What the hell does that even mean?
Good when your own strength fails to overtake the horse?
Good when your skills are, let's be honest, pathetic at best?
Good when an actual Ape rides better than you do?
Good when you wouldn't hesitate to whip your horse to make him just [get on the trailer] [go through the water] [jump over the obstacle] [stand still for mounting] [stop pawing] [stop pulling back when tied] [stop threatening to kick you (maybe you deserve it..)] [stop running away when you're trying to catch him]?
Good when your horse is smarter than you are?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmTUWYxCPhQ
Good when your identity as an equestrian is one giant power-trip?
Good when you tell yourself the horse is [bigger] [stronger] [faster] than you could ever be?
Good when you need to keep your horse's mouth [soft] [supple] [submissive] [moist] [foamy] [gaped] [bloody]?
Good when riding lessons are too [expensive] [inconvenient] [childish] [boring] [embarrassing] [not for you] [could expose the fact you have a lot to learn]?
Good when you're trying to [compete] [show off] [feel great about yourself] [keep your shit together] [make it look like you have a fucking clue]?
Seriously, who in their right mind goes down to the tack store, picks out one of these torture devices — because let's not mince words, that is what they are to the horse even if you're too [ignorant] [dumb] [mean] [sadistic] to see. Using tack like this is not accidental. It's pre-meditated abuse.
Think about that for a minute, let it roll around in your mouth a little before you spit it out.
Pre-meditated abuse.
It's pre-meditated abuse that happens in local boarding barns every day.
It's pre-meditated abuse that wins at [local] [breed] [regional] [national] [international] [olympic] competitions every day.
It's pre-meditated abuse that is taught to beginning riders every day.
It's pre-meditated abuse that is shown to young riders to emulate every day.
It's pre-meditated abuse that is supported and defended by [breed organizations] [show organizations] [big-name-trainers] [no-name trainers] [arm-chair equestrians] every day.
It's pre-meditated abuse that is profited from by [tack stores] [stables] [trainers] [competitions] [race tracks] [Olympics] [media outlets] every day.
And it's also bullshit.
You don't need another tool to deal with ‘difficult horses', you need to go take some riding lessons. To practice on some old nag who will forgive your sorry ass when you make mistake after mistake after mistake. Please, make mistakes — but make them because you're trying to get better, not because you just don't give a fuck.
If you agree, share this so other equestrians who feel this way can know they're not alone. So other equestrians can know that pre-meditated abuse doesn't have to be the norm or the only way.
Share it just to piss off the people who enjoy abusing their horse(s) and making excuses as to why they have to do it.
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It is so sad that common is normal and therefore right in the eyes and minds of so many.
People do use the reasoning that the horse now has a better/longer life because they, the trainer/rider/owner ,has made it more people friendly and useful to the human race, Because it is all about us.
Very good point Ann. Horsemanship is usually meant to be a very self-serving activity with little consideration for the horse except what’s necessary to enable them to serve our desires.
I hear more voices speaking up against this, hopefully technology can help us see more real change moving forwards.
Ann, I know someone who used that very excuse to justify nerving the tails of her Western competition horses. People can justify anything!
Erica, that last line is a doozy. So tempting. But instead of directing our anger and disgust at these types of people (and lowering ourselves to their level) it may be more effective to continue to set the bar as high as we can and hold that as our example. One by one those who do respect horses will be enticed. The others? Well that’s the lesson they have to learn. Just a shame the horse suffers because of it. But none of us are perfect, really.
Because none of us is perfect sounds like good reasoning until the innocent are harmed and no one wants to speak up or show up…raising my child/horse/dog right is not going to get that other abused child/horse/dog the help it needs now. I am reluctant to speak up because there is always something I can improve upon or errors pointed out.. but is that a legitimate reason to put my blinders on and live a good life hoping others can see around their own blinders?
Love it, bought my first horse last year & have been through 2 trainers. I may be a beginner but I’m old & assertive! When things don’t feel right they aren’t, yet our ego gets in the way & we start settling. I went to my first dressage comp to pencil so the day could go ahead, I have no interest but my mate does. One of the first things the judge told me was that you don’t have to sit trot (I’m learning atm) to compete & some people never learn! I said I want to learn to ride not learn to sit passively. I could at least learn how to not bounce on my horses back as a thank you for letting me up there!!!