Why does everyone love Edward Gal so much?!

Barnacle said:
As for why scientific research is needed, humans have a very flawed conception of the world and we readily ignore information that does not suit our beliefs. Science is our way to overcome that. Scientists are people too (I am one) and we sometimes make mistakes but on the whole we make progress. It makes me very sad how opinionated and subjective the equestrian world is when in fact many of the debates we end up in have either been settled or could be settled by science if only there was interest. I don't think it's a good idea to think you can judge how a horse is feeling by "looking in its eyes" - for one there is research that shows you can't! (Or at least people cannot reliably judge whether a horse is fearful or not. They hide their emotions just like we do.) - but I do think the rollkur debate should be put to bed. There is enough out there to say it's harmful and enough top riders who do not use it.
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Been watching these threads with interest,and also some very intelligent dispassionate debate on the BD forum.
The other reason why a scientific approach is needed is in order to make a definition of what constitutes RK and what doesn't. In order to ban a practice, you need to define what it IS specifically. There must be a boundary between LDR and rollkur, one being permitted and the other not. It's interesting reading how different people interpret that boundary.

Booboos, are you on the BD forum? Someone has called the Weiler study that Faracat linked to on Sustainable dressage into question, it's difficult as there doesn't seem to be a translation into English available but their objections are around the purpose of the study and lack of control of variables. Plus the horses that were dissected were presumably at the end of their lives & not PTS at the height of their career in order to study training methods.



To answer the OP, I'm another who is in awe of EG's seat. Quite extraordinary, regardless.
 
There are issues around all of the studies, mostly namely that they use horses not necessarily used to this form of training and overall that the numbers tested are small to get any significant data out of.
 
Also similar to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, a lot of the tests which are done to determine the level of restriction/damage, are in themselves invasive and then how do you determine what is due to the test and what is due to the training method?

It is going to be one of those things which will always continue behind closed doors, even if it is banned in the future (as we all "know" rapping still happens in SJing circles - whether it be mechanical (using heavy/metal poles) or chemical (using a skin irritant like capsaicin))
 
domino, sorry, I`m not quite sure what you are trying to say?

and which one would you let ride your horse, and why? and why not.
 
tristar said:
domino, sorry, I`m not quite sure what you are trying to say?

and which one would you let ride your horse, and why? and why not.
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Domino is saying that Rath is the sympathetic rider and the reason he didn't get on with Toto is because the horse had been trained through force and dominance by Gal. Had he been classically trained he would be an easy sensitive ride. So along with Domino I would rather Rath than Gal on any of mine anyday.
 
YasandCrystal said:
Domino is saying that Rath is the sympathetic rider and the reason he didn't get on with Toto is because the horse had been trained through force and dominance by Gal. Had he been classically trained he would be an easy sensitive ride. So along with Domino I would rather Rath than Gal on any of mine anyday.
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Totilas was so fiery as a young horse that Gal rejected him after trying him, and was worked on by the owner to take the horse on. He did, in spite of big reservations about how difficult his temperament was. This is all on record. Totilas was never and could never have been made to be an 'easy' ride for anyone.
 
Completely out of my depth here. but had to make a comment. I just watched a video or two of Tennessee walking horses and made a mental comparison to dressage conformation and training, then I watched an interview with EG, the guy talks through clenched teeth! I feel somewhat ashamed of my self, so, tomorrow I'm going to give my horse a day off. And maybe on Saturday I can look him in the eye and reflect the same honesty. If not I won't ride. Not a happy human.
 
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