To think that equestrian events are ridiculous

[BFrazzled]

In the Olympics.

Poor horses. This ridiculous dancing in dressage, who the hell thought of that?

There was one winner of the dressage contest who supposedly also won in the nineties. No mention of the horse, guess it was with a different one then

@Hopeisallineed

I would like to know what happens to dressage horses once they are no good at prancing around anymore? Are they like the poor racehorses who are just sent off to slaughter? I read recently between 6,000 and 7,000 race horses are killed each year, there’s also a panorama investigation about it. That’s pretty horrific numbers.

Try reading the thread, where I among others have already explained this at length?

Have you? I think lots of people have circled round it. I’m amazed none of the horsey people on here have a problem with those numbers. That’s a lot of dead horses for our ‘entertainment’.

@Hopeisallineed

Have you? I think lots of people have circled round it. I’m amazed none of the horsey people on here have a problem with those numbers. That’s a lot of dead horses for our ‘entertainment’.

I have more issues with horses being neglected, kept alive when they shouldn't be, horrendous abuse, puppy farms and numerous other things in all honesty I'm not a giant racing fan, but I don't think it will ever be abolished. There are much worse fates for all animals than being dead That doesn't mean I don't care but if I thought about everything awful and cared about it all I would be a wreck especially things that I can't control

@Hopeisallineed

Have you? I think lots of people have circled round it. I’m amazed none of the horsey people on here have a problem with those numbers. That’s a lot of dead horses for our ‘entertainment’.

Yes I have - I've explained at length, with specific examples, what happens to dressage horses when their top-level career is over, and in another post I also explained some of the measures taking place to change the fates of racehorses leaving the industry.

Lots of racehorses go on to have long happy careers as eventers, show horses etc.
Some racehorses are not suitable for a life outside of the racing industry. I see no issue with euthanising these horses

Are they like the poor racehorses who are just sent off to slaughter?

I am part of a racing syndicate that expressly does not do this. Retired horses are assessed for being rehomed for hacking, competition in a different discipline, or being a companion horse (they are often rehomed with syndicate members). Horses that have picked up an injury that precludes rehoming live out their time at the rest and rehab centre, turned out full time together where they have mad half hours chasing each other round the field.

I learnt to ride horses as part of my former career. The horses were well looked after and the stables adored those horses. But, the reality was that I had to kick a horse (however gently) to get in to do what I wanted. I had to put metal against the soft cartilage of its mouth to ensure it went were I wanted it to go.

Who taught you to ride?? Kicking and steering with the bit - wow!

If you kicked my DD’s pony, you’d be on the deck before you knew what was happening to you - then once you’d got up, you’d have my daughter to deal with.

She uses her legs and body position to ride and steer her pony

She doesn’t ride bitless, we tried several bitless bridles but her pony doesn’t like poll pressure so we’ve settled on a Happy Mouth snaffle - months of fiddling with bits and bridles, a specialist bit fitter, watching her pony’s body language, how she holds her head, her ears, whether she opens her mouth, tries to evade the bit, how she feels to DD when she’s riding her, tells us she’s happy with that combination.

As for strapping them into a saddle - we have a saddle fitter 3 times a year who ensures that DD’s saddle fits both her and her pony perfectly so that neither rider or horse are uncomfortable and her pony has the proper support on her back to carry DD - riding bareback regularly isn’t good for their back.

DD does hop on and ride with a head collar and bareback sometimes - a bimble up to the field or back when she’s turning out/bringing in, but it’s not a regular thing.

Horses are flight animals. You cannot train through fear, you just wouldn’t get anywhere!

Yes, totally agree. There will always be something they fear more than me.

They have to trust me and do what I tell them to do, when I tell them - not after 10 minutes of negotiation with a carrot - which is full of sugar and incredibly bad for them anyway. My retiree tried to fuck off at 100mph without waiting for me to take her head collar off this morning - she could have seriously hurt herself if she trod on the lead rope while galloping about - her lead rope wound over her nose reminded her that she needs to stand still and wait until I’ve taken her head collar off

Interesting New Scientist article explaining the archaeological investigation of horse jaws that exhibiting bit wear on the teeth, showing that horses were being ridden in 4000 BC.

www.newscientist.com/article/mg13017724-500-science-damaged-teeth-put-the-horse-before-the-cart/amp/

I think any sport can be made to sound ridiculous if you talk about it in very simplistic terms with little to no actual knowledge of it.

Football - adults kicking a small bit of air-filled rubber around into a seemingly arbitrarily chosen net.

Rugby - similar but insert some chucking and fighting and random lines and bars instead of nets.

Hockey - similar but hard plastic ball and sticks.

High-jump - person attempts to throw self into the air higher than all the other people.

Long-jump - same but longer instead of higher.

Tennis - people hit a ball back and forth endlessly whilst shrieking. Absolutely interminable.

None of those make any sense to me, and I don't understand them, as evidenced by my shit descriptions, but lots of people find them fascinating/feel very passionately about them. 🤷‍♀️ I think the equestrian sports demonstrate true skill. It's not just about the skill of the rider, but the ability they've shown in producing a horse to that level as well. To me, it's fascinating, although I have to admit that dressage isn't hugely my bag.

I think the issue of racehorses is quite a separate one to Olympic horses - most of whom have well-documented, happy retirements, because the public feel affectionately about them and like to know what they're up to, so there's a PR opportunity in letting you know that x horse has gone back to its owner for their children to ride at lower levels/it now happy hack and nannies the youngsters/it potters about in the field and occasionally gets oats from its adoring public. Sadly, that's not always the case for a failed racehorse because they fly under the radar. That being said, the BBC Panorama episode was very biased. Whilst, sadly, it is still the experience of some ex-racehorses, there are lots of people doing excellent work to find them useful careers where they're hugely valued beyond racing. I've had several horses off the track, and would never have anything else. I know of lots of others who feel the same, and I also know of lots of rehoming/rehab places, and trainers who make a huge effort to guarantee their horses' futures post racing. As with all sports, there is good and bad to be found, but the good is very often not publicised.

*pats from its adoring public, not oats (one hopes!)

That being said, the BBC Panorama episode was very biased. Whilst, sadly, it is still the experience of some ex-racehorses, there are lots of people doing excellent work to find them useful careers where they're hugely valued beyond racing

This is very true - it's worth following large scale well known trainers such as Mick Easterby or Lucinda Russell. Their horses are rehomed or retired and they frequently post updates of what they are doing now. After that documentary LR put out a statement to assure people that in her 35 years of training there had NEVER been a case where a horse had been pts because it had come to the end of its racing career.

My horses don't have mouth or teeth damage from bits. I know this because they go to amazing equine dentist every year to be x rayed and to have their teeth rasped.

Do people really believe this shit?

My oldie had an extra tooth so we have the dentist out every 3 months - he has a squizz at DD’s pony while he’s there. Her teeth and mouth are damage free

I love our EDT - I swear he’s an actual wizard

I once approached a riding school for DS to get a feel for rising before we got him his own pony. They wanted to book him for the following week but I asked if I could observe a lesson first. They were happy to let me but half the ponies were ridden in gags. I left and we did not return. It's places like this that breed bad horse owners.

Try it, go on, just once! I bet it’s nothing like as easy as you think. It’s also not easy to look after/maintain the health of a horse to the standard needed to event. They are incredibly fit, well treated, healthy, their health and fitness is checked multiple times throughout the competition (much more than the human’s health!)

Seriously, you have no clue what you’re talking about.

Btw, pre-disabilities I evented my own three horses, one of whom was an ex-racehorse (national hunt (jumps to those who don’t know)). All my horses got incredibly well looked after, it’s necessary to maintain their health at a high level to compete. No they didn’t have ‘bit damage’ cos they were looked after, went to the dentist regularly etc. I’m the one who ended up ‘damaged’ (wheelchair user now), they are all happily retired due to age. I still see them as much as I am fit to.

@budgun

I once approached a riding school for DS to get a feel for rising before we got him his own pony. They wanted to book him for the following week but I asked if I could observe a lesson first. They were happy to let me but half the ponies were ridden in gags. I left and we did not return. It's places like this that breed bad horse owners.

I agree ideally horses would go in snaffles, particularly at riding schools when people will have poor hands.

But this thread was started to discuss Olympic level riding and horses and its been predictably hijacked by the "riding horses is bad, horses wearing tack is bad" brigade.

But this thread was started to discuss Olympic level riding and horses and its been predictably hijacked by the "riding horses is bad, horses wearing tack is bad" brigade.

So the progression in conversation is not allowed?

Olympic level riders start somewhere

@budgun

I once approached a riding school for DS to get a feel for rising before we got him his own pony. They wanted to book him for the following week but I asked if I could observe a lesson first. They were happy to let me but half the ponies were ridden in gags. I left and we did not return. It's places like this that breed bad horse owners.

I agree ideally horses would go in snaffles, particularly at riding schools when people will have poor hands.

But this thread was started to discuss Olympic level riding and horses and its been predictably hijacked by the "riding horses is bad, horses wearing tack is bad" brigade.

Sorry not sure why that's posted twice

@Bryonyshcmyony

Sorry not sure why that's posted twice

Extra post for emphasis because it's true?

Honestly. If you kicked any of the GP horses at our yard you'd be carted into next week*, and if you pulled on their mouths you'd be on the ground. The bit is an aid, not a lever.

*I have a loud leg. I certainly can't ride them.

Some of the anti bit and tack posts must be a wind up surely?

@Bryonyshcmyony

Some of the anti bit and tack posts must be a wind up surely?

Without a doubt.

Although I also don't doubt that some posters have certainly seen the worst of the riding school world and are basing analysis of a discipline on a very narrow scope of experience.

Although I also don't doubt that some posters have certainly seen the worst of the riding school world and are basing analysis of a discipline on a very narrow scope of experience.

Oh I hope that is not how my post came across.

@budgun

Although I also don't doubt that some posters have certainly seen the worst of the riding school world and are basing analysis of a discipline on a very narrow scope of experience.

Oh I hope that is not how my post came across.

No it didn't, although a two ring gag wouldn't have been a deal breaker for me.