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Posted on 02/24/2006 9:12:25 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
Well, first of all, that sounds like a great prospect for Belle. With full disclosure of her issues, like you've given him, he sounds like just the right type to take her and give her a chance. I think your hesitation with her is similar to my own hesitation to sell this pony to just anyone. She's so pretty, and can seem so nice, that in less than careful and skilled hands, she'd hurt somebody, and I don't want to see that happen, and don't want to see her sold for slaughter in anger because of it. I have high hopes that you can make a deal with this guy that will be good for all of you, horse and human :~D
On the issue of the horse beatings, I'm really surprised that such horses and riders would place, let alone not be disqualified. I mean, I can see that a horse who repeatedly rears up probably needs some 'lessons'. But I would have thought such lessons, if given, even on advice from the judges, would have disqualified the horse from placement. I guess it's like when I was showing dogs. There were a couple times I rightly corrected my dog pretty hard in the class, and the judges knew and understood why I had to do it [he had learned I couldn't correct him at show] but I knew it would disqualify me. I was going to be disqualified for the behavior anyway (as this rearing horse should have been) so I decided to use it as a training opportunity.
No clue what the man you saw beating the horse about the head was trying to fix, and knowing you are not a 'beg them and give them treats' kind of trainer, I can easily take your word for it that it was sick and inappropriate. Was it in the parking area, or during the ride? Was it seen or reported to a judge too, like the other incident?
When I saw the man hitting the horse it was out on the trail where there was no judges to see, but Kirk says his son, who was riding, said the man was doing it at the P&r's and others saw him. If anyone reported it or not I don't know.
The first rule in NATRC is no abuse of animals. That was what Kirk says he asked in his complaint to the directors, to difine abuse, an how could he explain to his 16 year old son that that was not abuse he saw.
I didn't like seeing that man hitting the horse like he did, and thought about reporting it. But to be honest, I was a bit intimidated because this man is well known, and does a lot for our region. Politics. I truly don't think anything will come of it, so why make waves. I realize that is a poor excuse, but I just didn't feel I was in the postion to complain. I did tell Kirk I would support him and report what I saw if he needs me too.
Becky
And I should add this was the first time I've encountered anything like this at a CTR.
Becky
Well, I can understand the politics of it, and why one person alone might not want to make waves, but joined together, it's less intimidating to report something like that. Let me know if there's anything further to know.
Any discussion of it on that forum?
I haven't had a chance to look, but had thought about it. I'll let you know.
Becky
I have RFD!!!!!!! (sounds like a disease, lol)
Rain last night, so it is a lot cooler today.
Becky, you are selling Rocky too? Poor lonely Harley.
Harley would be just fine:). Probably make an even better horse then he is now. "I'D be his herd:)
Becky
The judge was a she, and yes she is well know, judges a lot of rides for free, so I imagine there will be politics involved:\.
Becky
Oh, from things she said at the awards meeting, I believe partly why this woman was not disqualified and pulled from the ride is, she had 3 of her young children with her. They were young enough that I feel if she couldn't ride, they would have had to be pulled too. Natrc is sorely lacking in junior riders. I guess it just doesn't have a lot of appeal to the younger people. Everyone is encouraged to bring children. Looking at the group of riders it looks like a meeting of geriatrics:). I'm actually on the young end of the average rider.
Becky
WOO HOO! You'll really enjoy it.
That's what gets me. Rearing is dangerous behavior. Lots of trainers might differ on how to correct it, but none of it is probably pretty to watch. But the behavior should have disqualified her. Did she place?
As for the man, we don't know for sure the judges saw it, right? We'd like to think he'd have been penalized for it.
___
I just saw the funniest thing with my pony. I've got the pasture divided with two strands of tape on temp posts, and she was reaching over it for the grass on the other side. "Doh! forgot to plug the fence in!" I ran out and plugged it in, and ran back out to watch. It takes a minute, I think, for the fence to 'power up'. At first, she continued eating, then she picked her head up and shook it. And reached back down again. And backed up suddenly and shook her head again. She walked down the fenceline, reaching over in new spots. By now I think it was hitting her harder so she pushed less, and it was really making her mad! -She just stood in one place and bucked. Poor thing. I guess I'll go check out the condition of the pasture today, maybe they've got it eaten down inside the fence already and we need to move it again.
LOL, that is so funny when they are mad and stand in place and buck like that. Rocky did that when we fixed his run so he couldn't crib. He threw a walleyed fit:)
The main reason Kirk was really upset over the abusers:), is they both placed in the horsemanship area. You are correct tho, I have no way of knowing if the man was seen by the judges.
I was telling Mack about it this morning after looking at the Natrc chat group. I don't think anyone knows there has been a complaint made yet. BUT, it's kind of funny how the topic of the horse abuse by the racing industry is being discussed, and how PETA should get after them....I'm tempted to make a few comments...My thoughts are, Peta would have no chance against the racing industry and probably knows it. But they could with a small potato outfit like NATRC. Rather either ogranization needs it, is not the point I'm making here, I hope you understand:)
Becky
A small disruptive organization, with some good accusations of abuse in their pocket, could bankrupt and kill the NATRC.
Exactly. These people need to be careful because you never know whose watching. A few years back OK was voting on a bill to ban cock fighting, at the bottom of this bill was a clause attached that would also ban organizations where horses were saddled and ridden more then 4 hours at a stretch. We were all informed of this, man, were NATRC members up in arms over that:). The bill did not pass, of course. But it was interesting.
Becky
Hopefully, they realize how important it is to be beyond reproach on areas of humane treatment. I'll be interested to hear if there's any action or discussion of it. While most people are fair to their animals anyway, there are always people watching and that's the only thing that keeps some people decent. They need to be watched from within, better than being acted on by the ignorant on the outside who do not have the best interests of the sport in mind.
I just posted to the NATRC site asking for a definition of abuse, when does disqualification happen, and how bad does behavior from a horse have to be to be disqualified.
Becky
Can you give a link? I'd like to follow any discussion that comes from it :~)
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