittery Jingle Balls
Well-Known Member
Believe me, it wasn't.
I doubt very much anyone on this thread has been sobbing in a corner playing victim, it just isn't in their playbook, but if you believe that myth then work away.
Apart from all the hypocrisy and hand wringing regarding the 'barbaric' video clip in original the post, this is my take on it. Firstly as so many have said, this is a very short clip that does not give us any pertinent information leading up to the short incident that so many are horrified to see. But in my very old fashioned and clueless experience on and off the hunting field this is what I see.
An older rider is following a possibly younger horse towards a narrow opening that is blocked on one side by a half open gate, people leaning on said gate and a large log on the ground in front of the gate. On the other side of the gap is a hefty post with some sort of rough fencing attached to it. If you can read horse language as clearly as some of you seem to be able to, the first horses approaches the gateway immediately showing the gate and log the 'side eye' and almost imperceptibly moving away from the gate side into the well known 'banana pass' position that could turn into a sideways leap in a nano second if not contained. Now, I would give a fairly good guess if that rider is unable to contain that curved sideways leap there is a very good chance that (a) the horse in question might well land itself on the opposite sturdy gatepost, possibly injuring itself and the rider, or (b) even come into a slight contact with the opposite gatepost might well be enough to send it leaping back from whence it came and muddling horse, rider and possibly bystanders in the manky old gate. Neither scenario would be an ideal outcome for any animal, bystander or rider. So the ignorant old fart behind (who may well know this horse and rider personally and is well aware of a tendency that this horse can and does act the maggot endangering itself and rider) waves his hunting whip across the horse in fronts rear end to whoosh it straight forward and through the gate with no nonsense and an extremely unbothered horse none the worse for wear.
I did not see any multiple whacks, I only saw one and it was not over arm or unduly harsh, I did not see the first horse rider whipping the horse she was riding either. I did not see a distressed or abused horse either. Apologies if I missed something as I am sure young eyes are sharper and better used than mine. Do I think it is Ok to hit horses in a barbaric and unnecessary way. Definitely not and I do not believe this was barbaric by any stretch of the imagination. If I felt by doing as the old fart rider did very possibly averted a dangerous conclusion for all concerned, I would be very glad he acted quickly, without undue force and fuss but I would rather the horse had arrived on the hunting field with either a better rider or more training for the horse.
Had the old fart done that to my horse I would have been damn furious as it would have interfered with my riding and correction of my horse. But if he did it in a well meant gesture believing I was unable to deal with the possibly dangerous situation myself, to avoid a greater accident, I would have probably been cross with him and told him so, but would have accepted his well meant interference as a one off, not to be repeated action. All this is based on supposition and I only put it forward as an example of what may have been going on that non of us can be aware of the true circumstances.
Before I get roasted on the hunting front, I have not hunted for over 40 years (yes, I am that old!). I do not believe this in any way whatsoever can be compared to the CDJ video and to do so is alarmist, undermines attempts to clean up competitive riding and horse welfare in general. I do not believe in using force against any animal, unless it has to be used in an unavoidable circumstance to avert real danger to that animal or bystanders.
ta da!
