One seriously pissed off OldGit

i would be careful to find out the full story before critising if i were you..........in my case the horse is question was a big, strong and opinionated gelding, who had only recently ceased to be a stallion, and IMHO was too big and too strong NOT to know his place-he napped,ran back and went up, i span him round and smacked him, he bucked on the spot, i smacked him again, he did the same, on the 3rd smack he shot forward in to canter and jumped the first fence fantastic, after which he was patted and verbally praised.

but i still got pulled up and told off, and IMHO that wasnt neccesary.

so thanks, but i stand by what i did.bear in mind this was probably 8 years ago so maybe before the specific *number of smacks rule* im not sure.
 
Prince33Sp4rkle - Thing is, the judges don't know the "full story" behind why anyone feels it necessary to smack their horses - everyone has to be treated the same, that is my point. Everybody's opinion as to what is acceptable and what isn't varies (more so in equestrianism than any other sport is seems). The judges I assume were experienced and they clearly felt it was unacceptable which you have to respect them for.

Re: the rules, yeah I think the 3 smack rule was brought in only about last year (might be wrong, but thats when I heard about it).
 
the three smacks was brought in earlier than last year - 2008 at least (I checked it before I did any BE, as my horse does need a good smack at times)
 
I shouldn't have read all the comments on this post, but having done so I feel obliged to comment myself.

OG does not take his temper out on his horses, ever. He takes it out on himself. In this instance the 'saint' of a horse stopped at the last possible moment and OG had no chance of staying on. The 3 smacks for the horse were to tell it that stopping is not acceptable, and not to do it again, not to tell it off for stopping in the first place. It got 1 more smack for rearing and then OG retired.

Ok I wasn't actually there and he has confessed that he did swear a lot but one has to vent ones frustration in some way. I live with the man and knowing him as I do I cannot believe he was being abusive, and it appears that the secretary who spoke to him ended in agreement as it was taken no further.

Thanks to those of you who have been understanding and supportive.
 
OG, I have not read previous posts by yourself so do not know the background of you and your horse but from what you have posted, to me it reads like:

Horse stopped, rider fell off, rider lay on ground for a while, rider got back on then slapped horse a number of times.

Can you please tell me how on earth the horse is supposed to know why he/she was getting a slap. Unless instantaneous, which it doesn't sound like, I cannot see how the horse would understand that it was hit for stopping. If you had stayed on and then the slap, perhaps acceptable (although I have never had to slap my horse three times in a row) before but after falling off?

The description does not sound good to me I am afraid and if indeed the incident happed as you have described and it was something I had seen, I would have reported the incident to an official myself.
 
MysteryGirl said:
I shouldn't have read all the comments on this post, but having done so I feel obliged to comment myself.

OG does not take his temper out on his horses, ever. He takes it out on himself. In this instance the 'saint' of a horse stopped at the last possible moment and OG had no chance of staying on. The 3 smacks for the horse were to tell it that stopping is not acceptable, and not to do it again, not to tell it off for stopping in the first place. It got 1 more smack for rearing and then OG retired.

Ok I wasn't actually there and he has confessed that he did swear a lot but one has to vent ones frustration in some way. I live with the man and knowing him as I do I cannot believe he was being abusive, and it appears that the secretary who spoke to him ended in agreement as it was taken no further.

Thanks to those of you who have been understanding and supportive.
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Check out the bold bit.

I was there and saw the antics on his way to collect the horse. On Sunday some of the people who witnessed it were still horrified, especially on being told it was a middle-aged male BE doctor with teenage children, having assumed that the display came from a teenage girl.

Perhaps he has only told you what he put on here, not the totality of what happened, that's his choice. A number of people who have posted here did see and hear what went on.

I'm sure he's normally a sweet-tempered person, on this occasion he appears to have left that person in the lorry and substituted someone else.

I certainly understand why he was so frustrated, but not why he chose to take his temper out not only on inanimate objects but also on his horse.

I'm not supportive however, his language was utterly appalling, his attitude was disgraceful and his treatment of the horse abusive: what in that is there to support?
 
Having read this thread and rarely post - I can see why not now, I feel compelled to reply!

I do not condone in anyway what OG did or did not do (I was not there so cannot fully comment), but think that the poor guy has been attacked enough and will have realised his mistake, without more people adding fuel to the fire. What's done is done, there is no going back so probably best if we all just dropped it!?

I do not know OG, but from having read his posts, he comes across as a generous and helpful person who appreciates his horse and does not treat it like a machine. Some times the pressure of competition gets to us all. I don't agree with taking it out on the horse, but as for the swearing etc, at least he apologised. I do remember, I think it was Paul Tapner, after Badminton last year, when his horse was in a highly competitive position, but lost impulsion up the steps and had a run out, finished, got off his horse and started beating his whip on the ground in frustration. I seem to remember everyone praising him for it, as not taking it out on the horse.

I hope OG continues to post after this, as always found his reports filled with humour.

I hope you put this behind you OG and move onwards and upwards for the rest of the season.
 
Quite. I have no opinion on this incident as it is impossible without seeing it, but we have all done things we are not necessarily proud of (not saying this is one of them), and as with all things horsey, the difference in opinion is endless and hindsight is a wonderful thing. Lets try and support each other instead. Onwards and upwards, OG.
 
Well, I wasnt there and I didnt see it so cant really tell who is telling the truth!

But I have rarely seen a fall XC that is the horses fault and from what I understand from the first post, not knowing the course, this case would seem to be no exception. The horse locked onto the (wrong?) fence and the rider fell off. So what? Sh*t happens, sounds like rider error to me.

Several years ago I fell off twice around Morton Morrell (which we had gone around in a beautiful clear the previous year!!) and I was very frustrated, not to mention embarrassed to have fallen TWICE on the course! But I would never dream of taking my frustration out on my horse, that is downright nasty. I have to say, I have never hit a horse after falling off, it serves no purpose. And with my current horse, I have never once hit him for a refusal either as every refusal is my fault for not putting him right or showing him what he has to do. If anyone is to be punished for that its me!

I do feel that the OP may have acted out of anger, going by the more recent posts on this thread and a couple of things I have been told about the incident. It is certainly something to be learned from and bear in mind that you are ALWAYS being watched at a competiton.
 
If you fall off, and don't get back on for a minute or two (for whatever reason) and THEN hit the horse, surely the horse thinks it is being hit for allowing you to remount?! It's like telling off a dog when it finally comes home after truanting/ignoring you for ages... however tempting it might be, you just can't do it, because it'll make things even worse next time! Fwiw i've seen horses really afraid of letting their rider remount. Tells me quite a lot.
Good luck at your next run, OG, hope it goes better.
 
I've been trying not to add any more but it might make things clearer and help OG for the future. When OG fell off he screamed "come back here you f%&^ing horse". This would imply that he was angry at the horse, not at himself. It was also reported that he was not in balance with the horse on approach to the ditch so it did not have a chance to jump it. I did not see this so cannot say how true this is but it might be a good place to start to help avoid the situation again.
 
DellaMoon said:
I've been trying not to add any more but it might make things clearer and help OG for the future. When OG fell off he screamed "come back here you f%&^ing horse". This would imply that he was angry at the horse, not at himself. It was also reported that he was not in balance with the horse on approach to the ditch so it did not have a chance to jump it. I did not see this so cannot say how true this is but it might be a good place to start to help avoid the situation again.
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I had heard the same, well, i was told of "a" rider who had quite the incident at this event (and similar things to what you said) but didnt kknow it was anyone on here til I saw this thread and asked some more!lol

But yes, that is not appropriate behaviour IMO if it is true and whoever reported it was right to do so. I have seen much less abusive behaviour reported at BSJA shows so I can totally understand why this was, and am surprised the only result was a verbal warning TBH.
 
This is now just hearsay and slander and the only thing this will do is to drive a much-liked member of this forum community off the boards. And they say the equestrian community is unsupportive...?
 
I'd just like to say that I've always enjoyed your posts, OG, and your horse is a real smartie - regardless of what happened at LD, I hope you'll continue to post about MG as they always make me smile.
 
DellaMoon said:
I've been trying not to add any more but it might make things clearer and help OG for the future. When OG fell off he screamed "come back here you f%&^ing horse". This would imply that he was angry at the horse, not at himself. It was also reported that he was not in balance with the horse on approach to the ditch so it did not have a chance to jump it. I did not see this so cannot say how true this is but it might be a good place to start to help avoid the situation again.
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It certainly does imply anger.....I have seen it too many times where winning/getting placed is the be all and end all (not saying that this is you OG, but your post and those previous suggest it)....we all get angry when things don't go right, but just think...would you ever see William F-P or Mark Todd behave in such a manner?? The answer is pretty much no and I think that says a great deal about the way to deal with these kind of situations....
I do wonder why OG posted about this as it was bound to generate a strong ish reaction...did you genuinely feel that being reported for this behaviour was uncalled for??
This thread has probably made you (and MG) angry/upset, but HHo'ers will always reply with their opinion as is the nature of forums...perhaps you can re-evaluate from here?
 
little_flea said:
This is now just hearsay and slander and the only thing this will do is to drive a much-liked member of this forum community off the boards. And they say the equestrian community is unsupportive...?
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Absolutely what she said.

Come on guys "let he who be without sin..." We've all made mistakes in the past.
You know what, if my horse did a dirty stop that resulted in me being ditched I too might say a little more than "bloomin' flip you little tinker"

Old Git didn't have to post about what happened, but he decided to share and the result.... what appears to be, gleeful picking of the bones and a tearing apart of the poor bloke! I can probably guess that OG feels pretty crappy about the whole affair and doesn't need kicking anymore.

A couple of people have said 'onwards and upwards' in their response. Now let him move onwards and upwards before as said above another valuable member of the community is forced out.
 
I agree glamourpuss.

Everyone has bad days.

Id have been amused by his swearing/tantrum not been offended by it!! Maybe to myself in case he gave me a smack for laughing (joke) :D :D :D
 
Well, having read this entire thread, i cant help but feel that everyone is being a little hard on OG.

It went wrong. OG reacted in a very understandable way.

I love reading your posts, OG, fab horse, you have done really well with him. Keep it up!
 
I would think that the time has come to draw a line under this and let the thread die with no more posts.

OG will have slept on it by now and I for one very much look forward to his future posts and light hearted outlook on life.
 
OG - clearly I am also a bad person as my first response on reading your post was to laugh, as its exactly the type of thing that I could see me doing.

Horse stopped at last fence last in big WH championship and my first response was 'you *******' - not big or clever but sometimes it just pops out.

Personally I would have hit the horse going back in to the fence to re-enforce the fact that I mean you are going forward over this, which is what I read you did but I may be mistaken.

I think the fact that the steward WHO WAS THERE AND WAS THE RESPONSIBLE OFFICER DID NOT TAKE ANY FORMAL DISCIPLINARY ACTION is prob the biggest flag as too what OG behaviour was really like.

Please note that I am not condoning beating a horse sensless, but equally I do not think that a firm smack is horrific - its not like he is beating the horse round the head or spurring it untill it bleeds. Its a fine line but personally I think the stewards response is the most telling.
 
Fourlegsgood said:
I would think that the time has come to draw a line under this and let the thread die with no more posts.

OG will have slept on it by now and I for one very much look forward to his future posts and light hearted outlook on life.
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Totally agree with this, I keep checking back in, in the hope that OG has posted as am seriously concerned that he might feel he cant. He had a bad day, he has shared his frustrations I am really narked by all the hearsay, either you were there or you weren't if you weren't stop summising. OG has always raised interesting posts and been really supportive of others, we all do wrong the biggest thing is admitting or expressing when we have done so. I really hope OG does not shrink away from the forum it would be a sad loss :(:(
 
blimey, cant believe some of you are so worked up by the language! far better to f and blind than take it out physically.................no so long ago my shetland legged it thought two sets of elec fence and high tailed it off across the resting field whilst being turned out.i was late for a lesson, still had a box to muck out etc and screamed after it "you get back here you little &*(&^*^*%^%'er,because if i have to run after you im going to beat you to a88*&&^^&i'ng pulp...."
of course i didnt, i caught him, patted him, popped him back in his rightful paddock and stomped off to swear at the fence as i repaired it. didnt do anyone any harm, just venting my frustration verbally.

i refuse to believe people who say they never loose their temper and shout like that just to release the frustration!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
For some reason the debate regarding appleby horses and horse racing comes to mind.
People go up in arms about travellers horses being hit - I do not condone it!!! But when it comes to eventing some think it is permissable:confused:
Getting back on the horse and hitting it three times:confused: If i got on my horse and hit it i am sure it would be reluctant to let me back on.

That said having never read any of the op's post's but reading those that have it does seem it was an off day for the rider - and also the horse. Even so i do think with the witnesses the person was right to be cautioned it may make him think twice next time.
My daughters pony recently started to behave unlike herself - her newly fitted saddle turned out to be badly fitted
We have also had others have off days but things have come to light as to why so i now always think about what could be a problem making the horse have an off day - there is always something!

I do have the feeling the op will look back on the day and realise he lashed out in anger as we all are capable of.
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
blimey, cant believe some of you are so worked up by the language! far better to f and blind than take it out physically.................no so long ago my shetland legged it thought two sets of elec fence and high tailed it off across the resting field whilst being turned out.i was late for a lesson, still had a box to muck out etc and screamed after it "you get back here you little &*(&^*^*%^%'er,because if i have to run after you im going to beat you to a88*&&^^&i'ng pulp...."
of course i didnt, i caught him, patted him, popped him back in his rightful paddock and stomped off to swear at the fence as i repaired it. didnt do anyone any harm, just venting my frustration verbally.

i refuse to believe people who say they never loose their temper and shout like that just to release the frustration!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I had to laugh at this. I have done just the same in the past. Threatening the Stallion with all sorts of evil things when a visitor arrived to hear me in full throttle:eek:
I caught the horse and cuddled him - not because their was a visitor but because i had let out my frustration and was relieved the horse stopped and waited for me. I don't think he understood what i meant by what i was going to do to him!!!
The visitor was horrified, i was embarrassed but laugh about it now.
 
pwah ha ha!!!!

i must be a serious horse threaten'er...............cant remember what i was trying to do, but remember yelling at some equine or another "&*&*&*&'ing well stand still or im going to chop your *&^***'ing legs off" and when i exited the stable saw two of my (none horsey)brothers mates, frozen in action in the drive, having literally got out the car and then heard me yell that,and hadnt dared to move for about 10mins!!!!
 
It's fair enough to F and blind on your own property but at an event? When there are volunteers, spectataors, children around? It's totally out of order and imho shows a loss of personal control which I wouldnt expect from a grown man.
 
It's in our yard rules that we can't shout or swear at our horses!!! I think this is ridiculous but luckily it has never been enforced. I think it was aimed at a past livery who used to swear and shout at her horse in the school frequently and generally made people uncomfortable.
 
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