Dreadful Handing at Arab Show

amymay said:
Interesting comparison, and of course in reality there is no comparison between the examples you cite, and the video. However, just because it's not in the same league, does not mean it should be ignored.

Abuse takes many forms, some far, far worse than others. I'm not sure it's a competition though in comparing what is worse. No form of abuse should be ignored.

You don't come across as cold - merely disinterested and dispassionate.
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Exactly, it's like saying that it is not that bad that a child got smacked across the face because some get sexually abused or even murdered.

Or to bring it back to horses, it is like saying it is not that bad that someone did not rug or hay up their horse all winter and it was now like a hat rack, because some horses didn't get water either.
 
I agree amymay that it shouldn't be ignored. I never said the rules shouldn't be changed so that the bad eggs were punished for bad behaviour, merely that I didn't see anything that horrific. And yes, I suppose I am probably a bit disinterested as I tend to save my vitriol for other things which I personally find more important. I refuse to be berated for thinking there are more important things in life for me to worry about. I care for my own horses as best I can, if I see something with my own eyes that I disagree with I'll speak up but in terms of internet campaigns etc this is pretty low on my personal list of priorities. Especially as my first hand experience of the situation really wasn't that bad. If that is an unpopular opinion so be it.
 
but in terms of internet campaigns etc this is pretty low on my personal list of priorities.
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Is this a campaign? I thought it was just a discussion.

You're right - it's not horrific. Just unnecessary, unsavoury and within the definitions of cruelty - cruel.

As regards your first hand experience, that is just the way it should be. Hold that thought close, next time you happen to watch another video like the one posted about here. But you don't need first hand experience to appreciate right from wrong.
 
This isn't a few bad eggs. This is mainstream and it is accepted practice within the circle of people that "halter" show. They are very surprised that anyone should find it odd. That is how foul "halter" showing of arabs has become.

Actually, the first insiders are beginning to speak out. However those individuals have been shouted down and vilified to date. There is a big article in one of the main glossy arabian magazines on the subject. However, money - particularly associated with breeding as well as the income of professional handlers - is a major factor in preventing any change to the status quo. While it remains the closed shop that it is, little will change.

The more the curtains are drawn back and the light let in the better for the horses.
 
It is an absolutely disgusting practice. Those poor beautiful horses who look so well behaved up until that point.

Just because they look in good health doesnt mean something like this should be ignored. The more people ignore it the more justification it gives them to carry on. There are worse things in the world, but that doesnt mean its right.

Can you imagine the uproar if this kind of practice was done in any other kind of inhand class?
 
Avonbrook said:
While it remains the closed shop that it is, little will change.

The more the curtains are drawn back and the light let in the better for the horses.
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Perhaps H&H could do a article about it in their magazine, after all H&H do print show reports and results.
 
The Arabian Showing scene as is....... has 'lost the plot' - highlighted by Aachen (All Nations)this year.
As we undergo our darkest hour - the move in the main from the U.K. AND Europe is to leave this practise and god willing many of the handlers and supporting Owners far,far, far behind us!

The time for change I hope is finally here....... as Arabian showing has become a joke........ a cruel one!!
 
H+H did cover the controversy when the seceratary of the *I think* British Arabian Society horse was 'beaten' up in the collecting ring before its class by a 'professional' handler. Does no one remember it? It was either last year or the year before thugh I can't find it on google. It might be on the archives on here. Apprantly most of the society and other professionals couldn't see a problem. I think the horse was a yearling?
Ridden Arabs looks so much nicer, I think its part of the reason why I am not an arab fan, as the inhand arabs are often such inbred scatty freaks due the obession with winning shows at all cost.
The people in the video just want to win and have lost sight of what is best for their horses, a bit like dog showing did/has.
 
Avonbrook said:
This isn't a few bad eggs. This is mainstream and it is accepted practice within the circle of people that "halter" show. They are very surprised that anyone should find it odd. That is how foul "halter" showing of arabs has become.

Actually, the first insiders are beginning to speak out. However those individuals have been shouted down and vilified to date. There is a big article in one of the main glossy arabian magazines on the subject. However, money - particularly associated with breeding as well as the income of professional handlers - is a major factor in preventing any change to the status quo. While it remains the closed shop that it is, little will change.

The more the curtains are drawn back and the light let in the better for the horses.
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Yes!!! good post, the video shows very poor horsemanship maybe the judges should take the whips off these mongs and use it where it would help ie on the backs of the competitors legs!!!!, mind why would anyone be showing such pooly schoolled horses even young stock should have baisic ground manners before being entered into a competition ,and if they were properly schooled they woudnt need to carry a whip , maybe time they banned whips at least for the inhand classes??????
 
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I can't help thinking how it reminds me of Parelli videos where the horses are made to back up by shaking the heavy lead clasps.
 
I have worked for people who had halter arabs in the States. OK this was 20 years ago, but I have seen: horses with obvious welt marks all over their flanks ("marked" horses now supposedly banned from the show ring), horses stood in puddles of water and then electric shocked just before they go in the ring, horses whose hooves were completely sanded down (with a power sander) and then painted with mirror-gloss hoof paint, mascara on eyelashes, horses whooshed into the ring by letting off firecrackers and fire extinguishers, etc., etc. Really hope that this won't become the norm here.
 
I didn't find it especially horrific as it's hard to see what exactly is going on - the horses are clearly stressed out and over-excited, but I didn't see any actual contact where the horses where physically beaten (which, though not the only form of abuse possible, is what I expected from the outcry on here). It's not comfortable viewing and it's not a handling style I approve of, but I don't approve of how most horses are handled and produced in the show ring (or indeed, a number of other sports)...
 
JFTD said:
I didn't find it especially horrific as it's hard to see what exactly is going on - the horses are clearly stressed out and over-excited, but I didn't see any actual contact where the horses where physically beaten (which, though not the only form of abuse possible, is what I expected from the outcry on here). It's not comfortable viewing and it's not a handling style I approve of, but I don't approve of how most horses are handled and produced in the show ring (or indeed, a number of other sports)...
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The horses are being given sharp yanks on the lead rope to make them react. They are also threatened with whips and respond excessively compared to what most horses would do which indicated they have been prepared by ACTUAL hitting with the whips. I could waft a whip in front of any of the horses noses at my yard and they would hardly blink. These horses on the clip have obviously been abused with whips.
 
"Ridden Arabs looks so much nicer, I think its part of the reason why I am not an arab fan, as the inhand arabs are often such inbred scatty freaks due the obession with winning shows at all cost."

That's a point though isn't it? They wouldn't look like scatty freaks if they were shown nicely.
 
tbh it doesnt surprise me at all - is america - yes a gross over exaggeration of the place but all the showing over there seems to be at the detriment of the horse and for money alone
 
JFTD said:
I didn't find it especially horrific as it's hard to see what exactly is going on - the horses are clearly stressed out and over-excited, but I didn't see any actual contact where the horses where physically beaten (which, though not the only form of abuse possible, is what I expected from the outcry on here). It's not comfortable viewing and it's not a handling style I approve of, but I don't approve of how most horses are handled and produced in the show ring (or indeed, a number of other sports)...
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Are we all watching the same thing??
I hope this link works.........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW_kWUip7TQ
 
StuartH said:
The Arabian Showing scene as is....... has 'lost the plot' - highlighted by Aachen (All Nations)this year.
As we undergo our darkest hour - the move in the main from the U.K. AND Europe is to leave this practise and god willing many of the handlers and supporting Owners far,far, far behind us!

The time for change I hope is finally here....... as Arabian showing has become a joke........ a cruel one!!
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Amen to that!
 
JFTD, this isn't the best photo, but it demonstrates how the arab show halter with chain is fitted.

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It is very harsh (and surely very painful) if tugged on in the violent manner demonstrated in the video. Someone on AL states that their arab has damage to the lower jaw that can be seen on X-rays that was caused by the mis-use of such a show halter and chain.
 
I thought that was pretty bad, and I am used to the American style of showing, when there is often a runner behind with a whip, and when the horse is standing up for the judge the runner stands in front with the whip to get the horse's attention. But our horses are well behaved and they don't react as if they are going to be hit.
 
Can't see the video here at work, but I can pretty much guess what it shows. And yes, unfortunately things like this are getting more and more common place at Arab Shows. I for one have not shown my Arabs (I have 4 purebreds) for many years now, because I don't like what goes on with the Arab show scene (both in the arena and, in some cases, away from the show also), and until the day comes when we can show Arabs without sticks, rattles, whoops, loud music, chains, FEAR, and the like - I don't plan on supporting any Arab shows.

And personally, I also hate the head in the air Arab stance - IMO it makes my beloved Arabs look ugly, as well as disguising all matter of conformational faults.

Fortunately, believe it or not, there is a small but ever-growing band of Arab enthusiasts, like myself, who would like to see these practises stopped. It's not going to happen over night, but we won't give up hope!
 
Faracat said:
JFTD, this isn't the best photo, but it demonstrates how the arab show halter with chain is fitted.

1050.jpg


It is very harsh (and surely very painful) if tugged on in the violent manner demonstrated in the video. Someone on AL states that their arab has damage to the lower jaw that can be seen on X-rays that was caused by the mis-use of such a show halter and chain.
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The horse in the picture looks as though it has swellings just above the chain.
 
Wagtail said:
The horse in the picture looks as though it has swellings just above the chain.
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Those are tooth bumps, most youngsters get them when they are changing teeth. The picture is of a miniature horse not an arab, most arab bridles in the current fashion have wider webbing nosebands often with beads hanging of them. A few years ago it was fashion to have leather covered wire nosebands that cut the nose. In the UK most of the time these wire thin nosebands also had a wider leather backing making them much kinder. I have two such bridles and a webbing one. The chain is most often taped up behind the chin to reduce the amount the chain moves through the links and therefore much reducing the shank effect.

I haven't shown Dennis in hand since 2008. I will not have him whirled and twirled, or shanked and yanked - simple as. You may like to know that there is a slow but sure move back to traditional showing. More and more of the shows are having traditional showing classes where you are not even allowed to turn circles. Sadly I don't think this will ever take off in Europe and certainly not in America.
 
As the owner of a stocky, sane, non whip shy arab with no extreme features, this clip just shows why hell would freeze over before I put my mare through that! Owners and breeders of other breeds must wonder what is achieved by such a bad show of horsemanship. All I can say is be ashamed, be very ashamed!!
 
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