This head position is completely natural.
For a playful and energic horse.
For 0,1 seconds.
Not for 10 minutes driven by force.
Not until the tongue is blue.
Not until the eyes is rolling.
Not until the back loses its ability to move properly.
Not until the horse gives up.
This is also a great example on why we must be very careful when we base our opinions on a single photo. Please research before critizing and keep the debate constructive.
And this is not about money, it is about the responsibility you have when you decide to buy a horse in the first place. Like all other pets, we are responsible for looking after them, feed them, give them vet care and stand by their side ─ and we can’t stop doing that when they get older!
And then you have people who claim they can’t afford a horse they can no longer use. And this is the point where I get pissed off. Truly angry. What the hell?
Imagine you had a dog, you spent 10 years together and your dog is starting to get older. It can’t be a huge shock, can it? Animals age, just as humans do. You knew it when you met your puppy and fell in love ten years ago. It can’t join you on long hikes and adventures anymore, and maybe it need help walking up and down the stairs in your home. Would you try to get rid of the dog, simply because your best friend wasn’t young anymore? «I’m sorry Fido, shelter next, I will get a new puppy instead. Thanks for staying faithful, I won’t.» In my opinion that is nothing but heartless.
It is the same with horses. Your show jumper, a horse you have owned for a decade, can’t compete anymore due to an old injury or a tired back. But it can join you on hacks in the forest, and you can still enjoy many happy years together ─ why on earth would you get rid of your old friend, simply because of your own egoism?
If you can’t afford your horse when it is time to retire him, you can’t afford a horse in the first place. An old horse cost approx. the same as a younger horse since I checked, unless you are dealing with health issues or your horse needs expensive medication. But that should not be a huge shock either, if you know the basics of biology.
It is not a question about what you can afford or not; it is a question about how big your heart is, and how much you really did love your horse. Because if you love someone, you won’t leave them because you want to reach a higher level in a sport or do more fancy tricks!
Yes, keeping horses is expensive as hell, I’m well aware, I have one myself. But when your horse will run through flames for you, travels across the country in a box on wheels and always stay by your side through your life, both ups and downs, and truly give you everything – the least you can do in return is to continue to care for your friend when the age reaches 20. When the legs aren’t as fast as they used to be, the muscles aren’t as strong as they once were. The coat not as shiny, but his love for you is greater than ever.
Peace, love and Friesian hugs,
Batman and one angry Matilde
Feel free to share if you agree.
hest horse
ponni pony
fjording norwegian fjord horse
krangel argument
bobleplast bubble wrap
det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing
blakk poor
rundball forage
spik spenna gæærn og klin sprø a person who rides bridleless on hacks
Peace, love and Friesian hugs,
Batman & Matilde
My blog posts about the incidence at Gothenburg Horse Show got world-wide attention in March, and I understand why. A horse being treated unfair and punished on live TV in Sweden is indeed shocking. The rider is now back in the saddle, and got away with it all with an apology. I don’t think the horse care so much about a Facebook post.
«As I see it today, it is okay to kick, hit and whip horses. It is okay to pull the reins, attached to a metal piece, so hard that you can feel it in your biceps the day after. It is okay to use rollkur and if you are rich and famous enough, you can even try to enter the arena on a lame horse during FEI competitions. Is this really how we want our sport to be like?»
The horses care about the immense pain they are dealing with when a rider is pulling the reins multiple times in a row while kicking its sensitive ribs with boots equipped with spurs. The horses care about not being punished with violence when they are doing everything they can to please us. Every single day, they are performing on a high level both physically and mentally, pushing themselves to the limit. Traveling thousands of miles. Airplanes. Busy warm up-arenas. Walls taller than themselves, they carry their riders safely over with pride. Over and over again. With all their heart, they help their riders achieve their goals. Being the most important part of the team, every day. Without a single complaint when they are treated unfair, they keep going on. Horses may forgive, but they never forget.
If the FEI really cares about the welfare of the horses in our sport, inhumane treatment of animals should have severe consequences. Every single time.
If the FEI is planning to continue to let horses suffer in our sport, I recommend you to stop lying to the world, claiming that “the welfare of the horse is at the heart of all our activities”, because that’s simply not true if you seriously are allowed to abuse your partner during the competition. May I suggest changing it to “the welfare of the rider’s name and reputation is at the heart of all our activites” instead? More fitting.
As I see it today, it is okay to kick, hit and whip horses. It is okay to pull the reins, attached to a metal piece, so hard that you can feel it in your biceps the day after. It is okay to use rollkur and if you are rich and famous enough, you can even try to enter the arena on a lame horse during FEI competitions. Is this really how we want our sport to be like? Because the Code of Conduct simply does not matter anymore when breaking the rules does not have consequences.
The future of horse sports is in danger if we don’t do anything about this problem. It is time to make our sport better, with being as strict as we have to every time animals is treated unfair.
