Saucisson
Well-Known Member
But just remember that not so long ago horses were used for transportation. In the 1960s and even 1970s there were probably plenty more people who knew a bit about horse care just because they had needed to work with them on a day to day basis.
Not that all experience is worth listening to anyway, there's plenty of "experienced" horse people who are more than capable of ruining a horse and wouldn't even know it when they had.
I think we have too many choices now and as a result worry too much (internet forums are probably a major culprit ) but I think that applies to many other areas in our lives too.
I would say though that generally, people are lazier. I think perhaps there's a lot of horses who just don't get worked hard enough. I know my horses "vices" generally vanish when he's been working hard and he's pooped out.
I regularly see people spend more time tacking up than actually riding. The horse will get a couple of canters on each leg and then that's it. The good riders I've seen are those that have the concentration and fitness to just keep going, repeating and repeating instructions/ exercises and making sure the details are consistant. (They also seem to have a 6th sense of when to stop).
I just finished reading "Warrior - the Real Story of a War Horse" and wow, they didn't worry too much about Neddikins being tired/having sore legs/back problems in those days did they? (and that was the bits when he wasn't at war )
Not that all experience is worth listening to anyway, there's plenty of "experienced" horse people who are more than capable of ruining a horse and wouldn't even know it when they had.
I think we have too many choices now and as a result worry too much (internet forums are probably a major culprit ) but I think that applies to many other areas in our lives too.
I would say though that generally, people are lazier. I think perhaps there's a lot of horses who just don't get worked hard enough. I know my horses "vices" generally vanish when he's been working hard and he's pooped out.
I regularly see people spend more time tacking up than actually riding. The horse will get a couple of canters on each leg and then that's it. The good riders I've seen are those that have the concentration and fitness to just keep going, repeating and repeating instructions/ exercises and making sure the details are consistant. (They also seem to have a 6th sense of when to stop).
I just finished reading "Warrior - the Real Story of a War Horse" and wow, they didn't worry too much about Neddikins being tired/having sore legs/back problems in those days did they? (and that was the bits when he wasn't at war )