Photos of people standing on a horses back . What we think?

[Kokopelli]

If it's something that puts so many people off maybe it's something we should consider stopping. Out of interest what about riding bareback, round the world etc in sales vids. Would this put people off?

 

[Spring Feather]

If it's something that puts so many people off maybe it's something we should consider stopping. Out of interest what about riding bareback, round the world etc in sales vids. Would this put people off?

I would just think it pointless unless there was a reason for doing all this stuff ie if you were selling kiddies ponies, potential trick/vaulting horses or something similar. I am not interested in stuff like this when I buy horses so I'd not think one way or the other, I'd just see it as irrelevant. I want to see horses conformation shots, jumping pics and videos showing the horses way of going, anything else is wallpaper (which I might like or might not). However as you have picked up, it seems that a lot of people think it's stupid and it turns them off the horses, so maybe you do need to have a think about who you are selling to and what type of market you are aiming for. If you horses sell well with the marketing you do right now then why change, if they don't then yes maybe time for a revamp.

ETA, I've thought about it more and I know I've seen adverts like this and although no I don't care what people put in adverts, I am pretty sure at some point I've thought 'novice amateurish sellers'

 

[Ibblebibble]

no those kind of things would not put me off at all, I have no idea what you sell but certainly if it was a childs pony those things would be a huge bonus.

 

[Kokopelli]

We do sell some childrens ponies, but mostly our horses are sold to nervous people looking to get their confidence back. We have a few more competition type horses but they still need to be just as sensible or they go back.

Sorry wrong link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SajikLEq1kg

This is an example of one of our videos, he was sold to the light cavalry as they loved the way we messed around with him and he still stood like a rock, played with flags and in heavy traffic. Sadly he was put down not long ago (not because of us standing on his back )

Sorry for slight thread hijack OP but I do find it interesting how peoples opinions differ.

 

[webble]

I personally dont get it, how often do most people stand on their horses back ? Id venture to say not to often if ever. It wouldnt convey bombproof to me, if the horse was standing next to a busy road with someone waving a flag in front of it, that would show me bombproof.

Agreed it would instantly put me off an ad I consider it to be a pretty silly thing to do and I wouldnt want to have dealings with someone who did that

 

[webble]

If it's something that puts so many people off maybe it's something we should consider stopping. Out of interest what about riding bareback, round the world etc in sales vids. Would this put people off?

If it was a childs pony or games pony no I would like to see it if it was for me then I would just see it as irrelevant. I would like to see pics of both sides a couple of flat and jumping shots. To me more relevant would be a close up of good barefoot feet or horse unfazed by traffic etc

I think it probably depends on the target market of the horse you are selling but I would do away with the standing on pics

 

[vieshot]

I don't like it, not in a sense that I think it's cruel, more just pointless. Hate seeing it in adverts, when I ride i sit on my horse so don't need to know if you can stand on it or not!

 

[titch]

I'm also not a fan of it in adverts. It would put me off looking at a horse, it just looks unprofessional to me (this is not aimed at anyone on this thread, just my opinion). However, it has nothing to do with what I would do with the horse, I guess it might depend on the target market. I must also be an advert snob!

If people want to do it to their own horses though I have nothing against it, but I'd never do it.

 

[Double_choc_lab]

I don't like it in adverts either. I know which ads koko is referring tbh I think "why"' I would prefer to see hacking down a busy yoad, schooling and jumping (all recent of course)'

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

It is quite common for yearling and 2yp breakers in racing yards to be stood on - on the saddle of course. Their jockeys do handstands on them, fight and tussle with the people riding next to them, throw themselves about and generally cause a ruckus in the first few weeks of breaking. The reason? These racehorses need to deal with what ever is thrown at them. They need to deal with people being above them so that they don't freak in the starting stall is a handler is required for the horse next door. They need to deal with bodies being thrown at fast paces about them - out of the stalls, if they jink, if they have to swerve then they wont be scared by seeing a body where it shouldnt be. They need this training.

Personally I only ever stand on my horses back if I can't reach an apple from the tree and even then that is mere secobds and the horse gets the apple lol! It wouldn't put me off an add but it wouldn't make any difference to me if I wanted to view the horse or not.

Each to their own.

 

[kinnygirl1]

I don't really like it purely cos I think it looks dangerous and you could get really hurt if the horse does unexpectantly spook or jump. An unnecessary risk IMO but I am a nervous nelly at times.

 

[jodie3]

Not sure if this is a dig at me?

No no, not at all! I didn't even know you were one or worked for a dealer.

One of our local dealers often uses pictures of people standing on horses backs and so when I see ads using pictures like this I just associate them with a certainty type of dealer.

Sorry Kokopelli, definitely didn't mean you.

 

[Kokopelli]

No no, not at all! I didn't even know you were one or worked for a dealer.

One of our local dealers often uses pictures of people standing on horses backs and so when I see ads using pictures like this I just associate them with a certainty type of dealer.

Sorry Kokopelli, definitely didn't mean you.

That's okay honestly. Going to have a talk on Monday and see if it's something we should exclude from our ads.

 

[mandwhy]

I don't think it is cruel as otherwise vaulting and stunts would be cruel, yes the loin area is more sensitive and not for weight carrying but I shouldn't think it would do any damage as a one off.

I too think it looks a bit silly and amateurish in adverts, but then I am not a bouncy flexible spring of a person who would lightly roll away in the event of a spook, so I see it as more dangerous than some people might!

 

[tallyho!]

Why is it so different to sitting on a horses back?

It wouldn't sell a horse to me, after all, I would not be looking for a horse I can stand on... not unless I wanted a change of career and wanted to join the circus.

In fact, if you are going to sell a horse to me, I want to see a GOOD conformation shot (so hard to find these days) and a VIDEO of someone riding the beast. A picture of someone even sitting on the horse obscures all the bits I want to see like depth of girth, shoulder and neck set, condition of the back and it's length etc...

But if people wanted to post photos of themselves standing on a horse - carry on.

 

[snooples]

Why is it so different to sitting on a horses back?
.

Its a lot different to sitting on a horse, for example would you rather stand on a book or a plug, its going to be the same force exerting back on you except pressure is distributed differently.
Sitting on a horse exerts pressure over a large area aka (the book) but standing does it over a smaller area (the plug)

 

[snooples]

plug and book are probably actually a bit extreme of an example. IT all depends on the weight of the person in relation to their feet I guess and wether they are standing on a saddle or not

 

[Caol Ila]

I like Kokopelli's sales video. I'd go look at that horse.

 

[cambrica]

I like Kokopelli's sales video. I'd go look at that horse.

I agree, nothing at all wrong with that video!

Having someone standing on a horse in a photo doesn't really bother me one way or the other but it certainly doesn't impress me, Im pretty sure if I wanted to I could do that on all of mine although they might give me that 'WTF do you think your doing' look

Now if I saw a video of a horse for sale where the seller could do this.... I would be mildly impressed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FslK31xEoH0

 

[Cortez]

Nothing wrong with standing on the horse, in fact vital if you're going to Roman ride (which I used to do many years ago, and no longer can due to advancing old age!). If it caused the horse any distress you'd soon be on the ground, so don't worry about that aspect...........I think some people are being a bit snooty; can't see anything wrong with it - if you don't want to do it, then don't.

 

[paddi22]

the 'standing on the back' photos aren't half an annoying as the 'small baby on the back' photos!

 

[Achinghips]

It's got me wondering about the Mary Wanless exercises for looking at weight distribution in the saddle. Excuse the analogy, but if I'm on all fours and someone sits on my back, they are heavy. If I put my head down slightly and lift my back, like a suspension bridge, their weight becomes lighter. This is why riding a horse properly in a contact is important .... It's easier for them. Now then, if I get the same person to sit more on top of my bum, they are lighter and I don't need to lift my back to make them lighter. They naturally are but I don't know why.

You still with me?

Ok, now if someone distributes weight behind the cantle are they lighter, or do the two pressure points of weight distribution, make it harsher for the horse?

Now then .....Think of thai massages, where people stand on your back, they are lovely and the masseur doesn't feel heavy .....

So where should the weight distribution be to make it easier and if you follow this logic, why don't we all just slop about on the buckle with the saddle on the horses bum? Ok, extreme examples, but do you get my drift??? Might make for some amusing changes I'm sure .... Lol

 

[Leo Walker]

Kokopelli I really liked your sales video and I not only buy for myself but advise clients on horses, and I'd go and view after seeing that video

 

[Dry Rot]

Haven't read the whole thread but I share in the disgust. Why stand on a horse? Crazy!

Came across this site. You need to scroll down a bit to see the video. Appalling cruelty!

France, of course, so I expect they eat them after standing on them if the meat is not too bruised!

http://www.highland-show.com/HighlandShow/index.php?page=shows&lang=en&id=1

 

[Sussexbythesea]

We do sell some childrens ponies, but mostly our horses are sold to nervous people looking to get their confidence back. We have a few more competition type horses but they still need to be just as sensible or they go back.

Sorry wrong link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SajikLEq1kg

This is an example of one of our videos, he was sold to the light cavalry as they loved the way we messed around with him and he still stood like a rock, played with flags and in heavy traffic. Sadly he was put down not long ago (not because of us standing on his back )

Sorry for slight thread hijack OP but I do find it interesting how peoples opinions differ.

How sad he looked lovely

The video was great for the average rider looking for a safe mount I don't think the standing on back adds anything though.

 

[tallyho!]

Its a lot different to sitting on a horse, for example would you rather stand on a book or a plug, its going to be the same force exerting back on you except pressure is distributed differently.
Sitting on a horse exerts pressure over a large area aka (the book) but standing does it over a smaller area (the plug)

plug and book are probably actually a bit extreme of an example. IT all depends on the weight of the person in relation to their feet I guess and wether they are standing on a saddle or not

Huh?

 

[its_noodles]

i used to stand on horses back (with no saddle) all the time when i was little...
its vaulting...

 

[its_noodles]

i used to stand on horses back (with no saddle) all the time when i was little...
its vaulting...

and standing on one side...and hanging upside down...
i see if i can find some old pics...

 

[Honey08]

I just think it looks a bit naff! A bit like the person is showing off more than worrying about the horse!

Koko, I wouldn't not view your horse because of that video, but I actually found it a bit long and faffy. You could tell the horse was a nice type without all the round the worlds etc. I actually got bored of the video half way through, I would rather have seen a bit more of him working. It would have probably attracted me if it were for a child's pony. Just my opinion, not meant to be an insult.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I agree with mandwhy, an advert like that or with multiple kids on the back would just make me think amateur. I see that kids might do it to show they can, demonstrate a bond or their balance/daring but I don't see the point. I'd want to see that a horse will hack down a busy road, will jump, can do some elementary dressage moves.