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Our History Predicts Forceful Horsemanship

3 Comments

We see political leaders make the same claims – it is always some other factor which dictates why their decision was forced rather than their own inclination. Horse culture has inherited this long-standing tradition, afterall we are only human; and it is not new. It still trickles down that we are a “dominant” species over the horse – therefore we are all wise and knowing and the horse should respond to our directions as a result of his lesser intelligence.

Statue of horse and rider with a 'dunce' traffic cone on his head

Procrastinating

I don’t know about you, but I am a really great procrastinator, coupled with an uncanny ability to rationalize EVERYTHING. That just spells disaster. With that in mind I’d like to share a few points from a list of “99 Excuses”. I have found that planning to accomplish one MAJOR task (i.e. greater than washing the laundry, etc.) each day really helps to kick procrastination in the pants and grease the wheels of motivation.

Nuno Oliveira, a Classical Dressage Master, riding Piaffe.
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The Difference Between Classical and Competitive Dressage

14 Comments

Once upon a time ago, the difference between Classical and Competitive Dressage seemed synonymous with the distance between the walls of the Grand Canyon (which happens to be up to 18 miles wide!). Whether it is merely my perception, or the reality, which has changed I have yet to determine. Nonetheless there is still a measure of awe inspired in people when they hear that “so and so” does Classical Dressage. It has a note of magic attached to it, even if it is a tradition based on a bunch of dead guys; or maybe it is because of those dead guys.

Cavalia's "Liberty Show" trainer Sylvia Zerbin spends time with just-arrived Arabian horses at the Burbank location of the upcoming show on Thursday, January 13, 2011. Cavalia: A Magical Encounter Between Horse and Man premieres January 19. (Raul Roa/Staff Photographer)

Be One With Your Horse – Without Crawling Inside Its Dead Body

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It’s done all the time by Para-Equestrians. To be one with your horse does not require that you climb inside it’s recently gutted abdominal cavity, or that you tread the line of morality. Still, it happens that this is forgotten. An Oregon woman, claiming she wanted to be one with her horse, first shot it in the head with a high powered rifle then proceeded to gut it, undress and have photos taken of her laying inside its carcass. You can view the uncensored photos here.

A reining horse is pulled to a sliding stop and hyperflexed by a cowgirl.
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Reining Competitions Promote Hyperflexion and Running the Horse into Walls

13 Comments

They do not seem to care that they are yanking on the horse’s most sensitive mouth with a leverage bit. They do not seem to care that they are spurring the horse carelessly and excessively. They do not seem to care that the horse is willing to accept these abuses without striking out violently.

A cowgirl pulls hard on her horse's mouth while the horse is wide-eyed and open mouthed in distress.

Do Barrel Racers Cross the Line into Abuse?

127 Comments

Barrel racing is a high speed event, and when speed is added to any activity the difficulty level increases as do the potential errors. Let’s also add to the mix the fact that it is a competition sport and involves money, and as demonstrated in Dressage, Jumping and Reining, to name a few competitive sports; money affects motivate. So, does that mean that Barrel Racing, fueled by speed and competitive cash, is subject to horse abuse the same as other sports?