Robert Whittaker why dont you pat your horses?!

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mole

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then they might understand that what they did was good and want to do it again for you rather than not - i am the only person to have noticed this in last nites puissance?? (SP)

everyone else gave their horses a pat even if they didnt do it well but Robert didnt
 
Yeah I was there and he was the only rider I wasn't impressed by, especially with Cicero? When they showed the slow mo of his refusal, he took a massive pull on the reins on the run up and the horse looked like he didn't know what to do? I know I'm not really qualified to comment - never having jumped a puissance but I didn't see how that would ever produce a jump over that height :/
 
I don't pat my horse. I always think about the way I hate my hubby patting my arse or my boys patting my head. It's silly I know but I stroke her instead because I prefer a stroke lol.
 
Why do people pat horses? Is it enjoyable for the horse? Unless conditioned from a young age to believe so, do they themselves see as a form of praise?

I've not seen the round in question, so can't comment any further
 
We watched it on tv last night, big group from our livery yard and all of us noticed how he didn't crack a smile or pat the horses. Saying that though we were glad he pulled out since one of my friends works for Michael Lonsdale :) ;)
 
I just don't think he's the type, he always seems a sullen sod at the best of times.

Not doubting his riding skills though, especially after jumping 7ft on Waterstone bareback.
 
Considering he had the horse 5 days I was very impressed, he's a fabulous rider and I'm sure the horses were treated well afterwards. As long as they get fed, watered and treated well I'm sure the horses don't mind missing the odd pat.
 
I've never been a fan of showjumping, especially Robert Whittaker. When I was about 10, I was standing by the gate to the collecting ring at the Bath and West and he came back in after his round, threw the reins at his groom without even a glance to his horse, then proceeded to tell me and my friend to get out of his way as he charged through the gate. My lasting thoughts on the man was that he was an arrogant arse...
Nothing much has changed there then!
 
I can't stand people who pat their horses loudly. Sounds like a slapping. Maybe he gave him a little scratch or stroked his neck later outside the ring.
 
I don't pat/slap/smack my horse either. I don't see how horses see being slapped on the neck as a reward. I always give him a stroke though.

In the same way I object when people pat my dogs or cats, they'd much rather they were stroked
 
Feathered said:
I just don't think he's the type, he always seems a sullen sod at the best of times.

Not doubting his riding skills though, especially after jumping 7ft on Waterstone bareback.
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exactly this
he always has a face like he's chewed a wasp.

cant deny his ability but then coming from the showjumping pedigree he does and having been plonked on a horse before he could walk and given the best horses, facilities and training money can buy he'd be pretty useless if he couldnt do something with all that.

wouldnt hurt him to crack a smile once in a while though i suppose. His cousin Ellen Whittaker isnt exactly known for her humility either.
 
ester said:
who said horses' like patting anyway :confused: or recognise it as a sign they have 'done well'
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i guess this is an interesting question.

people have used a pat as a signal to the horse we are pleased with them since time immemorial. it just seems to come naturally.. a small pat, a stroke on the neck..is it just instinct?
 
I read an article in one of the horsey magazines written by a physio that said horse do like being patted on their necks....apparently it sends a pleasant sensation down their neck. I'm pretty sure they meant a nice gentle pat rather than a massive slap or anything silly :D

I do pat my horse when she's done something well and its not that difficult to read from her body language that she likes it. I usually give her a gentle pat on both sides of her neck and then a little rub on her shoulder. I can feel her immediately relax because she knows she's doing well.

I like to see the pros patting their horses, or at least showing some appreciation for their efforts.
 
My big mare loves a huge slapping loud pat on her neck - she relaxes and goes cheerful. I have another horse, however, who puts his ears back if you try to do this. A tiny scratch or just verbal praise makes him happy!
 
Maybe the horse won't jump next time then because it wasn't patted!!!
There not like us they don't understand patting like we do!!! In fact in the past I've ridden horses that would have hated and reacted quite badly to been patted !!
 
My horses love scratches, especially butt scratches. And on their neck. They do enjoy praise and strokes. For those of you who think they don't I suppose you're in the "slap on shoulder is abuse" camp.

When I'm starting horses gentle patting is a part of the process. Not slapping. All over the place. They need to be somewhat desensitised. Unless of course you're a perfect rider that never ever has a bad moment on a horse. Of course I aim for anyone to be able to ride the horses I start. Not just a select few. People get so fussy in semantics.

At any rate I like riders who show appreciation for their horses. However simplistic and outdated that may sound.

Terri
 
Whilst patting a horse hard must be quite unpleasant, I do think they enjoy a gente pat and a stroke, and know what it means. When I am training horses to come onto the bridle, especially ex racers that can get tense and try to rush when you take up a contact, I find that dropping the inside rein and giving them a gentle pat really relaxes them and they soon come into a lovely outline. You can use this to reward a correct way of going and they understand they are doing it correctly, no doubt about it. Never fails to work on a horse that is coming against your hand.
 
We were thinking the same thing last night... And I think the point is for professional riders (especially on TV) them giving the horse a pat shows
1) appreciation for the horse (and realising that it is an animal not a machine( and
2) gives a good impression to kids.

They are my thoughts anyway.... He is getting grumpier in his old age, Rob used to be much happier!
 
Seems quite obvious to me that horses respond well to gentle pat and a kind word, the majority will of been conditioned to this form of praise from a young age.
To say a horse does not understand what a pat/stroke means is like saying they don't know what a smack means which is one step from saying they can't tell the difference between pleasure and pain which is basically saying they are mindless machines..... Imo :D

My horse often responds well to a little scratch on the withers, apparently they have a cluster of nerves here which is this is a nice sensation for them, he gets lots of pats and strokes, but then again I am a pony patter :P

Don't really like watching the puissance myself, the horses are incredibly brave and deserve more than a pat after the feats they produce.
 
i just think that he should show some appreciation to his horse and a scratch or a pat or something other than being ridden head to chest out of the arena would be nice to see.

it is instinctual to let your horse know that they have worked well or made an effort for you by either telling them (robert whitaker never moved his mouth from the frown it is always set in) and never moved his hands off the reins apart from to adjust his hat.

sorry but if an animal or human has done something well then they should get a positive reaction for it.


ps
nice to see the riders with their chin straps done up properly this year :)
 
sport horse said:
He is probably hoping that as a member of GB most famous show jumping family people could learn to spell their name - WHITAKER
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and as a member of GB most famous show jumping family he should realise that lots of people will be watching him and the way he behaves towards his horses and not be so sullen and show the damn horse some respect!!
 
Buds_mum said:
Seems quite obvious to me that horses respond well to gentle pat and a kind word, the majority will of been conditioned to this form of praise from a young age.
To say a horse does not understand what a pat/stroke means is like saying they don't know what a smack means which is one step from saying they can't tell the difference between pleasure and pain which is basically saying they are mindless machines..... Imo :D
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not wholly convinced ;)

in order for it to be 'conditioned' it needs to be associated with some sort of reward.. (hence why food is often used in true conditioning) whereas a pat/stroke is its own reward.. and therefore not really conditioned.

Now a wither scratch much be enjoyable because they do it too eachother ;) :).

Though tbh.. am not sure I've ever seen my lad bothered either way.. he tends to more think that a pat/good boy whatever means the current exercise is finished so he can stop trying rather than an indication of his greatness :D
 
May not be something horses recognise as a 'well done' , infact i highly doubt my horse notices the difference between me smacking him on the neck for being a pain on the ground, and patting him when he comes out the ring! However I think it is a reflection on the rider's personality, how they treat their horses and the kind of emotion they feel towards their horses- which in turn, suggests how they may treat them on a day to day basis. I understand that some people express their feelings differently, but just my opinion!
 
ester said:
not wholly convinced ;)

in order for it to be 'conditioned' it needs to be associated with some sort of reward.. (hence why food is often used in true conditioning) whereas a pat/stroke is its own reward.. and therefore not really conditioned.

Now a wither scratch much be enjoyable because they do it too eachother ;) :).

Though tbh.. am not sure I've ever seen my lad bothered either way.. he tends to more think that a pat/good boy whatever means the current exercise is finished so he can stop trying rather than an indication of his greatness :D
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With many horses - esp including competition horses, the pat or slap is a reinforcer, because it marks the end of something unpleasant. So it's a signal that the round is over, or that the rider will release the rein pressure and allow a stretch. So horses do probably like the information, even if they don't enjoy the sensation. And it probably does have a slight effect on making the behaviour that immediately preceded it be more likely to happen again.

Scratches are different, and many horses do actually enjoy a scratch in itself (it would technically be called a primary reinforcer, where the pat/slap would only be a reinforcer because of being paired with release of pressure, so a secondary reinforcer).
 
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