What is this?! (video)

miss_bird said:
Dont know what it is but looks bl00dy uncomfortable for the horse, so did not watch much of it
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That's exactly my first thoughts but the horses are obviously very well loved, surely the horse wouldn't do it if it wasn't happy and comfortable?? I've never seen anything like this before so not quite sure what it is they are doing and the reasons for it..
 
Never seen that before but I am going to guess that its some sort of 'stallion ritual', those who can perform the longest have the most strength, so are better stallions? Some sort of ''dance off'??
Totally weird. But the horses don't look ill, or mistreated, more likely over worshipped, although they did have long feet?
 
I remember watching a video about how some horses are (badly) trained to do the spanish walk and piaffe by tying them to a post in a container and whipping them to train them, I can only hope this isn't an offshoot of that. It doesn't look nice at all on their legs.
 
Totally agree the horse look well cared for if a little over cared for, but the head stuck on the chest and i dont even want to think how they trained them to do that.
But also agree it is prob a stallion performance thing, the longer they can dance the more virile/stronger/etc etc
 
Ok, thanks for giving me an idea of what it is. I've just never seen horses do that before :eek:!!!

I do like the stallions they're using though, however I too would not want to know how they have been taught to do these things.. As the saying goes, learn (or in this case see!) something new everyday!
 
I found this on Google Answers

"Horse Dance, which by the way is not only performed on the weddings but also during many local & folk exhibitions, is mainly a feature/part of Punjabi Culture. Especially in rural areas of Punjab horse dance is considered as essential part of celebrations (Punjab is one of the four provinces of Pakistan) (Same is being replaced by Camel Dance in Sindi & Balochi culture).

The horses trained for this purpose are not thoroughbreds, usually a local breeds are trained which are, when compared with thoroughbreds, are smaller in size. Mostly White or Black horses are preferred to be trained for dance. (Just because of being more beautiful looking). Most people prefer to train mares rather than horses. (Am not really sure why is that, will have to ask my father or uncles :)).

Dance is usually performed on the beat of a Drum (called “Dholl” in indo Pak), use of clarinet and “Ghungroos” (large number of small bells tied together) is also very common. Ghungroos, mostly in Red Color are also tied to the front legs of the horse, (which by the way produce a very beautiful rhythmic sound and it seems that even the animal is enjoying his ability to create this sound)

The horse is handled by his handler while dancing and is not ridden by anyone at that time. (People anyways avoid riding the horses trained to dance.)

As far as training of the horses is concerned; well there are no steal plates in their legs :). Nothing unnatural is introduced in their body. Use of harsh methods? Well Harsh Training methods is a relative term, and it really depends what you consider as harsh and what is acceptable for you.

My personal opinion in this regard is that no harsh training techniques are used to train the dancing horses. During initial stages horse whips are used to give commands, which of course cause pain, but don’t make a "crack” and is as necessary as in case of training of other such animals.

Later on, during the dance whips (made of ropes) are used to make a loud sharp sound, to provide direction and command to animals."
 
Thank you fire_fly, that's very informative! In all my life I've never come across anything quite this dramatic so didn't really understand it. It's nice to hear they are treated well and other than the use of a whip don't have any other 'things' used on them. However I do think somewhere along the line the teaching of these moves isn't pleasant for the horse..

All I can say is I've learnt something I never knew before tonight!
 
PonyIAmNotFood said:
As far as I know these are 'dancing horses', trained by being tied to posts where they can't get away and whipped repeatedly until they start jumping about like that at the sight of a whip.

http://fuglyblog.com/?p=2398
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God! That video was truely horrible to watch!!!

Makes you think doesn't it. Getting results is done is two ways, you TRAIN a horse or you FORCE a horse. Two totally different methods.

Reminds so much of a childhood story where the 'moral of the story' was always secretly incoded.
(cannot remember exactly but...) The wind told the sun he could get this man's coat of him... He blew such a gale that the mans jacket was done up even tighter to stop it flapping around and no matter how hard the wind blew, the jacket would not come off. The sun then came out and made it lovely and warm and the man 'chose' to take his jacket off as he was warm...

When I see videos like this and look at these men strapping their horses up and then, I just see idiots who cannot think for themselves and think force is the only way, wasn't it Churchhill who quoted something like..''Violence starts where knowledge ends''....
 
heidirusso said:
God! That video was truely horrible to watch!!!

Makes you think doesn't it. Getting results is done is two ways, you TRAIN a horse or you FORCE a horse. Two totally different methods.

Reminds so much of a childhood story where the 'moral of the story' was always secretly incoded.
(cannot remember exactly but...) The wind told the sun he could get this man's coat of him... He blew such a gale that the mans jacket was done up even tighter to stop it flapping around and no matter how hard the wind blew, the jacket would not come off. The sun then came out and made it lovely and warm and the man 'chose' to take his jacket off as he was warm...

When I see videos like this and look at these men strapping their horses up and then, I just see idiots who cannot think for themselves and think force is the only way, wasn't it Churchhill who quoted something like..''Violence starts where knowledge ends''....
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I like that analogy and quote, exactly it. Sadly, this is seen as a sign of wealth and a good show I think in some parts of the world so it carries on. At least the horses seem well looked after despite the 'training'.
 
I'm not sure that we can assume that the guys in the OP video teach their horses in the same brutal manner.


Personally and shoot me down in flames if you so wish, the horses in the OP video look very happy, very well loved and doted on. The not once show signs of distress or unhappiness.

Odd moves and oddly fascinating, but I guess each country has different rituals.
 
I watched a documentary years ago which featured the dancing ponies of Skyros. They did something similar with bells on their legs and small children sat on their backs.
 
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