We have come a long way…

[Tarragon]

I hesitated before posting this, in case I caused offence, but here is a section taken from a book about training your horse that my mother bought in 1975. This section came under the chapter labelled “Equipment and Facilities for Phase 1 (three-year-old)”. I think it is good to know how far we have come! To think people actually thought it was acceptable to put these words in print, let alone think them….

 

[palo1]

I hesitated before posting this, in case I caused offence, but here is a section taken from a book about training your horse that my mother bought in 1975. This section came under the chapter labelled “Equipment and Facilities for Phase 1 (three-year-old)”. I think it is good to know how far we have come! To think people actually thought it was acceptable to put these words in print, let alone think them….

View attachment 84340

Brilliant!! We have, thankfully, come a long way

 

[ycbm]

?

 

[Tarragon]

this is their views on daily routine, no wonder the assistant is slim!

 

[PapaverFollis]

Is that the same book that suggests a ratio of one groom per horse but if frugality is required then one groom per two horses is adequate?

?

 

[Prancerpoos]

You could probably get away with one groom per 2 horses if the groom can keep their blabbering mouth shut and get on with it. Probably best all round if you just employ a man, then it will be fine. Obviously.

 

[Equi]

At least the horse gets some recreation even if the groom doesn’t ?

 

[Tarragon]

Is that the same book that suggests a ratio of one groom per horse but if frugality is required then one groom per two horses is adequate?

?

i haven’t seen that but it wouldn’t surprise me!
a lot of the book does make sense, but some sentiments are shocking!

 

[Red-1]

I bought a BHS instructor's book when I first qualified. It had some suggested exercises in it. One of the exercises was called, "Sit on my hand."

Genuinely, the instructor was to park the client up, stand alongside, ask the client to stand, insert your hand onto the saddle and then as the client to sit on your hand.

I forget exactly what benefit this was supposed to be to the client!

 

[Tarragon]

Oh my goodness! How bizarre. I was asked to sit on my own hands, to feel the seat bones…

 

[Goldenstar]

The daily routine above was pretty well as we worked when I started we did one groom to three horses and we where very very very busy .

 

[planete]

The daily routine above was pretty well as we worked when I started we did one groom to three horses and we where very very very busy .

This!

 

[GreyMane]

So that's why they called them "stablehands" (Harry Enfield). Women! Know Your Limits!
ETA read any Henry Blake ? I am fairly sure there were some..."vintage" observations in there.

 

[paddy555]

I bought a BHS instructor's book when I first qualified. It had some suggested exercises in it. One of the exercises was called, "Sit on my hand."

Genuinely, the instructor was to park the client up, stand alongside, ask the client to stand, insert your hand onto the saddle and then as the client to sit on your hand.

I forget exactly what benefit this was supposed to be to the client!

is that comment based on now or on someone's reading of the book in around the 1970's? Same with Tarragon's book.
I am sure I have read T's book many years ago and something similar to the above.

Did we all jump to the same conclusions then as now? I didn't. Sexual abuse wouldn't have occurred to me if I had read that in the mid 70's. I would have smiled at the comment about the chattering girl and as for the round pudding then probably agreed as it seemed logical. To me it would just have been putting the point across in an amusing way. As a female I didn't take offence or find it derogatory. I was too busy getting on with life to even find time to consider if it was a problem.


ETA read any Henry Blake ? I am fairly sure there were some..."vintage" observations in there.

I still have HB's Horse wisdom and often dip into it. What is the problem with it? There is some useful info. in it.
I read these sort of books to get info. from someone who had a lot more experience with horses than I have (had at the time) not to consider how the author views women or any other group in society.

 

[Red-1]

is that comment based on now or on someone's reading of the book in around 1970? Same with Tarragon's book.
I am sure I have read T's book many years ago and something similar to the above.

Did we all jump to the same conclusions then as now? I didn't. Sexual abuse wouldn't have occurred to me if I had read that in the mid 70's. I would have smiled at the comment about the chattering girl and as for the round pudding then probably agreed as it seemed logical. To me it would just have been putting the point across in an amusing way. As a female I didn't take offence or find it derogatory. I was too busy getting on with life to even find time to consider if it was a problem.


ETA read any Henry Blake ? I am fairly sure there were some..."vintage" observations in there.

I still have HB's Horse wisdom and often dip into it. What is the problem with it? There is some useful info. in it.
I read these sort of books to get info. from someone who had a lot more experience with horses than I have (had at the time) not to consider how the author views women or any other group in society.

It would have been the mid-80's I think.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

It would have been the mid-80's I think.

It was mid 70's. Written over 40 years ago and was meant to be tongue in cheek. Pretty sure I know who wrote it and if so I remember him coming to judge a class at our local RC showing show one year some time 70's or 80's. He had passed the local low level riding school mob bringing horses in from a far off field. A bunch of them riding bareback along the main road and as he put it 'with their brains in neutral'. Knowing them I thought it was a very apt description. He had a brilliant way with words.

 

[PapaverFollis]

The advice is ultimately sound. A person assisting in breaking a young horse should be lightweight, agile and focused on the job at hand rather than too chattery.

 

[palo1]

At the same time, remember Molly Siveright was also instructing riders to remember what a privelege it was to ride and that the horse should always be treated with sympathy, respect and integrity. That is something that was not wholesale accepted in the 70's and 80's equestrian scene.