Why is bad behaviour a sign of good riding?

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ridefast

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I constantly see this - someone is doing a sj course for example and the horse is bucking and pratting around all through the course, and people will be going "wow what an amazing rider!" Which yes of course they are amazing riders to stay on, but I have seen better riders have horse like this and completely re-school the horse, take away the gadgets and do a nice quiet round with no fuss. Why is it the horse riders with the bad behaved horses inspire more awe than those that can keep theirs calm and relaxed?
 
Absolutely!

I mean, okay so some of them can hold on and have super glue seats, however some of those horses are really distressed and their riders get so much praise for ''handling such a naughty horse''.

Sad :(
 
Absolutely! All credit to the riders who can and do ride through this to train it out of a horse, but agree, far too many cowboys around who think they look cool if their horse is d!cking about.

Personally I'm more proud when my boys show exemplary behaviour. I'm more than capable of sitting a few fireworks but I'd much rather not have to!
 
Never got the impression that bad behaviour is a sign of good riding or come across anyone saying that or that sort of thing.
Heard people joke and say ''well sat'' or ''dam that could of been a you've been framed £250 pounder'' and laughed about it, but never heard anyone class them as being a good rider or look up to them just because their riding a horse that is for what ever reasons not going correctly or being stupid.

Your only as good as your horse if you think about it.
 
I know of one gal who purposefully winds up her warmblood to make her look like a good rider... She socks the poor thing in the mouth, wallops him with her crop etc etc and no-one says a thing which is sad :mad::confused: I hope that this young lady will grow out of it in time as her horse is a good 'un and deserves better.

I think the most beautiful riding is where every motion of the rider is as discreet and economical as possible and I am sure that the horses appreciate it too.
 
Totally agree, obviously even the best behaved will still have tantrums but I am much more proud if my horse is well behaved than being praised for sitting to vertical rears and bucking fits!

That said I like them to have a bit of fizz otherwise I get bored! :)
 
Kenzo said:
Never got the impression that bad behaviour is a sign of good riding or come across anyone saying that or that sort of thing.
Heard people joke and say ''well sat'' or ''dam that could of been a you've been framed £250 pounder'' and laughed about it, but never heard anyone class them as being a good rider or look up to them just because their riding a horse that is for what ever reasons not going correctly or being stupid.

Your only as good as your horse if you think about it.
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I think it's the people who are riding the badly behaved horses that think it makes them look good, not that onlookers think it....in my experience anyway!
 
OH's daughter did this once - her jumping pony would fly buck if smacked on his shoulder. She did this once on entry into the ring - she was at that age 14yo and she thought it made her look good. OH saw what she had done and went into the commentary box and got the bell run - daughter was told in no uncertain terms that if behaviour like that was witnessed again then she would be dragged off pony and pony would be sold.

There should be no credits given for riding difficult horses if they carry on being difficult year after year - the most credit should go to the riders who turn difficult horses into well schooled horses.
 
Tr0uble said:
I think it's the people who are riding the badly behaved horses that think it makes them look good, not that onlookers think it....in my experience anyway!
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Arr right I see :)

nope don't know anyone like that neither, if your horse plays up all the time surely it's embarassing, yes they all have their moments but I'd never feel good about it, plus nobody would want to ride out with you or been seen at competitions with you, if you are the sort of person who is doing it just to look good or winding them up on purpose, that's just ...well it's weird!
 
It is weird, and childish...and more than a little irresponsible. Sadly I know a few. It seems that if your horse behaves, it must be a plod, and easy to ride, and therefore even a beginner couldmride it....if it prances and dances and breathes fire...well then that makes you COOL!

(please read the above with a sarcastic tone and eye rolling!)

Have a horse who used to breathe fire whilst stood on his back legs, have sweated blood and tears to turn him into an easy horse that a beginner could get on (not quite there yet!) and I have a youngster who I reckon you could put your granny on....but he's no plod! Lol
 
I have known a few people like that, particularly younger teenagers when I was learning to ride. A few would wind up the riding school ponies whilst their friends watched and told them they were amazing riders! Someone I know purposefully winds up her horse so she looks like a good rider whilst her horse is pratting about/bucking etc. I have ridden said horse a few times and she is lovely to ride.
 
Tr0uble said:
I think it's the people who are riding the badly behaved horses that think it makes them look good, not that onlookers think it....in my experience anyway!
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These are probably the same folks who say "oh, my horse is sooo naughty/difficult/dangerous that nobody but me can manage him/her"
 
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ridefast said:
I constantly see this - someone is doing a sj course for example and the horse is bucking and pratting around all through the course, and people will be going "wow what an amazing rider!" Which yes of course they are amazing riders to stay on, but I have seen better riders have horse like this and completely re-school the horse, take away the gadgets and do a nice quiet round with no fuss. Why is it the horse riders with the bad behaved horses inspire more awe than those that can keep theirs calm and relaxed?
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Funnily enough I was wondering this morning why horses are either 'quiet and sensible, spirited or naughty'? No reference is usually made to the training and management of these horses just their perceived personalities... :confused:
 
The best rider I have ever seen had a horse going absolutely bonkers and he just sat there. He did nothing, he called it passive resistance. Soon the horse got bored and he jumped a smashing round.

I think the best riders are the ones who make these excitable horses look easy. Something I aspire to be like.
 
Kenzo said:
Never got the impression that bad behaviour is a sign of good riding or come across anyone saying that or that sort of thing.
Heard people joke and say ''well sat'' or ''dam that could of been a you've been framed £250 pounder'' and laughed about it, but never heard anyone class them as being a good rider or look up to them just because their riding a horse that is for what ever reasons not going correctly or being stupid.

Your only as good as your horse if you think about it.
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Agree with this - I have never hear anyone like that being called a good rider..
 
ridefast, couldn't have put that question better myself. I have absolutely NO idea why they think it's clever. It just isn't - especially on the roads (but that's another story)..
 
On the other hoof, and I know it shouldn't, but it irritates me when I've put a lot of work into a horse and people just assume they were born like that and I have nothing to do with. 'Oh he's so good I wish mine was like that, you're so lucky', I know I should take it as a compliment but when someone just disregards months of your hard work it becomes irritating.
 
Argh I hate people who think bad behaviour makes them amazing!
I think you have a smashing horse if s/he is well behaved, you can put a novice on him/her and they'll be fine, and then also jump/dressage etc with an experienced rider.
I certainly don't think "wow" if I see someone on a rearing, bucking horse, I think "wow" if I see someone riding their horse correctly and that it is willing and you can see their connection.
But, at the same time, as LouS said, if people have their horses going beautifully all the time other people start to think they're push button and that the rider has put no work in. That's what really gets me.
 
I have some amount of pity for some of the kids I have seen on their badly behaved ponies, who you hear saying to their friends how good a rider they are on their naughty pony. I would be ashamed if my horse behaved like that all the time, and IMO they just look pathetic. Of course, it would help if they stopped booting them with spurs, jabbing their mouths, and slapping them with whips (insert rolling eyes here!)

I have spoken to a lot of people last year when out showing, and I have made a point of complementing them on their beautifully schooled mount - as others have commented, just because the horse is really well behaved, doesn't mean it's easy!
 
LouS said:
On the other hoof, and I know it shouldn't, but it irritates me when I've put a lot of work into a horse and people just assume they were born like that and I have nothing to do with. 'Oh he's so good I wish mine was like that, you're so lucky', I know I should take it as a compliment but when someone just disregards months of your hard work it becomes irritating.
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I get this all the time with my lad - no one saw the bad times so they assume he was born the saint he is now... So I bought a baby and broke him, and apparently I'm just amazing at picking naturally well-mannered animals :rolleyes:

(I'm not saying I'm great, I'm not, but I'm more consistent and better at training than most of the numpties who assume my boys are sent from heaven!)
 
Kenzo said:
Never got the impression that bad behaviour is a sign of good riding or come across anyone saying that or that sort of thing.
Heard people joke and say ''well sat'' or ''dam that could of been a you've been framed £250 pounder'' and laughed about it, but never heard anyone class them as being a good rider or look up to them just because their riding a horse that is for what ever reasons not going correctly or being stupid.
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I agree.

I've not heard anyone comment about riders being 'great', just that they sat through it well. It's usually children that think they are great riders because they can stay on... which is fair enough in my opinion, their kids!

As for re-schooling 'naughty' horses... we have a WB on our yard that is in training with an eventer for the paralympics 2012 - when he's naughty, it's not because he needs reschooling, it's because he's downright rude and grumpy sometimes :)
 
mmmm memory of festival of chamiopions few years ago - ponies in hyped up state strapped down with gadjets kicked in ribs yanked in mouth placed wrong and when refused whack whack whack - then a young lad came in snaffle bit cavesson noseband no martingale and rode the most lovely calm clear round and then boy a controlled beautiful ridden round against clock and he was fast well ridden turns and a happy pony - well ridden and enjoyable to watch - know what i like to watch but mmmmm some ppl think if horse pratts around they look good lol
 
Kokopelli said:
The best rider I have ever seen had a horse going absolutely bonkers and he just sat there. He did nothing, he called it passive resistance. Soon the horse got bored and he jumped a smashing round.

I think the best riders are the ones who make these excitable horses look easy. Something I aspire to be like.
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You are so right. The superstar horses usually have a quirk or two. The really good riders do nothing to fuel the fire and wait for the right moment to ask the horse to cooperate, then reward the right answer. You can't see them 'do' anything - and they are a delight to watch.
 
lassiesuca said:
Absolutely!

I mean, okay so some of them can hold on and have super glue seats, however some of those horses are really distressed and their riders get so much praise for ''handling such a naughty horse''.

Sad :(
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^^this

Sometimes, horses do get very excited in the ring and it does take a lot to hold them back and settle them, as well as stay on! Other times, the horses are clearly in distress and shouting, pushing on and using the whip does not help or get the horse and rider anywhere. Why some of these people are praised sometimes baffles me, I've seen several of the horses react to what they, the riders are doing, yet they still get credit for being a good rider? xx
 
LouS said:
On the other hoof, and I know it shouldn't, but it irritates me when I've put a lot of work into a horse and people just assume they were born like that and I have nothing to do with. 'Oh he's so good I wish mine was like that, you're so lucky', I know I should take it as a compliment but when someone just disregards months of your hard work it becomes irritating.
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I know exactly what you mean, I had someone say to me that I was so lucky that the 7yo homebred I dressaged 'just does it', I had sweated blood and tears to get her to that stage quirky little madam that she was!
 
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