To think dressage is cruel and also ludicrous?

[itstheendoftheworldasweknowitnow]

Prompted by Charlotte DuJardin’s suspension today. What a ridiculous sport dressage is - and how cruel to the poor horse who doesn’t want to mince around anyway. They always look so uncomfortable doing it. At least jumping and racing seem like something a horse would enjoy or do naturally.

A dressage whip should be used like a blackboard pointer. You can't verbally tell a horse that it needs to move the left whatever across-you need to touch it. Horses communicate via touch, even to each other.

Dressage done at your average club level does not lend itself to that kind of thing. I think elite level competition brings it out

No sport should involve animals. That's it really.

Really? I steward at BD and draw reins are frequently spotted in the lorry park. They are taken off before the warm up.
Also frequently see riders who don't have stable lower legs using spurs and over tight horses being rewarded at Intro-Medium over those with looser frames.

That is your ethical position and not everyone agrees.

There are dog sports where the attitude of the dog (whether it is happy and confident) is part of the judging process, and a flat and miserable dog would not succeed in field trialling. Competition is how you know who can train to a high standard (that is, whose methods work), and it also helps to select future breeding stock.

Yes, it is my ethical position. Human beings can choose. Elephants in circuses can't choose to stop doing humiliating acts. Most people think that is wrong. What animal would choose to be trained to do any of the acts circus animals do? If they turn on the trainer they will most likely be killed. Performing for the entertainment of humans isn't acceptable unless the performer gives consent. And no animal can consent. It's why bestiality is wrong. No animal consents to having sex with a human. I don't approve of dog racing or horse racing either. No one gives a toss about the welfare of those animals. Thank goodness hunting with dogs is illegal now.

The CD episode has demonstrated why the Olympic disciplines can't claim moral superiority over racing. You are very naive if you think wastage, doping and all manner of cruel practices aren't happening in the sport horse world. Racing is not a 'billion times more cruel.'

That said, it is perfectly possible to compete horses ethically and without compromising welfare. Lots of professionals and amateurs doing this. Dismissing a whole sport as ludicrous usually reveals a generalised antipathy based on ignorance and bias (see class stereotypes). In my experience these folk aren't willing to consider the inconsistencies in their views. They often think nothing of the abuses involved in commercial meat production or pet ownership. Sadly there is potential for abuse in any animal human relationship. It is my view that horse sport is not inherently cruel but there must be strict regulation and sanction to uphold horse welfare.