To think that equestrian events are ridiculous

@Bryonyshcmyony just ignore it? Yes because that’s the way to deal with any kind of abuse. Wtf?!

what if you think equestrian sport is cruel, unnecessary and abusive to the animals involved?

Then keep it to yourself and remind yourself that the vast majority of horses in this country are looked after extremely well, even if they are competing.

@ChiefClerkDrumknott that’s a very simple way of looking at it but what if you think equestrian sport is cruel, unnecessary and abusive to the animals involved? I hate horse racing with a passion and you can’t tell me all horses are being treated well in these sports, never mind the fact they are being shipped thousand of miles for our ‘entertainment’.

And as for the people whining on about riding any horse being cruel, I think you must have other issues and know absolutely nothing about animals generally

It's only horses that seem to bring out people's inner expert - feeding other people's horses when they see them in fields, getting critical about the way horses are kept and ridden. Are people like this about dogs?

@BFrazzled

But you're not willing to think that you could possibly be wrong about something. You think that you are right and that's the end of it. That's not a discussion.

No point arguing with this one guys, she doesn't understand it and isn't willing to put the effort into trying, so why bother? Leave her to her misunderstandings, it's not like her opinion is going to get it stopped anyway.

Hm, okay then.
I was taken over 3' wire by a horse who didn't agree with my ideas. DD was on a horse with the plan of going over trot poles, and he cleared the lot in one leap.

😂😂
I was long reining my athritic 20yo over slightly raised poles last year when he decided he was on the long gallop in front of Burghley House, took hold, jumped the lot and dragged me with him in the process
He was fine as he buggered off around the school, whereas I was picking my sore self up off the floor 🤣🤣

What a load of goady old drivel. Don’t like equestrian sports, don’t watch, problem solved.

I frequently fail to watch sports that don’t interest me, even though they entertain millions. I’ll never understand the appeal of football/cricket/golf/athletics/cycling, but if it makes others happy that’s great.
There are few days I enjoy more than cross country day of a big event, there’s nothing quite like it

Force doesn't work either, horse and rider have to be willing partners

Droopy Clematis.
You cannot "coerce" a horse to jump round a event course, or perform a flawless dressage test, co-operation however, is essential

Boo Hoo - You dont like the thought of the pretty horses being made to dance. - Shock.

No likey no watchy then. Find the change channel button and start zapping. Why is it nowadays that folks are so easily offended by stuff. Man (or woman / he / she / it) up and stop being a soorpuss.

I think the horses should also get a medal - or a rosette... or at least a big carrot, and bucket of molasses.

OP, if you’re concerned about the horses being dumped after the competition, why don’t you go and follow Charlotte Dujardin’s groom on Instagram? His handle is @alandaviesgroom

That will give you a better idea of how cherished, nurtured and adored these horses are. You’ve made some fair points on this thread, but also said a lot of very ignorant things. Hopefully if you look into firsthand examples you’ll understand it better.

So many posts saying there’s a lot of skill, dedication and so on. That may be so, but that doesn’t mean it’s ethically ok to breed and train horses to do these tricks and then ship them around the world to compete.

There’s probably a lot of skill in bull fighting but that doesn’t mean it’s not cruel. I bet a fox hunter would say there’s lots of skill in their ‘sport’. Or horse racing - how many horses are injured racing and put down because they’re no longer of use?

I can recognise that there’s skill involved in the equestrian events but that doesn’t mean it’s ethically acceptable.

[quote BFrazzled]@JudgeJ
I'd stick to Love Island type of programme, sounds more your type of thing, you clearly have no appreciation of skill!

Why is it either Love Island or dressage? Are those the only two things you watch on the telly?[/quote]
No love, it's equestrian and sailing all the way, I still recall Ainslie and Scheidt at Sydney.

Wait, they fly the horses to Japan? Don't they have horses over there? I just assumed the olympics provided the horses.

Of course they provide the horses, in the same way that you'll see Lewis Hamilton queuing up at the Budget desk for the next Grand Prix!

Just to add my bit. Couple of points as a horse rider!

People saying 'they don't mention the horse', don't they??? As someone who is probably more interested in the horse than the rider I always know who they are riding and the commentators talk about the horses etc. They do the lap of honour.. how / when do they not mention the horse!? It is a partnership, horse and rider win together. They know how each other tick and have trained together for years.

Also I knew OT when he was a kid. Definitely a 'normal' background but his parents were hugely committed from a young age. Also a good amount of money will have been put into ponies / lessons etc. I agree not in reach for everyone but probably a similar level of dedication as from some of the swimming / gymnastics parents. It's not all about money.

Yes It needs to be banned. Obviously. As does horse racing where so many are shot. Diabolical.

I think that perhaps people who know very little about horses, mebbee ought to admit that they don't know a lot about horses, and therefore their opinions are possibly relegated on that basis? As opposes to thinking that because they know nothing about horses and equestrianism, and that makes them so much purer in their opinions? Obviously they'd know so much more than the people that have dealt with horses year in, year out, they're positively psychic via a forum. . .

It's an agenda thing, innit?