One of my loves is the rodeo. It's a passion! Yet people go to one rodeo, typically a back yard rodeo with a bunch of hicks, and they see cruel riding and immediately think Western riding and rodeos are cruel. Not saying every single rider in a rodeo will be fantastic, but I've seen a LOT of abuse in jumping, dressage, blah blah.
My main point is, before you judge a whole discipline and the people who take part in it, do research. Go to more than one show or rodeo-this counts for any discipline, not just western!-and see what you think.
And look at my fatty.
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| He's so abused. ;) I mean, come on. Its not like I give him daily hugs, give in to his every whim, get vet checks all the time..... |
Plus, my horse loves his job, western job. Even when he was sick a few weeks ago and almost foundered, fifteen minutes into our light trail ride and his ears perked up and he wanted to go. He loves it. If he didn't, I wouldn't make him do it. Go to a real rodeo and see how much those horses want to do their job. Maybe your eyes will open. And if you feel the same way about English riding, look at how much those horses love their job!!!!
Oh well. Haters gonna hate. Just don't hate on my horse.
Things would get bad.
I'm of the opinion that it doesn't matter the type of saddle you sit in, as long as you treat your horse well.
ReplyDeleteI'm not much in to barrel racing or western pleasure, but I also don't automatically assume you're less of a rider if you are.
I agree with that opinion! Honestly, I love pretty much every single discipline, other than polo, just never got into it, and I have a respect for those riders-even the polo riders, lol!!-as long as they treat the horse well, I'm fine! No complaints!
DeleteI'm not a fan of what they have turned WP classes into - the exaggerated, super slow, doesn't look like a true gait, canter they've come up with drives me crazy and would keep me from ever competing. I do like working equitation, which you can do western or english. I ride an english saddle, but that's mostly because I have a hard time dealing with the pressure on my knees that a western fender causes.
ReplyDeleteI think that as long as both horse and rider are comfortable and enjoying themselves, nothing else really matters.
I'm okay with WP right now because my horse is one of those that has a slow-ish gait, but some of it is a little...bleh. :)) I agree. As long as the horse is okay, I'm fine with it.
DeleteYou are absolutely correct that there are abusive riders in every discipline. Different events in the rodeo I can really enjoy such as barrel racing but I'm not a fan of bronc riding or a lot of the other events like it.
ReplyDeleteI'm alright with bronc riding as long as the horses aren't forced to do it..I think there's a fine line with it.
Deletetrue! love me, love my horse.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that people could judge everyone who rides western even though they have only seen a few western riders. Out where I live, everyone rides western, and no one that I know of is abusive. ;) I agree with you that there can be cruel riders in every discipline, not just western. I actually read somewhere that some english riders sometimes have people beat their horse to make them jump. Abuse exists in all disciplines. I agree with everything you said!
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteHaha, someone else commented about how they think that western pleasure has been super exaggerated. I agree with that! Look at those horses doing a four beat lope, that's tougher for their bodies than a regular lope!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think it's a little exaggerated but every discipline has those parts! I mean, it's not just WP.
DeleteI love watching any kind of horse event! I don't think that disciplining your horse is abuse. If you didn't they'd get really sassy and then end up hurting you. Rodeos are by FAR the best horse event EVER!!!
ReplyDeleteI believe in discipline, but I also believe in natural horsemanship-natural as possible. Obviously I don't like cruel bits, spurs, whips, but discipline is necessary!
DeleteAbuse can come in any form with any tack.
ReplyDeleteThat is ridiculous! There are cases upon cases (as sad as it is) of abuse in EVERY SINGLE DISCIPLINE. I personally have ridden Hunter/Jumpers, English Pleasure, Dressage, Eventing, Western Dressage, Barrels, Western Games, Trail, and more! I do what I feel like. I don't think a "Discipline" is abusive. I think PEOPLE are sick jerks who are abusive!
ReplyDeleteI agree!!
DeleteVery good post!! Its so true too. There are so many stereo types to do with certain equestrian diciplines and usually they arent true. Sure there may be abusive behaviour in western diciplines but there also is in English diciplines. People can get too closed minded about this subject but no matter what the dicipline there are always going to be the good and the bad riders.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Any tool can be used improperly and cause pain. A snaffle is considered a less harsh bit than say a long shank curb but in the wrong hands that snaffle can cause severe damage. If trained properly and progressively that long shank curb can actually be mild in the properly trained hands. Same goes for spurs etc. I think a lot of people just think they NEED to use certain tools and don't get trained on how to use them nor train their horse properly. That goes for all disciplines! Great post!
ReplyDelete