Let’s try to find some good from all of this…

[Jellymoon]

It’s making us all think about how we treat our horses, which can only be a good thing. Those of us who have been taught ‘old school’ have probably done some things in the past that we are not proud of, and I know I am shy to speak up if I’m a little in awe of my trainers, even now I’m middle-aged. Not any more. I feel quite angry and empowered today.

Let’s be kinder to the horses, train more ethically, stop putting our egos and competition results ahead of their welfare.

And let’s be more assertive: speak out if we are uncomfortable with a trainer, or if we see something we don’t like. We would do it if it were kids or dogs, but I’m afraid we are all way too used to seeing horses being thwacked with we are somewhat immune to it.

Professionals out there, prob very few reading this, but if you are: we amateurs have something to say, many of us are actually very experienced and are also ‘horse-experts’ in our own ways, and we don’t like it, we don’t want to see it, and we don’t want it taught to our kids. Be nice to your horses, otherwise you will get us all banned from riding.

 

[Highmileagecob]

It is time that tradition, and the attitude that 'it has always been done like that' is called into question. Personally, I have never carried a whip. Watching a horse on a summer's day know exactly where a fly has landed, and how to shiver it off, tells me that my horse is as sensitive as I am.

 

[Janique]

When younger, i was a working pupil of a well known eventer, he was very hard on the horses....

He rode the other working pupil's mare, a small bay, she was nice but he wanted her to carry her head lower and he kept at her...

She started rearing all the time as she couldn't stand it the pressure he was putting on her.

One day, she reared with the Anna, the working pupil and went over, she broke her pelvis as the mare landed on her....

She was in a bad way for a long time and stopped riding after that..

I didn't know much at the time, luckily, he never rode my own horse, still i should have said something but at the time, i didn't realise and was too shy.

Thank's God, with age, we start to say things and now i wouldn't let it happen.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I am really fed up of reading that animal cruelty is 'old school', 'traditional' etc.
It isn't!
I learned to ride in the late 60s/early 70s at a good RS, of which there were several on the area. The RS owners were well-respected, great teachers, who were fully aware that they were responsible for the health and welfare of many equines and a number of other people's children. Safety was paramount, while riders were challenged to develop skills gradually in a safe environment.
As an adult, I was fortunate to meet and become friends with the owners of another local RS, through volunteering with RDA. I learned a lot about handling horses from that family too.
Both families were very active members of the Hunt and in supporting local and higher level competitions.
I can honestly say that I cannot remember having witnessed any questionable act with any horse with either of those families in the last 60 yrs. Admittedly, I have only occasionally come across the first family in more recent years but I haven't heard any rumours even of questionable behaviour - and they have very well-known connections, so I'm sure I would have heard rumours, if there were any.
I remember one horse playing up when led with an RDA rider on board, past a group of pigs. The leader and side-walker managed the situation and got past with the combination intact -just!
After the rider had gone home, the owner got on the horse, took a schooling whip and rode up and down the lane past the pigs. The horse strolled past as if he did it everyday (which he probably did). Did the owner smack him with the schooling whip? No, of course not, the horse wasn't doing anything to warrant that! After a few uneventful goes past the pigs, horse was brought back to the yard, untacked and turned out with his mates.
I learned from both families to be consistent, firm but fair, with horses and if there was an unexpected problem to try to work out why.

I have seen some very unfair treatment of horses, mainly on showgrounds. Often meted out by teenagers or the disappointed parents of children who would be better served by a bike than a horse.

Good horse people work in partnership with the horses they come into contact with, rather than bullying them into submission and always have done ime.

 

[Old school]

Perhaps horse welfare was not as broad a concept pre 1950. But neither was the knowledge bank or veterinary medicine so deep as it is today.

But definitely the treatment of horses since the ordinary civilian has been able to profit from sales etc has deteriorated. Once money and glory are the aim, horse welfare falls down the ladder. Irrespective of the discipline, Irish P2P trainers looking for the next big sale to PC Mums fighting their heart out to get their child on a team, one is financial gain, the other is ego, the animal is simply a tool in the process and like all tools, they can be replaced.

Horsemanship is actually deemed as a bit of a weakness. See it all of the time at events/shows/hunting. The human places their needs first. Imagine if you child couldn’t do something above their level and you just drilled them and drilled them. There would be uproar. But woe be tide the horse that can’t grasp a new activity, either cast aside or drilled into submission. Even simply ‘whipped’ into compliance as we have seen. To be honest, I actually despair for horses. The sooner commercial gain from them is frowned upon the better. We can still enjoy them, learn from them and educate them, but the end goal needs to change.

 

[Kaylum]

Our horses were doing 10 miles a day at a good pace nowadays that's a pleasure ride. Less work in the school and got them out seeing things. That's how we got them accustomed to life. Laminitis was rare as they had the exercise they needed. Even the ponies were fit as the kids had to look after them properly. Mind you cobs were unfashionable then.

Remember seeing a neck cover for the first time in tge early 90s and thinking what the heck.

Our horses were fed straights bought by the tonne. They were fed according to work/weight.

Our horses were shod by farriers who made shoes for each horse and hot shod. A dying trade unfortunately.

 

[Bernster]

I won’t read any more on the CDJ incident. But I applaud you wanting to turn this into something more positive and constructive.

 

[DabDab]

I think this is really the most poignant thing I've noticed in the last 24 hours - perfectly good, kind and non-abusive horse people that I know having a moment of introspection and thinking 'but could I do even better by my horse'. People deciding not to take their horse out to compete anymore because they don't enjoy it, people deciding to try bitless because their horse has never seemed completely comfortable in a bit, people resolving to be a stronger advocate for their horse and others when out and about etc.

I gave my horses some branches of goat willow in the field yesterday and Hetty stole one from the others and gleefully ran around the field with it while the other two gamboled about around her. I watched them thinking what a beautiful gift they are. I used to have competitive goals as a horse rider, now I have none, and I feel all the richer and wiser for it.

 

[Time for Tea]

It is time that tradition, and the attitude that 'it has always been done like that' is called into question. Personally, I have never carried a whip. Watching a horse on a summer's day know exactly where a fly has landed, and how to shiver it off, tells me that my horse is as sensitive as I am.

Well I use a whip to wipe the flies off mine, also useful to carry to ward off cattle, dogs and overly inquisitive ponies

 

[Time for Tea]

I have seen unpleasant behaviour on showgrounds. But I am old school, and everywhere I rode as a girl in the 60’s and 70’s the horses came first, there was no drilling, no whipping, really little interference with the horses. And you were instructed firmly on how to treat your horse and light aids were the aim.
Most of the people I know now just enjoy hacking, and seem to generally meander about the countryside, and when I used to hunt a lot people were careful with their horses. It was a social outing, something to do and somewhere different to go. Many did not jump, or only jumped early in the day when their horse was fresh. I only once saw a horse hit, he was a hireling, the owner was out as well and she told the person off in no uncertain fashion.
We do go to low level competitions, and people seem delighted with their equines on the whole, and if they haven’t done well it is the people who take the blame. E.g. I didn’t ride well/ i shouldn’t have left him out last night, it rained and he hates that/he’s missing his friend I should have brought them too/i love doing dressage tests with her though I do struggle with it, she copes well with me really etc etc

I think your average amateur rider adores their animals. They are very proud of them. It seems the professionals have lost the joy.
Which is sad.

 

[rabatsa]

I do not equate old school with cruel, natural horsemanship with being kind. I have come across both good and bad with both ends of the spectrum.

I have seen a lot more unintentional cruelty by novices and amateurs than I have seen intentional from a professional.

 

[Time for Tea]

I do not equate old school with cruel, natural horsemanship with being kind. I have come across both good and bad with both ends of the spectrum.

I have seen a lot more unintentional cruelty by novices and amateurs than I have seen intentional from a professional.

Yes, indeed. Ignorance is a problem, and I believe one of the reasons the Pony Club was set up, to combat ignorance.

 

[sbloom]

We need to keep the best of the old and blend with the best of the new, but really none of that is found in the competition ring

Our horses were shod by farriers who made shoes for each horse and hot shod. A dying trade unfortunately.

Not really, I am friends with an exceptional farrier and, although he thinks that apprentices should still be taught to do this for all sorts of reasons, the main skill is in understanding the role of feet in healthy movement and trimming/showing accordingly. There are plenty of shoe designs out there to select from, especially new composites that literally can't ne farrier made.

One tradition we can let go of.

 

[Leafcutter]

I have seen unpleasant behaviour on showgrounds. But I am old school, and everywhere I rode as a girl in the 60’s and 70’s the horses came first, there was no drilling, no whipping, really little interference with the horses. And you were instructed firmly on how to treat your horse and light aids were the aim.
Most of the people I know now just enjoy hacking, and seem to generally meander about the countryside, and when I used to hunt a lot people were careful with their horses. It was a social outing, something to do and somewhere different to go. Many did not jump, or only jumped early in the day when their horse was fresh. I only once saw a horse hit, he was a hireling, the owner was out as well and she told the person off in no uncertain fashion.
We do go to low level competitions, and people seem delighted with their equines on the whole, and if they haven’t done well it is the people who take the blame. E.g. I didn’t ride well/ i shouldn’t have left him out last night, it rained and he hates that/he’s missing his friend I should have brought them too/i love doing dressage tests with her though I do struggle with it, she copes well with me really etc etc

I think your average amateur rider adores their animals. They are very proud of them. It seems the professionals have lost the joy.
Which is sad.

This, whoever said money is the root of all evil wasn’t far wrong

 

[Highmileagecob]

This needs to come from the top. In any other high profile sport, there is a groundswell of opinion, and a feeling of 'setting the example.' Unfortunately, money talks, and sponsors want results. Difficult to balance....

 

[anglo]

Well I use a whip to wipe the flies off mine, also useful to carry to ward off cattle, dogs and overly inquisitive ponies

And cows coming in from grazing to the milking parlour, in my case

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Leaf cutter the saying is the love of money is the root of all evil..not the money per se.

 

[Leafcutter]

Same thing surely?