Posted on 12/30/2005 3:19:33 PM PST by N. Beaujon
I've only seen a twitch work well on one horse, and that's my horse Bud. (not Buddy, I sold his sorry ass back to his former owner). On Bud, it's like magic. The vet has to twitch him to give him his injections. If he sedated him for his injections, he'd still have to be twitched for that. Bud is a very sweet horse but he turns into a maniac when the vet walks into the barn. I'd rather the vet twitch him than get himself hurt by one of my horses.
I don't shave out my horses ears, they need that hair in there. I've never done it and never will.
That is a John Lyons rule but he says it a little different. If the horse is agressive towards you, like trying to bite you, you have 3 seconds to make the horse think he's fixing to die.
Arab show people probably still clip ears. There's little that's natural about an Arabian show horse. They become porcelain figurines... that can move really pretty.
"I'll bet dollars to pay that since she's only 20 and competing in upper level dressage on what is likely a six figure horse, if not at least in the mid to upper five figures. she's probably one helluva spoiled brat too. And that says everything. She was probably a "young rider" before this, (I think that they only go up to 18 for that title) and let me tell you, I've been both a hunter jumper rider and a dressage rider, and and in either case those kids are something else."
I'll bet you just hit the nail on the head.
I don't know any show people that don't shave out their horses ears. It does make the horse's face look cleaner and nicer but God put that hair there for health reasons. Shaving it out is asking for problems.
And really, it's that 'thinkin' he's gonna die part that is what matters, not any pain that's inflicted. Horses respond to the fear of punishment as much as the punishment itself. If they bite, raising your hand to them or a lead rope to them, would set them aback every bit as much as raising a twitch with a chain on it, or a 2x4. I tried to explain that once to a cowboy.
Heh, did the cowboy listen?
No, he knew more than me :~\
Plus anything causing an injury is going to require a lot of training to get past down the road.
Personally, I think the little girl is probably spoiled and has never learned the #1 rule - don't work with a horse if you're sick, tired or angry.
Agreed. :~D
I agree!! 22 stitches PLUS staples!! All of us who own horses know........ya'll ain't dealing with a dachshund dog, here. Horses are big and they can hurt you.......bad. But to discipline an animal, ANY animal so it opens wounds and draws blood is sick.....and 20 years old is certainly old enough to know that!! Times are changing and training and discipline methods are changing for all types of animals.........the days of "bustin" broncos is and should be over!!
This evenign was a good case in point. Dandy, our 6 month old grulla/dun filly decided that while on her way back to the stable fro mher turnout, she was gonna do what she wanted to do. So she got a lesson in paying attention, and it was more a matter of waiting her out / wearing her out. There was no hitting involved, but a lot interruption of her movements and talking to her with the right tone of voice.
After about 20 minutes of this, she finally figured out that it was a bettter deal for her not to resist and to pay attention while she was being led. That's what our trainer Mike Kinsella says - in a nutshell, you've gotta make it a better deal for the horse to do what you want them to do. Easy to say, but sometimes tough in practice. This is our first tyear that we're raising up three horse babies born faitly close together. Lot of work, but a lot of fun.
For example, we've got a bratty almost-8-month-old warmblood filly who's very smart and full of herself. Tries something new every day. And she gets busted back down to private every day, too.
I signed the petition. I know what it's like to be truly angry with a horse but in all my years of training I never hit one hard enough to draw blood, even when they tried to kill me. I cannot imagine hitting one with a chain, much less hitting it in such a way as to require 22 stitches and staples to close the wound! This is horrible. Sure, accidents happen, but this was not accident; this was vicious. This girl needs jail time and psychotherapy to straighten out her rage reactions.
BTW, a google search suggests that she's just riding at the training/first level. So she's not some big dressage expert (as, indeed, she could not be at only 20). She's just a spoiled, violent prima donna. The only excuse she could have had is if the horse had attacked her, which seems very unlikely considering that he's just a nice plain TB gelding.
Oh, you should join us on the FR Saddle Club thread:)
I saw this thread yesterday and wanted to withhold comment till I saw the lay of the land:). I think I come closest to agreeing with Hair. We don't know enough of the circumstances to pass judgement on the lady other then it sounds like she lost it for just a moment, which is perfectly understandable when it comes to horses, altho not right. Something was going on with this horse for the woman to have a twitch her hand in the first place. My observation of "show horses" are they are very squirrely, and would try the patience of a saint, IMO. They just don't get enough exposure and are "usually" kept stalled for longer periods then I think prudent for any horse. Of course, I am expecting alot of return posts saying "my show horse isn't like that," LOL, so just so you know, I'm speaking in general.
I don't believe beating one in the face with a chain to this extent accomplished much, but I also believe there is a time for proper corporal punishment with horses. Biting and kicking being two of them. And I guess the method I have learned of getting a balky horse in a trailer would be considered corporal also.
Becky
The old vet I use to go too that died last year, twitched horses when he floated teeth, or other procedures rather then sedate them. I never had a problem with it. He put it on their upper lip. I don't like to see twitches put on ears tho. I use to have to twitch Rocky to worm him, and I don't anymore. I think he learned it was just easier to take it, so maybe twitches do help.
Becky
I'll let a vet do just about anything he wants to restrain a horse, I don't want the vet to get hurt. People are all different, some would rather use a twitch than use drugs (i've seen people adamantly refuse to sedate), and some people would rather go the drug route. Whatever works for the vet or on a particular horse, works for me. I'm not picky. I'm also not going to judge this woman that beat the crap out of her horse. Really, I wonder how many spur rowels vets remove from horses sides every year? :)
For those who missed it, this is the petition link http://www.petitiononline.com/QARR/petition.html
I have seen hunter jumper/dressage horses do some really crazy things; one would freak out when a wool blanket was used (the owner claimed it was allergic to wool), another laid down when a curb bit was put in his mouth instead of a snaffle, another went off into the netherland bucking when an army saddle was used instead of an english saddle.
I know why Morgan left Lexington, Ky, and gave back the thoroughbreds he confiscated; they were too high strung.
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