Video - Abuse in the showing world

silv said:
really? I would say the vast majority are much loved and well ridden and cared for.
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They certainly are.

This thread has been enlightening, surprising and disappointing in equal measures. The level of criticism stands out markedly. There’s a lot of people who seem to think horses should stand in fields all their lives and do nothing that involves work, effort, competitiveness or educatIon.

The ROR series has given thousands of useless racehorses a safe, happy and cared for life, plus we get to see a few superstars in a second career. The hunter classes promote the breeding of quality horses. The pony classes are helping prevent the loss of our native breeds.

The forum has changed dramatically in the last few years, it’s certainly no longer a huge source of equine knowledge anymore.
 
The hardest riding I’ve seen is in a dressage yard and from a dressage instructor. The Olympic event yard I worked in the horses was a place where a lot of thought and care went into everything and super chilled horses. The top show yard I had a horse at, the same. Relaxed people and horses.

Does that mean every dressage yard bad and every event or showing yard good. I’m sure it doesn’t and we need to be open in thought.
 
AdorableAlice said:
They certainly are.

This thread has been enlightening, surprising and disappointing in equal measures. The level of criticism stands out markedly. There’s a lot of people who seem to think horses should stand in fields all their lives and do nothing that involves work, effort, competitiveness or educatIon.

The ROR series has given thousands of useless racehorses a safe, happy and cared for life, plus we get to see a few superstars in a second career. The hunter classes promote the breeding of quality horses. The pony classes are helping prevent the loss of our native breeds.

The forum has changed dramatically in the last few years, it’s certainly no longer a huge source of equine knowledge anymore.
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Apart from literally 2 isolated comments the only criticism I have seen is of practises we hopefully can all agree are not about work, effort or education. Competitiveness yes. There were even more comments praising the adjudicating bodies for their response than criticism of them, which would never be seen on the dressage version of this thread!

I think this is needlessly defensive and strays very close to "the plebs don't know any better" when what is being criticised in the thread is generally extremely blatant abusive practises. If you (general, not specific) train and produce ethically then you don't need to defend yourself here, it's not about you.
 
AdorableAlice said:
The ROR series has given thousands of useless racehorses a safe, happy and cared for life, plus we get to see a few superstars in a second career.
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This has always been my view of RoR showing, it has been instrumental in opening up second careers for exracehorses and making them so popular. Tbh the RoR's I've seen who I've felt most sorry for are the ones who have ended up in unknowledgeable homes, albeit often ones with kind intentions, with people who have no idea how to ride them or look after them and the horses end up in poor condition, with ridden issues and misunderstood.
 
AdorableAlice said:
They certainly are.

This thread has been enlightening, surprising and disappointing in equal measures. The level of criticism stands out markedly. There’s a lot of people who seem to think horses should stand in fields all their lives and do nothing that involves work, effort, competitiveness or educatIon.

The ROR series has given thousands of useless racehorses a safe, happy and cared for life, plus we get to see a few superstars in a second career. The hunter classes promote the breeding of quality horses. The pony classes are helping prevent the loss of our native breeds.

The forum has changed dramatically in the last few years, it’s certainly no longer a huge source of equine knowledge anymore.
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Who had said this 🤯🤯

People are rightly criticising awful treatment and also questioning whether certain practices are harmful to horses welfare. Something we should ALL do always.

It continues to blow my mind how this seemingly constant stream of awful treatment of horses isnt the most shocking awful thing to us horse people, we should absolutely be talking about it and campaigning against it. We can do both that and enjoy riding horses.
 
AdorableAlice said:
They certainly are.

This thread has been enlightening, surprising and disappointing in equal measures. The level of criticism stands out markedly. There’s a lot of people who seem to think horses should stand in fields all their lives and do nothing that involves work, effort, competitiveness or educatIon.

The ROR series has given thousands of useless racehorses a safe, happy and cared for life, plus we get to see a few superstars in a second career. The hunter classes promote the breeding of quality horses. The pony classes are helping prevent the loss of our native breeds.

The forum has changed dramatically in the last few years, it’s certainly no longer a huge source of equine knowledge anymore.
Click to expand...
Actually I would be very happy if more horses just stood in fields, if the alternative was the poor standard of horsemanship frequently on offer, *and* if their fields were made interesting and worthwhile places to be. I think it's appalling that we so frequently factory farm horses in individual boxes and individual electric fenced squares and then say as a result they need to work for stimulation and fitness because their living conditions are so sub-optimal - particularly when working is not actually in their interests because their tack isn't quite right, their rider isn't that skilled and they might have some kind of pathology or poor movement patterns that are going completely under their carers' radar.
 
I have always been in awe of those competing in RoR events. i would never have been a good enough rider myself but I love to see these horses looking amazing and bringing lots of joy.

I saw some of the videos from HoYs on the FB page; the horses and ponies looked absolutely stunning. Although I didn't think some of the riding looked great (my pet hate is people visibly kicking on every stride), some of the children did ride beautifully - and I'm not exactly one to talk given that I'm an eternal novice.

I don't believe any of this stuff is inherently bad. But when there's an element of competition in any equine-related activity, it can bring out the worst in some people. I have no direct experience of RoR but it looks to me as though there is a world of difference between a skilled rider who has worked brilliant with an ex-racehorse and the worst of pony club parents who see nothing wrong with tying in ponies' heads so that they are (allegedly) in with a better chance of winning the lead rein class.

Many of us have seen dreadful behaviour at local shows, as well as questionable things happening at the higher levels. I don't think there's a single equine-related activity that is free of some sort of abuse. I honestly believe that we need to call it out whenever it's seen - and the penalties for those cruel people should be harsh.
 
Coincidentally, I just came across this in a pile of papers. It’s a Horse and Hound from 2009 and the joking description of the retrained racehorse. Brian the ex racehorse shudders recounting his racing and then goes on to say that he is so lucky that he found the lovely Jeanette with whom he has had a whole new life in the show ring. So much more his thing. Civilised conversation and proper attention to grooming. Only a little light exercise in the form of a few elegant circles. I think I kept it as I think it summed up my then horse.
 
One thing I've noticed about the showing scene is that many people love to see the headlines that someone's bargain horse has made it to the top. Not that it's common, but it does happen.
I think there was one the other day - a cob costing £85 won the Search for a Star traditional cob.
I have to admit that I do like these stories myself because it probably doesn't happen a lot in other disciplines.
 
AdorableAlice said:
They certainly are.

This thread has been enlightening, surprising and disappointing in equal measures. The level of criticism stands out markedly. There’s a lot of people who seem to think horses should stand in fields all their lives and do nothing that involves work, effort, competitiveness or educatIon.

The ROR series has given thousands of useless racehorses a safe, happy and cared for life, plus we get to see a few superstars in a second career. The hunter classes promote the breeding of quality horses. The pony classes are helping prevent the loss of our native breeds.

The forum has changed dramatically in the last few years, it’s certainly no longer a huge source of equine knowledge anymore.
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You are so correct on all fronts.
 
www.horseandhound.co.uk

Showing producer under investigation for backing dummy video - Horse & Hound

A showing producer and judge is being investigated in connection with a video that has been widely shared online. Footage of a horse in a turnout pen in full tack with a backing dummy on board and its head strapped to the saddle were circulated this month. Showing societies have released...
www.horseandhound.co.uk www.horseandhound.co.uk
 
There was someone commenting on the H&H Facebook page saying that the woman allegedly involved with this trainer 'cut ties' with him as soon as the story surfaced.
What a ridiculous thing to say when so many people had screenshots of her defending him and referring to them both as the 'dream team'.
Someone else said that they will now try to blame each other.

It looks like there has already been a fair bit of damage to the business - and I'm definitely not sorry.
It will be interesting to see if further action is taken...
 
LEC said:
Just adding this one...

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Why? Just why?
To think that some horses are placed further up or down the line on relatively minor things - and then THIS....

And yet we have stars like the young showjumper who knew something wasn't right with her pony and dismounted.

Seriously, what is up with people?
 
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