Show Jumping - Behind closed doors?

Jen_Cots said:
Sounds like you are just on here to cause trouble?

Weighted boots are not cruel and are used to improve hind leg flick, as are shaped boots which squeeze the tendons.

I think as with EVERY discipline there are people that use dubious methods, however the ones getting the results have horses that want to jump.

I have two full brothers, one cares about show jumping and really tries to leave them up, the other doesn't. There is no method to fix the one that doesn't enjoy it!
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Your first line is a bit of a jaw-dropper. The OP is merely stating what she has heard and basically asking if there is any truth in it. How on earth can that be construed as "causing trouble"??? I used to be on a showjumping yard and saw alot of things including a horse tied down with drawreins for an entire afternoon "to teach it a lesson". Another one had open bleeding wounds on its sides due to abuse of spurs. These may or may not be things common to many competition owners/riders but in my experience, where money is involved, people will do just about anything including immoral things.
 
Munchkin said:
Lucyann, this forum (particularly NL) is full of pink and fluffy people who don't like anything said against equestrian sport and prefer to turn a blind eye to any cruelty that occurs (thus allowing it to continue). I posted a similar thread recently re cruelty in showing and most of the showing fraternity immediately stepped up to deny/defend it. Just warning you to expect a backlash
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Personally I haven't seen much of what you described go on, but I think I've been very lucky as I was introduced to SJ through a very well known family who have a genuine regard for their horse's welfare. However, I am fully aware this is not always the case, particularly where horses are produced to be sold on.

The worst I have seen first hand is weighted boots (used in warm up) and steel reinforced nosebands on strong jumping ponies. Never seen spiked boots or rapping but I have no doubt it still occurs on some yards.

You can often tell a lot by the reaction of a horse in the ring when it stops/hits a fence. Some don't react at all, others panic.

I too would be interested to hear about what still goes on... I think it's important these things are not brushed under the carpet.
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Not exactly, My mare panics when she stops but I have never beaten her or used controversial methods with her. She just panics. I don't even carry a whip and have been asked to leave clinics for refusing to smack her for stopping (she has back issues so when well she will jump meter 10 + for fun, when sore she will stop, how else does a genuine pony tell me when it's sore?!) and my lad bucks if he knocks the fence but again came to me off the track, history known and has never been hit for knocking them down, nor rapped nor worn boots of any sort till he came to me, he just hates the poles touching his legs and gets angry!
 
Sugaroo I don't understand how you still think these people are nice when the deliberately starve an animal among other things? Pathetic individuals and I very much doubt every pro yard is like that.

Abuse like that is counter intuitive anyway so god knows why people think it is a good training technique (other than an outlet for their own frustration when they don't get results) it just produces resentful animals who fear human contact and don't want to work unless forced. Sad :-(
 
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