Rant: Horses being treated like machines

[MagicMelon]

I watched someone at a recent BSJA continually yank and smack their horse because it kept lifting a leg whilst they tried to put on a boot. All it achieved was winding the horse up more. I also frequently see people in the warm up yanking their horse to a stand still because I guess the horse didn't listen to a transition aid immediately, and smacking it after a fence for tapping a pole. Again, watched someone the other day have a refusal half way round the course - after they'd finished their round she took the horse back to the front of the fence they'd refused at and proceeded to boot it in the ribs... what on earth is a horse meant to learn from that?!

Now, perhaps I let my horse walk all over me (which I doubt as my current horse has fantastic manners!) but I dont expect my horses to be machines. At the end of the day they are animals, they must be allowed to act like one sometimes! Bad behaviour isnt acceptable but most of the time what I see is not bad at all, its usually a misunderstanding or simply being a horse. Whilst I agree that boundaries need to be in place, do they have to be so strict?

 

[ThePony]

I often get annoyed at just the same thing! What particularly gets me is that riders like this at no point ever seem to consider that the fault might lie at least equally with them, then simply repeat the transition or whatever went wrong and try to improve the aids they are giving. Really gets my goat!!

 

[NeilM]

It's easy to blame the horse, as it's unlikely to say 'actually, that was your fault as you're such a c**p rider'.

I saw a lot of smacking and flailing by a precocious teenager yesterday. Once she stopped throwing a paddy and let the horse do it's job, it flew every course she pointed it at.

I have to keep my hands in my pockets when I see this sort of thing, as I am so tempted to see how the rider likes receiving the same treatment.

 

[Kenzo]

I was watching some SJ yesterday, the amount of people that loose their temper when things don't go their way and most of them young females rather than the boys, example, horse refuses jump, ends up getting eliminated etc so they proceed to sock the poor horse or pony in the mouth several times, yanking and sawing at the mouth and then proceed to set about the poor animal with a whip a few times on the way out....why? do they honestly think the horse understands that sort of punishment, like you say their animals, not machines, if they want a horse that does the same thing every time you get on it's back, they should get a rocking oss!

If that was my daughter (if I had one ), I'd of wragged her off the pony and it would been for sale in the paper the next day.

 

[Sarah Sum1]

I couldn't agree more! I wish more people had your attitude, and by the looks of your siggie, it shows that respecting your horse gets you far!

Too many people put human emotions on horses, expect them to understand everything we humans want them to do, if they get confused or misunderstand they get punished. To me that is really sad. But there are many people to whom winning is all that matters

 

[HappyHorses:)]

Geeze if I had £1 for everytime I'd seen this sort of thing at shows!

I actually said to someone once that if competing stressed them out so much then why do it? Their horse had broken his canter once in an otherwise perfect dressage test so they came out booting their horse in the ribs (with spurs on I might add), started crying. When I asked them the above they shouted at me that they did everything for their horse and he couldn't even be bothered to do as she asked. (maybe use more leg??) erm ok . . . Chill sister!

Also once saw a brat of a kid smacking their pony repeatedly when it knocked a pole down. On this occasion, before I could say anything, the show organizer went over and told the kid to get off the pony and get off the showground as the riding club would not have that sort of behaviour at their show. Myself and the other spectators started clapping as a redface mum and child left the ring in discrace.

 

[horsecrazy25]

Totally agree with you half the time its the rider not the horse. I remember once at a show and my friend came along to support me. This girl entered the ring on her pony and she had a racing whip and when cantering up to a jump she would be about 5 strides away and kept smacking this poor pony so hard and it kept refusing so she smacked it even more!!! Then she was eliminated so left the ring jumped of her pony turned around and kicked it so hard in the ribs the pony's whole body just froze with pain. My friend turned around and had one hell of a go at this girl and how digusitng it was to treat the pony like that. My friend believes in "calmer" and she took her next pony into the ring who stopped in the middle of the ring did a massive buck and the girl fell off it might sound mean that we were happy that she fell off but if she treats all her pony's like that then she shouldn't have one or she should learn how to treat her pony with respect!!!! xx
My mums famous words are "A bad work man always blames there tools"!!!!!

 

[NeilM]

If that was my daughter (if I had one ), I'd of wragged her off the pony and it would been for sale in the paper the next day.

Ahhh, not a competitive mum then! They are the ones who usually encourage that sort of behaviour.

To me, it only seems to reinforce just how little these people actually know about horses.

 

[zefragile]

Hmm yes. I detest seeing horses being treated merely as rosette producers.

 

[NeedNewHorse]

My friend believes in "calmer" !

...lol do you mean Karma??

Though yes, i to agree with everyone. This girl at an old yard had a horse which wasn't often easy to catch (nothing dreadul, just trotted away a bit) anyway, she didn't have a full lead rope, more of a short tuff at the end of the head collar, anyway horse pulls back whilst she was leading him and he backs off, she walks up to it and wallops it... I was like why?.. Seriously.. why? No wonder he didn't want to be caught!!

I see people smacking at their horses for not standing like a statue, or picking something up with their teeth (not them unfortunately!!lol) Or moving its head whilst plaiting, I mean hell I cannot sit perfectly still for 10 seconds so I doubt my horse wants to either!

Or sitting on them at shows on baking hot days watching others in the class... There not chairs for christ sake!!

x

 

[Kaylum]

Yep its all too common. The BSJA comps are particularly bad and most of the time the kids are trying to show off. The mother's are the worst though shouting and screaming at the kids. One girl fell off and could not move and the mother was shouting about how she had really messed up. Poor girl poor pony.

 

[horsecrazy25]

...lol do you mean Karma??

Yep, had a mind blank lol! Thanks x

 

[Kenzo]

Ahhh, not a competitive mum then! They are the ones who usually encourage that sort of behaviour.

To me, it only seems to reinforce just how little these people actually know about horses.

What I meant is, unless my daughter treated a horse with repect, they wouldn't have the pleasure of riding one.

That was point (in case it come across the wrong way).

 

[canteron]

.... I have witnessed some pretty horrible behaviour by BSJA showjumpers as well, is this why they stuggle to get sponsorship to the sport?

At a top event I saw a top showjumper get a pace wrong in the jump off and the horse knocked a pole down, so he yanked the briddle, whacked the horse, yanked the bridle again and whacked the horse again!! And it was clearly his fault!!

The people in the posh part where I was sitting all gasped - and lost interest in the competition.

(PS The H&H reporter was apparently the only person not to notice it/think its OK/could be bothered to comment on it!! Good old H&H).

 

[Holly Hocks]

I was at a riding club a few years ago, just as a spectator. I saw the local pony club instructor trying to get around a course of jumps. The horse kept refusing, and she was battering it with her stick and pulling it round. Someone went in the ring to "help" her and just kept telling her to "hit it harder".....I was disgusted that it happened in the first place, but even more disgusted that the judges didn't tell her to leave the class. Riding clubs should have some rules in place regarding this and if they do, they are clearly not being enforced. I have never been a member of a riding club since. If I had had a video camera, I would have videoed it, put it on youtube and sent a copy to the RSPCA!

 

[dalesslave]

if they want a machine they should get a bicycle!
"its always the rider never the horse" doesnt seem to be a popular mantra anymore particularly with the neauveax been to a riding school for six weeks and now owns a showjumper, type people that seem to be common round here at the minute you dont seem to get the really old school but firm riding instructors anymore that would tell you in no uncertain terms if you had b******d an approach to fence up or something was your fault. they usually recommend a big bit or a carrot stick

 

[Pipkin]

Dont get me started!!!!
there is a couple up my yard who ahve two ponies, 1 for mum 1 for child, 0 for dad he`s a div, well last yr they bought a just back 3yo for the 8ish yr old child (bright idea) pony was about 14.2 coloured, very very green, well ponio booted child, and was a bit skittish, it was surrounded by approx 12 family members including screaming baby, screaming child and horrible daddy jeering at it, daddy got on ponio, ponio bronced daddy off (so so funny ) daddy got up and punched and butted the pony.... i for one was gutted the horse didnt boot him harder when he was lying on the floor! they didnt appreciate my comments/advice .... they`ve been caught hitting my horses because "they`re in the way" if a horse dont do somethign they think its ok to beat them! needless to say they`re off the yard.
If Ayla doesnt want to do something, refuses a jump for example i go back to the start and put the poles on the floor, walk , trot over, then raise them again and keep doing this until she the confidence to not refuse again...

 

[Pearlsasinger]

if they want a machine they should get a bicycle!
"its always the rider never the horse" doesnt seem to be a popular mantra anymore particularly with the neauveax been to a riding school for six weeks and now owns a showjumper, type people that seem to be common round here at the minute you dont seem to get the really old school but firm riding instructors anymore that would tell you in no uncertain terms if you had b******d an approach to fence up or something was your fault. they usually recommend a big bit or a carrot stick

I couldn't agree more.
A local young rider has been one of those who smacked and shouted her pony round every jumping course and has been commented on by many. I watched her recently, she was much quieter, the stick was only used once and lo and behold! the pony jumped nicely. I found out later that she has been having lessons from a respected 'old-school' horsewoman - what a difference! I do think that the organisers of shows should make more fuss about bad manners in the ring/collecting ring/warm-up area, perhaps then behaviour would improve, at least in public.

 

[GLEEK]

I was at a show yesterday and my 3 year old daughter and i were watching the lead rein ponies i thought she would like to watch. So we were sat there and watching a pony with a little girl trotting around and the mother leading her. The mother stopped and because the pony never halted when she did the pony was hit and yanked in the mouth around 10-15 times. The little girl just sat there like it was a very common occurance for her and the pony. The poor pony looked scared. So this is the way some parents like to make a good imprint on there children of how to care for such animals!!

 

[Kaylum]

I was at a show yesterday and my 3 year old daughter and i were watching the lead rein ponies i thought she would like to watch. So we were sat there and watching a pony with a little girl trotting around and the mother leading her. The mother stopped and because the pony never halted when she did the pony was hit and yanked in the mouth around 10-15 times. The little girl just sat there like it was a very common occurance for her and the pony. The poor pony looked scared. So this is the way some parents like to make a good imprint on there children of how to care for such animals!!

Yes exactly, so the brats treat them the same. Terrible behaviour. I dont think these kids understand about ponies mouths or sides or backs, mind you a lot of adults dont either do they.

 

[Cash]

I think one of the main problems to is that non-horsy parents (particularly mums it seems.. ) get over competitive and overbearing, and try to instruct their children and actually make it worse- yesterday at unaff SJ i witnessed a pony of about 13hh with a small girl (who had a very good seat!!) warming up just fine, until the mum came over and started shouting, 'shorten up those reins! keep shortening them!' until they were very, very short, and then it was 'now kick on to the jump! as fast as possible! faster! kick kick kick!' etc- resulted in upset child shrieking at mum.

 

[cbmcts]

REPORT THEM! to the show secretary at least.

If enough people do that, the show organisers will have to do something, preferably chucking them off the showground

 

[niagaraduval]

Also once saw a brat of a kid smacking their pony repeatedly when it knocked a pole down. On this occasion, before I could say anything, the show organizer went over and told the kid to get off the pony and get off the showground as the riding club would not have that sort of behaviour at their show. Myself and the other spectators started clapping as a redface mum and child left the ring in discrace.

That must have been hilarious! and rightly deserved might I add!

 

[Cluny]

I must admit I don't go to shows too often these days, because I end up getting so angry at the level of horsemanship there!

Last year I went to a very low level local show and was watching the 2'9" SJ class, there were quite a few nice young riders there, but one girl on a cremello who definitely had a competitive Mum caught my eye in the warm up arena. She had her horse completely kitted out in the John Whitaker wardrobe (saddle, ear veil, bridle, numnah, hat, jacket etc). Trouble was it was a case of all the gear, no idea. The horse was bitted in a 3 ring dutch gag with reins on the lowest ring and the kid hauled on this poor horses mouth for all she was worth and kept booting it in the sides. If that wasn't bad enough, she had the most unstable lower leg I've seen for a while and was wearing spurs!!!!!

She had no idea of how to behave in the warm up ring and kept charging at the jump and getting in the way of others and nearly caused a couple of accidents.

She then went into the ring and booted her poor horse round the course, the horse was a saint to jump anything I have to say, especially as she was hanging onto his mouth so he had nowhere to go. She ended up getting eliminated due to run outs, however the commentator clearly had had enough and said, "Oh dear bad luck for Miss X, however I feel dear that you would have much better luck next time if you removed your spurs, went and had some lessons on how to ride properly." I swear I heard some clapping.

 

[Allover]

My personal favourite comment is when people say "i pay the bills so i expect the horse to do as its told" i mean WTF, get into the real world!

 

[tinkandlily]

I see far to much of this at shows.
I was at a show a few weeks ago, when it was really hot, and i watched a girl warming up her horse. She put the pony straight into canter and kept going over the practise jump, she went straight into the ring, and by this time the pony was very hot and had enough so it kept refusing and she got eliminated, so to 'teach it a lesson' she took it back into the warmup ring, and ran it around, smaking it with the whip and over the jump, she kept at it for at least 10 mins, untill the pony 'learnt its lesson'. The poor pony looked ready to collapse and had marks on its backside for the whip.
As you say horses are NOT machines, i think that if you can't accept that a horse will have nappy days, and that it's part and parcle of riding, then you shoulden't be riding at all.

 

[baymareb]

This is what turned me off to showing, to be honest. I showed quite a bit when I was a teenager but I just couldn't take the poor behavior, poor sportsmanship and just plain nastiness of so many of the people around me. I was there to have fun and to assess my riding - it seemed like so many people were there for other reasons.

If a horse isn't picking up a transition, perhaps the rider isn't being clear with the aids. Perhaps the horse needs additional schooling. Perhaps it's just having an off day. Whatever the reason, beating on it is just going to confuse it and cause it to shut down.

I'm no saint. I get annoyed and impatient with my horse on occasion. But I know giving in to those feelings is not going to solve the problem. Recognizing that is an important part of being a horseperson.

 

[silu]

Has anybody noticed just how many fallers at The Young Riders? Far too many...don't see horses often fall of their own accord! Well done the GB team, perhaps there just aren't enough other Countries who are of a standard to make a proper competition. Glad Iwasn't there watching can't have been enjoyable.

 

[Tormenta]

As a child my father bought me my first pony. I adored her but she was jumping sour (She apparently was once an expensive to buy Open pony). The very first beginners I entered her in I was eliminated at the first jump. Instead of heading out of the ring and blaming her, I actually took a step back in my head and thought 'What can I do to make this better and help us both?' Within 6 months we had that little pony enjoying her jumps again (in fact she was almost breaking my arms to get over them) and I was so proud the day I got my first rosette with her in 5th place. All it took was time and patience and some understanding of her and what had happened to her (reading some of the stories on here it isn't surprising there aren't more ruined).

What on earth is wrong with some people?? I'm being totally honest here when I say that reading stories relayed on here makes my blood run cold, I don't think at my age I could stand and watch behaviour like that without stepping in.

 

[RoyalPolo]

This is one of my biggest gripes at the moment people who have no idea and treat there ponies like machines.

The pony i had on part loan a while back was recently sold to a 12yo brat whose parents are not horsey and she runs the poor mare round jumping going out on 5 hour hacks you name it she does it which i suppose would be ok if the poor thing was fit but all i did when i rode her 2 months ago was hack out steadily to say the least shes now out doing all sorts with her and i personally cannot see that the poor mare was fit enough but they dont seem to understand anything about horses like a day off and not running them round on hard ground incase they go lame etc.... which no doubt will as a few kids at the yard have run ponies into the ground and then had to have them pts who are all whip happy brats.

Also another girl whose around 16 who just cannot ride to save her life and falls off all the time and puts the videos on youtube are they stupid!! I would be so embarrased of my riding if i had fallen at every show or almost every time i rode but they dont have lessons and parents who think they know it all with all the gear and no idea!

and thirdly i recently went to a show with a friend and witnessed some "Fattys" with all the gear and no idea being completely unfair to there poor pony.... Firstly they arrive in there nice spangly horsebox they then bring out there pony who then trys to reload himself severals times because they didn't use there brain to tie him up short enough then brat walks off with pony in big circle several times trying to re-tie him to the box but he gets so far and stops she then hits pony in face and almosts sits down on the floor trying to drag him along que me laughing as she almost landed on her butt for all the tugging she was trying to do and the pony was going nowhere then they get all its tack on after eventually getting it back to the box then to no surprise shes riding in a gag she then goes to warm up and all she does is kick push whip! The poor pony could of done without the gag and the ten ton tessy on his back and poor thing probably would of been moving forward the kid was just awful to the poor thing.