Bashing becoming fashionable

Nightmare before Christmas

Nightmare before Christmas

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Is it just me who feels bashed horses are becoming the fashion?

I see many producers and amateurs on horse (or lose jumping a horse) who have clearly had a bash at some point. Whilst I understand a horse who gives the fence another 3ft and sharp front and behind is desirable there are many horses out there with an unnatural look about them. I understand we get freaks, but not 5 in each BN running. I producers showjumpers for a job, I can almost see why it's tempting but it's not in my training methods!! I know it's to make the horse sell better with the wow factor but don't poeple see it's obvious? And the horses normally start stopping.

Morning rant
 
Yeah. I understand why people do it, I know many a top showjumper who will prep a top horse this way for an important show but when producing a young horse why start it off always looking to be tricked and make them untrusting from the start. I just see it more and more now when looking for young horses and out competing
 
The thought of it makes me uncomfortable due to the risk of injury to the legs but I'm not sure of sj norms it's not something I've ever been into.
 
It's been around for years, though I used to know it as 'rapping' rather than bashing. I don't know if it's more common now, I'd hope not, it's a horrible practice.
 
It's fairly common at high levels when there's a lot at stake or with something known to be uncareful (it's not something I do, I think a horse will come careful in it's own time if it's any good). It's just sad it's become a way to make 3/4 year olds more sellable
 
Things like that give horse people a bad name. I know it goes on but it's cruel and anyone that does it should be ashamed of themselves.
 
Spottyappy said:
It's called rapping, and far as I know has Been happening a long time....
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I also know it as rapping. We had a horse come to us with completely scarred legs from rapping as well as other nasty tricks to get him jumping. His joints were actually a lot worse off than they should have been at his age because of it, which probably in the long term limited his career. He was such a gentle soul too.

I find it a horrid way of training, along with anything else that works on fear or pain to get a result. I have never understood why good, honest training is not enough if you are actually worth your weight as a professional. Oh yes actually.... Money and greed. *sigh*.
 
I have owned some very extravagant jumpers they where not rapped .
I don't think it's showjumping breeding that makes for these amazing jumpers not rapping .
That's the thing with rapping it does not work very well.
 
It is called rapping and yes it has been around for years. In fact I once saw Harvey Smith's groom doing it at Olympia back in the 1980s! Someone once told me they also put hedgehog skins on poles but I do wonder if that was a sick joke!
 
Its a discusting quick fix that does nothing but produce a horse with a fear of jumping and a very nasty stop. Would much rather take the long route and produce a lovely, kind, naturally talented and well produced horse
 
Do you mean rapping? It's been around longer than I have. I think if anything less trainers do it these days. It was incredibly common when I was younger. A horrible practice.
 
My mare is petrified of poles, even on the ground, I was shocked at just how scared she is. I can get her over poles but it's back to basics every time we try any form of jumping, even poles on the ground.

It turns out she was professionally jump schooled at 4 before I bought her, I'm inclined to think she was rapped as she does stare at the pole like its going to move and then leaps it, clearing it by a good 3 feet, they ruined her trust for jumping and she is a gentle soul who thrives in knowing what's happening.
 
It's true about the hedgehog skins, my Mum was a show jumping groom in the 60s & they used to pick up dead hedge hogs off the road to nail the skins to poles. She has also rapped Ted Edgars horses.
 
I remember the first time I came across this abhorrent act....years ago now and it was when I read Jilly Coopers 'Riders'... I was absolutely disgusted at what I was reading...and yes, I think the hedgehog skins made an appearance in that book, if I remember correctly.
 
Yeah it's also called rapping. We just tend to say that ones been bashed, hence I said bashing. I know it's always been around I've been showjumping years now but I mean it seems to have become popular in the production of young horses. I know some really do jump. But not all 30 from the same yard all happen to jump exactly the same ;)
 
The hedgehog skins are not a joke sadly. Now people are getting smarter with the tricks they use too, instead of rapping a thin piece of wood is sometimes put above the top pole to catch the horse out. Putting ground lines behind the front of the fence can also trick the horse, all result in the horse hitting the pole and jumping higher in future unless it really frightens the horse then there's an even bigger problem to sort out. All dispicable and potentially risking ruining nice horses.
 
I don't mind things like false ground likes when used correctly, I often don't use a ground line with small fences. I want the horse to be looking at the top pole not the floor and it's a good way of training it. Anything where the horse makes its own mistakes I don't mind. But bashing a young horse who is already trying seems the best way to ruin one! (I know a few who have spoiled a nice horse)
 
A friend and I were riding in an outdoor arena belonging to yard just along the road from where I keep mine. We were playing with the jumps and we found a long, thin metal bar next to the poles. When she asked about it they said 'its best not to ask'. I was thinking of getting lessons there at one point but looked elsewhere after that!
 
mcnaughty said:
It is called rapping and yes it has been around for years. In fact I once saw Harvey Smith's groom doing it at Olympia back in the 1980s! Someone once told me they also put hedgehog skins on poles but I do wonder if that was a sick joke!
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Sadly it wasn't a sick joke but, at the time, a well documented accusation against a top showjumper. Think it was late 60's/early 70's, I can't think of which showjumper it was but he lived NorthBucks/Northants borders.
 
Hmmm, I think that it was probably more common a while back than it is now. It's possible that producers are using some kind of method to get youngsters jumping extravagantly, but I shouldn't think it is rapping. Rapping doesn't work very often, particularly with youngsters - they just get freaked out and stop jumping, particularly when there is a person stood either side of the fence.

It only ever 'worked' with older, super genuine horses who knew that they weren't allowed to stop.
 
Ladyinred said:
Sadly it wasn't a sick joke but, at the time, a well documented accusation against a top showjumper. Think it was late 60's/early 70's, I can't think of which showjumper it was but he lived NorthBucks/Northants borders.
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I think i remember this and he was known for wearing a faded riding hat?
 
mcnaughty said:
It is called rapping and yes it has been around for years. In fact I once saw Harvey Smith's groom doing it at Olympia back in the 1980s! Someone once told me they also put hedgehog skins on poles but I do wonder if that was a sick joke!
Click to expand...

I know my mums grade A in the 70s was rapped before she got her with this method creating a horse who was absolutely terrified, but after appropriate training continued a successful career.
 
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