Is this normal for small horse shows??!!

KZWestern · 11-06-2004, 04:00 PM

Today I went to watch a small horse show with my friend. I've watched numerous horse shows before. Most of them however, where either advanced and exspert riders or state wide shows so everybody is pretty good and atleast you don't SEE too much of this. Today I went to just a little show and I was shocked.

All the horses except for like two had harsh bits, severe martingales and tie downs. And I was also shocked at the riding.

A girl who was representing a saddle club or was the "queen" of it really shocked me. Ok, so the event was Egg and Spoon. Not a big deal right? But when she dropped her egg she took her reins and jerked them back and forth and back and forth so her horse was just absalutely jerking everywhere. And she was going quite audibly "you stupid! stupid, stupid stupid!!!" She was not by any means the only one. And it was her fault she dropped the egg!

I saw so many horses in harsh equipment and all the riders except for a couple had really really harsh hands AND mouths. I saw some "tack" that wasn't even really tack. Like ropes tied over the nose with a piece of twine tied from that to the top of the bridle very very tightly. (I couldn't even figure out the point of that one)

Has everyone else seen stuff like this? I was really shocked and angry about the treatment of these horses. My riding instructor was the judge and I know she disqualified atleast three people in egg and spoon for conduct with the horses! And its just egg and spoon people!!

AQHA1972 · 11-06-2004, 04:05 PM

I see that a lot at small local open shows. It's mainly the teen age girls. One girl kept yanking on her horses mouth because it would go over the bridge in the trail class. I thought "well gee that should fix the problem". I've seen this girl before, very arrogant young thing. Goes in the pen chewing gum with this I'm better than you smirk....she hasn't won yet.

thoroughbred_01 · 11-06-2004, 04:13 PM

i wouldnt be able to help myself i would go nuts at them and tell them to take better care of their horses horses have feelings too

Super_Trooper · 11-06-2004, 04:24 PM

Im lucky where I am from cause so many people here have the horses well being in mind, the local shows are fun, happy and everyone is super nice (to others AND to their horses). We would be shocked to see that kind of behaviour where we are.

western*girl · 11-06-2004, 04:40 PM

wow that sounds terrible! i dont know how i would have reacted.

PizzazzandMe · 11-06-2004, 04:47 PM

That's awful!!! I wouldn't have been able to stand it. I probably would have gone over and comforted the horses and yelled at the riders. I can't believe people would treat their horses that badly!

thoroughbred_01 · 11-06-2004, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PizzazzandMe

That's awful!!! I wouldn't have been able to stand it. I probably would have gone over and comforted the horses and yelled at the riders. I can't believe people would treat their horses that badly!

i know very bad i would do more than just yell i cant stand any1 hurting a horse or any animal just so they can win i would go nuts

Super Step · 11-06-2004, 05:07 PM

I see it some here. It is not common with everyone but usually the same riders every week.

Our ground rules basically focus on obvious abuse and not on what the owner/rider considers "training" aides or techniques.

Quiggles · 11-06-2004, 05:15 PM

Thats horrible! i have never seen anything like that arownd here and i hope i never do.

timberline · 11-06-2004, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Im lucky where I am from cause so many people here have the horses well being in mind, the local shows are fun, happy and everyone is super nice (to others AND to their horses). We would be shocked to see that kind of behaviour where we are.

Same here.
Seeing this kind of behavior during a show is cause for lots of uproar. At one show this a summer (a gymkhana) during the boot race I think it was, one girl's horse tried to race back with the other horses before she could mount...she led the horse from the ring, went behind the barn, and while holding the reins tightly to prevent the horse from running away preceeded to whip it repeatedly...everyone was so shocked and disgusted...at the next show the organizer telephoned the girl beforehand and told her that if she was going to attend, she'd best not go beating her horses because this time people wouldn't just stand back in horror of what was happening...
She never came to the 2nd show.

11-06-2004, 04:00 PM	#1
KZWestern Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 3,643 Images: 35	Is this normal for small horse shows??!! Today I went to watch a small horse show with my friend. I've watched numerous horse shows before. Most of them however, where either advanced and exspert riders or state wide shows so everybody is pretty good and atleast you don't SEE too much of this. Today I went to just a little show and I was shocked. All the horses except for like two had harsh bits, severe martingales and tie downs. And I was also shocked at the riding. A girl who was representing a saddle club or was the "queen" of it really shocked me. Ok, so the event was Egg and Spoon. Not a big deal right? But when she dropped her egg she took her reins and jerked them back and forth and back and forth so her horse was just absalutely jerking everywhere. And she was going quite audibly "you stupid! stupid, stupid stupid!!!" She was not by any means the only one. And it was her fault she dropped the egg! I saw so many horses in harsh equipment and all the riders except for a couple had really really harsh hands AND mouths. I saw some "tack" that wasn't even really tack. Like ropes tied over the nose with a piece of twine tied from that to the top of the bridle very very tightly. (I couldn't even figure out the point of that one) Has everyone else seen stuff like this? I was really shocked and angry about the treatment of these horses. My riding instructor was the judge and I know she disqualified atleast three people in egg and spoon for conduct with the horses! And its just egg and spoon people!! __________________ Kristie + Isis = Krisis!!!!!!!!! Isis - slaughter rescue Grattitude - Swedish Warmblood

11-06-2004, 04:24 PM	#4
Super_Trooper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BC Canada Posts: 9,472 Images: 77	Im lucky where I am from cause so many people here have the horses well being in mind, the local shows are fun, happy and everyone is super nice (to others AND to their horses). We would be shocked to see that kind of behaviour where we are. __________________ True commitment begins when you reach the point of not knowing how you could possibly go on, and deciding to do it anyway! http://b1.lilypie.com/mCKWm7/.png

11-06-2004, 04:40 PM	#5
western*girl Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MO Posts: 770	wow that sounds terrible! i dont know how i would have reacted. __________________ ~Dizzy~Sophie~Sassy~Poker~Spike~ Sapphire~Squirt~ http://photos-656.ll.facebook.com/ph...39949_4352.jpg

11-06-2004, 04:47 PM	#6
PizzazzandMe Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,295 Images: 64	That's awful!!! I wouldn't have been able to stand it. I probably would have gone over and comforted the horses and yelled at the riders. I can't believe people would treat their horses that badly! __________________ ~Chloe~ ~Sugar~ 13.2hh silver bay mare

11-06-2004, 05:07 PM	#8
Super Step Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 11,440 Images: 227 Blog Entries: 50	I see it some here. It is not common with everyone but usually the same riders every week. Our ground rules basically focus on obvious abuse and not on what the owner/rider considers "training" aides or techniques. __________________ I have never had a horse lie to me.

11-06-2004, 04:05 PM	#2
AQHA1972 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 2,599	I see that a lot at small local open shows. It's mainly the teen age girls. One girl kept yanking on her horses mouth because it would go over the bridge in the trail class. I thought "well gee that should fix the problem". I've seen this girl before, very arrogant young thing. Goes in the pen chewing gum with this I'm better than you smirk....she hasn't won yet.

11-06-2004, 04:13 PM	#3
thoroughbred_01 Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: AUSTRALIA Posts: 1,313 Images: 8	i wouldnt be able to help myself i would go nuts at them and tell them to take better care of their horses horses have feelings too

11-06-2004, 05:15 PM	#9
Quiggles Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 3,433 Images: 236 Blog Entries: 23	Thats horrible! i have never seen anything like that arownd here and i hope i never do. __________________ Dont be GOSH be EMO!!! My Videos

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