It makes you wonder what goes on at home !

[Gingerwitch]

Although i do not understand Roulker as yet - but will find out by the end of the day - seeing some of the posts on here and u tube links over the last few days - i do really wonder what goes on at home behind closed doors.

My latest horse is just starting to work correctly after he has been shoved in the pretty head carriage side reins. Ok he paints a very pretty picture but the power is not there and he gets really over bent and "tense" when you ask for his free walk. Slow improvements are coming and we had some fantastic extention work last week.

By the way he has been pretty much through the mill - flat racer to show pony outline...just shows what a genuine lad he is and how hard he trys

 

[Orangehorse]

What goes on behind closed doors. Exactly.

The thing about competition dressage is that jt IS a competition, and in any competition with horses there is always the scope to "do" things to improve the chances of winning. Shortcuts, use of tack, etc. etc. Don't we all step up the work, the concentration of certain exercises, etc. leading up to a competition.

Whereas dressage without the competition involvement should be seen as physiotherapy for the horse. And for any horse regardless of paces, conformation, etc. Slowly developing muscles and strength to enable to the horse to carry the rider correctly and to live a long, healthy and sound life.

 

[scrumpygus]

My best friend just moved to a dressage yard and the trainer there who is a very well known dressage rider was seen daily even on baby horses being really abusive to them to get them to carry their heads on their chest - when she confronted him he said - whats your problem its only a horse! She left the yard a few days later and when the y/o asked her why she told her that she couldnt watch the trainer abuse the horses the way he was and she said ' well how do you think he got to where he is today'! What an appauling attitude.

 

[Booboos]

Completely agree that some people take shortcuts to competitive success, but I don't think it's just dressage. I've seen appalling behaviour at SJ yards and racing yards, and I am sure the same happens with some eventers.

I think it's more the attitude of the rider/trainer as an individual who is looking for quick fixes, than the discipline itself.

Also, I think it is very common to cut corners with a young horse in order to sell it. People buying a really flashy looking youngster (usually from abroad) are often taken in by a horse produced to look exceptional in one, short, straight line and don't realise that the horse needs a couple of years of work just to do a novice test.

 

[Tinypony]

Yes, I think that's the really big concern behind the current debate. If they will do this in public, we dread what happens to those poor horses back at the yard. Until the authorities stop rewarding abuse nothing will change. Really, when I look at the top dressage riders in action I often don't like the picture. Yes, the horses are bouncing along, doing all the moves they are supposed to, but there seems to be a lack of joy and freedom in their movements. Yet it is rewarded with the highest marks and rewards.

 

[FlashHarry]

I thought exactly this when I read about the alleged incident of a showjumping horse being hit 15 times or hit about the head or whatever it was. Didn't we all start riding as innocent children who loved a pony? Where did it all go wrong? What happened to being a partnership? Makes me v sad to think of these animals spending their whole lives living in an environment where they are treated like this.