Show Jumping - Behind closed doors?

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Lucyann89

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Good morning all,

I rarely use this forum for posting but I do read posts quite regularly. Over the past couple weeks I have been hearing more about 'quick' and often cruel ways in which show jumpers, including top ones and the novice owner, train their horses. For example wrapping, weighted boots and a recent dispute about draw reins (after ellen was pictured using them in H&H).

Just out of interest I was curious to see what your personal experiences may be, what else do show jumpers do to 'improve' their horses, and what stories have you heard or experienced first hand with top SJs and their ways? I'm at Hartpury based on the equine academy and I always hear about fellow students who have worked for top SJs and their stories! What really does go on behind closed doors out of the show ground?!
 
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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For example wrapping, weighted boots and a recent dispute about draw reins (after ellen was pictured using them in H&H).

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Wrapping sounds rather cosy to me
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to cause trouble?! I'm not quite sure how you got that but that is not correct at all. I am just curious as to other peoples experiences in this area, as a show jumper myself but very inexperienced in comparison to other members on here.

I did not state my opinion on what is cruel or not, many of my friends use weighted and pinch boots, although I personally do not, due to the fact I don't think I need them rather than I think they are cruel.
 
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.
 
I do a bit of BSJA (mainly BE) and to be honest I don't see much of this but then again I only see pro's etc. at the event itself - I have no idea what they do on their own yards. I don't really hear about it either. I don't agree with any nasty methods. I dont believe weighted boots are nasty however I dont agree with them full stop as I think they are a cheat.
 
I hear alot from 'behind the scenes' as it were, and most of them are just strict but fair and dont do anything to their horses that would make you go 'oh my god thats terrible'.

But there are a few names (literally i mean only 1 or 2) that keep cropping up time and time again, who do disgusting things. and im definatley not soft but some of it is downright sick.
 
Munchkin - thank you!
I shall name a few of the stories I have seen first hand or heard. I don't condone any of these myself and am very old fashioned hard work and practise make perfect.

Weighted boots/pinch boots - a lot of my friends use these and through my degree I have done quite a few research projects looking at past published papers on these. Showing they do work however as GigglePig posted on her link..recent research show that they could be harmful to the horse.

Rapping I have seen whilst visiting a professionals yard whilst I was visiting a friend who works there. I've heard stories of other event/SJ professionals using this method with bamboo canes, steel poles, rubbing chemicals on horses' clipped legs.

Spiked boots and draw pins in horses grackle nosebands for strong horses etc.
 
I have only worked in riding schools and livery yards,so personal eperiance is of people who work damn hard to keep their horses well and worry themselves half to death when something does go wrong.
Private owners do whatever sport they choose for fun though,and I can understand there must be a lot of pressure on pro's (and probably even more trying to become a pro) to get results at any costs
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An ex is a course builder and he told me some horrific things that go on/went on behind the scenes
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I sincerly hope I never come across any of the things he mentioned as much as I hope those that do report wrong doing to the powers that be and as dressage gas with Rollkur(sp?) bring questionable practise to the fore so that it can be debated and banned/endorsed as apropriate.
 
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Rapping I have seen whilst visiting a professionals yard whilst I was visiting a friend who works there. I've heard stories of other event/SJ professionals using this method with bamboo canes, steel poles, rubbing chemicals on horses' clipped legs.

Spiked boots and draw pins in horses grackle nosebands for strong horses etc.

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Excuse this daft but genuine question but what is this said to achive ?
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Especially the chemicals - I'm confuddled!
 
My YO who is a SJer, only uses hard work to get hers jumping well, and talks to other SJers to see what works for them if she is having problems. the most common things she uses are canter poles and v poles. i have never seen or heard of her doing anything untoward to get her horses to jump. she just works bloody hard and varies there workload so they don't get bored.
 
I'd love to know how bamboo canes could be used in a manner which is considered cruel to make a horse jump better - please can someone enlighten me? (serious question)
 
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I'd love to know how bamboo canes could be used in a manner which is considered cruel to make a horse jump better - please can someone enlighten me? (serious question)

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Well I have previously heard it is one way that is used to rap horses. The pole of the fence stays at the same height but the bamboo stick is lifted to rap the horse's legs as it jumps.
 
Sorry but if people are going to rap they will use something a lot stronger than a bamboo cane. Either the jump pole itself or a metal pole. Rapping is fairly common around pony showjumping in my experience...
 
You don't need to be patronising - I am not saying that is the only way people rap horses, just that it is one way I have heard people doing it. Bamboo might not be thick or heavy but its thin enough to sting if its whipped upwards at a horse's legs over a jump.
 
Bamboo is slightly different to ordinary rapping, as instead of lifting the pole up you smack the horses legs hard and fast to hurt.


Not that I have ever done it - but I have been on a SJres yard who has done it, but used piping instead of bamboo canes.
 
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You don't need to be patronising - I am not saying that is the only way people rap horses, just that it is one way I have heard people doing it. Bamboo might not be thick or heavy but its thin enough to sting if its whipped upwards at a horse's legs over a jump.

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TBH Spiral I would imagine something thin and light whipping the leg would hurt more then a bump over alarge area.
Just think how much a branch whipping back hurts if it catchs you,but knocking you leg on a low pole is only a little sure for a short while.

Obviously horses feel things differently,but I would assume horses would feel the sharp pain as worse then the dull pain too.
 
I work for a SJer and he doesn't rap, or use weighted boots, or drawing pins or any of the practices you describe. I know rapping DOES go on, but it's widely accepted that it does not suit all horses and must be done with great care. It's FAR more common for a rider to ride his/her horse deep into the fence to encourage it to be more snappy with its forelegs.
 
The thing that I don't get with rapping, is surely if the horse really associates the jump with pain - it'd be hard to get them near it?

I have had clumsly horses in the past who have constantly, lazilly hit their legs on wooden poles and .... nope... never made them more careful.

I guess my point is I don't know if rapping with a pole can entirely be considered cruel as some horses actually continually do it to themselves. Well my lazy git did.
 
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Last one i heard of, was electric poles - it covers up some of the obvious over rapped double leg sanp's but is equally as effective.

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Nope, sorry, me no comprende how it works
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Not that I advocate in any way.

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My "friend" was adament she was sending her horse to a very well known british SJer who was going to electrocute her horse's legs because it was careless with its legs.
 
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