I agree with you of compassionate consideration for the horse, the part of the ‘partnership’ who really doesn’t have much choice in being ridden. I think you are on the whole right about the excessive and much-abused gear, however a trainer or rider can use a whip as a teaching aid, so to that end, I don’t think it means that everyone who carries a whip is going to ‘give a horse a hiding’. A considerate trainer can obtain enhanced understanding and communication with the horse through a tap or a light touch of the whip, as much as a firmer tap. The key is in the timing and the cessation of the signal. This makes it truly clear to the horse.

If we look at any great rider, trainer or handler who we ourselves personally admire – you will see they use a rope, a bridle, halter, stick of some type (whether the horse is ever touched with it – for guidance say), so therefore is that not still a gadget or an aid in use?

Positive reinforcement certainly has a valuable place in the training of animals, at the same time, many people are confused over what negative reinforcement entails (i.e. there is a problem with the word association, as I discussed here).

Thanks once again for your thoughts and input ; )

‘THE MORE CLOBBER, THE WORSE THE RIDER’

I teach equestrian riding to willing riders through mental, emotional and physical self control by the rider, using your mind for telepathic communication with the horse, your body language, accurate and controlled body and limb positioning, and positive reinforcement practices.

I tell clients that the more clobber and gadgets that they have on the horse (i.e. nose bands, martingales, tie downs etc etc) and the more clobber and gadgets that the rider has on themselves (i.e. whips, spurs etc) that in my opinion this demonstrates the evidence that the rider has a distinct lack of skill, knowledge and understanding of working alongside our equestrian friends and a total lack of understanding and empathy for the animals welfare and wellbeing.

Put simply the the rider is simply a ‘çontrol freak’ whose deep conscious or unconscious aim is to control and manipulate the horse (or any animal).

There is a definite lack of understanding that the horse (or any animal) is a sentient being that has anatomical and physiological attributes that encompass highly developed sensory senses that can detect a range of stimuli, right down to the extremely sensitive sensory receptors that inform the nervous system that a small fly or other insect has landed on their hair of their body.

With this level of sensitivity and sensory perception available to the horse it is of deep concern to me that horses be subjected to the cruel and harsh treatments that humans inflict upon them in the course of equestrian activities and so called ‘equestrian sporting events’ where the use of an array of incredibly cruel ‘gadgets of force and control’ are legally allowed and on the majority their use is condoned as an acceptable and essential part of equitation.

These pathetic human practices of control and manipulation will one-day be considered archaic and the pratises of the current human civilization and humanities treatment and exploitation of animals will be deplored and condemned.

I will share with you a poem that was communicated to me by a Khartoum a beautiful intelligent thoroughbred horse that had been exploited by humanity, heavily drugged and forced to race as a galloper until he was 7 years of age simply for humanities greed and then was destined for the slaughterhouse alongside billions of other animals as a disposable commodity.

Khartoum

In the barriers
At the at the start of the race
The gates fly open
I leap forward to set the pace

My head is held high
Mouth wide open, searing in pain
Tensed and torn by the cruel steel bit
My eyes flash wild and wide
My muscles twitch and quiver
In fear of the ride

Down the home straight
I am not far back
Out come the whips
Their burning pain
Again and again
Hitting and cutting
Opening up and bleeding
Is the flesh of my sides

My heart is racing
My lungs are exploding
My sides are heaving
As I gallop across the finishing line

Yes I have won
But what a life
As I live in fear
Of the knackers knife

So please when you ride me
Be gentle with the rein
No longer inflict me with cruelty and pain
For I am your friend
Willing to learn
To work alongside you
No longer a servant to humanities greed

Thank you for reading this beautiful poem which was communicated by Khartoum (7 year old ex racehorse) to Alexandria – CritterChatter