Last week I shared with you my thoughts on tying around, and why I think it is time to leave this 'training method' behind in our evolution as horsemen. This week, with almost prophetic timing, the reining world was shaken by the unfortunate death of Bella Gunnabe Gifted at the hands of trainer Mark Arballo, who tied the mare's head and left her. The mare apparently flipped over, fractured her skull, and was found by witnesses with blood gushing out of her nose. The mare was later put down, but not before witnesses saw Arballo hitting the mare in attempts to get her to rise. You can read the news report and watch video of the news report here. The owner of the mare, Martha Torkington, also owns the ranch where the death occurred, River Valley Ranch, and was filmed smiling and calming saying that 'this is a very common training technique.' San Diego County Animal Services is investigating the death of Bella, but this isn't the first time they have been to the ranch; in 2012, Animal Services investigated the same trainer and facility for having a horse die in the same manner.
While I will respectfully wait for SDAS to do their job in investigating this incident, and will not make any conjectures as to what Arballo's fate should be, it is clear that Arballo did indeed tie this mare up with a shanked curb, left her alone, and when asked about the mare's death, the owner admitted knowing about Arballo's use of tying around. I hope that, if found guilty of abuse, Arballo will face more than a slap on the wrist in facing the consequences of this mare's death, but what happens to him is less important to me than what we can learn from this tragedy, and from there, what the future of the industry will be.
My heart is breaking for this poor mare; she was so pretty, and had so much potential. In the words of her former trainer, she was very sweet and willing. She wasn't a crazy mare or dangerous. She deserved better than to die this way. But my heart is also breaking because of the aftermath of her death. This week I participated in many discussions about this incident, and was shocked at how many people were quite blase' about the whole thing. "Everyone does it" and "sh** happens" was expressed many times in forum discussions, often by well-known riders/owners, and one person tried to use the 'stupid animal' defense, saying that since animals have brains the size of walnuts, we should expect things like this to happen. These attitudes are simply disgusting to me. How can we, as an industry tolerate this callousness? How can we be so flippant about a horse's needless and preventable death? How can we justify the abuse of an animal that we make our living off of? And in what universe is "everybody does it, so it must be OK" a good reason to do anything? I think I learned by first grade that that is never an excuse for bad behavior!
The truth is, many people in our industry are stuck; they don't have the tools in their toolbox to train a horse without resorting to short cuts, gimmicks and devices of force and pain. They don't want to share in Arballo's guilt, so they make excuses for his behavior and pretend he is being targeted by a 'witch hunt,' and 'personal vendettas.' They are afraid that they will be investigated for similar abuses, so they shun outsiders and try to band together against change. They don't want those "damn PETA people" to come after reining the way that the Tennessee Walking Horse people have come under fire, so they characterize anyone who advocates for more regulation as crazy, stupid, inept, over-emotional and potentially dangerous. They just want to close their eyes and ears in hopes that this whole things will just go away. Even Bella's owner seemed strangely unaffected by her death, and seemed to defend the trainer in the news footage. This bothers me deeply because I really believe that these attitudes will be the undoing of our industry.
There is a lot at stake for trainers these days. There is more competition money out there, and owners are vocal in their pursuit of it, so there is a lot of pressure on trainers to win, sometimes at all costs. There are fewer owners with bottomless pockets out there participating, so there is pressure to do well and attract bigger, better owners. Everything needs to happen fast, whether it is when they are trying to get young horses ready for the Futurities, or when they are getting horses tuned up for aged events. There is a perception that the guy/gal who takes their time in preparing a horse is going to be left behind. It isn't a surprise that some would resort to short cuts in order to chase the dollars more effectively. But it is the horse that loses. We also lose, in that we lose our sense of ethics, and we lose the ability to face the public with a clean conscience. For these reasons, I understand the fear that humane organizations will come after the horse industry - they certainly have grounds to in some cases, and the industry has so far been ineffectual at policing itself.
I want to be clear: I love equine competitions, of all kinds (except for charro horse tripping, which is deplorable). I want our competitions to continue, far into the foreseeable future, building on the training traditions that are worthy of continuation, while leaving those that no longer serve us in the past. In other words, I want us all to EVOLVE. There are a myriad of techniques used to train show horses that may be common, that may have been used for a long time, that may even be used by big name trainers, but that no longer serve us. Like it or not, our interactions with horses will forever more be scrutinized under the microscope of youtube, by a more aware and more unified public. We cannot stick our heads in the sand and go on as if we are somehow above questions from the public, or that the public will leave us alone. Our training techniques need to become more transparent, and they must be humane when looked at in the bright light of public opinion. And this doesn't just go for reiners; soring of gaited horses, hyper-flexing dressage horses, hitting jumping horses in the cannon bone so they avoid poles, cutting/injecting western horse's tails, etc., etc.....it all needs to go. There isn't a corner of the horse industry that shouldn't be taking stock and weeding out abusive practices. The time has come to clean house.
If there are trainers that insist on using force and pain to train their animals, we must be willing to speak up and stick our necks out, for the good of the horses directly involved, but also for the industry itself. And if those people end up facing charges, being banned or are black-listed by the public, so be it. We cannot afford to defend the indefensible. Those who abuse horses need to take their lumps, and the rest of us need to up our game. I don't believe that every trainer of western performance horses uses tying around, but there are plenty of other ways that they might be overdoing it. Hopefully some are humble enough to say that they are not proud of what they are doing - be it spurring a horse till they are bloody, drugging a horse to mask pain, riding a horse to exhaustion or using equipment that is meant to inflict pain - and vow to stop. I would have so much more respect for someone who is a big enough person to say,"I see that this isn't the right way, and I am going to do better" than someone who says, "Oh well, they are just stupid animals and sh** happens."
Tying horses' heads is a risky technique that not only puts our horse's at risk, it can make them more sore and resistant, and isn't necessary if a rider is willing to take a few extra minutes in the saddle each day and work on bending the horse. To get a horse really flexible and light, it is imperative that the rider use feel, releasing the pressure the moment the horse gives. This is how the horse knows it is on the right track. Tying a horse's head dulls them down and doesn't encourage a partnership between rider and horse; it's purpose is to get horses to submit and give in to the pain. If the horse is unable to bend using a light handed technique, it probably has pain somewhere in its neck, poll, or shoulders, and should be seen by a vet or massage therapist. I want newcomers, owners and non-pros to understand these facts so that they can make informed decisions for their horses, choosing trainers that ride based on feel, not force, and speaking up when they see a horse in distress. Doing so may save a horse from a lot of pain, and may even save one's life.
One last thought.....as a child, I took lessons from a wonderful dressage instructor who ran a riding school. Being a small, older lady, her training techniques were not based on force or strength, but rather on taking the time with each horse and rider to build a foundation of skills, filling the rider's toolbox with sound principles, and encouraging partnership. She was adamant with us kids that we must remember: we are ALWAYS to be responsible for ourselves and our horses while we are riding or handling them. If something goes wrong, we put the horse in that position and we are the one at fault, not the horse. Never the horse. Taking responsibility in this way seems to happen less and less in our society today, but I won't lose hope that it will become fashionable again. For this reason, I am glad that people are talking about this mare's death, examining horse training while doing a gut check that we are doing the right thing by our horses. We are blessed and fortunate to be able to ride these noble creatures, and we should treat it as the privilege that it is.
Showing posts with label horse tack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horse tack. Show all posts
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
The Wrong Way to 'Get Loose'
For the past several months, I have been using the services of an equine massage therapist for one of my training horses. This mare is doing very well, and her physical issues are very subtle, but the owner and I agree that in order to get the best possible performance out of her, and to preserve her soundness, massage therapy is a fantastic tool. Basically, the mare is slightly crooked, and while I have done lots of stretching and bending, the crookedness persists, so we decided to call in a professional. Massage therapy of this type is more than just rubbing the muscles; it is a form of physical therapy in which the muscles, tendons and ligaments are re-trained into a new frame, taught to lengthen and body symmetry is encouraged. It has made a huge difference for this mare! She is now taking both leads with more ease, is able to lengthen her neck and round her back, and moves in a much more soft and even manner. The owner is thrilled with the process.
The massage sessions generally take an hour and a half to complete, and were scheduled every 2 weeks at first, and are now monthly. While the therapist is doing her work, I am there to hold and assist, as well as observe, and of course, as anyone would when they meet a fellow horse person with whom they have a lot in common, we share stories and observations about the horse industry. This person has worked in the reining world for many years, and knows many of the same people that I know. We recently had a discussion that brought to light that we also share a pet peeve: the widespread and inappropriate use of 'tying around.' Tying around is when a rider will tie a horse's head to either its saddle or its tail with a short rein in order to force the horse to bend in a small circle. Perhaps the horse is resistant on one side or the other, or perhaps the horse is giving attitude; they believe that tying around will solve that problem by giving the horse no choice but to conform. They mistakenly believe that the horse will 'learn' to give because the only way they can get relief on their mouths is to give to the pressure.
The problem with this is that there is no release. Even if the horse gives, they are not able to straighten their body, their neck must stay bent, and eventually the muscles get tired and they are forced to lean on the rein, causing pain in their mouths (and everywhere else). It is commonplace in the performance horse industry for horses to be left in this position FOR HOURS. Can you imagine the pain and the anxiety of a horse being trapped in this position while the rider leaves the premises to go have lunch? And if the reason for the horse's initial resistance in bending was pain in their neck, poll, or shoulders, can you imagine how this would cause unbearable agony for an animal unable to free itself?
My first exposure to this practice was in the Arabian industry when I was a young teenager, when my family began using a 'big name' trainer who used this method to get more flexibility in our horses. This trainer was very judicious with the practice though; we never used a rein to tie around, instead, we made a rubber 'bending rein' out of surgical tubing that had snaps on either end to go from the saddle to the bit. Surgical tubing is not very strong, and the idea was that it would break if too much pressure was put on it. This trainer was also adamant that we time the horses as they were bending, only doing it 10 or 15 minutes on each side. And we were not allowed to leave the area; it was important to be nearby in case the horse got in trouble. As I grew up (and we changed trainers), I realized that while this method was indeed safer than what many put their horses through, it was still intrinsically a shortcut. And most real horsemen know - in good horse training, there are no shortcuts.
It wasn't until I started riding Quarter Horses at a reining barn in Arizona that I observed someone tying around with a leather rein to the horse's tail, and walking away to leave the horse for long stretches of time. I saw the agony in the horse's eyes, and eventually, the defeat in its demeanor, and I knew that I would never allow that trainer to put my horses through that. Amazingly, that reining trainer is still there, working for a big, fancy barn in Scottsdale, and over and over, throughout my years in the reining world, I have seen this same 'method' employed by many well-known reining trainers. It is accepted, by many, as part of training a reiner, despite the fact that, in the best case scenario, they are making their animals more sore and resistant than before they were tied around and in the worst case scenario, are risking their horses lives, as so many animals will just snap when put in this position, resulting in them falling down or flipping over, breaking their necks in the process. Many good horses have been ruined or killed in this manner - though you aren't going to see it written about in a major industry publication. That would just be attracting unwanted attention to a dirty little secret, wouldn't it?
What is especially sad is that it is not at all necessary to tie horses around. If the trainer is doing their job correctly, they would be bending the horse from the saddle, where it is possible to FEEL the horse's mouth and body orientation, and respond with counter pressure, applying release when the horse responds correctly. If the trainer is doing their job, then they would respond to resistance as an opportunity to discover that animal's areas of pain, from injury or abnormal physiology, and would then have that horse seen by a vet or massage therapist. If the trainer is doing their job, they would understand that force will never beget a willing partner, and that shortcuts create more problems than taking the long (and correct) route to partnership. If the trainer is doing their job, they would be safeguarding the horse's well-being and sanity over their own inconvenience.
The massage therapist that has now become my friend shared with me the story of her gelding, who is out of some outstanding reining bloodlines but is now a reining 'reject.' Why? Because a well-known trainer had him, tied him around for 'having attitude' and the horse ended up freaking out, and nearly cut his tongue completely off. He is healed now and she uses him for dressage, where they have been quite successful. Success in this case is relative to the fact that this horse was not only physically damaged, but also mentally fragile, and so finding him a job that he can do happily and comfortably is a triumph in itself.
What is terribly sad for me, and extremely disappointing, is that the trainer who did this to this gelding is someone I know quite well, someone who has had horses I've bred and someone who I thought I might want to send my own horses to in the future. But now I cannot un-know what I know. I have considered that if I put a horse in training in the reining industry, would it be possible to have a trainer sign a 'no tie around' contract, to attempt to save my horses from this fate? I have a feeling that such a request would be met with arrogance and defensiveness, so my only hope is to find a trainer who is against such methods already. I encourage everyone to do the same. Ask your trainer if they tie around. If they do, expect to hear a lot of justifications and excuses. Just remember that they are consciously using a short cut, and this represents a hole in their methodology and a very real threat to your horse's well-being. Then take your horse and head the other direction.
The massage sessions generally take an hour and a half to complete, and were scheduled every 2 weeks at first, and are now monthly. While the therapist is doing her work, I am there to hold and assist, as well as observe, and of course, as anyone would when they meet a fellow horse person with whom they have a lot in common, we share stories and observations about the horse industry. This person has worked in the reining world for many years, and knows many of the same people that I know. We recently had a discussion that brought to light that we also share a pet peeve: the widespread and inappropriate use of 'tying around.' Tying around is when a rider will tie a horse's head to either its saddle or its tail with a short rein in order to force the horse to bend in a small circle. Perhaps the horse is resistant on one side or the other, or perhaps the horse is giving attitude; they believe that tying around will solve that problem by giving the horse no choice but to conform. They mistakenly believe that the horse will 'learn' to give because the only way they can get relief on their mouths is to give to the pressure.
The problem with this is that there is no release. Even if the horse gives, they are not able to straighten their body, their neck must stay bent, and eventually the muscles get tired and they are forced to lean on the rein, causing pain in their mouths (and everywhere else). It is commonplace in the performance horse industry for horses to be left in this position FOR HOURS. Can you imagine the pain and the anxiety of a horse being trapped in this position while the rider leaves the premises to go have lunch? And if the reason for the horse's initial resistance in bending was pain in their neck, poll, or shoulders, can you imagine how this would cause unbearable agony for an animal unable to free itself?
My first exposure to this practice was in the Arabian industry when I was a young teenager, when my family began using a 'big name' trainer who used this method to get more flexibility in our horses. This trainer was very judicious with the practice though; we never used a rein to tie around, instead, we made a rubber 'bending rein' out of surgical tubing that had snaps on either end to go from the saddle to the bit. Surgical tubing is not very strong, and the idea was that it would break if too much pressure was put on it. This trainer was also adamant that we time the horses as they were bending, only doing it 10 or 15 minutes on each side. And we were not allowed to leave the area; it was important to be nearby in case the horse got in trouble. As I grew up (and we changed trainers), I realized that while this method was indeed safer than what many put their horses through, it was still intrinsically a shortcut. And most real horsemen know - in good horse training, there are no shortcuts.
It wasn't until I started riding Quarter Horses at a reining barn in Arizona that I observed someone tying around with a leather rein to the horse's tail, and walking away to leave the horse for long stretches of time. I saw the agony in the horse's eyes, and eventually, the defeat in its demeanor, and I knew that I would never allow that trainer to put my horses through that. Amazingly, that reining trainer is still there, working for a big, fancy barn in Scottsdale, and over and over, throughout my years in the reining world, I have seen this same 'method' employed by many well-known reining trainers. It is accepted, by many, as part of training a reiner, despite the fact that, in the best case scenario, they are making their animals more sore and resistant than before they were tied around and in the worst case scenario, are risking their horses lives, as so many animals will just snap when put in this position, resulting in them falling down or flipping over, breaking their necks in the process. Many good horses have been ruined or killed in this manner - though you aren't going to see it written about in a major industry publication. That would just be attracting unwanted attention to a dirty little secret, wouldn't it?
What is especially sad is that it is not at all necessary to tie horses around. If the trainer is doing their job correctly, they would be bending the horse from the saddle, where it is possible to FEEL the horse's mouth and body orientation, and respond with counter pressure, applying release when the horse responds correctly. If the trainer is doing their job, then they would respond to resistance as an opportunity to discover that animal's areas of pain, from injury or abnormal physiology, and would then have that horse seen by a vet or massage therapist. If the trainer is doing their job, they would understand that force will never beget a willing partner, and that shortcuts create more problems than taking the long (and correct) route to partnership. If the trainer is doing their job, they would be safeguarding the horse's well-being and sanity over their own inconvenience.
The massage therapist that has now become my friend shared with me the story of her gelding, who is out of some outstanding reining bloodlines but is now a reining 'reject.' Why? Because a well-known trainer had him, tied him around for 'having attitude' and the horse ended up freaking out, and nearly cut his tongue completely off. He is healed now and she uses him for dressage, where they have been quite successful. Success in this case is relative to the fact that this horse was not only physically damaged, but also mentally fragile, and so finding him a job that he can do happily and comfortably is a triumph in itself.
What is terribly sad for me, and extremely disappointing, is that the trainer who did this to this gelding is someone I know quite well, someone who has had horses I've bred and someone who I thought I might want to send my own horses to in the future. But now I cannot un-know what I know. I have considered that if I put a horse in training in the reining industry, would it be possible to have a trainer sign a 'no tie around' contract, to attempt to save my horses from this fate? I have a feeling that such a request would be met with arrogance and defensiveness, so my only hope is to find a trainer who is against such methods already. I encourage everyone to do the same. Ask your trainer if they tie around. If they do, expect to hear a lot of justifications and excuses. Just remember that they are consciously using a short cut, and this represents a hole in their methodology and a very real threat to your horse's well-being. Then take your horse and head the other direction.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
How Far Would You Go to Look Cool?
I admit it. I don't always 'get' people. Sometimes I really don't understand some people's need to fight, argue and disparage others, even in the face of clear evidence that they are wrong. Bring up any topic on social media and people will line up on either side and sling mud at each other, even at those who lay a subject out clearly and without anger. It doesn't matter if a solution is right there in front of them, with statistics and truth easily accessible, they fight on, usually resorting to name-calling, vicious insults, and cry "freedom" when all else fails, because, well, we are surely free to remain stuck in our ways, heels dug in the dirt out of defiance and spite. I stay away from debates on social media as a general rule; it is ridiculous to argue with someone who has nothing better to do, and wants to scream obscenities ALL IN CAPS with poor logic and punctuation. No thanks.
But I witnessed an ongoing thread on FB that bothered me deeply, so I decided to bring the subject here, and examine it.
The subject was a photo of a tiny girl, age 6, riding a huge horse in a barrel pattern. This is an itty bitty girl, much smaller than my own 6 yr old son, and the horse, who is really getting at it as it rounds a barrel, is a large stock type horse. The worrisome part is that this child is riding without a helmet. Many people brought up this fact in the comments, and each person who did was immediately attacked with such viciousness that it was as if they had suggested something vile upon this little girl. Some of the replies to those who suggested that she should be wearing a helmet: "Real cowgirls don't wear helmets," "we stay away from people who wear helmets because their horses are always spoiled rotten and they can't ride" and "this little girl is a better rider than any of you who wear helmets" and my favorite, "All you granola crunching, mini van type idiots stay out of this!!!" Over 28,000 comments, which were split down the middle, going back and forth between rationality and ugliness.
I have written about my opinion of helmets before, but I'd like to re-visit it in response to the sheer voracity of some who are not only resistant to putting them on their own or their children's heads, but also who treat those who choose to protect themselves by wearing one so incredibly bad.
For those who say "we didn't grow up wearing helmets, and we survived," you need to wake up - it's 2013. There are a LOT of things that we didn't do 'back in the old days,' such as use car seats, wear floatation devices, or disinfect medical instruments, that help our species survive better. Hopefully, we are evolving to take better care of the bodies we are born into and have a better understanding of how and when injury is likely to occur. If you grew up riding horses and never knew anyone who received a concussion from falling off their horse, either you didn't know that many people who rode, or you were just plain ol' lucky. I have known many, many people who were excellent riders who had accidents resulting in concussions, some horrific and life-changing, and I know a similar number of people whose attending ER physician told them that the only reason they were still alive is because they were wearing a helmet. The 'good ol' days' argument is worn out and tired. Medical science's understanding of the brain and its fragility tells us that even one good thunk in the head can cause irreversible damage, resulting in memory loss, personality changes, depression, uncontrollable anger, higher rates of suicide over the long term, and death in the short term if the hit has caused even a small brain bleed.
For those who say, "a kid can get hurt just walking down the street, and are less likely to get hurt while riding a big ol' babysitter of a horse," I say, where in the heck do you live? Benghazi? Islamabad? According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, there were 14,446 reported head injuries from horseback riding accidents in 2009, accounting for 60% of all horse-back riding deaths. A fall of just 2 feet can cause death from brain injury, and most rider's heads are eight feet above the ground. In addition, children between the ages of 10 -14 are most likely to be involved in a horse-related accident. Please read more about what the AANS says regarding head injury here, and scroll down to the section regarding horseback riding. As my favorite instructor told me as a kid, "it isn't IF you are going to fall off, it is WHEN." Hopefully it is when you are wearing a helmet.
For those who say "real cowgirls don't wear helmets," I suppose you'd jump off a cliff if all the other 'cowgirls' were doing it too? This is peer pressure at its absolute worst; bullying for the sake of trying to look cool. Some trends are not worth following, and I can assure you, you won't look cool after your traumatic brain injury leaves you in a wheel chair, drooling, not able to put together a thought. What are you so afraid of? That someone will see your helmet and assume that you are a beginner who can't ride? Why not prove them wrong with your performance? And perpetuating a tradition that puts people, especially children, at risk is far from 'cool.'
For those who say, "my horse is so good, he will take care of me," I say you are a fool if you think that a certain horse can make the experience 100% safe for you. If you really are horse-knowledgeable, then you'd know that anything, literally ANYTHING, can happen while you are riding. Some things may be the result of a horse misbehaving, but a vast number of accidents are due to miscues and mistakes by the rider or from simple, physical problems, like a horse tripping, slipping, equipment breaking, or something unexpected occurring in the environment. I have been riding and training horses my entire life, and have done well at it....you have no idea how many times I have had horses fall while I was riding them. [I'm sure there are some that will somehow blame this on my ineptitude, without having seen me ride or know any of the circumstances. The truth is, many of them were young, inexperienced horses, and in other instances, I was asking the horse for a certain level of performance or speed, which is necessary when you are training horses.]
For those of you who say, "my kid is a great rider and therefore won't get hurt;" I say, really?? The little girl I mentioned above was 6. How long could she possibly have been doing any meaningful riding? A year? If you knew an adult who came to you and said 'I have been riding a year,' would you consider them an expert? I wouldn't. There is no way that any child, no matter how good of a seat they have, can have enough expertise to avoid an accident. Even adults who have ridden their whole lives can't! Consider the case of Courtney King-Dye, an accomplished Dressage rider who suffered a TBI when her horse tripped and fell and she wasn't wearing a helmet - yeah, I know, all you 'real cowgirls' probably say she isn't a 'real' rider because she rides English. She went to the Olympics for goodness sakes. Let's see you do some one-tempi changes or a perfect cantering pirouette.
People, riding horses is an extreme sport, similar to skiing/snowboarding, riding dirt bikes, or skateboarding. Helmets (and other protective gear) is commonplace in all these sports, except horseback riding, for the sole reason that it doesn't 'look cool.' Parents pass down the tradition of being afraid of not looking cool to their kids, and stuff their ears with their fingers when confronted with the truth of the real risks they are taking with their children's fragile brains, and scream "YOU GO BABY! COWGIRL UP!!" as they launch them full blast on a 1,000 lb animal. This doesn't look cool - it looks reckless. It is one thing if you are an adult and choose to not wear a helmet, assuming that you understand the risks and don't care. But a child must rely on the good judgement of his/her parents to protect them, as they have no way of understanding all the consequences of an action, nor are able to see way down the road and anticipate their future with diminished mental capacity due to a TBI.
As an instructor, I want that little girl to ride with all of her heart, learning lessons of perseverance, patience, fortitude and strength along the way, but NOT while risking a brain injury. She needs her brain, for school, for work, for her relationships, for happiness. If we can prevent an injury, why wouldn't we? It is an easy thing to put a helmet on. They are comfortable, come in pretty colors, and it would be extremely easy to make wearing one into a trend - IF we make taking care of oneself more cool than wearing a straw hat.
I do believe the tides are turning.....I know of a particular little girl, age 11, who shows reiners, and is an excellent hand. She has been riding all her life, having come from a family with a long history in horses. Both her father and her grandfather are well-known and esteemed in the industry, and have furnished her with a wonderful facility along with top-caliber horses, and many opportunities to compete. There is no doubt that one day, this little girl will be either a top non-pro or a top professional, if she choose to go that route. It would be easy for her to go along with the crowd and not wear a helmet - but she does! Even when she shows! I am very proud of her, and have relayed my support to her parents and grandpa, who love her to death and want the best for her - - which is the full use of her brain.
But I witnessed an ongoing thread on FB that bothered me deeply, so I decided to bring the subject here, and examine it.
The subject was a photo of a tiny girl, age 6, riding a huge horse in a barrel pattern. This is an itty bitty girl, much smaller than my own 6 yr old son, and the horse, who is really getting at it as it rounds a barrel, is a large stock type horse. The worrisome part is that this child is riding without a helmet. Many people brought up this fact in the comments, and each person who did was immediately attacked with such viciousness that it was as if they had suggested something vile upon this little girl. Some of the replies to those who suggested that she should be wearing a helmet: "Real cowgirls don't wear helmets," "we stay away from people who wear helmets because their horses are always spoiled rotten and they can't ride" and "this little girl is a better rider than any of you who wear helmets" and my favorite, "All you granola crunching, mini van type idiots stay out of this!!!" Over 28,000 comments, which were split down the middle, going back and forth between rationality and ugliness.
I have written about my opinion of helmets before, but I'd like to re-visit it in response to the sheer voracity of some who are not only resistant to putting them on their own or their children's heads, but also who treat those who choose to protect themselves by wearing one so incredibly bad.
For those who say "we didn't grow up wearing helmets, and we survived," you need to wake up - it's 2013. There are a LOT of things that we didn't do 'back in the old days,' such as use car seats, wear floatation devices, or disinfect medical instruments, that help our species survive better. Hopefully, we are evolving to take better care of the bodies we are born into and have a better understanding of how and when injury is likely to occur. If you grew up riding horses and never knew anyone who received a concussion from falling off their horse, either you didn't know that many people who rode, or you were just plain ol' lucky. I have known many, many people who were excellent riders who had accidents resulting in concussions, some horrific and life-changing, and I know a similar number of people whose attending ER physician told them that the only reason they were still alive is because they were wearing a helmet. The 'good ol' days' argument is worn out and tired. Medical science's understanding of the brain and its fragility tells us that even one good thunk in the head can cause irreversible damage, resulting in memory loss, personality changes, depression, uncontrollable anger, higher rates of suicide over the long term, and death in the short term if the hit has caused even a small brain bleed.
For those who say, "a kid can get hurt just walking down the street, and are less likely to get hurt while riding a big ol' babysitter of a horse," I say, where in the heck do you live? Benghazi? Islamabad? According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, there were 14,446 reported head injuries from horseback riding accidents in 2009, accounting for 60% of all horse-back riding deaths. A fall of just 2 feet can cause death from brain injury, and most rider's heads are eight feet above the ground. In addition, children between the ages of 10 -14 are most likely to be involved in a horse-related accident. Please read more about what the AANS says regarding head injury here, and scroll down to the section regarding horseback riding. As my favorite instructor told me as a kid, "it isn't IF you are going to fall off, it is WHEN." Hopefully it is when you are wearing a helmet.
For those who say "real cowgirls don't wear helmets," I suppose you'd jump off a cliff if all the other 'cowgirls' were doing it too? This is peer pressure at its absolute worst; bullying for the sake of trying to look cool. Some trends are not worth following, and I can assure you, you won't look cool after your traumatic brain injury leaves you in a wheel chair, drooling, not able to put together a thought. What are you so afraid of? That someone will see your helmet and assume that you are a beginner who can't ride? Why not prove them wrong with your performance? And perpetuating a tradition that puts people, especially children, at risk is far from 'cool.'
For those who say, "my horse is so good, he will take care of me," I say you are a fool if you think that a certain horse can make the experience 100% safe for you. If you really are horse-knowledgeable, then you'd know that anything, literally ANYTHING, can happen while you are riding. Some things may be the result of a horse misbehaving, but a vast number of accidents are due to miscues and mistakes by the rider or from simple, physical problems, like a horse tripping, slipping, equipment breaking, or something unexpected occurring in the environment. I have been riding and training horses my entire life, and have done well at it....you have no idea how many times I have had horses fall while I was riding them. [I'm sure there are some that will somehow blame this on my ineptitude, without having seen me ride or know any of the circumstances. The truth is, many of them were young, inexperienced horses, and in other instances, I was asking the horse for a certain level of performance or speed, which is necessary when you are training horses.]
For those of you who say, "my kid is a great rider and therefore won't get hurt;" I say, really?? The little girl I mentioned above was 6. How long could she possibly have been doing any meaningful riding? A year? If you knew an adult who came to you and said 'I have been riding a year,' would you consider them an expert? I wouldn't. There is no way that any child, no matter how good of a seat they have, can have enough expertise to avoid an accident. Even adults who have ridden their whole lives can't! Consider the case of Courtney King-Dye, an accomplished Dressage rider who suffered a TBI when her horse tripped and fell and she wasn't wearing a helmet - yeah, I know, all you 'real cowgirls' probably say she isn't a 'real' rider because she rides English. She went to the Olympics for goodness sakes. Let's see you do some one-tempi changes or a perfect cantering pirouette.
People, riding horses is an extreme sport, similar to skiing/snowboarding, riding dirt bikes, or skateboarding. Helmets (and other protective gear) is commonplace in all these sports, except horseback riding, for the sole reason that it doesn't 'look cool.' Parents pass down the tradition of being afraid of not looking cool to their kids, and stuff their ears with their fingers when confronted with the truth of the real risks they are taking with their children's fragile brains, and scream "YOU GO BABY! COWGIRL UP!!" as they launch them full blast on a 1,000 lb animal. This doesn't look cool - it looks reckless. It is one thing if you are an adult and choose to not wear a helmet, assuming that you understand the risks and don't care. But a child must rely on the good judgement of his/her parents to protect them, as they have no way of understanding all the consequences of an action, nor are able to see way down the road and anticipate their future with diminished mental capacity due to a TBI.
As an instructor, I want that little girl to ride with all of her heart, learning lessons of perseverance, patience, fortitude and strength along the way, but NOT while risking a brain injury. She needs her brain, for school, for work, for her relationships, for happiness. If we can prevent an injury, why wouldn't we? It is an easy thing to put a helmet on. They are comfortable, come in pretty colors, and it would be extremely easy to make wearing one into a trend - IF we make taking care of oneself more cool than wearing a straw hat.
I do believe the tides are turning.....I know of a particular little girl, age 11, who shows reiners, and is an excellent hand. She has been riding all her life, having come from a family with a long history in horses. Both her father and her grandfather are well-known and esteemed in the industry, and have furnished her with a wonderful facility along with top-caliber horses, and many opportunities to compete. There is no doubt that one day, this little girl will be either a top non-pro or a top professional, if she choose to go that route. It would be easy for her to go along with the crowd and not wear a helmet - but she does! Even when she shows! I am very proud of her, and have relayed my support to her parents and grandpa, who love her to death and want the best for her - - which is the full use of her brain.
Monday, March 25, 2013
When Bigger Isn't Better
Hey everyone! Spring Break is over and so I am back to writing, and thought I'd jump right back in with a subject that is bound to make some people uncomfortable: rider weight. In the US, and the world over, people are getting larger, and while there is a lot of pressure in the media to be thin, the truth is that the average person is not only taller, but bigger in overall size and carries more fat than an average person 50 years ago. Dealing with our weight in an honest way can be difficult; no one likes to talk about their faults, and we also don't want to seem rude in talking about someone else's either. But when we are talking about the weight of a rider on horseback, my feeling is that we MUST talk about it, because the horse cannot.
A friend recently posted an interesting article out of the UK that proposed that only 1 in 20 riders is the optimal weight for their horse, and that a horse should only carry 10% of their body weight. This differs from other articles I have read on the subject in that many say that horses can comfortably carry 20% of their body weight, but it did get me thinking....how often do people actually weigh their horses, and then weight themselves with all of their tack? I would suppose that this rarely happens, especially in barns where riders ride western exclusively. Only in extreme cases, when someone is either obese or extremely tall, is the rider's size mentioned, or sometimes, in the case of a horse being very small or old is a rider not allowed to ride it if it is a lesson horse. Many owners and trainers don't want to say, "You are too big for that horse," and risk hurting someone's feelings.
What do we risk for this political correctness? Our horses well-being, both physical and mental! Horses carrying riders that are too heavy are often plagued by lameness issues, such as suspensory injuries, dropped pasterns and joint soreness, as well as sore backs. They may try to evade the discomfort by displaying behavior problems, such as bucking, head tossing, rearing, stopping with refusal to go forward, and by pinning their ears when asked to perform. The horses who have the unfortunate combination of a too-heavy rider and a saddle that doesn't fit well will end up with nerve damage (sometimes characterized by white spots on the back and withers), will have trouble with their leads, and may even develop the habit of 'pulling back' when they are being saddled. All of these problems are fairly common, but are usually blamed on something else - conformation, equipment, bad attitude - but have you ever heard someone say, "this horse bowed his tendon because the rider was too large?"
It should be said that the ability to carry a heavy rider is greatly affected by the fitness level of a horse, as well as breed. Horses who are out of shape should not be asked to carry a heavy rider; if they do, they will often display discomfort much more quickly than a horses that is well legged-up. Breed and conformation play a part in that animals that are long in the back will have a harder time with a heavy rider, as well as horses that are fine boned, or have less-than-ideal angles in their legs. Experience of the rider can be a factor too; a new rider may be unbalanced in the saddle, leaning in such a way to put excess stress on the horse. An experienced rider can easily "sit light" on a horse by staying balanced over the horse's center of gravity.
Here's something else to think about.....young horses are the most vulnerable to injury due to the fact that their bones, tendons and ligaments are still developing, their front and back halves grow at different rates, and also because they are still learning to carry a rider and may be awkward and clumsy. Yet, quite often young horses are sent to colt-starters that are quite large men! This is very apparent to me in the reining industry. Many of the top trainers (and plenty down the ranks) are very big guys, and reiners are not supposed to be big horses - they have to be in the 14.2 - 15.1 hand range in order to be quick enough to turn and short enough lengthwise to stop well. If they mature bigger than that, being a reiner becomes a lot harder on their bodies, even if it does mean that they can carry their 5'11", 250 lb trainer a lot easier.
What I have noticed is that many reining trainers compensate by bulking their horses up to the point of being fat so that they can look as if they are bigger. Many people think that a big tank of a Quarter Horse is well-suited to carrying a large person, but I'd say this is a misnomer. Consider that in that situation, not only is the horse carrying the rider's excess weight, the large, heavy western saddle required for the performance, but also their own excess weight. This is extremely stressful on a horse's joints, and here we are, asking them to spin as fast as they can, and run fast only to drop into a sliding stop. Is it any wonder that many reining horses get used up and go lame so early in their lives? Some Quarter Horses may have thicker leg bones than say, the average Hackney pony, but many do not (especially those that have Thoroughbred blood, halter horse bloodlines or are from certain reining lines), and even if they do, I think that it gives people a false sense of security. They are still a large animal on fairly spindly legs, compared to its total body weight. When you look at other animal's ratio of leg to body weight, most animals who have long, thin legs are lighter in body weight, such as a deer, or have thicker legs to support their weight, such as an elephant. Many Quarter Horses have been bred to be large, muscular animals on top of legs barely bigger that a table leg, and then are asked to maneuver at speed.
A couple of years ago, I took a very knowledgeable horsey friend who had never been to a reining event with me to the NRHA Futurity, and after spending several hours watching patterns, she commented several times about the size of some of the trainers, and that she could hardly believe that the horses we were watching were 3 yr olds - not only because of what they were able to do as a 3 yr old, but also because all of the horses looked really bulked up. She said, "none of them look like babies." My gut reaction was that when the horse is carrying a large man or woman, the "reiner way" is to make the horse look like it is capable of carrying that weight, even if doing so means that the horse won't be sound beyond the age of five. Very few reining horses continue to compete and stay sound beyond the age of 7 or 8. This isn't only because of rider weight, but I would like to pose that it should be part of the discussion. One article I came across gives a mathematical equation on figuring out if a rider is an appropriate size based on the thickness of the horse's cannon bone. While it was applying that equation to gaited horses, I do think that way of thinking would be applicable to other breeds and uses, including reining.
Now, what should we do with this information? First, if you are planning on sending a young horse (or any horse) into training, consider the rider's size in relation to the horse's. Don't be afraid to ask how much someone weighs - your horse's health and success are dependent on it. If you are confronted with a situation where a large person wants to get on your small horse, find a tactful way to dissuade them, or substitute a larger, more appropriate, horse. And let's also take a look at ourselves. We are, as a society, getting bigger, year after year. This isn't healthy for us - studies have shown that the children of today will be the first generation whose life spans will be shorter than their parents, mostly due to the obesity epidemic and the weight-related diseases that accompany obesity. Getting fit, not for the sake of being thin, but just for the sake of our hearts, our joints and our longevity, makes sense. And as riders, it could make a huge difference for the health and longevity of our mounts. They are worth it, right?
A friend recently posted an interesting article out of the UK that proposed that only 1 in 20 riders is the optimal weight for their horse, and that a horse should only carry 10% of their body weight. This differs from other articles I have read on the subject in that many say that horses can comfortably carry 20% of their body weight, but it did get me thinking....how often do people actually weigh their horses, and then weight themselves with all of their tack? I would suppose that this rarely happens, especially in barns where riders ride western exclusively. Only in extreme cases, when someone is either obese or extremely tall, is the rider's size mentioned, or sometimes, in the case of a horse being very small or old is a rider not allowed to ride it if it is a lesson horse. Many owners and trainers don't want to say, "You are too big for that horse," and risk hurting someone's feelings.
What do we risk for this political correctness? Our horses well-being, both physical and mental! Horses carrying riders that are too heavy are often plagued by lameness issues, such as suspensory injuries, dropped pasterns and joint soreness, as well as sore backs. They may try to evade the discomfort by displaying behavior problems, such as bucking, head tossing, rearing, stopping with refusal to go forward, and by pinning their ears when asked to perform. The horses who have the unfortunate combination of a too-heavy rider and a saddle that doesn't fit well will end up with nerve damage (sometimes characterized by white spots on the back and withers), will have trouble with their leads, and may even develop the habit of 'pulling back' when they are being saddled. All of these problems are fairly common, but are usually blamed on something else - conformation, equipment, bad attitude - but have you ever heard someone say, "this horse bowed his tendon because the rider was too large?"
It should be said that the ability to carry a heavy rider is greatly affected by the fitness level of a horse, as well as breed. Horses who are out of shape should not be asked to carry a heavy rider; if they do, they will often display discomfort much more quickly than a horses that is well legged-up. Breed and conformation play a part in that animals that are long in the back will have a harder time with a heavy rider, as well as horses that are fine boned, or have less-than-ideal angles in their legs. Experience of the rider can be a factor too; a new rider may be unbalanced in the saddle, leaning in such a way to put excess stress on the horse. An experienced rider can easily "sit light" on a horse by staying balanced over the horse's center of gravity.
Here's something else to think about.....young horses are the most vulnerable to injury due to the fact that their bones, tendons and ligaments are still developing, their front and back halves grow at different rates, and also because they are still learning to carry a rider and may be awkward and clumsy. Yet, quite often young horses are sent to colt-starters that are quite large men! This is very apparent to me in the reining industry. Many of the top trainers (and plenty down the ranks) are very big guys, and reiners are not supposed to be big horses - they have to be in the 14.2 - 15.1 hand range in order to be quick enough to turn and short enough lengthwise to stop well. If they mature bigger than that, being a reiner becomes a lot harder on their bodies, even if it does mean that they can carry their 5'11", 250 lb trainer a lot easier.
What I have noticed is that many reining trainers compensate by bulking their horses up to the point of being fat so that they can look as if they are bigger. Many people think that a big tank of a Quarter Horse is well-suited to carrying a large person, but I'd say this is a misnomer. Consider that in that situation, not only is the horse carrying the rider's excess weight, the large, heavy western saddle required for the performance, but also their own excess weight. This is extremely stressful on a horse's joints, and here we are, asking them to spin as fast as they can, and run fast only to drop into a sliding stop. Is it any wonder that many reining horses get used up and go lame so early in their lives? Some Quarter Horses may have thicker leg bones than say, the average Hackney pony, but many do not (especially those that have Thoroughbred blood, halter horse bloodlines or are from certain reining lines), and even if they do, I think that it gives people a false sense of security. They are still a large animal on fairly spindly legs, compared to its total body weight. When you look at other animal's ratio of leg to body weight, most animals who have long, thin legs are lighter in body weight, such as a deer, or have thicker legs to support their weight, such as an elephant. Many Quarter Horses have been bred to be large, muscular animals on top of legs barely bigger that a table leg, and then are asked to maneuver at speed.
A couple of years ago, I took a very knowledgeable horsey friend who had never been to a reining event with me to the NRHA Futurity, and after spending several hours watching patterns, she commented several times about the size of some of the trainers, and that she could hardly believe that the horses we were watching were 3 yr olds - not only because of what they were able to do as a 3 yr old, but also because all of the horses looked really bulked up. She said, "none of them look like babies." My gut reaction was that when the horse is carrying a large man or woman, the "reiner way" is to make the horse look like it is capable of carrying that weight, even if doing so means that the horse won't be sound beyond the age of five. Very few reining horses continue to compete and stay sound beyond the age of 7 or 8. This isn't only because of rider weight, but I would like to pose that it should be part of the discussion. One article I came across gives a mathematical equation on figuring out if a rider is an appropriate size based on the thickness of the horse's cannon bone. While it was applying that equation to gaited horses, I do think that way of thinking would be applicable to other breeds and uses, including reining.
Now, what should we do with this information? First, if you are planning on sending a young horse (or any horse) into training, consider the rider's size in relation to the horse's. Don't be afraid to ask how much someone weighs - your horse's health and success are dependent on it. If you are confronted with a situation where a large person wants to get on your small horse, find a tactful way to dissuade them, or substitute a larger, more appropriate, horse. And let's also take a look at ourselves. We are, as a society, getting bigger, year after year. This isn't healthy for us - studies have shown that the children of today will be the first generation whose life spans will be shorter than their parents, mostly due to the obesity epidemic and the weight-related diseases that accompany obesity. Getting fit, not for the sake of being thin, but just for the sake of our hearts, our joints and our longevity, makes sense. And as riders, it could make a huge difference for the health and longevity of our mounts. They are worth it, right?
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Spring Forward
Happy Spring! After the mildest winter I can remember for a long time, it seems we are getting an early spring. And how sweet it is! I have been away from my computer a lot lately, but you can be assured that I haven't been resting. My days have been filled with all sorts of projects; starting a garden with my two boys in tow, giving lessons in this gorgeous weather, cleaning and organizing and making home repairs, getting out to spend time with friends, and, of course, working horses.
The horse that I have been working with the most is a registered Half Andalusian, Half National Show Horse (his mom is 3/4 Arabian, 1/4 Saddlebred) gelding named Gaucho, that we bred and has been with us his whole life. He is technically my husband's horse, and therefore, gets put on the back burner quite a bit. He is happy and healthy, but just doesn't benefit from our full attention. So, I have decided to start schooling him, get him in to shape, and see where the path takes us. He is a very interesting horse; while he doesn't have perfect conformation, he is very strong, very athletic and very smart. I admit that he is a challenge to ride because of these three traits! You have never met a horse that was so keen, so quick and so sensitive. He does airs above ground on his own out in the pasture, and sometimes when he is ridden, though inadvertently! But when he is good - oh my goodness is he fun! Like riding the quintessential Spanish charger!
Another thing that makes Gaucho a challenge is his size. He is wide, has a short, dipped back and a VERY deep heartgirth. All of my western saddles are terribly unforgiving on his back, and created unnecessary distraction, so I have purchased a dressage saddle to ride him in. I have always ridden English, but most of my adult life I have used western saddles when I train, out of comfort and security. I call it riding 'Spanglish.' I think that the last horse I used a dressage saddle on was Gaucho's sire, a PRE Andalusian stallion that I had in training for several years. So it has been a while....Don't think that I have given up western, I just have to find a solution for Gaucho that makes him comfortable. My philosophy is change to the horse, don't expect the horse to change to you. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that my new saddle fits him!
I hope you are enjoying spring and embracing new challenges. Take care!
The horse that I have been working with the most is a registered Half Andalusian, Half National Show Horse (his mom is 3/4 Arabian, 1/4 Saddlebred) gelding named Gaucho, that we bred and has been with us his whole life. He is technically my husband's horse, and therefore, gets put on the back burner quite a bit. He is happy and healthy, but just doesn't benefit from our full attention. So, I have decided to start schooling him, get him in to shape, and see where the path takes us. He is a very interesting horse; while he doesn't have perfect conformation, he is very strong, very athletic and very smart. I admit that he is a challenge to ride because of these three traits! You have never met a horse that was so keen, so quick and so sensitive. He does airs above ground on his own out in the pasture, and sometimes when he is ridden, though inadvertently! But when he is good - oh my goodness is he fun! Like riding the quintessential Spanish charger!
 |
| Taken on a cloudy day - sorry for the dark shadows! :) |
Another thing that makes Gaucho a challenge is his size. He is wide, has a short, dipped back and a VERY deep heartgirth. All of my western saddles are terribly unforgiving on his back, and created unnecessary distraction, so I have purchased a dressage saddle to ride him in. I have always ridden English, but most of my adult life I have used western saddles when I train, out of comfort and security. I call it riding 'Spanglish.' I think that the last horse I used a dressage saddle on was Gaucho's sire, a PRE Andalusian stallion that I had in training for several years. So it has been a while....Don't think that I have given up western, I just have to find a solution for Gaucho that makes him comfortable. My philosophy is change to the horse, don't expect the horse to change to you. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that my new saddle fits him!
I hope you are enjoying spring and embracing new challenges. Take care!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
A Good Horse Makes For Short Miles
Good morning and Happy Tuesday!
The past few weeks I have been spending quite a bit of time in the barn and riding. The weather has been great, and my training horses have been doing very well, so I feel very fortunate to be able to spend that time in the saddle. It won't be long, and the cold will deter me, so I am taking advantage of it now.
On the 11th of November, we will reach the 90 day mark in Candy's training. [I have covered Candy before - read here] This is a great time to evaluate how a young one is doing, as it is enough time usually for them to trust you so you can get something done with them. Candy, whom I like to call 'Little Sister' in honor of her two wonderful older brothers, Atley and Broque, is doing wonderfully. When she came to me, she had spent most of her life outside, in a herd, being handled only to do basic vet procedures and occasionally being tied up to be fed. She has been a sweet girl from Day One though, never seeming to be adverse to the training process; rather, she has always been eager to please, even if she wasn't sure what exactly to do.
I am now riding her in a snaffle rather than a sidepull, and have moved from riding her in a round pen to working her in my large, open, riding area. I am happy to say that she appears to handle much like her brothers - she is light on your legs (without spurs), sensitive to the rider's movements but not jerky or hot, follows her nose beautifully and is proving to have a nice, soft mouth. She backs, circles well, and is just starting to rate her speed. She is thoroughly un-spooky, and up until this point, she and I have not had any major blow ups, nor do I expect to. I just LOVE riding her! So often, a trainer must spend a big chunk of time fixing what the previous trainer did to a horse. It is a wonderful thing to get one that is untouched and have the opportunity to create a horse free of bad behaviors and/or fear. Her owner is very happy with how she is doing, and I am pretty sure Candy is happy too; when I walk into the barn to get her out, she nickers to me - - and no, she doesn't get treats! :)
One thing that I have had to adjust to, though, is a different saddle. I have been complaining lately about all the wear and tear that my work tack is taking, and Candy's owner suggested that I try one of her 'extra' saddles - a treeless Sports Saddle. I was wary*, but gave it a try, and have been pleasantly surprised. First off, I love how lightweight it is. And it is REALLY comfortable. This saddle isn't meant for collection work, or for schooling fast turns at speed, but for putting miles on a three yr old? Perfect! And I don't have to feel guilty this winter about getting on my leather saddles with muddy boots!
Have you ever tried a Sports Saddle? How hard is it for you to ride in tack that is different than what you are used to?
*I had tried to ride in one last year, on a different horse, and it felt very awkward to me at the time. The one I had used previously had a fleece seat cover on it, making me feel like I was sitting WAAAAAY up on the horse, and it was 'roll-y' to boot. This time, no seat cover, and I am much happier. This saddle is tricky though - when you sit down in it, everything compresses, meaning your girth is immediately loose, which, of course, lends itself to rolling. I have gotten very good at tightening the girth while mounted, which helps tremendously!
The past few weeks I have been spending quite a bit of time in the barn and riding. The weather has been great, and my training horses have been doing very well, so I feel very fortunate to be able to spend that time in the saddle. It won't be long, and the cold will deter me, so I am taking advantage of it now.
On the 11th of November, we will reach the 90 day mark in Candy's training. [I have covered Candy before - read here] This is a great time to evaluate how a young one is doing, as it is enough time usually for them to trust you so you can get something done with them. Candy, whom I like to call 'Little Sister' in honor of her two wonderful older brothers, Atley and Broque, is doing wonderfully. When she came to me, she had spent most of her life outside, in a herd, being handled only to do basic vet procedures and occasionally being tied up to be fed. She has been a sweet girl from Day One though, never seeming to be adverse to the training process; rather, she has always been eager to please, even if she wasn't sure what exactly to do.
I am now riding her in a snaffle rather than a sidepull, and have moved from riding her in a round pen to working her in my large, open, riding area. I am happy to say that she appears to handle much like her brothers - she is light on your legs (without spurs), sensitive to the rider's movements but not jerky or hot, follows her nose beautifully and is proving to have a nice, soft mouth. She backs, circles well, and is just starting to rate her speed. She is thoroughly un-spooky, and up until this point, she and I have not had any major blow ups, nor do I expect to. I just LOVE riding her! So often, a trainer must spend a big chunk of time fixing what the previous trainer did to a horse. It is a wonderful thing to get one that is untouched and have the opportunity to create a horse free of bad behaviors and/or fear. Her owner is very happy with how she is doing, and I am pretty sure Candy is happy too; when I walk into the barn to get her out, she nickers to me - - and no, she doesn't get treats! :)
One thing that I have had to adjust to, though, is a different saddle. I have been complaining lately about all the wear and tear that my work tack is taking, and Candy's owner suggested that I try one of her 'extra' saddles - a treeless Sports Saddle. I was wary*, but gave it a try, and have been pleasantly surprised. First off, I love how lightweight it is. And it is REALLY comfortable. This saddle isn't meant for collection work, or for schooling fast turns at speed, but for putting miles on a three yr old? Perfect! And I don't have to feel guilty this winter about getting on my leather saddles with muddy boots!
Have you ever tried a Sports Saddle? How hard is it for you to ride in tack that is different than what you are used to?
*I had tried to ride in one last year, on a different horse, and it felt very awkward to me at the time. The one I had used previously had a fleece seat cover on it, making me feel like I was sitting WAAAAAY up on the horse, and it was 'roll-y' to boot. This time, no seat cover, and I am much happier. This saddle is tricky though - when you sit down in it, everything compresses, meaning your girth is immediately loose, which, of course, lends itself to rolling. I have gotten very good at tightening the girth while mounted, which helps tremendously!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The Sky Is NOT Falling
An important part of my job as a blogger is to keep tabs on what is going on in the horse industry, and report my take on those happenings. One place that I frequently check for new subjects is the Quarter Horse News, and specifically, the blogs that they sometimes publish. I take everything I read there with a grain of salt; after years of subscribing, it is apparent to me that the QHN and its editors have a definite agenda that is evident in their writing and coverage of current events. Nevertheless, I recognize that a certain segment of our industry thinks like they do, and it is interesting and helpful to be able to identify those trends.
Recently, I read the most recent entry of “Katie's Blog” and was struck by the tone it took. The topic was on the USDA regulation of Tennessee Walker shows, and how it “had taken on a life of its own.” This blog entry characterized the inspections as inept, quoting a trainer (who had been disqualified due to scars present on his horse's legs) as saying, “The government went nuts. They don’t know what they’re doing. Absolutely don’t know what they’re doing.” Katie went on to question whether the government would soon be looking at other equine competitions, and would even go after people for tying up their horses.
She says several times that she isn't promoting cruelty, but I am puzzled....what is she promoting by trying to set the inspections of horses at competitions in such a negative light? The right of others to be cruel to their horses? That everyone should resist any monitoring, because “God forbid” it might lead to all of us losing our animals?
The “Big Lick” Tennessee Walker people have a long history of hurting horses for the sake of blue ribbons, and they are now getting what is due to them. Let's give the good people of our USDA some credit; they are not complete idiots. They aren't blind. If they see a horse with scars or marks that fall within the predetermined standards for abuse, the horse is out. OF COURSE the trainers who are ousted are going to be mad, and are going to say that it was wrong, but I am pretty sure that most Walker enthusiasts want to weed out those that continue the nasty practice of soring, and make a statement to the rest of the world that they advocate for the horse. We should applaud them!
The attitude that there is something wrong with monitoring horses at competitions is paranoid and will not prepare the performance horse industry for the scrutiny that will inevitably come. Katie writes, “But what about hobbling a horse? What about using spurs? What about saddle spots? …...” Every single one of the listed methods of horse handling can and should be examined in a logical way. For example, spurs. They are part of the normal operating equipment for training horses (for many people, not all) and when used properly, do not cause significant harm. Are there types of spurs that are harsher than others? Yes! Are there trainers who abuse them? Yes! So, therefore, should they be regulated, both in type used and method? Yes! That isn't something I need the government to tell me, it is common sense, so why wait until an activist gets upset by watching a trainer bloody his horse with spurs, gets photographic proof of it, and then calls in the government to start writing sanctions? Can't we monitor and discipline our own now, and set a tone for what is acceptable? If we are worried that the USDA won't be capable of adequately monitoring our sport, shouldn't we appoint trained, and extremely objective, inspectors to monitor what goes on in the warm up areas and within the show pen at events? Isn't it prudent to be a step ahead of the scrutiny, rather than being reactive and defensive?
The performance horse industry has long operated under a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy toward training methods and abusive practices. Somehow, the right to put a bike chain in your horse's mouth has fallen under the same umbrella of willful ignorance as the right to carry loaded guns into bars. After all, how can you compete with the other guy if you aren't equally armed? How many people out there feel that their right to jerk and spur sounds something like, “I'll give up my 'brain chain' bridle....when you pry it from my cold dead hands!”? And questionable practices are certainly more likely to be ignored if the person doing them is popular, has a big name and lots of money.
This isn't the Wild West, folks. The performance horse industry must work in harmony with the rest of a global society in order for it to prosper. I am not a paranoid person; I don't believe that we are headed for some type of war against the humane activists. I also don't believe that an activist's end goal is to stop all horse competitions – they just want the horses to be treated with respect. For a very long time, we have turned a blind eye toward abusive training practices. It is my belief that the new spirit of activism has arrived to put a check on the attitude of disrespect toward the animals we make our living from.
And we have a choice now; keep our blinders on, continue to mind our own business, continue to accept that which we know is wrong, continue to dig in our heels at change. OR we can step up and move forward, toward better riding, better equipment, better rules and better competitions. We can choose to reach out to those who are concerned about the animals, and create a more transparent industry in which questionable methods that were previously hidden are nonexistent. And we can drop the scary rhetoric – it isn't “us” against “them.” We all should be for THE HORSE.
And we have a choice now; keep our blinders on, continue to mind our own business, continue to accept that which we know is wrong, continue to dig in our heels at change. OR we can step up and move forward, toward better riding, better equipment, better rules and better competitions. We can choose to reach out to those who are concerned about the animals, and create a more transparent industry in which questionable methods that were previously hidden are nonexistent. And we can drop the scary rhetoric – it isn't “us” against “them.” We all should be for THE HORSE.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Every Little Bit Counts
Bits and bitting are endlessly fascinating for me. I have been collecting bits since I was a kid; I actually have every bit I have ever owned, and most of them are still useful, even if they were manufactured 20 years ago. Many things make them so alluring to me. First, it is the myriad of configurations that bits come in. The mouthpiece shapes, the side rings, the shanks, the differences in size and heft, and all the different functions that each individual bit is intended to accomplish point out man's long and complicated relationship with the horse. Each bit tells a story of a horse and what his job was. There is also the decorative allure of bits, from the sleek and simple English snaffles that I own to the fancy engraved western show bits, they are the perfect blend of functionality and beautiful design. Yes, I have been known to decorate with bits. LOL!
The most fascinating part of bitting for me, though, is the challenge that comes in finding just the right one for a particular horse that I am working with. Each horses' mouth is unique, their age and training needs are different, and of course, there is their intended job that they need to fulfill for their owner. I have never gotten rid of a bit because I almost always use them again. Sometime, down the road, I will inevitably have a horse that needs a certain size or configuration, so I keep them on hand to try them when I need to. I encourage everyone to keep and collect bits - you never know when you might need them!
I recently graduated one of my training horses, Broque, to a loose ring copper slow-twist snaffle. He had been doing pretty well in the plain D-ring snaffle that I was using previously, but he was ready to get a little lighter, and needed to collect more at the lope. And what a difference it made. He was VERY happy in the new bit, light and responsive, and his lope was fantastic! My philosophy toward changing bits is that it should be a reward for doing well in the previous, more 'elementary' bit - truly, a graduation up the ladder of education. Usually, I find that horses like to learn the next step, if the bit fits them well and is a logical progression from where they just were.
There are many riders who use the same bit all the time, and if it works well - all the time - that's fine. Some people only use one bit because they understand that particular bit and trying something different is daunting. I say, even a small change can make a big difference in your horse's performance! Adding a dog bone (a small bone-shaped bar) to the center of your plain snaffle, or advancing to a light curb can do wonders for your horse's maneuverability, self-carriage, and rating of speed. Always measure your horse's mouth and the bits you use to make sure the horse is going to be comfortable. And remember the most important rule in bitting - the bit is only as harsh as the hands that hold the reins. Make sure you are riding with an independent seat so that no matter what bit you use, your hands will be soft, still and responsive.
If you are interested in learning more about the art of bitting, check out "A Whole Bit Better," which is a fantastic aid in understanding how your horse's mouth works. Another inexpensive addition to everyone's tack room is this tool that helps you measure your horse's mouth - makes it wonderfully easy!
Enjoy your day and enjoy your ride!!
The most fascinating part of bitting for me, though, is the challenge that comes in finding just the right one for a particular horse that I am working with. Each horses' mouth is unique, their age and training needs are different, and of course, there is their intended job that they need to fulfill for their owner. I have never gotten rid of a bit because I almost always use them again. Sometime, down the road, I will inevitably have a horse that needs a certain size or configuration, so I keep them on hand to try them when I need to. I encourage everyone to keep and collect bits - you never know when you might need them!
I recently graduated one of my training horses, Broque, to a loose ring copper slow-twist snaffle. He had been doing pretty well in the plain D-ring snaffle that I was using previously, but he was ready to get a little lighter, and needed to collect more at the lope. And what a difference it made. He was VERY happy in the new bit, light and responsive, and his lope was fantastic! My philosophy toward changing bits is that it should be a reward for doing well in the previous, more 'elementary' bit - truly, a graduation up the ladder of education. Usually, I find that horses like to learn the next step, if the bit fits them well and is a logical progression from where they just were.
There are many riders who use the same bit all the time, and if it works well - all the time - that's fine. Some people only use one bit because they understand that particular bit and trying something different is daunting. I say, even a small change can make a big difference in your horse's performance! Adding a dog bone (a small bone-shaped bar) to the center of your plain snaffle, or advancing to a light curb can do wonders for your horse's maneuverability, self-carriage, and rating of speed. Always measure your horse's mouth and the bits you use to make sure the horse is going to be comfortable. And remember the most important rule in bitting - the bit is only as harsh as the hands that hold the reins. Make sure you are riding with an independent seat so that no matter what bit you use, your hands will be soft, still and responsive.
If you are interested in learning more about the art of bitting, check out "A Whole Bit Better," which is a fantastic aid in understanding how your horse's mouth works. Another inexpensive addition to everyone's tack room is this tool that helps you measure your horse's mouth - makes it wonderfully easy!
Enjoy your day and enjoy your ride!!
Friday, July 15, 2011
A Black Eye for Bridle-less Riding
I recently learned about a piece of equipment being used to 'train' horses to stop harder, and I wanted to share this information with all of you. It is called a tack collar, and while it is surely being produced by many manufacturers, I found out about it through Buckaroo Leather Products. They recently posted an article titled, "Tack Collars, gimmick or useful training Device?" , which seems to imply that they are investigating the usefulness of this device, when, in fact, they do not criticize it at all, but rather defend it (that does make it easier to sell!). So I guess I will be critiquing it for them...
This collar is simply a leather strap resembling a breast collar that has spiked rivets on the inside. It is worn across the horse's chest, and when the horse is asked to stop, the collar is pulled against the horse's body, and the pain from the rivets causes the horse to stop harder and faster. The spikes come in a variety of lengths, all the way up to 1/2 inch. The article says that they are 'soft, gentle studs' but I can clearly see in this picture that pulling them into a horse's hide, even if they have a blunt end, would cause pain, especially when the horse is running hard to do a sliding stop.
The point of using this device is so that when the rider decides to move from riding in a bridle to going bridle-less, the horse will be impressive in its stops and responsiveness. They even show a picture of Mandy McCutcheon, the NRHA highest money earning non-pro ever, in their ad, because if she uses this, surely, it must be acceptable, right?
Since when is it necessary to use a spiked collar to get a horse to stop nicely? A horse that is bred and built to do reining, receives patient, proper training, is physically fit and feels good, and has a rider that has good timing and body control doesn't need to dig spikes into the horse's chest to get a nice stop. Riding bridle-less used to be a novelty, meant only to show how broke a horse is - and a way to show how lightly controlled and how partnered-up the horse is. This tack collar is the opposite of that! Trainers like Stacy Westfall have made riding bridle-less trendy, and yet, we can no longer assume that someone who is able to ride without a bridle is doing so because they are completely in-tune with their beautifully finished horse. I contacted Stacy to ask her what she thinks about these tack collars, and she didn't respond. Does she use them? I have no idea, but I would guess probably not. It is all the people who want to be just like her, or at least maintain the guise that they are 'natural' horsemen, that are using them.
Arguably, this type of device is not much different than using spurs, but we have all seen that spurs have become so commonplace - and so overused - in reining that we don't even question them. And the result is that many reining horses are dead sided and spin their tails. Now we have "spurs" for their chest too, so that in every direction a horse moves, it can potentially meet a hard metal poke.
The article goes out of its way to warn people that this collar should only be used by experienced riders on well-trained horses. That is a good way for them to avoid liability, but has absolutely no teeth to it at all. First, the purpose of this tack manufacturer is to make money, and second, how do you ask a customer to prove that they can handle a particular device? You can't, and even if you asked, most people would say, "Of course, I am a great rider, and sure, my horse can handle this!" But how many people, that are the type attracted to a spiked breast collar, actually have a soft hand, like that article recommends? I would venture to say that if you truly are an experienced trainer with soft hands, what on earth would you need something like this for?
****UPDATE****
I was contacted by Mandy McCutcheon, who was pictured in the article for these collars by Buckaroo Leather Products; she stated that she did not give BLP permission to use her image, nor has she ever used this piece of equipment to train her horses. Further, she said that the horse pictured, ARC Sparkle Surprise, is a good minded horse that went straight from the bridle to going bridle-less with just a rein. Kudos to her for setting the record straight!!
This collar is simply a leather strap resembling a breast collar that has spiked rivets on the inside. It is worn across the horse's chest, and when the horse is asked to stop, the collar is pulled against the horse's body, and the pain from the rivets causes the horse to stop harder and faster. The spikes come in a variety of lengths, all the way up to 1/2 inch. The article says that they are 'soft, gentle studs' but I can clearly see in this picture that pulling them into a horse's hide, even if they have a blunt end, would cause pain, especially when the horse is running hard to do a sliding stop.
The point of using this device is so that when the rider decides to move from riding in a bridle to going bridle-less, the horse will be impressive in its stops and responsiveness. They even show a picture of Mandy McCutcheon, the NRHA highest money earning non-pro ever, in their ad, because if she uses this, surely, it must be acceptable, right?
Since when is it necessary to use a spiked collar to get a horse to stop nicely? A horse that is bred and built to do reining, receives patient, proper training, is physically fit and feels good, and has a rider that has good timing and body control doesn't need to dig spikes into the horse's chest to get a nice stop. Riding bridle-less used to be a novelty, meant only to show how broke a horse is - and a way to show how lightly controlled and how partnered-up the horse is. This tack collar is the opposite of that! Trainers like Stacy Westfall have made riding bridle-less trendy, and yet, we can no longer assume that someone who is able to ride without a bridle is doing so because they are completely in-tune with their beautifully finished horse. I contacted Stacy to ask her what she thinks about these tack collars, and she didn't respond. Does she use them? I have no idea, but I would guess probably not. It is all the people who want to be just like her, or at least maintain the guise that they are 'natural' horsemen, that are using them.
Arguably, this type of device is not much different than using spurs, but we have all seen that spurs have become so commonplace - and so overused - in reining that we don't even question them. And the result is that many reining horses are dead sided and spin their tails. Now we have "spurs" for their chest too, so that in every direction a horse moves, it can potentially meet a hard metal poke.
The article goes out of its way to warn people that this collar should only be used by experienced riders on well-trained horses. That is a good way for them to avoid liability, but has absolutely no teeth to it at all. First, the purpose of this tack manufacturer is to make money, and second, how do you ask a customer to prove that they can handle a particular device? You can't, and even if you asked, most people would say, "Of course, I am a great rider, and sure, my horse can handle this!" But how many people, that are the type attracted to a spiked breast collar, actually have a soft hand, like that article recommends? I would venture to say that if you truly are an experienced trainer with soft hands, what on earth would you need something like this for?
****UPDATE****
I was contacted by Mandy McCutcheon, who was pictured in the article for these collars by Buckaroo Leather Products; she stated that she did not give BLP permission to use her image, nor has she ever used this piece of equipment to train her horses. Further, she said that the horse pictured, ARC Sparkle Surprise, is a good minded horse that went straight from the bridle to going bridle-less with just a rein. Kudos to her for setting the record straight!!
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