Competition at the top level does not indemnify you from abusing your horse. It does not mean that judges are more fair, that the people involved care more about the horse. Caring for a horse and caring about a horse are two completely separate issues. These videos are perfect examples of that. Every horse is in impeccable condition, likely fed the finest in horse hay, grain and supplements, groomed religiously, the slightest twinge of ill health tended to by the most expensive veterinarian.
None of that equates to the rider having any care about the horse. These riders generally seem to care only about having their horse's head flexed to the max, the sliding stop prim and perfect and that the horse feel subjugated at all times.
Craig Schmersal
More widely recognized as being a participant in the atrocities of the FEI reining warm-up ring in Malmo, Sweden.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en_90D5TOKA
Rieky Young-Van Osch
Is it any surprise that she coaches Anky van Grunsven in her new-found love of reining?
Martin Muehlstaetter
Update, Muehlstaetter's website is now offline.
Austrian born and worked under such reining “greats” as Lynda Adlof, Bob Avila, Todd Sommers, and Dell Hendericks.
Tom McCutcheon
NRHA $1 Million Dollar Rider.
Nico Hörmann
German based FEI Reining Competitor/Trainer.
Naturally I expect comments from pro-reiners to argue the fact that these reining horses are, in fact, being abused. Not just physically, but the mental abuse is evident in the horses' expression and demeanor. They are simply waiting for the chance to get back to their stall and check out. To find reprieve from their rider's unfair demands.
The point of these reining competitions can be only for the money. What other use is there in training a horse to perform a 20 foot sliding stop, to spin endless circles or lope around with their chin to the chest? There isn't one, except for the lucrative profits to be made.
And for those who have wondered if Clinton Anderson uses Rollkur aka hyperflexion… I will just leave it at the fact that he has competed heavily in reining. Seems like there is something in the water.
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Those horses are amazing creatures. I think in many cases we have bred and rode the horse out of the horse making it safe for us to ride because we do not have the time or inclination to do it with more consideration of the horse. We need to be aware of the passivity of horses, their herd instincts and their learned helplessness. Just because they no longer fight us does not mean the process was good.
Ann,
Breeding does play a role, although the Quarter Horse and other stock breeds are already notoriously known for their easy personality and desire to please. Largely these horses are the result of learned helplessness in the face of abuse. They no longer react because at some point in abuse the victim no longer believes there is another option – therefore no reason to fight back. Instead they accept their fate unquestioningly.
Erica and All,
I am now in the process of retraining a nice gelding named Lyle that was trained using hyperflexion, that is harsh, mindless over flexion of the neck. This is a very difficult thing to help a horse to over come and to recover from. So I know first hand just how bad this training method is. I admire Lyle because he really is trying to change and he really is trying to receive that feel that I am trying to give him. Instead of swearing at the trainer who did this to Lyle, I am now praying for his soul as I work Lyle. (I got tired of swearing at the man because it did no good any way!)
Penny Johnson
Bonners Ferry, Idaho
When I watch videos, like those posted above, I am amazed that such behavior is considered acceptable. Not only are the actions seen above acceptable, they are the latest in a long line of abuse(s) visited on our horses in the name of winning. In every equestrian competition, there are rules in place to prevent cheating as well as abuse of the horse, solely to win. In reining, the rider must dismount after the pattern and drop the bridle from the horses mouth to show that the horses teeth haven’t been wired together!! I would also say that the horses that you see in these videos are the ones who are willing to accept the abuse. Professional trainers win with horses they can train, they won’t waste time on horses that won’t agree to be abused. Whenever you find a horse owner who has purchased a “reject” from some famous trainer (and they are having problems with the “professionally” trained horse) ask them if they know how many horses go through that trainers barn. That “world-Famous” trainer might go through 100 good horses before they find a horse that will excel in spite of the abuse shown in the videos above. It’s a shame that trainers such as those featured above make a living “training” horses.
Should probably get your facts a little more straight before you prattle on about a sport you quite clearly have minimal knowledge on. Riders must drop the bridle to the judge after a pattern to inspect that the bit/curb strap used falls under the regulations for the class being competed in.
This post came into my inbox again for some reason today and I watched them again. It sure makes me want to be more careful in everything I do with horses. I asked God to remind me with a pain in my own body whenever I might be going overboard in my actions with these creatures.
Wow. This is terrible! These horses look so resigned and depressed! I didn’t see a single one that looked like it was having fun or enjoyed its job. It gave me a headache just watching those horses loping and spinning with their heads on the floor! how is that productive for anything?! How is a horse supposed to see any farther than the dirt under their head? How stupid! I also find it interesting that their have been NO comments from reiners on here, arguing the harshness….hmmmm……
I’m a bit surprised too – the post I made about Barrel Racing has brought up hot debate. These videos show pretty extreme examples of abuse in reining though for anyone to sit there and say yanking on a curb to back your horse across the entire arena and then running him full speed into the wall is not harsh or abusive…
These people make sports like this look like crap… -.-
Darin banged it on the head. Reiners dont want horses that say no, and considering how much stress is put on these young horses (they break them at 1.5-2 years) many horses do say no. Those horses are chucked. Sold as barrel horses, team penners or other. I see it personally every day.
As a reiner, I am NOT condoning the methods these trainers use at all. I hate the “peanut roller” look that took over the reining world. Fencing is a lazy way to get a horse to stop(running the horse into the wall) as opposed to correctly training the horse to stop. I do, however, have to disagree/complain about the comment you made at the very end of your post.
“The point of these reining competitions can be only for the money. What other use is there in training a horse to perform a 20 foot sliding stop, to spin endless circles or lope around with their chin to the chest? There isn’t one, except for the lucrative profits to be made.”
Honestly, this same comment can be made about ANY equine activity… there’s isn’t a “point” to any of it other than our own enjoyment. What is the point of dressage? What is the point of jumping? What is the point of barrel racing? What is the point of roping? What is the point of owning a horse at all? My horse slides 20 feet because I ask her to. Someone else’s horse jumps a 5 ft fence because they asked it to. Maybe someone’s horse packs their butt on a trail ride up and down mountains because they asked it to. I think that was a silly and peevish comment to make at the end of a list of videos of a few trainers.
But the point is: Why do you want to ask such needless performances from your horse? Why anyone owning a horse wants that from his/her horse? Why to cause immensely much pain an discomfort to a horse to get it to do all those silly things unnecessarily? That just doesn’t make a point to me?
So think a bit; why does it make a point to you to demand something painful and unpleasant of your lovely horse, if it is not something really needed and necessary for some real reason?
Our horses do not run circles with their chins to their chests. We don’t abuse our horses. We take care of them and we love them just as much as English riders love their horses. Not every trainer is a abusive, and all you’re doing is looking at the negative side of reining, as most people do. It seems hard for people to look at the positives, as they always want something to complain about, which is what you seem to be doing.