conniegirl
Well-Known Member
There is no whisker/ear trimming ban in showing show or show hunter ponies. One major show (GYS) has banned it and lost thier show pony HOYS qualifiers as a consequence.
Showing & whiskers etc
- Thread starter Karenchol
- Start date
Elf On A Shelf
...
They lost a load of qualifiers for adding in rules about rider suitability vs pony. And I think they added in that only a person of the correct age for the class entered could work in the pony to stop small adults riding in the kids ponies.
conniegirl
Well-Known Member
That too, they also publicly weighed a child who was nowhere near too big for her pony but she wasn’t allowed to do her class until she was weighed. I’m fairly sure there is a safeguarding issue in doing that and doing it publicly more over.
Karenchol
Member
Yes I have been following that and it is the correct thing to do I believe, they have probably lost all those people because they were the ones in question.
Over weight and over height riders are damaging to the horse or pony they are riding. I personally can’t really see how anyone can object to stopping trimming a horses whiskers and plastering their faces with oil and make up. The world has gone mad.
Karenchol
Member
Crazy.
Ratface
Well-Known Member
As a retired Children and Families social worker, I consider that weighing a child in public is disgraceful and abusive. I hope her parents/guardians complained to the show organisers and sponsors. A letter to H&H wouldn't go amiss either.
Karenchol
Member
I am not familiar with that incident and I agree with you. If should be pretty obvious I would have thought if a child was too big or heavy for a pony. Doing that to anyone, let alone a child could be very damaging.
Miss_Millie
Well-Known Member
Good article on Your Horse on the welfare implications of trimming whiskers.
https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/horse-c...SBHghRfS-0Q1mxPpY_7JmiuyR9KWZXrTRftN848AEKKo8
"A number of international equestrian organisations have banned the trimming of a horse’s whiskers. Since 1st July 2021, horses are prohibited from competing in any FEI competitions internationally if their “sensory hairs have been clipped and/or shaven or in any other way removed”.
This ban includes both the sensory whiskers on the horse’s muzzle and those around the eyes. The ruling exempts trimming for veterinary reasons.
This FEI ban is the latest in a long list of international restrictions on this matter. The trimming of a horse’s whiskers has been banned for years in Germany and Switzerland under animal welfare legislation.
In 2019, the French Equestrian Federation banned the trimming of whiskers for horses and ponies competing at their endorsed events. And last year, Equestrian Sports New Zealand and the New Zealand Pony Club Association banned the trimming of whiskers and inner ear hair of horses and ponies taking part in any of their events and activities."
The UK seems to be very behind with the times...
https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/horse-c...SBHghRfS-0Q1mxPpY_7JmiuyR9KWZXrTRftN848AEKKo8
"A number of international equestrian organisations have banned the trimming of a horse’s whiskers. Since 1st July 2021, horses are prohibited from competing in any FEI competitions internationally if their “sensory hairs have been clipped and/or shaven or in any other way removed”.
This ban includes both the sensory whiskers on the horse’s muzzle and those around the eyes. The ruling exempts trimming for veterinary reasons.
This FEI ban is the latest in a long list of international restrictions on this matter. The trimming of a horse’s whiskers has been banned for years in Germany and Switzerland under animal welfare legislation.
In 2019, the French Equestrian Federation banned the trimming of whiskers for horses and ponies competing at their endorsed events. And last year, Equestrian Sports New Zealand and the New Zealand Pony Club Association banned the trimming of whiskers and inner ear hair of horses and ponies taking part in any of their events and activities."
The UK seems to be very behind with the times...
Snowfilly
Well-Known Member
It’s depressing how the U.K. refuses to change on this at all. A small change, no impact on performance whatever, only a slight alteration to physical appearance, known improvement to the horse’s wellbeing and still the societies push back against it.
It’s not even a new idea; my Mum had an instructor in the 60s who railed against clipping whiskers!
Regandal
Well-Known Member
Is it only inner ear hair you’re not allowed to clip?
Cortez
Tough but Fair
The FEI has outlawed clipping nose, face and ear hair. I've never clipped anything on the face, and have won showing championships*
*Not on mainland UK.
Elf On A Shelf
...
Tbh when I'm judging the last thing I notice is if they have had their whiskers trimmed off or not. Which essentially makes it a pointless exercise - the trimming I mean.
I don't mind ears trimmed flat along with beards. But nothing else.
I don't mind ears trimmed flat along with beards. But nothing else.
Karenchol
Member
Exactly. If it is a welfare issue, why are showing people still doing it? Or anyone else for that matter. We have all now been informed it is detrimental to our animals, it should not be ignored. Slapping oil all over your horse and standing in the full sun is also something that needs to be addressed.
shortstuff99
Well-Known Member
I'm currently at the riding club championships and a number of competitors have been spoken to officially for having shaved off the whiskers.
Karenchol
Member
That is good to know. If more people pointed out, less people would continue to do it.
Flowerofthefen
Well-Known Member
I remember trimming my horse before every outing, usually once a week. Whiskers, chin, ears, heels, bridle path. I stopped about 10 years ago, maybe more as my then ridden horse was a head shaker and having his whiskers on helped. I now trim outside of ears occasionally, heels and beard. I don't even notice whiskers now!! Hopefully showing will follow suit very soon. There are so many things in the horse world that need looking at sadly.
Karenchol
Member
I used to trim whiskers too a long time ago. When it was pointed out that it was wrong and possibly harmful to them I stopped doing it. Like you, I too trim a little hair outside the ears occasionally and heels, but as you said, I don’t notice the whiskers anymore either.