Last week I shared my take on the Olympic Games and I expressed that we shouldn’t forget to look at the positive things that happened at the Olympics.
It led to quite some comments, both positive ánd negative.
I agree with a lot of things that are being said by people who now responded negatively on the blog. I also believe it’s necessary to point out the things that are wrong in equestrian sports.
It’s needed to create an awareness. And it’s the reason there has been more self-awareness for all riders and trainers, both professional and none professional.
In my short time in the horse world, I’ve seen the most improvement towards better horse human practices in the most recent years.
Do we continue with only pushing the negative images and messages?
What does negativity really create in the equestrian human’s mind? Does it in the long run really shift behavior in a more positive direction for horses?
I feel that only continuous negativity creates segregation between humans. It creates things like rejection, denial, blame and a divide. All effects that cause a disability to change.
It of course also creates a huge defense in people that often drives things more underground or behind closed doors, not bringing things out in the open.
And I believe positive change comes from things being out in the open.
It comes from a place of inspiration and motivation, which empowers people with a willingness and a want to do the right things for the right reason.
That doesn’t mean we should ignore the wrongs in horse sport or the horse world, but I believe we should try to draw people towards what is good instead of only publishing the negative side.
I put out the message to have more focus on the riders who showed some harmony.
Trying to bring focus to what it means to be connected with your horse. To try to understand and see who are these horses and what are they thinking. And how is the overall connection, conversation and intention between the horse and riders.
To try and create a balance and to avoid only seeing the undesired symptoms of the bad representation of these things.
My perspective of going about bringing positivity or my attempt at balancing the negativity into the horse world may seem like a conflict.
Or may even seem like a mistake of not seeing or acknowledging that there are still a lot of drastic things going wrong.
It’s a perspective that some people feel needs defending which of course just brings more negativity in many ways.
But I feel, and I hope, we want the same things. We just approach it in a different way.
Of course, the people that are seeing the horse welfare issues are wanting what’s best for our horses. But I think the only way to achieve what’s best for our horses, in the end, is to unite. And not to segregate and divide horse people.
So, yes we need to point out the wrongs in our sport to create awareness. But let’s also shed light on the positive change and the positive things that inspire us and motivate us.
I also believe that the desperate want for horse sports to be eliminated from the Olympic games, would not be the answer for improving horse welfare.
Horse sport brings horse practices into the public eye. It’s the way to spread awareness and to continue to work on bringing a set of standards and a common set of values that is understood to improve the lives of horses and humans together.
And I live in hope that the horse lovers of the world can UNITE to make this our future.
It’s not an easy road but it is one that is worth it and one that can be more easily achieved together.
– Tristan Tucker
A confident and relaxed horse in every situation with my online training program TRT method.
39 Responses
So true! It can be a really lonely place with all the negativity that comes with being in the equestrian world. It’s not about ignoring the errors or mistakes but focusing on the positives and how we can learn from those challenges and therefore bringing us together – not pushing us apart.
Absolutely spot on Tristan!! If we continue to endorse all the negativity, it will only succeed in pushing bad behaviour underground and out of sight. We are all stronger together. We need to share, care and cultivate good/best practices, and this will only be successful with positivity. We know this from all our walks of life, with our children, our dogs, even our work colleagues. Positivity and inclusion delivers the best outcomes – fact. Thank you for a being a beacon in this time of darkness.
We’ll said x
Well said……reward the equestrians that can produce a relaxed, independent horse. Then there will be no room for the others. =0)
Whilst i am all for positivity if we just solely focus on this, we never bring to light the negative aspects of elite horse sport. I think promoting the positives is what we have done in the past, this has had a detrimental effect on the horses. Putting these riders on a pedestal & idolising them hasn’t been beneficial to their horses welfare, they should not be above scrutiny. I would say they have got away with a lot in the last couple of decades. Hyperflexion is a huge problem in elite dressage, muscle atrophy of the top line, double bridles, over tight nose bands, spurs, these are all things that must be addressed urgently & just pushing them to one side & focusing on positive is a very negative stance, if horse welfare come first. There is a need for change, a huge amount of equestrian people want a more ethical approach & now is the time if you want to help keep equestrianism in the olympics. The more horrific photos that come out of Paris, the more people are going to push against it being included, I see no future for it unless the welfare is made a priority, I would happily see it removed if it stops the photos I’ve seen from Paris ever happening again.
Positive reinforcement works better, for people AND horses!
What about signing petition for including extra points (or spare time) for riding without a bit, without the pulling of reins, without spurs ?
Somehow including a challenge in animal welfare signs.
The exemples I give are maybe not the most relevant items at olympics level…. But the challenge in welfare is a uniting idea 🤠
Refreshing and beautifully put.
Conflict is never the answer and the last thing we need is a ‘war’ with lines being drawn behind which opposing ‘sides’ can criticise each other’s viewpoints.
This……Yes…….I have saved this to my READ OFTEN OUT LOUD file…..💎
I fully agree that we need to focus on showing improvement and I also believe we need to be better at showing to the sport public and public what it means to be an equestrian. Why it is so special! I still think we mainly have sport commentators for the initiated and as you wrote Tristan, the sport brings the horse and how we relate to it into the public. Which at least in Sweden is something that we’ve wanted for a long time as well as try to show that it is a business sector to take into account. And I do believe we must unite in the horse community to lead the way into the right direction.
However I don’t see the elite in the sport having engaged in this, we know horse abuse in the form of hyperflection, barrering and blue tongues (I assume have existed since imagery are the same of the horse) have been shown for at least 10-15 years? I’ve seen it myself at warmup arenas. So there’s been ample time to change from within. And unfortunately it spreads down into the equestrian community, I once in a while se ponnies being wridden in hyperflection without any trainer intervening. So to say that the horse community needs to unite to work for the positive is again a bit to vague for me. And I don’t believe in all the trashing going on in social media etc.
Still I don’t see any uniting at the elite level of for example dressage on that we need to change this, it seems to me like you say that denial and defense is still in full swing, like for the last 10 years. And hardly anyone, if any?, goes out and says ok we have a bit of a systems problem here. Our training methods need to change as well as how we score at the events. So, lets look at this together going forward. It is more like, they say its horrible, unbelievable and perhaps turn their back to the rider having been caught or questioning the messenger or not saying anything.
Until I see this movement at the elite level I unfortunately believe we need to continue to also focus on the bad. Otherwise I’m afraid it’ll be swept under the rug. We are talking about a professional elite that do this for a living and have equal access to research on training methods and all the problems with horses mouths etc. Its time to show that they really mean that it is horse abuse and learn and develop new ways. They do lead by example…
Very beautifully said Tristan! Personally I think most people with horses just don’t know any better. They just learn riding in a riding school and maybe later buy a horse of their own. They have not learned about harmony and biomechanics. There are a lot more horses in the hands of amateurs than professional riders. I think it is important to educate them, to show them the possibilities but also the risks for their beloved horse if they follow the old ways. And of course the Olympics can be a good example, but also a bad one. Fortunately there are people like you Tristan, with a big number of followers who can help make a change.
I just don’t understand why the higher the level of competition the more severe the equipment used – nosebands, spurs, spade bits, etc. Surely the pinnacle for elite riders should be to use less equipment that really demonstrates a really well-connected horse and rider combination moving in synch. Imagine if the Olympic dressage teams all rode bridleless with no stirrups/spurs. Maybe then we’d really find out who the best riders are.
Well said, Tristan.
And things are not always as black-and-white as people want to believe. I read an article by a veterinairy dentist who said that sometimes a horse sticks out his tongue not because of the way of riding but because his teeth are not properly looked after. Of course you don’t expect this at top level competitions but also in regional competitions there is a lot of negativity going on. Show both the bad and the good practices so everybody can learn from them.
To be true if you have Jesus in your heart you don’t treat animals or humans bad. I mean people for sure know when they do wrong. That’s it. When people shine a light on it it’s very good. It’s very simple. There is no discussion about when you treat horses bad or not. You know it in your heart.
The anger and hate that is being spewed by some is disturbing and sad. But what disturbed me more were these people saying you didn’t respond the way they wanted you to. Thank you for taking time to help these negative people how to move forward.
Pat Manning and Inger Bryant were both List 1 dressage judges and at their training clinics the problems were sorted by “Back to Basics.
No short cuts/ magic wand/ spurs or bits.
Reiner Klimka at his best said,” The aim is to make the horse look more beautiful.”
Stop forcing the issue and train to get the horse to offer from with in. Gracefull, powerful, athletic partnerships.
Judges in some cases need a rude awakening as to the correct way of going or be made to stand down. Terrible publicity from some awful riding , bad presentation and sub standard judging.
Agree. But the problem I see, is that the negative is still scoring the high marks and people think it is magnificent, if a 7 year old horse is at upper level dressage or jumping already. It is not matured enough to be able to perform correctly at upper level dressage and is also not schooled correctly at the basics competing at upper level jumping. THAT needs to change and then I hope that the people (horsy and non-horsy) will also learn to see that a correctly ridden Grand Prix dressage test is spectacular because it is actually unspectacular due to the lightness and harmony. And all these horses have to be able to show this in a simple snaffle. Same in jumping, the smooth round of a horse ridden without all sorts of gadgets put on it. But as long as there is a hell of a lot of money involved in this business, I have little hope of things changing in sport and breeding in near future….
Thank you for your thoughts on this complex subject, I was very interested to read your blogs for the run up to the Olympics and post Olympics.
I attended the last 2 days of the dressage and I day of show jumping and was greatly impressed by the standard and quality of horse & rider combinations.
There were also some standout moments of exceptional horsemanship and harmony between horse and rider and it’s these moments that inspire us and want us to work towards these goals with our own horses.
And we can all work towards these goals by being united in supporting each other in the “new way” of horse training through learning and understanding the horse, using methods such as TRT and moving ways from the “old way” of the more military dominated approaches from years ago.
However these older methods are deep seated throughout the disciplines and it’s rather like turning a juggernaut to make a shift change in the cultural approach but I firmly believe that this is entirely possible, given time and through unity.
It’s incredibly important for the welfare of the horses of the future that we are able to showcase the ultimate of horse and rider harmony events such as the Olympics.
It’s not so many years ago that the majority of day to day pleasure riders hadn’t even heard of the basic level “pressure/ release* training.
It will take time but we need to move forward with the positives together, for the good for our equine partners.
And we can thank you, Tristan, for being of of those unique people who is spearheading this approach.
Hear hear! From the point of view as an ex equine body worker and instructor, it starts at the very beginning when people first learn to ride and care for horses. Sadly, not everyone has the good fortune to have the right start but if you have an open mind and understand that we will never know it all, you can just keep learning. It is also important that you have a good team of like minded people in anything to do with your horse, such as body worker, instructor, farrier, dentist, vet and to be prepared to make changes if you are not happy with any of these.
Well said, Tristan.
If the goal is more humane treatment of the horse, wouldn’t that mean we stop using them for entertainment and financial gain? Why is the goal better instead of best?
Why shouldn’t they all be on sanctuaries living their lives w horses? Most pathologies (mental and physical) are caused by captivity and humans. We are capable of enormous change but all I hear are excuses, such as sanctuaries are unrealistic, or that it’s an enormous industry and change has to happen slowly.
Why is it assumed it’s ok to get on their backs at all? Horses deserve the same consideration as the elephants are now getting, the general public needs to be fully educated, not educated from the view of those still willing to use the horse for personal gain.
Thank you Tristan for continuing to focus on the positive. I think people forget that we can hold two thoughts in our mind at once. We want to end mistreatment of horses and can still celebrate all the forward progress the horse community has made moving forward. There are still places in the world where horses are still seen as tools instead of partners. Those places need to be shown a better way of interacting with horses but if we make trainers afraid to train then horses globally will suffer.
I agree with this: Colleen says:
August 14, 2024 at 11:37 am
The anger and hate that is being spewed by some is disturbing and sad. But what disturbed me more were these people saying you didn’t respond the way they wanted you to. Thank you for taking time to help these negative people how to move forward.
You are showing a better way! And your explaining what the horse is thinking helps so much! I’m sure God is pleased with your absolute love and admiration of one of His most beautiful creations (Job 39:19 in the Bible is where He described him). Your love of the horse and desire to teach for their welfare honors Him.
I agree with what Colleen said above!
You are showing a better way! And your explaining what the horse is thinking helps so much! I’m sure God is pleased with your absolute love and admiration of one of His most beautiful creations (Job 39:19 in the Bible is where He described him). Your love of the horse and desire to teach for their welfare honors Him.
I really appreciate your perspective and approach. I wish to see others taking this stance.
I find it interesting that people are disappointed in your perspective, considering most of the people commenting probably follow several equestrian pages that only share highlight reels and cherry picked “challenging moments”. Sharing negative thoughts online changes nothing. It does not inspire change or uplift. People would rather spend their time complaining on Facebook than volunteer at their local horse rescue or write letters to governing bodies for change. They ask for your opinion on short moments of time that refuse to embody the whole picture (which may have been beautiful!) then wonder why you refuse to give an answer!
This is the reason why I don’t have social media anymore, and why it’s so scary to do anything in public nowadays. Anyone can take a photo or a short video on their cell phone, edit it how they see fit, post it with their own narrative and zero real context, and next thing you know you’ve been socially exiled.
Keep on keeping on Tristan, do not feed the negativity beast!
I feel in the last 5 years the art of debating and freedom of speech in all aspects of life has and is being eroded on purpose and it’s just about creating devision , good bad positive negative, and so it all can just get very triggering and uncomfortable.
I personally don’t engage is SM or MSM and so I have removed all the shenanigans that goes on there from my life , and I can tell you I don’t miss anything .
I do feel that bad things happen when good men and women stay quiet and also there is such a thing as toxic positivity. Professionals have a duty not to gaslight the public.
I thought the blog stimulated an open dialogue which is healthy and I am curious that any differences in opinion were labelled as being negative.
I feel a balanced approach is more effective as you talked about in this continuation of the blog so I will end on a neutral note, (purposely not using the the triggering label;) )
One of the great issues with social media is that it is an extremely poor forum in which to have discussions. It is far too easy to scream when you are protected by anonymity. Then you combine that with an almost unlimited audience, and you will always find another who agrees with whatever position is being expressed. We can see that in the divisions in society.
Horses should bring us together. Oh sure there are bad apples in any community, but if you’re following Tristin to begin with, you likely aren’t beating your horse to perform. I know that I’m here because I’m drawn to older ex performance horses with issues. I don’t know why, my life would be much easier if I just bought what I want, but THIS community isn’t about that.
Yes we should call out abuse, but it is my most sincere hope that I can show the local community by example that they are overlooking some great horses because they just need to be taught to relax. So far I’m not doing that well at that, but that’s where TRT comes in.
Imagine if a critical mass of us started showing up at shows with no calming supplements, with horses that were relaxed, and that were competitive.
That is what would make the sport better for the horses.
Hi guys,
I totally agree with Tristan – we should point out what is obviously not okay but simultaneously focus on the good and sometimes brilliant examples of what is possible regarding ease and harmony in dressage (…and all other divisions of equestrian sports) – when I am really touched and shed some tears because of the beauty of it all there must be something very okay going on…
And we should be absolutely happy when the ranking reflects that 🙂
Best wishes to all of you caretakers of horse welfare 🙂 -keep on loving…
Sadie Lilli
I didn’t watch any of the Olympic dressage this year. I simply couldn’t. What used to be such a beautiful hybrid of art and sport has, at least to my eye, become so very ugly. Unfortunately, due to the innate competitiveness of the human being, there will always, always be window for animal abuse at the professional level. The Olympic Games has lost its way in many sports. The Games were originally intended for non-professionals (amateurs only) – this is no longer the case. Tristan, I’m a massive fan of your training and I also think you are hilarious, but you’re sitting on the fence here a bit mate. I don’t wish to feed the negativity beast either, but I do feel it’s time to dig deep and be honest with ourselves and maybe not revere riders simply for their professional success and popularity.
The social media ugliness is going strong. So many forums and groups have turned so vile lately, against nearly every horse and rider combination that can be seen in pictures or videos, picking apart so many things…. “I don’t like this…” and “that shows what a terrible rider that is…” or “if she really loved horses, she’d never use that bridle/whip/saddle/spur/method…” coming from seemingly every couch horse lover(? )with thumbs and a keyboard.
I wonder what they all be typing about if it was them and their horse in those pictures or videos? Would they take that advice, would they find it helpful? Would it inspire them to do better?
Or would it make them feel resentful? Or even have their souls destroyed, as they felt proud of their achievements in that moment.
People need to talk about things like they want to make a change, not start an internet war.
Change can be made at home, by not replicating what you see and don’t like, but replicating what you do like.
I think it’s important to do both. To call out the abusive practices, and at the same time celebrate the happy partnerships.
The FEI is failing to act on their mandate to keep sport safe for the horses involved, and while we need to call them out on that, it’s also critically important to highlight the good rides. If everyone calling out the negatives decides they will boycott FEI competition then only the abusive will be left competing, and they will have even less incentive to change. The FEI needs to get its act together and do more than call people in for discussion regarding blue tongues (for example). Competition results need to be changed, and riders banned from competition for a period of time.
Part of reform is showing that people can and are competing with non-abusive training, successfully. We need to see that it is possible, and that not everyone at the top is abusing their horses in some form. It’s not about what practice is more or less harmful, but that harmful practices aren’t necessary as evidenced by current competitors. And so the recognition of the positive rides is an essential part of changing the sport for the better, for the horses’ benefit.
The FEI blood rule disqualified an American rider for a bit of blood on their horse’s fetlock – probably caused by the other hoof during warm up. Where I live biting flies could produce sufficient blood for disqualification. The blood rule was intended to catch sharp spurs and bits, not a funky step by the horse. The FEI instituted the review of photographs to catch blue tongues, which is a step in the right direction. Now they need to discipline for that transgression, not call people in for discussion.
It’s both. Discipline and reward, negative and positive are required to effect the change we want to see.
I think one thing we can agree on here is that we are all looking for a better way to educate ourselves and our horses, otherwise we wouldn’t be here discussing this, and that the old ways are out of date and not the best way. But if we do not criticise and educate new horse riders or the general public all they are going to think is what the judges tell them is correct. I’m sure there are many people new to dressage that may look at a tense angry stressed horse behind the vertical and think ” is that correct, was that a good test, I’m not sure I like that” but then it wins and the person will think what do I know it was clearly a good test that’s what I need to achieve! This is what incorrect judging is causing, is it so bad to then explain to this person the judge is wrong the horse is unhappy? These people will feel like you’ve peed on their parade and slightly disillusioned but if it makes that person think more about a better mindset for the horses welfare is that so bad? Non horsey friends have asked me if I was going to watch the Rejones ( bullfighting with horses) as they were going because the horses are beautiful and they dance. When I explained no and the reasons why I wouldn’t go or support it I could see their faces fall and realisation that it is cruel. They never went again and therefore stopped supporting it, but they have now realised you can watch horses do the same thing without the cruelty and enjoy it more, knowing both the horse and the rider are happy and not in a dangerous environment. In this case it’s education not negativity. My point is educating people about the negatives of something isn’t a bad thing. Not everyone will listen and if you berate and belittle people then no one will listen. The judges need to be the ones to stand up and reward the harmony and educate the public on what’s good and what’s not. In my opinion if just one thing changed in the judging like a more open frame and penalisation for being behind the vertical would be a great start in educating the new and older riders and in turn would produce softer hands, less open mouths and tension etc.
I fully agree with your point of view, however I think that as long as
there is too much money involved, it is going to be extremely tough to improve.
Too much pressure, too much at stake.
I also think that judges should reward more the relaxed going horse and punish more the horse that seems to have to push a wall in front of it away and is very tense. This has to change in every single level imo.
Also (and I am curious what others think of this), the dressage tests should stop with going from extended gallop to passage.
The ones we see on the olympics, are the best ones in the world. Even they still have issues with this.
Imagine the training of horses on this, in the wrong way, by many others.
Then also the case with Charlotte DuJardin, if the horse does a correct passage/piaffe, over the back, on 4 legs,
The judges should give this the maximum points, no matter how high the horse lifts it,s hindlegs.
Some horses sit way too much, pulling the hindlegs too far under and then having to lift them very high.
Those are the ones very tense, not over the back and definitely not light in front. It is unnatural imo.
Correct me if you think I am wrong. It,s an open discussion.
Then last but not least, a horse should be able to eat grass, have free movement in a pasture.
This should be available for EVERY horse, no matter the worth.
Horses are magnificient creatures, that are so willing and so able to enjoy the work, if it is brought in a honest and fun way.
This is why I follow you Tristan, you are someone that understands horses and trains them in a way they
understand and is natural for them. I learned a lot from you and you are an example to the world.
I will support you to bring more awareness. I also believe horse sport should not be forbidden. I know for a fact my
horses wouldn,t want to be retired, there,s just a lot that has to change for every horse to enjoy their work and life.
I agree. Tearing riders apart benefits no one. Horses have been treated much worse in the past. Now that everyone has a camera and can video everything and show it to a news outlet, it comes out more. Plus publishing a single photo which shows something unpleasant that may have been one second in length, becomes eternal.
You think the judging is bad now?? None of you saw the Olympics from Athens where the two “Golden Girls” who won everything at every show, took the Gold and Silver. The Gold medalist, though her horse was so tense he never completely halted (the 1st movement is “Halt- Immobility” ) or even displayed a flat footed, four beat walk- he jigged the whole way- still won. The Silver medalist’s horse nearly bucked her off and backed almost out of the ring he was so resistant. He did but few steps of piaffe-yet still won. There was such a public outcry that the whole judging system ended up being completely revamped. Now there are eight judges with another judge overlooking their marks.
The Gold medalist could no longer be guaranteed a win and stopped showing dressage and changed to reining. Now she’s even disappeared there. It is her husband who avidly promoted rollkur as “a new way to train dressage”. Some quickly adopted the method before it was officially banned by FEI. Oh, and don’t just blame its use on dressage, jumpers and even western horses have been subjected to it as well.
Bringing light to the darkness is good. But waiting 2 1/2 or 4 years to show something to “save dressage” just before an Olympics to get one rider banned is not for horse welfare, it’s for self promotion. This one rider made a big mistake in a clinic a long time ago. This was a mistake, she admitted it, apologized and added this is not her usual training method. This is obvious. Her riding horses go in such a soft, happy and light frame, and are so relaxed she often drops her reins to the buckle on the way out. That is not possible on a tense horse. Just sayin’ Look at how far we have come. More is needed. But we have come a very long way from sharp pointed spurs and bits with 10 inch shanks.
Personally, I am really not comfortable with uniting/aligning with some of the practices on display in the Olympics, and elsewhere in elite horse sport. To “focus on the positive” can’t come at the cost of apologizing for what is outright abuse. If we do not demonstrate that we can take some accountability for our actions as a culture, outside forces like animal welfare groups are right to lump us all into one category, and call for our removal/limit our social license to operate. I think we can have a critical discourse without the need for personal attacks, or scapegoating a single rider, when the problems we see today are systemic. They involve the judging, training and riding of horses, and all of these aspects come down to one root cause: money. Judges are employed by the FEI which is operated by the same big moneyed interests that fund the competitions and the riders, as well as largescale training and sales operations (think Helgstrand). Judges who try to actually enforce the FEI’s own rules and standards are often not employed again. Riders and trainers who speak against the status quo are labeled outliers – a status I know you are very familiar with! Paging Brett Kidding…Right now, the people who are doing most of the heavy lifting in this fight are grassroots riders and owners, who are not financially vested in the success of the horse sport industry. And, without them, there is no industry. They are maligned as keyboard warriors, or know-nothings, which is, first of all not true, and second of all, incredibly short sighted of anyone who does this professionally. They are the backbone of the sport, they keep us all afloat (except the very few privately funded at the top). Unite them, give them hope, and you save horse sport. Deny them at your own peril. The big names do not need our positivity, and our solidarity, the backyard riders do. That’s where I see the disconnect/lack of self awareness in these posts – perhaps too much time top-adjacent for you, Tristan? We know where you came from. I know you are extremely empathetic. That doesn’t have to be apologetic for what you know is a grey area at best, and wrong at worst. Use your platform, the time is now 🙂
It feels a little bit like a cop-out. I agree with staying positive, but how do you take a stance against bad actors without bringing it out into the light? The judges are still rewarding the overbending and bad riding. So, by not addressing it, aren’t we basically sweeping it under the carpet and pretending it doesn’t exist?
I will re-post what I said on Instagram (with some editing):
I believe it is very important to acknowledge what is going on, but just as important to see the big picture.
If we scream blue murder over one pinpointed rider, coming down on him/her like the hounds of Hell, tearing them apart and leaving them, outcast, in a self righteous huff, looking for the next offender – what have we gained?
There is no moving forward as long as we stomp in one place.
The offender will have little to no chance to come back and try again, and if we find faults in how some treat their horses, shouldn’t the goal be to educate so they can move forward?
Seeing the bigger picture means that we take in ALL of it and acknowledge what seems to be ways free of violence and pain, and urge ALL to follow those ways.
It is equally a shame when people try to blast techniques that advocate a better way while touting another as if there could be only one way. We need to embrace all who try to find better ways for the future horse people, be openminded, interested and have discussions – or we will have a lot of “fractions” doing their own thing, ignoring one another at best, or at worst being at war with one another, leaving horses in the middle to suffer.
Also, as a teacher since 40 years and going, I have enough experience to say that treating horses won’t change because we hunt down and devour those who offends us. We do it buy shifting the very foundation that their and your and mine education in horses is grounded.
Look behind us into history and you will find that the way we treat horses is heavily grounded in traditions we have all been immersed in. It is our basic foundation training and like a first aid responder we fall back on that foundation when things heat up. Then we have people who have found new, better ways, and when enough people have accepted, learned and practices these ways, and teach them to new students – that is when change happens.
We don’t change things by releasing our inner wolf pack and slam individuals to the ground. Absolutely no one has ever learned anything positive from that.
We do it by leading with example, by forgiving, listening to one another and inviting others to learn a better way, and give the next generation of horse lovers a better road to follow. Like Tristan, and others beside him, already do.
Well said
When we know better we do better…unless of course we are winning doing what we have always done. Until judges reward horses slightly in front of the bit working with lightness and relaxation none of this will change…it will just go further underground. While FEI do little but pay lip service to horse welfare at the highest levels we can’t take them seriously and neither will the riders and trainers…and horse welfare goes so much further than most elite riders and horse owners are prepared to go. I feel sad for those called out and lamb basted on social media…I do…but I feel so much worse for the ingrained helplessness and hopelessness of the horses they ride. Stuck in stables 23 hours per day alone…unable to integrate into a herd…how many people will put their elite dressage horses out with others in a paddock? Let them be horses? If we don’t stand up for the horses…the public will do it for us and equestrian activities will be gone…our relationships with our horses will be gone…all the parts of this that free our souls will be gone and horses…those that are left will live in zoos. I ask you is there any animal on this earth treated worse by man? I don’t think so. It must change…we must change…they must change…
I absolutely love your response. Attack only creates counter attack or defense. There is no discussion just division. I stand with your response. Some people try really hard and get so much hate on social media, how is that going to help. We need to talk more about what we are trying to do, not trying to control what other people are doing. Not mentioning that people who promote positive connection with horses by attacking humans are not only not getting the point but are showing the “positive community” in a very negative way. Let’s help each other to be better.