On behalf of Winston Churchill’s ghost, he wants his quote off your ridiculous site!
Jun 09 2010
Stop spending your money on actual lessons, just buy this!
It should come as no surprise that, thanks to the roaring success of those ridiculous one day colt starting clinics (for people who do not have the patience or motivation to train a horse properly), now we have someone selling a shortcut to learning to ride — one that does not even require that you remove your butt from your couch!
Gosh, I don’t know why I spent all of those years struggling to learn my leads and diagonals and posting without stirrups…
Oh wait…it was because I don’t want to be this guy or this guy. Now, I’m not saying that quality riding lessons will prevent all falls. But learning to ride properly and become a strong, balanced rider with or without stirrups will greatly minimize the amount of times you hit the dirt in normal riding and increase the odds that you will be able to save yourself from serious injury on those occasions you are forced to make an unscheduled dismount. And you simply cannot learn those skills by reading about them! That’s like trying to get fit by reading about it! Nope, sorry! It’d be nice but it’s simply not possible. Good riding cannot take place without some level of fitness that is only obtained by actual riding and working at it, not just flopping around passenger-style.
That, and I think the whole site is about 10 feet deep of bullshit. “The fact is, many of today’s top riders, trainers and even Olympians were self-taught riders. Their riding lessons consisted of some basic knowledge, a horse, a saddle and a goal – to become an expert at riding a horse.” REALLY? Who, pray tell, are these Olympians who do not have trainers and have only taught themselves? Please name names. I am DYING to hear the answer. “Riding doesn’t have to be a chore,” the site says. Well, sorry, but learning to ride IS a chore, like learning to ski or learning to ice skate or anything else involving strength, balance and flexibility. It’s awesome fun when you learn to do it well, but any of these sports are going to involve sweat and soreness while you’re learning to do them, and at many points along the way as you are advancing your skills.
Naturally, I was dying to know who was behind this ridiculous idea. Shocker, they’re not in the U.S. The site is registered to Issam Al Halabi, who lives in Beirut. Well, shit, if you live in Beirut, I guess the idea of teaching yourself to ride a horse isn’t nearly as scary as daily life is anyhow. Maybe Issam is just trying to come up with a creative way to get the hell out of Beirut? I don’t know, but I can see him selling this scam to plenty of lazy people who will then discover what happens when you teach yourself to ride – you get hurt, and, frequently, you ruin or hurt your horse(s).
Really, everybody…those $30 or $40 lessons are a pretty good investment compared to the damage you can do to yourself without them!
P.S. Also found this while roaming around the web — Is it just me, or is that a stallion? Watch the whole thing. I am having trouble seeing it for sure but I think I see testicles when they show him from a low angle. I am trying to figure out (a) if it’s a stud and (b) why they were on it (apparently double) if they were “about to load him into a trailer.” And again, an approved helmet for a little kid is less than $100. I am guessing these parents would love to go back in time and spend that $100. Again, just think about it.
I know I keep putting this mare up at Shiloh Horse Rescue, but she is so darn cute, I just can’t believe she doesn’t have a home yet. Her name is Broadway and she is a ten year old Thoroughbred mare. Shiloh is just 45 minutes from Las Vegas, Nevada.
206 comments to “On behalf of Winston Churchill’s ghost, he wants his quote off your ridiculous site!”
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He’s a stallion…. this ‘accident’ was discussed a few months ago some where and it was pointed out that he was a stallion.
I thought so but I don’t have the best eyesight so I thought I’d let others look. So we have a stallion being ridden double and I’m gonna guess this happened in the parking lot on asphalt…it’s hard to think of it as an accident when the odds were so strongly in favor of something just like this happening.
Re: the death of the toddler not being an “accident”. Definitely not an accident – these parents put their little girl in harm’s way, end of story.
(
And why is it, in situations like this, that the family and friends all stand around *outside* the house, “comforting one another” and “sharing memories” of their little darling? Their grief should be a private matter *inside* the house. Are they perversely enjoying being the centre of this melodrama and the media attention?
Blech!
Yeah, but see, the very definition of accident is something that is not done intentionally.
We all know it’s beyond stupid and that they are ignorant and it was bound to happen, but unless they intended for her to be trampled and killed, it is an *accident*.
An accident caused by negligence.
Negligence indeed! And they should be penalized for their gross and willful negligence.
It’s an accident in the same way that asking the toddler to cross four lanes of freeway traffic alone would be. Or how about if they take her white water rafting and she drowns. I think that these parents should be arrested for child endangerment, or willful neglect, or some such charge. Wouldn’t they be in big trouble if the little girl died in a car wreck because she wasn’t in a carseat, or if they plopped her on the back of a motorcycle??
I agree with Arabtrainer. It was an accident. But it was such a hugely PREVENTABLE accident. There was nothing in that stallion that said “Child Broke” to me, and I was seeing footage of him in his own familiar location, no night lights, asphalt, strange horses and vehicles around….
Stupid. I have worked with many MANY stallions over the years. I can think of ONE I would ride double with a child. And frankly, even then there are so many other ways to get a child a ride. A four year old just loooooooved Daddy’s stallion? Well yea, she’s four. She’d love Daddy’s pet tiger if she thought it would please her parents.
Stupid. Did I mention it was stupid? And needless.
4 yr old killed by stallion…..frikking dumb parents. Sorry to seem rude….but frikking dumb. I own a stallion, a very well behaved, trained stallion. My sons are 19 and 14. They are not allowed in his pasture or to handle him. Not because they aren’t strong enough, or I think my horse is a killer but they haven’t lived and breathed horses like I have since birth. For me it’s a passion, for them a chore. They can’t read a horse, and don’t care to. But as their mom, I also have the responsibility of protecting them. Always….no exceptions. So…..no touching the stallion…..ever. PERIOD. And just because I don’t believe in taking chances, my dogs have been trained that my stallions paddock, pasture, and stall are “no go” zones. They will not step foot inside any of those 3 areas. Better safe then sorry.
You are absolutely correct. With stallions, it’s so important to be able to read horses well…even if yours is good!. Mine is good, too. But I wouldn’t want anyone handling him who couldn’t read horses well.
At my pony stallion’s first show, I had to pee, so I asked my husband to hold him for me. Later when I was looking at the photos he took, I saw he had let his mother lead the pony around. I was angry with him, because she is *not* a good reader of horses! She thinks the pony is cute and harmless because he is small. I don’t think she would know what to do if he freaked out because a mare walked by, or if he spooked at something big-time. I told hubby that he was *never* to do that again.
I wouldn’t put a kid on my pony stud, even with helmet and football padding, and he’s only 41 inches tall. Idiots.
Honestly, I can say I only feel sympathy for the girl. Stupidity such as that deserves punishment.
Yep, a stallion. I don’t think it is racist to point out that most hispanic men will not geld their horses or neuter their dogs – they’re just too macho for that. Did anyone else but me notice that in the photo of the child on the horse she was tied to the horse with a piece of rope? I remember when this “accident” happened. There was lots of discussion about it on several forums. I feel sorry for the parents because they have to live with their loss knowing it was completely preventable.
I agree that he’s a stallion, you can see ‘em swinging in the breeze at about 1:59. That is a damn shame about the little girl and so sad when parents don’t have a clue about keeping kids safe. I personally wouldn’t put a child on anything but a completely dead broke pony (something closer to the ground) while they’re wearing complete ‘battle gear’, head to toe. All while I am holding on to them while someone leads the pony. Why is that so difficult for people?
Adult horse riders die easily on their own horses.. why would someone want to put a child at risk like that? I just don’t get it.. Darwin’s at it again I guess.
http://www.washingtonhobbyfarmer.com
I don’t remember the standard black velour covered brain buckets being anywhere near $100- were those not approved helmets?
Probably not. The ones we grew up with (assuming you’re my age)? Those weren’t good for much.
The Troxel Sport Schooling Helmet is ASTM Approved / SEI Certified and costs $24.95.
It wasn’t that long ago … I’m 32, and I rode in one as a kid till about 12. Had a gelding anglo-arab that liked to run away with me at the time. Instructor (who was a 3 day eventer herself), refused to allow any of her students near their horses without a helmet on at all times mounted. Fell off that horse more times I can ever remember, and that helmet, albeit velvet covered lol, is the reason I am typing this today.
I’m in my mid-20s, stopped taking lessons in the late 90s. The $25 dollar helmet sounds a lot like what I used, and I can guarantee you my parents wouldn’t have let me up on a horse without a helmet that was certified in one way or another- I was just curious as to whether that certification meant anything or not.
I have a Tipperary Sportage helmet I purchased for $39.00 at a sale. Normal price was around $60.00. Small price to pay for you childs’ life.
I have this helmet too. Love it! It’s so much lighter than my last helmet.
Thanks for the laugh. I needed it. Wow, can’t believe how much money and time I wasted going to the barn and actually riding!
Not to mention you could have gotten a FREE copy of “Confessions Of A Horse Dealer”, tellin you EXACTLY how to scam people who are out to buy a horse!
OMG
Oh yeah, and I forgot about he amazing “2 Horse Coloring Ebooks”
I’m sure that will seal the deal with most 8 YOs using Daddy’s credit card here…
I have to admit, I wouldn’t PAY for it but I’d like to read that. Just to see if there are some tricks I don’t already know about!
Not much of a deal as you can read it online for free already, lol.
http://www.archive.org/details/confessionsofhor00taylrich
A quick search on Amazon.com turned up a core exerciser. This would go nicely with Valerie Mellema’s ebook and old how-to eguides.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ATF2LC/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?ie=UTF8&cloe_id=2d3cdc12-c267-49c4-8cff-c5900d55bddb&attrMsgId=LPWidget-A2&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000EXT4GY&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0ZCZKKDSGH0SVAB1NZ0R
I think the only thing missing is a stick horse, eh?
Well damn – just think of all the money and sweat I could have saved by buying this system – no more paying for lessons, buying a saddle to fit me, working off practice rides in the middle of a Florida summer. Am I dumb or what??? And to think, I could have done it from the comfort of my couch, with an adult beverage nearby and not even have to steal some kid’s rocking horse to practice on.
Watched the video on the second post – I would swear I saw testicles on the horse. How sad, how preventable.
Y’know, despite some very stupid remarks, the ad does NOT actually say you can learn to ride on the couch. It says you can learn the *traits* of a successful rider before riding — it doesn’t say *which* traits. It could be simple advice like “don’t scream” or remember that the reins are connected to the horse’s MOUTH, etc.
I’m not saying it’s wonderful, just that’s it’s not nearly as off-the-wall as described — I kept waiting for something that suggested reading the book would make someone a great rider without ever getting on a horse, and I didn’t see it.
ON THE OTHER HAND — sending credit card information to a site in that part of the world is a good way to find yourself very thoroughly ripped off.
That’s probably the biggest problem with this site, really!
That is what I thought too after looking at the website. It appears as though they found a bunch of uncopyrighted material and compiled it. I got a laugh out of the fact that some of those books (horse dealer) are over 100 years old! I got swindled on a horse I bought that was sold as not even green broke, which didn’t matter to me because she was delivered to the trainer for 2 months to get green broke. That horse knew how to neck rein so I immediately knew something was up and the lady told me when she delivered her, “don’t let anyone cowboy up on the horse.” Well the truth came out and the horse was quirky so I can only imagine what they did to it. Well three years later I sell the horse after only trail riding it. The girl that bought it said all she wanted was a trail horse and has now decided she wants to do some fun shows so she started doing some pen work and the horse bucked when she cantered in the pen. She worked with the horse and had the Chiro out and apparently the horse has fused lumbar vertibrae. So not only did I buy a horse that was sold as not even broke that was, but it had a serious injury that was never disclosed. And the pisser is I feel bad about it when I was the one that got swindled! I may end up taking the horse back, that hasn’t been determined yet. That also goes to show that a vet check doesn’t always catch subtle issues in a horse. And honestly, are you going to pay $300-400 to run the gamut of checks on a (or less) $500-$1000 horse? Most vets will do a cursory for around $150 but that just catches obvious things. I only wanted a trail horse so I didn’t get the x-rays and more in depth check done. I want to also add the horse is not sensitive in their spine when you run your hand down it and is otherwise sound but can’t bend without pain. Cantering in a straight line is not a problem. That is my horse swindling experience! When I sold the horse I told the truth about her quirkiness and it turned a lot of people off but I just can’t be dishonest.
Very sad, but un-thinking parents. And yes, I believe it IS a stud……..
Re Self Training: Smells like a get rich quick scheme that will end up with people (and likely horses) getting hurt.
Re the little girl: How sad. That most likely could have been prevented. I will be sharing that with a family member that regularly rides double with her 3 year old grandchild. Who btw has a child size helmet that is just collecting dust in the tack room.
To me it does look like that horse was intact. Shame.
re: Little girl dies from head injuries.
Sad it happened. Then again I see people riding all the time- double and triple in my area with kids without helmets. I live right next to the town of Mira Loma (CA) which apparently means ‘”without helmet”. Know this area and you know what I’m talking about. Also half the horses are stallions, because to the charros this is some sort of a status thing. My personal favorite… the charro riding his stallion with a toddler in front on the saddle and a young girl on the back behind him but the kicker was he also had a dog… on a leadline.
Actually if you set aside the fact that you could potentially KILL someone like this LOL, it’s brilliant — he’s laid hands on a bunch of copyright-free content and is bundling it together electronically (no printing costs!) for roughly the cost of a mid-level coffee table book. If he were just a hair smarter he’d position it as learn to ride the classic way, or some such foolishness, instead of ‘teach yourself to ride’.
My guess — some entrepreneurial kid who heard that fat, lazy, rich Americans will buy anything if they think it’s on sale. Wouldn’t worry about it too much, PayPal will cut him off when the requests for refunds become excessive…
Uh uh – this has Nigerian-type scam written all over it.
When I was a kid, I read anything and everything I could. My parents would not pay for lessons, and any money I earned went to either buying the horse or its equipment. But I did not ride in a vacuum; I learned from older kids, from cowboys (the real ones, those who respected their horses and were horsemen), and certainly never would have been dumb enough to rely on lame-ass books for my total education. I was lucky in that we had in-the-know 4-H leaders.
As for the little girl—sigh. She is a consequence of the Mexican rodeo/charro style, where “spirited” horses run over people on a daily basis. (What I actually mean is “poorly trained horses with the males in need of castration and all others needing simple manners, but you can’t do that ’cause it breaks their spirits, you know. Not macho.”)
In my early 20s I spent a lot of time around a local QH ranch, which bred moderate to high-priced horses. Many of the low-moderate quality colts were sold to Mexican (males) and ended up “rodeo” horses or “race horses” in Mexico. Those customers preferred to buy uncastrated males, because they had more spirit, more brio, whatever. We’ve all seen videos of charro rodeo training methods. I felt so sorry for those colts, being loaded into rickety wooden trailers with those people. But the ranch could not refuse a sale because these men threatened lawsuits left and right, screaming “you are prejudice against me and my culture.”
Don’t get me started about that culture overrunning the United States. I will shut the hell up now. May that little girl rest in peace. I am certain her family learned nothing from her death and are still trying to find someone else to blame. Perhaps the breeder of the horse? The bit manufacturer? Oh well duh, the arena itself and the maker of the horse trailer. Easy to put the blame elsewhere.
caligirl9,
You have described this whole culture/mentality perfectly. I live in a border state and work in the public domain. I am in contact daily with many Mexicans and a large majority of my co-workers are from Latin American countries and they are bilingual (which only means spanish–no other languages are acknowledged)…..They do not geld, spay or neuter ANYTHING….including themselves!!!! When my co-workers hear that I have 2 GELDINGS they are HORRORFIED. Truly…..then the questions begin…Why did you do it?? Your horse is damaged, he needs a MARE!!! Huh? How could you??? It will make him CRAZY!! Why? Why? Why? The horse is no good now. WTF??
I heard the “lead in” on the news the night of this tragedy and very few details. I was able to fill in the rest and I got it right. Some Mexican horse event/rodeo…ugh! Everyone in the parking lot afterwards, and yes, Fugly, asphalt!!! ……positive the horse had shoes on because the Mexicans all do their own shoeing {cringe}. Mom and 4 yr old without a helmet on a stallion. Just “throw in” that the spectators were probably making the horse DANCE!!! (more abuse they call entertainment) With all those people in that parking lot, not 1 of them had a thought about safety….and they were probably going to RIDE the horse into the trailer or the back of a pickup!!! I guarantee not one person at that event has ever owned, worn or is even aware of a helmet….. Poor baby, she had no choice in any of this….RIP
Proud owner of geldings and neutered dogs……call me crazy!!!
I so hate to agree with this post, because I hate to group any culture as one thing… and I’m sure it isn’t, even in this case… but you just described the boarding stable I thankfully left a few months ago to move horses to my own property. One man owned about 10 completely out of control (mostly racing) stallions–had no idea how to deal with them–it was nerve-wracking to ride around them, and I can’t tell you how sorry I felt for them. He had some quality horses, but they could all stand to be gelded. Oh, and they danced. Yes, they danced. Whip and dance, whip and dance (I like to refer to it as, “Dance, dammit! Dance!”). It was awful, and I can assure you, he’s not anywhere near the worst. And the broodmares–well, who can be bothered to take care of them? Their job is to pop out babies–hoof care is non-existent and if they rip a knee open? Oh, well. Hope they heal on their own. I rather liked the guy as a person, but the horse world would have been a better place if he didn’t own any. (His goal in life was to turn my young Friesian mare into a “Mexican Dancing Horse.” Umm… no, thanks. I told him she’d kick his head clean off, and I’d give her a pat for it, if he ever tried).
I could absolutely see what happened to that poor little girl happening at that boarding stable. Those stallions were just barely, sort of, under control, and yet he often put young children and girls who’d never seen a horse before on them double and triple and always without helmets. Of course, sometimes they rode bareback with seatbelts. Anyone seen that? That’s a particular treat.
Couldn’t have been happier to move away from that (not that my new neighborhood doesn’t have its own brand of horse stupid–I’m pretty sure I have a hoarder… of course a “rescue”… next door, and I have no idea what to do about that, but that’s another story).
Sophie,
I SO HATE to agree with my own post!!! Twenty years ago I was quite open minded/liberal or whatever regarding other cultures and absolutely hated stereotypes….and THEN the education began…..I tried to fight it along the way, but I was proven wrong time and again…sigh. I walk the walk daily in my profession. I do my best to deal with it there and continue to smile….BUT, the horse issue, that’s personal….I can’t even stand to see the Mexicans in a feed store, or Tractor Supply, or pulling a “rusted out” ratty horse trailer down the highway (with horse tacked up), because my heart breaks for the horses that I know they are abusing. I report everything!!! Animal control is probably going to put me on “call block”. LOL I have had some good results though…I call back for a follow up, go to the pasture to keep checking, meet the county out there, take photos and drop by the sheriff’s office, meet the farrier that the county has forced the owner to pay for…etc. They know me and probably roll their eyes when they see me, but that’s o.k…Not going to stop. I’m always watching. Never met a horse who has a cell phone…I have one and make THE CALL for them. Ha! I have an OTTB that was starved (vet est. 200 to 300 lbs underweight!!) and neglected by a hoarder, so I am especially vigilant to pay attention on any “outings” that we are on. Poor Joe, I don’t know how he does it….
I live in Texas, enough said.
I’m in Texas, too — and I hate the fact that I knew exactly what the horse looked like as soon as I saw the names of the people involved.
I *do* know some Mexican-Americans who take superb care of their animals and do NOT go to charreados. Some. They seem to be in the minority to me, however. I’m also aware of the Mexicans (green-carded) who do an excellent job at many horse farms.
Still. I’m really a very tolerant person — except when it comes to animal abuse (and child abuse — the two do seem to go hand in hand). Even abuse caused by ignorance — you can decide to learn, and learn how not to abuse if you really want to. And if you don’t — a waste of perfectly good air.
And if the abuse of those in your power is a part of your “culture” — then you’re in the wrong country. Go back to where that culture is based.
P.S. I utterly support the Arizona immigration law. Wish it would happen in craptastic California before it officially becomes broke Mexifornia. But the progressives in this state enjoy high taxes, bad roads, and illiterate children coming out of schools unable to read because the teachers are too busy teaching English to anchor babies whose parents are just waiting for LaRaza and Obama to deed the state to them. They got rights, you know. Gotta make restitution for the Border Patrol killing that kid who was chucking rocks at them…
But I digress … that little girl’s death was cultural, an inability of her parents to assess the possibility of danger, and a riding style that encourages what they think is “bravery.” I call it stupidity and would hope more social Darwinism would occur on adults who choose to “train” their horses in that manner. Pain and intimidation, pinching saddles and high-port bits—the charro way—does not train a serviceable, mostly reliable horse. It creates a scared horse prone to over-reaction.
Read Joe’s blog … used-up Mexican rodeo horses are an epidemic. They usually end up in good ‘ol Mejico, one way trip to the can. The lucky ones somehow catch Joe’s eye and get a second chance.
Idiotic or neglectful horsemanship is by no means restricted to one particular culture. My own Grandfather, a racist rancher who thought he was superior to the local immigrant farm workers, was one of the worst horse men I ever knew. He used severe pain and force when “working” with animals, as did many of the ranchers I spent time with as a child.
I am currently helping to care for a Mexican dancing horse who was rescued at auction and now has DSLD/ESPA. I could just as easily be helping to care for a rancher’s Quarter Horse who was no longer able to “do his job” and was thus sold at auction. In fact, this very fate befell one of the horses I grew up riding.
I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you come from immigrant stock too, unless you happen to be Arapajo, Cherokee, or Apache,etc. This country was founded, built, and populated by immigrants. What does the Statue of Liberty’s tablet say: I believe that it is along the lines of “Bring us your poor, your weak, your huddled masses…” The whole living off of the system thing doesn’t really work for the racist’s argument. You see, I know LOTS of Mexican immigrants and LOTS of white trash. Let me tell you that the Mexicans are working their butts off to provide for their families. The white trash are not working, don’t want to work, and milk the system. The Mexicans are not taking jobs from white people. They are doing jobs that lazy, arrogant white people refuse to do. That is reality.
By the way, as far as teachers not teaching American kids because they have to teach English to the Mexican kids: that is nothing but conservative rhetoric. The guys who could actually get their families to the states had children who were fluent in English due to being immersed in it from a young age, from the grocery store, to friends, to watching TV. The dads were learning English from the kids, from asking us questions at work, and from church English classes. They desperately wanted to be citizens. Nobody loves America more than immigrants.
I dont think you can sue a private owner for not selling you something based on prejudice. If it was a public horse trader (does something like that even exist? maybe the BLM), maybe it would be a different story. But a private citizen has the right to refuse to sell anything to anyone.
You know how it goes when someone you KNOW can get an attorney for free and scream “Bigot! Prejudice! Why did you sell that cute little black colt with the four white legs to the gringa (me) but why is my money no good?” Legal aid is all too easy for certain people to get… at least here in California. A call to MECHA or LaRaza or your local Mexican newspaper is all it takes.
I guess they made the sales out of … fear?
I do hate making blanket statements about one nationality. Unfortunately they do an excellent job or perpetuating stereotypes all on their own. Not just the Mexican style of riding, but even our own very special American rednecks in all regions, riding 7-month old foals.
Ranch has been out of business for probably 30 years now …
I’m just wondering why the ranch “could not refuse a sale.” Responsible animal breeders refuse sales every day. They also only sell with a contract stipulating neutering. Or they neuter before the animal goes. A policy of only selling within an area where you can do home checks—then doing them—gives you a lot of leeway.
Seems to me the rancher just didn’t want the responsibility, and used the threats to cover his basic laziness and lack of care.
I learned to ride from an old cowboy too. I was a green rider on green horses. It was a good experience in my mind. I was taught how to control my horse while I was teaching them what I wanted of them. It gave me more patience because I knew we were both learning. My favorite part was while I did round pen work, he would tell me about how he was a groom, trainer, and excercise rider when he was in college so he could have a room to sleep in and never actually got paid. He also said everytime before I got on a horse, kind hands make a kind horse, you rip on his mouth, he could rip a lot more on you.
Gah, when will we go back to actually getting up and doing something????? I hear about all these virtual games, I have city slicker work friends who play Farmsville. Maybe I should check it out. Myself, I prefer to get dusty and sweaty and stink like a horse, no book has that. And I see they have Prof. Beery pamphlets. Geez, I have some old ones with snail chewed holes in them. Even as a kid I thought they were weird, the contraptions they used were something a sadist would think up.
Too bad for the little girl. Yup, it was a stud. It’s a cultural thing. Dont’ know if gelding would have prevented the incident, well, maybe the human. Just hope this doesn’t mean bad things are going to happen to the horse. He was kinda cute.
It may be a cultural thing in the US, I don’t know. I know Mexicans are pretty damn rough on horses.
Up in Canada, it’s definitely a white trash thing. I’ve seen it so many times. These are the families that keep their stallion in the (barely) converted garage, and feed it at the end of a pitchfork, they’re so terrified. But on weekends, out comes the whole pale, rabbity face clan to “sit” on him.
Wow Treasure, really??
I am born and raised in Canada, lived in Ottawa, Regina, Calgary… traveled through all of Canada and have family and spent considerable time in NB and NS… and I’ve never seen what you’re describing!!! What area are you talking about??? I now live in the country, in the Ottawa Valley… and I get looked down upon because my horses are outside 24/7 and only have shelter (not a full-on barn)! Apparently most people think this borders on abuse!
(I have winter blankets, rain sheets, fly sheets… my horses are well cared for!! And my two boys are geldings!)
Please, inform me as to where horses are kept in converted garages and fed at the end of a pitchfork.
And BTW, I am sure there are people like this around the world… I just don’t think there are that many in Canada!
You want to see Canadian white trash and horrid pet care? In NB: the Tracadie area, up by the old fighter jet firing range. In NS: South Mountain, up in the Valley, proud home of the Goler clan. Some of the interior up towards Truro and parts of the Eastern Shore’s pretty bad too…
I grew up in the Ottawa region and while I haven’t been back in decades, imagine that the sort of trashy horse care I used to witness just on the outskirts of the city back then is still alive and well and taking place. It’s just moved into the backwoods a little deeper, where the average person doesn’t see it!
Terrible situation, but come on, REALLY??? A stallion? You’re asking for trouble.
Meh, I already learned to ride the hard way. Now where’s the e-book that teaches me to jump a motorbike over a tank of sharks, I really fancy trying that.
Anyway, the link to the story about Richard Hammond bruising his backside provides me with the opportunity to post
this link
to the “japanese car hunting” episode of Top Gear mentioned towards the end of the article… at least I hope it’ll end up as a link, but you know, I’m a bit of an e-tard and I’m following instructions that I don’t entirely understand, so bear with me!
Haha, to start with I thought he was a total noob on a horse when he couldnt get on and stuff but he stayed on alright, even over the jumps… Putting him on a rented stallion to do an endurance event, however, might be a bit too much, still…. Maybe he should rent that Harry horse, they seemed to work together ok ^^
Awesome video!
“I just noticed something about my horse… he’s had a Brazilian!” (The mane is braided.)
The child who died. Leaving aside the whole cultural thing…
One idea would be attending events where you know that helmets are non-existent, and set up a table with information about why helmets are important? Brochures, pictures of the children who passed away, and maybe get the helmet manufacturers to sponsor it. That’s a whole market there…
I wanted to post this on the “addicted to horses” segment but could never get the comments to load, there were so many, and my processor apparently wasn’t up to the task. Are you considered addicted to horses if you have more than one? What if you have a riding horse and one retired horse that you would never, ever sell because he’s been with you for 28 of his 28 years, and a couple of rescued ancient minis as purely pets? So, what do you say to the utterly horrified people who have an obvious agenda when it is demanded of you with even more obvious and significant distaste, YOU HAVE HOW MANY HORSES??? Or, THAT IS A LOT OF HORSES HOW DO YOU PAY FOR THAT??? and HOW MUCH DOES IT COST I HEARD THE SHERIFF ON TV SAY IT COST 2000 DOLLARS A MONTH TO FEED A HORSE!!!
I would love to have some reasonably polite answers for people that I work with who have VERY large “issues” with my alleged “horse addiction.” By the way, my horses are well cared for to the extent that my vet assures me that after he dies he intends to come back as one of my horses. Also, I make a very good living doing what I do even if I do hate where I do what I do for a living these days. I still have to be polite to co-workers but still get the point across that it frankly is none of their business and having two horses and two minis does not equal “addiction.” But, ya know, ya just cannot say NONE O’ YER FREAKIN’ BUSINESS AND BY THE WAY HOW MUCH DO YOUR KIDS COST ESP THE LAWYER FEES GETTING THEM SPRUNG FROM JUVIE HALL and still have peace in the office….
Wow, do I feel your pain! I have five horses–very well cared for–and I get a lot of crap from people about being a hoarder. It’s gets on my nerves. I also have a job that I certainly don’t love, but it pays the bills and then some. I think it’s about what an individual can handle without getting in too deep, not just one person’s perception of what a single person can handle. Arrgh.
Sally,
I don’t get this from my co-workers (I am a stay-at-home mom, so there are no co-workers), but I get it from the in-laws and parents of kids my son goes to school with. My answer is simple: this is something I and my family enjoy. Other people have big houses, fancy cars, expensive clothes or go on luxurious vacations. We have ponies and they bring us great joy.
OMG don’t even get me started. What IS IT with people who assume that if you own horses, you must be wealthy???
People drive me nuts, and a lot of it is nosy people asking quetions that are none of their business!
I choose to spend my income on 1. a nice house/my own horse property, 2. my horses!, and 3. hubby’s golf and fishing habits. I’m not rich, just because I own horses. I simply have different priorities than most people. I don’t spend money on beer, cigarettes, or pornography. I rarely eat in restaurants (maybe 1 lunch a week most weeks). For that matter, I raise my own beef and a good portion of my own vegetables! I don’t have kids to support. I don’t owe child support. I have a steady job that pays decently for my profession, thanks to 7 years of HARD WORK getting college educated. I’ll be paying off my student loans for several years yet!
People ask me how much money I make. They ask how much it costs to have the horses. They ask if my husband is a lawyer or an engineer or a doctor, as if I must be reliant on HIM to pay for my horses… which is insulting since I make more than he does!
If were dealing with nosy coworkers, I’d probably point out to them how THEY spend their disposable income (beer? cigarettes? dining out? kids? expensive hobbies like hunting, fishing, golf, ATV’s, etc?), and remind them that it’s not a matter of wealth, it’s a matter of how you choose to spend your disposable income. 2 packs of cigarettes a day or a daily 6 pack of beer cost more than I spend to support 1 horse.
When you think about it, and what it costs for many other hobbies, horses aren’t all that much more costly, if at all. I know a lot of people who pay as much for an annual hunting club membership as I spend on my horses! Or they own expensive ATV’s or an expensive boat or RV/camper. Or more cars than they *need* to get by with. Or they collect things they could live without, wether expensive dolls, or guns, or whatever else. Or they pay a lawn service to mow their yard when they’re perfectly capable of doing it themselves for a lot less money. Heck they even tithe to a church as much or more than I spend on my horses (and I view churchgoing as a “hobby” because you WILL survive just fine without it!). I see people spending retarded amounts of money on everyday things like name-brand coffee drinks and restaurant dining on a daily basis. They buy lottery tickets. I could go on all day!
Very few people in our society have any right to judge us for our horse habits.
Ha ha! I can totally relate except I sold the big house to buy property for my horses and live in a “manufactured home” and I also do buy wine/beer not because I am a drunk but I really do enjoy it in moderation. My mother had a fit when I did all that and now I am the black sheep of the family, but oh wait! I was also the black sheep growing up. Who cares! I get so much enjoyment out of my horses I personally don’t care what anyone else thinks. If that means I don’t have to be subjected to judgmental people so be it. I am happy. Eventually when people see you don’t care what they think and you really are happy they leave it alone. I can turn it off (the caring what people think) like a faucet.
It was much worse when I lived in Seattle working for a large (then 4th largest on the west coast) law firm. You would NOT believe the comments. I had to be polite to one boss who would make endless snarky comments so I found out how much it cost to have one child in all-day care in the office building’s day care center. One kid, 8-5 M-F, was over $700 per month and that was a number of years ago so probably much more expensive now. He had 2 kids, preschool age, in that day care center. I casually replied one day when the remarks were particularly unpleasant that I could keep four horses in an urban/suburban environment for what it cost him to have two kids in the center. Except the horse expense was for full time horses and he was shelling out for only part time kid care.
And I had one office manager who was completely convinced that no one could have “expensive animals” unless they were dealing drugs. Forunately I had a boss who put a stop to the mgr’s sneak attack drug testing tactics, and I bailed out of there as soon as he retired.
One coworker’s comment was “when are you going to grow up and lose the My Little Ponies.” Another’s “why so many you can only ride one at a time” (followed by yuk yuk snort) –like THAT comment is SO original!
I think the curiosity and misinformation about horse expense is ramped up in a very bad economy even in this agricultural backwater where I now reside where ranchers still rely a lot on the working ranch horse. I guess in “town” horses are seen as the ultimate luxury.
Whereas, ya know, cigs and beer and trickin’ out the old Dodge are life necessities. Even before getting the kids’ teeth “done.”
I simply say, “Well, we all have our priorities for spending.” And smile.
And if that isn’t enough to hush them up, there’s always the all-purpose response to a rule question: “Why do you ask?”
Drat. That’s the all-purpose response to a RUDE question, of course!
One of the contributors on a knitting list I belong to signs off with “I knit so I don’t kill people”. Maybe you could let people know that horse ownership keeps you sane (and them safe)
I took a screenshot of the horse when the camera angle was facing toward his belly.
Those are Testicles. Absolutely NO Doubt.
The most telling line of that entire news story was the last one, how the horse was checked out after the incident, and was found to be tempermental, but rideable. Who determined that?
As for the As Seen On TV Horse Lessons Ad…. what a crock. Thats exactly what it read like to me, somebody took the generic script from one of those TV infomercials, transcribed it out, and just plugged in the rest. I was scrolling down, thinking… ok, where is the “BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!”… and sure enough, there it was. I had to giggle.
If anyone is stupid enough to fall for that, then I have no sympathy at all. I battle stupidity daily, (today is a really bad one where I posted about someone breeding a 2 year old stallion to a 3 year old camped under paint mare, selling horses because of the standard too many/no time excuse, yet the owner runs an AKC kennel with 4 different breeds of dogs…..) and got a response from someone who is actually considering breeding her mare to this 2 year old stallion.
Could NOT believe this person was defending her. Stupidity knows no borders or races, thats for dang sure.
I just really hope they are not the sort of people to dump the horse, shoot it, or do anything stupid like that because of what happened. They do not seem to be the most well educated in horsemanship, given the circumstances.
Na, they’ll not do that. After all, it’s a good horse, and you can always have another baby……..
I know! The BUT WAIT… THERE’S MORE!!! I love that!!!!!!!!
Next thing you know, they’ll put out a book that tells you how to make an Olympic horse in 1 day. Sure beats the work in the summer heat trying to teach hauches-in while thirsty and tired.
Will never happen.
I think just about ANY “quick-learn” system is garbage. It’s no better than the “learn real-estate in one afternoon and be a millionare!” infomercials. If you want to really get good at something, you have to put in the time. All good things take time and patience, and good things are worth waiting for.
That’s a stallion. I looked several times and those are definitely the family jewels back there…and looked like he should have been snipped a hell of a long time ago. Doesn’t look like breeding quality to me. What a shame that a child who didn’t know any better had parents who should have known better but were too ignorant to get their child a helmet, a lazy pony and a good instructor. It just makes me sad. I wish every child was able to have the ‘ideal’ start. That fat pony who is practically sleep walking during a lesson. The saintly instructor who let’s riding still be a fun thing, without being a dangerous thing. Saddle pads in rainbow colors, with polka dots or hearts, or some other blinding and loud pattern or color! Apples, cookies, hugs and HELMETS!
Brings back memories, honestly. All the little girls at the barn when I was little were like this in some way. Our poor horses…I remember when that Twinkle Toes stuff first came out, you know, the glitter sprays and hoof polish? They looked like they’d been on a rampage through an arts and crafts store. They were so patient with us.
I saw balls.
PS. I’m completely confused by them riding the horse while getting him ready to load . . . Obviously the thing to do with your horse after he’s worked all day is to use him as a chair, it only makes sense . . .
I suspect they were riding him across the parking lot TO the trailer, thus the bareback. So much easier than LEADING him all that way, of course.
Maybe it’s just me but I’ll do almost anything to avoid riding a horse on pavement. I just think of pavement + horse = accident waiting to happen. It’s a slippery surface, and it’s a really HARD surface. At the last show I was at, a horse waiting to head into the ring for halter slipped on the concrete and completely wiped out. Fortunately it was halter and he didn’t have a rider on him! Helmet or not, hitting pavement/concrete is going to most likely be a trip to the E.R. I will walk a long way around to avoid riding on any surface like that, or get off and handwalk the horse over it.
You would have had your heart in your mouth watching the documentary I saw last night called The Federation of Black Cowboys. Some amazing footage at the end features members — good riders — riding through busy urban Queen’s New York at night, a group of five at a lope on asphalt, over streetcar tracks, in heavy traffic. A fascinating documentary about these urban horseman. I have to admit that I was unaware that in the “old west,” one third to one half of the cowboys were African Americans. Very cool, I think.
Most who ride/rode their horses on pavement either had barefooted horses, or more commonly, borium on their shoes. Around here we ride on the road frequently, and of course we are in Amish country, so many horses in the area are on the roads constantly. Correct shoeing is very important, because your average iron shoe is indeed slippery on concrete or pavement.
I have never done this myself so I can’t say how well it really works, but I have been told to get those easy boots (ezboots?) if I want to ride on pavement, they help with the slipperiness, apparently. I just avoid pavement like the plague partly due to slip factor and partly due to where there is pavement, there are usually cars.
I have ridden in cities, but on trails or park paths, not the pavement.
Hamster got hurt. Oh noes!! poor widdle hamster.. Richard Hammond. My hubby loves top gear!
Can some one please tell certain members of certain ethnic groups it is okay to be macho.. but not your kids.
Really… you would think they would know better…
What does their ethnicity have to do with it? These were irresponsible parents putting their child in danger and unfortunately she paid for it. That happens accross the ethnicity board.
Agreed…honestly I think more Caucasian individuals have been posted on this blog than Hispanics, blacks, ect. Stupidity and carelessness is clearly not linked to race, because I know very bright, intelligent individuals of various ethnic groups that would have the sense not to put a child on a stallion, much less on any horse without a helmet.
I will say that I’m pretty sure you could prove there is LESS gelding going on among Hispanic-owned horses in the U.S. The fact that it was a stallion wasn’t that much of a shocker.
Stallion, of course. You are exactly right. See my post above to Caligirl….
In this case, I think it IS worth to note that a specific culture has patterns of dealing with animals in inappropriate ways. Mexican rodeos and associated rampant cultural assumptions about horses desperately need to be looked at seriously. Why do they embrace animal abuse and risky riding behavior as part of their culture and then get defensive about it? It’s a danger to people of that culture in *specific* — these are not generally billed as multi-cultural events. I hope some Hispanic activists will rise to the occasion and start getting loud about what goes on at these things, cos no one’s going to listen to gringo about it.
It’s a bit alarming to me that while reading this blog I’ve seen stories of abuse, neglect, stupidity and about 90% of them are from white people. The minute a story comes along about an hispanic family many of you jump immediately on to the “well, of COURSE this happened…they’re from MEXICO!” Honestly many of these posts are dangerously close to directly saying that people from Mexico abuse their animals…ALL of them. Our (white) culture is responsible for some of the most vile, disgusting, vomit-worthy acts of cruelty to animals concievable. This was a story of an individual family’s lack of common sense, this family does not represent their whole ethnic group. Ethnicity does not make you an animal abuser. Lack of good education does that.
I always point out that we’re an equal opportunity blog – we call out rich white guys like Ernie Paragallo the same as we call out poor ethnic guys. However, the existence of SPECIFICALLY hispanic abuses like horse tripping is a FACT. You do not see a lot of white dudes engaging in horse tripping. The abusiveness of charro training (“dancing” horses) is also a fact, and so far the only white person I’ve seen doing it is Buckinbo.
Conversely, if I see a $100,000 horse get electrocuted for the insurance money, I don’t think a Latino did it. THAT is the kind of shit a rich white guy did. When I see 80 horses starving in a field, dollars to donuts it’s gonna be a white middle aged woman who is the culprit.
Basically, every group has people that suck. The type of suckage is sometimes specific to culture or level of wealth.
I always point out that we’re an equal opportunity blog – we call out rich white guys like Ernie Paragallo the same as we call out poor ethnic guys.
Suuure… ’cause if a dude’s rich, he’s gotta be white, right???? And all ethnic people are poor, right???
OK, sanity prevails, I totally know you were going for “all ethnicities, all income levels”… but I just wanted to point out that no matter HOW hard anyone tries to be “politically correct” in our society today, someone somewhere will find something to be offended by. Insane, non???
Exactly. I don’t pretend to be p.c. I’m not going to spend my life worrying about my exact choice of words and if it might offend someone. Your actions in life speak to whether or not you have biases, not your words.
It’s really not about race, though i could see how my comments made it look like it. It’s about *culture*. Mexican rodeo abuse is justified by it being part of the culture, and its then racist to criticize. I’m not going to get trampled at one of these things, it isn’t part of my culture to be there, but latinos who go are in danger specifically. So, it would help to address it specifically and not with a broad ‘don’t abuse horses’ brush- just more effective.
Like fugly says, there’s ‘rich’ culture justifications for abuse, and ‘poor’ and ‘batshit crazy’ and ‘lazy ass’ culture justifications for abuse and risky behavior too, but those aren’t restricted to any racial heritage and a little more comfortable to criticize. I don’t care about percentages of races who abuse horses, it all needs to stop, to hell with cultural sensitivity.
The reviews were just priceless. One looks like it could have been written by a 4th grader. I think she would have more success with her book if she reccomended that you take lessons alongside it.
If you scroll waaaaay down to the bottom it says you’ll be redirected to a site that will allow you to download all this stuff – you’re purchasing bits and bytes not hard copy, plus I’d be REALLY wary of malware.
That poor little girl. Yes, that sounds like it was an “accident” begging to happen.
You can buy a perfectly serviceable, well-fitting, approved Troxel Spirit helmet for $29-$39. They come in Extra Small for the smallest of kids.
And as for the lessons and not wanting to end up like those guys…. I always think of Chris Reeves and not wanting to end up like him. Unfortunately, that was an accident waiting to happen also. I personally witnessed him eventing several years in a row, up close and personal as I was volunteering as a cross country jump judge. Overhorsed, overfaced, a real mess every time. Nice, expensive eventing horses but too much for him to handle, riding at a level that was not appropriate for his skills. Sketchy looking helmets too, can’t say for sure if they were approved or not but they sure looked like the thin, velour covered hunt caps that say “THIS ITEM IS FOR APPAREL ONLY” in the catalogs. Came alone with a groom but NO TRAINER. One year I watched him sail over his horse’s head and over the fence three times in a row (and eliminated) and then took it out on the horse instead of re-evaluating why his setup for the fence did not work (didn’t seem to be able to see distances, just pointed the horse at the fence.) Usually got eliminated for refusals/falls with lots of gasp-inducing “just barely” fences mixed in. It’s really sad what happened to him and I feel especially bad for his family, but unfortunately it came as no surprise when I heard the news.
A helmet cannot protect against a broken neck. Given that he did not apparently sustain much brain-injury I’d say his helmet worked quite well, actually. I can’t comment on his riding, but you are the first person I’ve seen say he was overhorsed. I’m not saying that you aren’t correct, just that this is the first time I’ve heard that.
The fact is that even experience equestrians can have a horrific accident, and even the best trained horses can trip or have a bad day.
I’d heard he had a build that was hard to balance for jumping — great for Superman, not so much for Eventingman. Too bad, as his brother is a decent rider, I think (used to work with him…).
Is the e-book for real or just someone’s idea of a joke? Surely some of the “FREE” material is copyrighted.
Pretty sure that’s a REAL paypal…so they are selling it!
FYI Beirut is an up and coming holiday destination, sure some of the buildings still have rocket holes and bullet holes in them, but it also has stunning beaches and lots of bars and restaurants. Lebanese food is awesome too My Dad’s been doing a lot of work out there, feels safe in Beirut than in London! Just thought I’d cover that part.
That of course does not make up for that cash scam – seriously, learn to ride from your couch? I’d love to see some dumbass try that and wonder why they get dumped on the floor minutes after mounting up on a real horse.
I don’t find lessons a chore. I had an hour lesson 2 weeks ago, 90% of in walk, getting the horse to work in walk, and walk in a dead straight line, no wobbles, you try that next time you’re in a sand school and look back at the track you’ve made. It’s difficult! Got the pony to almost work an outline too, which my tutor said she’d never seen him do! Can’t learn that from books/videos.
Okay well this is a bit OT but I think this guy needs to be brought up…
In other videos on his channel it shows him with a tied up horse and well…in the videos he slaughters it. I’m suprised that the videos are not flagged…it made me sick to stumble apon his other videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_zRW20uWDQ&feature=related
Uh, clearly that flew under the radar – I would report that to youtube.
Don’t look if you don’t want to see it, you can’t unsee it.
Thanks. I totally did NOT click on it. I still have nightmares from the undercover footage of an American slaughter house. I just don’t need to see the more graphic stuff.
Interestingly enough my web filter blocks those videos (‘m at uni and there is a general web filter for the whole site as there are also under 18′s living here too).
Reason: Adult Materials
OMG!!!! I didn’t watch the video, but saw the screenshots where you would click to watch the video. WTF. How is it OK to have this on Youtube? What about the other video where that poor foal is tied up to a tree in some odd harness??? And this sick freak seems to have an obsession with animals defecating.
What?!?!
I’m going to take Fugly’s advice and NOT WATCH THAT.
Shouldn’t it be reported to the authorities instead of just flagged?
I flagged that video on youtube. Ugh what an asshole.
Me too. Blech!
That was just horrible – those men deserve that and so much more! It’s makes me want to go cuddle my horse and let him know how lucky he is to have have been born over here in the UK. I mean, it’s worrying that there are people out there free to do that to any animal because the law just doesn’t take animal cruelty seriously.
I flagged it many times, so hopefully youtube will notice.
I just clicked on it briefly to see if it was still up and it is but I have to ask why would a person kill a foal? I was expecting to see a full grown horse that someone was slaughtering for food. According to one of the local rescues people in my area will take in horses for “adoption” and slaughter them for food. In my state, it is not against the law for someone to kill and eat a horse they own.
Oh, how awful. Yep, that’s a stud, those are clearly dangles. This ties in to your earlier post about child safety. It’s all fun and games until the THOUSAND POUND PREY ANIMAL has a blond moment and KILLS SOMEONE.
The site you posted is hilarious. I especially like the Victorian horse management book.
Hey, folks! That whole ad for armchair riding lessons looks mighty like a scam to me. Like those horse for sale ads that appeared a while ago, in which the perpetrator helped himself to photos of real horses off other peoples’ sales sites and wrote glowing descriptions that, for instance, credited what were clearly dressage/jumper type warmbloods with reining championships and so on.
Check out the stilted prose and the clunky errors in this ad- a pretty good attempt, I must say – better than those dear-friend-I-am-contacting-your-honest-self-to-help-free-up-the-$30 million-my-father-the-general-left-in-a-secret-bank-account” stuff – but still not quite up to snuff, American English-wise. And the books you supposedly get! Obviously thousands of years old, lol. And note that all of them are somewhere out in cyberland waiting for you to download them (whole books???!!!) AFTER you have provided the perp with your credit card info.
No, no, no – a scam for sure!
This is completely OT but I was wondering is anyone knows anything about Jessica Harrell @ California Riding Academy in Palo Alto CA? I’m condiering rehoming one of my horses with her and she has a slick website http://www.californiaridingacademy.com/ but she’s 3 hours away so it’s not a quick trip to check her place out. Not that I wouldn;t check it out in persone before hand but I’d like to save myself the trip is this place is run by asshats. Anyone with any info is appreciated. Can be emailed to indirandol@att.net
Apparently I didn’t bother to spell or grammar check! Sorry
If you can give me until the 22nd, when I need to make a trip past Menlo Park, I’ll be happy to do a drive-by.
I did drive by there last summer, and the place was clean. I did not stop though, no reason to do so.
It is an upper-crust area though, far from ‘da hood, and near Stanford University as I recall …
The facilities she’s at are great and she’s been there for a few years. As caligirl mentioned, it’s in a wealthy area, not that that means all that much in the long run, but it’s a high end place.
Anyway, I don’t know her, but I do know one of her instructors. I live a little north of there and can ask around as I think one of my former co-workers boards there.
She’s the director of a major Pony Club Riding Center so I’m pretty sure you are very safe in placing your horse there. If you have need of further recommendations, contact the local club DC for the Menlo Park area (look up Mid California Region at uspc.org). We are headed down there for West Coast Championships in August, WOOHOO!
Thank you so much for posting this. It’s hilarious!! Thank goodness I put my coffee down before opening the web site. It’s the only reason that I didn’t spray coffee all over my keyboard.
Stallion or not (and even dumber if he is), could someone explain, “mother and daughter were sitting on him, getting ready to load…”
Were they jogging around a parking lot, preparing to RIDE him into the trailer? WTF, please?
Forced sterilization for both parents is needed.
That’s just what I was coming here to point out/ask if anybody else caught. Why in the world were they riding him when they were about to load him into a trailer? Means they were likely on him bareback. No small child should ever be on a horse without a helmet, and ESPECIALLY never on a horse bareback.
I’ve never really noticed before, but that little mare at the bottom of the blog post for today is sooooo ADORABLE! Too bad I live on the east coast… She would be mine if not.
I know, isn’t she? I can’t believe she’s not adopted. She’s so freaking cute!
Eleanor, I can recommend a great shipping company. I’ve used them several times for long-distance horse transport and will use them again any time I need a horse moved. If there were a horse in California that I really wanted here in Virginia, I’d immediately give them a call and not worry an iota. Just sayin’…
I just realized something after examining the website more closely.
Obviously as others have noted, it is indeed a scam. But as a graphic design artist I noticed something else – the images of the books are just 3D art, to further support the fact that this is a huge scam.
The 3D images only tell you these are ebooks, not hard copies. The images are typical of this product. That’s not the part that’s a scam. Once you pay, you’ll likely be able to download the product, because otherwise you can complain mightily and get charges reversed through PayPal. The scam is in the stupid info: that you can learn to ride by reading.
I was miffed the first time I bought an ebook, thinking something exciting was coming in the mail
Turned out they only took my address for credit card purposes. And junk mail.
The great thing about ebooks is all the paper they save. Truly a blessing to the trees.
Well, seeing as the website is trying to sell EBooks, which means it is just a file, not an actual book, and lots of places that sell EBooks will have 3D looking books next to their descriptions, that alone does not necessarily make it a scam. Not saying it’s not, but they never said you will get a hard copy, just downloads ^^
OT—Free mustang. Just to be clear I know nothing about this situation, but I just saw this ad in a local publication and have a BAD feeling about the fate of this mare. http://www.theguide.com/pages.cfm?ref=36661&sec=Livestock%20%26%20Supplies. The ad is about half way down the page. I have no place to put her or I would take her. She is obviously skinny in the pictures. I can help with transportation if anyone is interested.
I should ad that this horse is in Delaware
Oh, she looks sad! She definitely needs a better home. Hopefully she doesn’t get picked up by a KB.
One of my all-time favorite book for a laugh:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Learn-Horseback-Riding-Weekend/dp/0679412786/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276128380&sr=1-5
I pay $130 a lesson, usually once a fortnight then I work with another trainer who happens to be a friend every week. That way I’m consolidating what I learn in lessons with ‘the big guy’ the rest of the time.
It might not be cheap, but it’s correct, and advancing for my horses and myself.
That is SO MUCH MORE important than making riding ‘not a chore’ if riding is a chore then you probably should find another sport. And if it’s too expensive then save up, riding IS expensive.
I’ve been riding since I was six years old, I can’t ever imagine a time when I won’t need lessons.
Very sad about that little girl but Jesus … they really brought that one on themselves.
Related-ish, my friend/trainer was once asked to find a horse for a little girl with a budget of $1000 and said no, your child’s safety should be worth way more than that, and any horse I find for you in that price range won’t cut it. Finding horses for children is a perilous task, hopefully there is some old, wonderful lease pony who is passed around the neigbourhood (there were a few at my old pony club) but if not then it’s a seriously risky business, I can’t imagine how people wouldn’t take utmost care in selecting a horse for their kid … but it happens all the time.
Oh MY Gawd, Berry School of Horsemanship books ‘free’ . Does anyone else know these books? Unreal, I actually bought these books about 35 years ago. He will tell you mostly how to throw a horse down and then sit on his head to teach him everything he needs to know. There was a thread a few weeks ago (with the gospel horse trainers in a day)and I was wanting to post something referencing these books but I couldn’t remember the name…wish I still had them it would be a hoot to see them again, scary that anyone would think their info was a good idea in this day and age.
I’m a nerd, and got excited when I saw all those old books are now copyright free. When I was 9 or 10, I begged Mom to get me the Beery books. She wouldn’t. It was something about being scared that I would actually whip up a war bridle and wrestle the neighbor’s stud to the ground.
Smart Mom took me to the tack shop, where I drooled over the Farnam library. That’s what she invested in. Good investment. They gave me a sound overall knowledge of equine care and training. And years later, when I was broke, I got part of my rent money from selling the set. She also got me the Pony Club Manual and that great Margaret Cabell Self book.
If anyone is interested, the Beery books are available as a free download from a member of the HorseGroomingSupplies bb. If you Google them, you’ll find a million people trying to sell them. Including on eBay.
More re: stallions and kids. The owner of a rescue in BC had the stallion who played The Black in the TV series. Her parents bought him for her as a kid. He was sold without being gelded. He was never gelded. Unbelievable. Look up Hayburner Haven for the story and pics.
Re: this rescue. Grain of salt, folks. Horses go through here like a snake through a hollow log. No one, including other rescues, is sure what happens to them once they leave. I saw a STB they’d rescued. Needed 150 lbs., rain rotted, so abused and frightened his teeth were chattering. A few days later, he’s advertised as being “backed” and “ready to go.” To whom and for what, I’m not sure. We never get to see the “After” and “Adopted!” pics.
Take a look. What do you think?
I ordered the Farnam books with my babysitting money during the summer between 8th grade and high school. I was sooo excited when they came in the mail! Tried techniques on Paint Mare from Hell.
Good times.
I bought those books when I was a teenager, and still have them around here somewhere. Want them? I’ll pay the postage!
I didn’t even check the Do It Yourself website. Too lazy tonight.
My two cents: I know a LOT of great riders who learned how to ride by wearing out a few saddles, and several pairs of jeans. A good beginner instructor who lives in the area maintains that there is NO riding issue that can’t be improved by wearing out a saddle or two. It might be an exaggeration, but I think that without independent practice, riders just don’t get that natural feel. So in a sense, great riders aren’t made by trainers.
Flip side– I don’t care how much time you spend in a saddle, the best it will give you is soft hands and a good seat, and if you are attentive, a good awareness of what your horse is doing. You don’t learn if you are riding straight. You don’t learn that your horse is doing this one funky thing that you need to correct. You don’t learn the 50 different things that won’t work, thereby saving you the headache of trying them. That takes a trainer– a good one, not just some Joe Schmoe who spent 6 months at Findlay.
Added On: Please give me a student who reads? I learned SO MUCH by reading training articles, books, magazines. I didn’t always learn ideas that worked for me, but it taught me what was out there, and what others were using. I would love to have more students who enjoyed reading about training and such. They are so much easier to teach, because they have the methodology in their brains, and just need a trainer to help them put it into action.
Regarding the girl killed by her paren—- uh…. by a horse. I hope everyone remembers that there are a ton of really stupid Gringos out there who make equally poor decisions for their children. Stupid decisions are not a cultural ‘thing’. They seem to be pretty universal.
I’d have to agree with that.
I’m really not that hot a rider (I kinda suck) but I have learned at least some from reading about it.
I took a few lessons, and have mucked around quite a bit too of course.
But sometimes it would be really nice if someone would just explain in exactly so many words what exactly is happening when you, for example, lift your outside (or is it inside?) rein, and put on your inside leg, and your horse bends. It has been a while since my last lesson.
Or to actually tell you that when you ask your horse to put a hip in, it somehow frees up some other leg so it can pick the correct lead on a lope.
Like I said, I am a pretty pathetic rider. Most of this, I just don’t know, and lessons with a decent trainer are; 1. expersive, and 2. hard to find around Carman MB, Canada. Plus inevitably involving a long commute.
I totally understand what you mean. You know, you might consider riding on video, short ten minute segments, and then sending them to a trainer for advice? In this day and age of technology, I would think such a thing would be possible. It’s not as ideal as having someone who can say, “Okay, lift the shoulder with your inside leg now… now… now… There you have it.” But it would still give you that personal touch without the huge charges. Just an idea.
Hey Canadian friend, it’s pretty much leave the inside rein alone, outside leg slightly behind girth, inside leg at the girth, outside rein lifted. I think of inside as still, outside as active. Which is counter-intuitive and slightly simplistic, I know.
For a canter, you learn to feel when the hind leg opposite to your desired lead is juuust lifting. That’s when you cue. Left hind=right front coming forward next. Closing your eyes and picturing the sequence helps. Do it till you’re sick of it.
Drive in to Winnipeg and find a dressage coach who’ll yell this stuff at you for an hour. Don’t jump, don’t get fancy. Just master these two things first, and everything will change. Charleswood Riding Club attracts some good riders and trainers.
Those two things alone are so useful, your riding will go to a new level. After I learned “opposing rein”, I was ticked at the time I spent believing you cue on the inside only.
Which I first learned from a book
But I have a feeling you’re having fun with us, and aren’t as “pathetic” as you say.
Love your honesty.
Today’s game show is: How Many Things Can my Idiot Husband find wrong with this picture?
I showed my non-horse-person husband the video and asked him to count the number of stupid things. The goal of this game is to make the longest sentence possible. Here’s his sentence.
1) A child of four
2) …riding double
3) …on a stallion
4) …not wearing a helmet
5) …inside a barn
6) …in an unfamiliar place, where the horse is more likely to be jumpy.
And for bonus points:
7) Blaming the child’s “love of horses” for her death instead of their own stupidity.
What a shame that my husband, who has ridden a horse exactly once, can spot these potential problems, but the child’s parents couldn’t. Unfortunately there are no winners in this game, just losers.
That is always my test – if a nonhorsey person can see that much wrong, then it’s obvious. It’s not me being nitpicky. It’s OBVIOUS.
Poor little girl, riding getting ready to load? my mustang who used to be really pushy on the ground ( really ill people shouldn’t be training mustangs- we have moved past that) but actually was often more compliant and easier to control when ridden. The stallion maybe was more interested in another horse ( a mare perhaps) and said NO Way Jose, I aint gonna load and leave and you can’t make me- mom got on but he still acted up- hey our horse loves our precious daughter- he will be a good boy for her…..news ar 11
Greiving family outside the door, could be the ones who loved the lost little girl and want to get in the parent’s face about their irrespsonsibily and parents aren’t opening up. I wouldn’t go away either if that was my neice who only survived my crazy sister’s neglectful “parenting” by God’s grace. I work in a Hispanic community and parents range from totally indifferent (few) to danger to over-protective (most). Not too many families fall in the middle it is often one or the other extreme and lots of extended drama/angst when a tragedy happens. It is also a very poverty stricken area and I think that is a more significant a factor in the parenting styles as any race issues.
I’ve seen that book that says you can learn to ride in a weekend. What they suggest that you do is pretty intense and you also have to find a suitable riding school that would be willing to give you two long days of intensive coaching. This is NOT a teach yourself book. It is an itinerary to learn to ride in a weekend. I felt tired just reading it. If you actually did everything (and I am quite sure that a lot of people couldn’t) and succeeded at all the allotted tasks, you should be able to manage a quiet horse under supervision. The only thing that I can think of it being good for is fit people who are about to go off on a trail riding holiday and can’t ride. However, I don’t fancy their chances of finding a riding school who would be willing to spend the majority of two days on one person.
OOOPs now they’ve amended the website to say The Black (Czar) was gelded soon after purchase. Not the story in person, folks.
I’m going to go at an angle I haven’t seen yet.
You can learn ABOUT riding from reading books. I sure did. I spent many years dreaming and reading about horses because my family couldn’t afford to get me lessons and I didn’t have access to any real live horses. I learned a lot ABOUT riding from reading the books.
Then when I finally did get to start riding, there were still no lessons. It was more like “Here, ride this horse, and try not to fall off. Kick one time to walk, again to trot, and again to canter. Pull left or right to turn, and pull back to stop. Oh yeah, and take these 5 beginners with you…”
I tried to do some of the things I’d read about in the books, but for one thing, those poor horses were so dead to anything but kicking and pulling, and ignoring all the things beginners do but don’t mean, that a shift of weight by someone who didn’t really know what she was doing anyways didn’t mean much to them.
AND, the most important part, you HAVE to have someone on the ground watching you, who can say “No, not like that, you’re not doing it right.”
That’s the key. If you think you’re doing it right, but you’re not, then you’re confusing the horse and learning it wrong. You need someone who can tell you when you’ve finally gotten it right. Because it’s easy to think you’re right when you’re not.
I’ve spent the last couple of years trying to get it right, and it’s HARD, especially after spending the previous 10-15 years thinking I knew what I was doing. Unlearning bad/incorrect habits is way harder than learning it right to start with. And my horse probably wishes I’d hurry the heck up and get it learned.
Oh and considering a helmet is a relatively new part of my ridng wardrobe, I’m very lucky I’m even still alive.
I happen to live in the Houston area where this tragedy occured. I remember seeing the story on another network were it was reported that this particular horse not only is a stallion but was also used frequently for breeding. Such a sad ending to a beautiful little girl. I hope that a lesson was learned and this little girl didn’t die in vain.
Regarding the e-book, you can see how somebody that’s never even owned a pet can write an e-book and make millions by reading this great article: http://www.cringely.com/2009/03/parrot-secrets/.
I live in Turkey, and my hubby (M.S. Mech/Chem Eng, Canada) and I (M.S. Chemistry/Zoology, USA) earn about 1/3 what we would earn with the same degrees/experience in America. Guess what? My hubby’s brother-in-law, a 24 year old who never finished his college has been selling e-books like these for about a year. He works 30 minutes a day, and earns more than my hubby and I combined–in fact, it would be a good wage even in the USA. He sells books on building muscle, saving a bad marriage, etc. etc. by making fake websites with fake photos claiming that these books helped him. My hubby and I are both against his brother’s occupation, but he won’t give up something that makes so much money for so little work.
OMG can you believe this?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-512657/Starring-horse-riding-lions-Sickest-Show-Earth.html
Apparently the tiger and lion are de-clawed and de-fanged. I was wondering why they weren’t holding on with their claws..
WTF. WHY?
Who thinks that’s cool? That poor horse.
Now THAT is a training episode I could turn into a cartoon:
Trainers: “Okay, Trigger, you trot around the ring, and this Lion is gonna jump on your back and ride along.”
Horse: “…….”
Trainers: “No really, Trigger, this will work. We’ve trained the Lion carefully.”
Horse: “………….”
Trainers: “But Trigger, the Lion is defanged AND declawed!”
“…………..!!.”
(Conversation between trainers: “Maybe we need to also blind the horse and remove olfactory senses?”)
The poor lion. Declawed and defanged???? SICK
The article says the lion weighs 30 stone, and the tiger weighs 35 stone. 30 stone is 420 pounds, and 35 stone is 490 pounds. In addition to the fear it must cause, can you imagine putting 490 pounds on that poor small horse?
Oh look! It comes with a coloring book!
I’d say whoever did the learn-to-ride thing is a freakin’ genius. He’s gonna get rich off all the idiots who flunk out of parelli classes. I wish I’d thought of it first!
If you’re dumb enough to believe you can learn to ride a horse from an e-book, you deserve what you get. The only party that deserves any sympathy is the poor horse who has to suffer through his idiot rider falling off. Repeatedly. At a walk.
As for the video of the kid killed by the horse- IMO if your child gets injured by a horse and was not wearing a helmet, you ought to be treated by the law the same as if your kid got hurt in a car accident while not in a proper car seat. You ought to be charged with some form of abuse/neglect if the kid lives and some sort of manslaughter charges if they die. Maybe if we started PUNISHING these idiots when they accidentally murder their children, more of them will put helmets on their kids. At least in prison the idiots wouldn’t be able to procreate any more!
You can buy an approved kids’ riding helmet at my local Tractor Supply store for less than $40. If you can’t afford a $40 helmet or two, you have no business owning horses.
This sort of stuff just pisses me off. People who refuse to wear helmets, as adults, are just idiots, but they’re able to make their own stupid decision and if they get hurt it’s their own fault. But a child, doesn’t have the ability to make that decision independently, and they don’t have the ability to drive down to the store and buy themselves a helmet, either.
It also pisses me off that the video never once mentioned that the child was not wearing a helmet and that a helmet could have saved her. If it had been a car accident with no child seat, or no seat belt, or a motorcyclist with no helmet, the news would have been all over the seatbelts-save-lives or helmets-save-lives aspect of the story. So why aren’t they using these accidents as a way to get the word out that helmets save lives? grrrr…..
While I am a supporter of helmets, I would hate for anyone to think that putting a helmet on the girl was the solution to this problem. A four year old has no business on a breeding stallion. Or any stallion. It’s like saying, “Hey, I put a seat belt on my kid BEFORE I played chicken with the semi!”
AGREE COMPLETELY!
There ain’t enough bubble wrap in the world to make that a good idea.
I wonder how many people pay the thousands of dollars for some of these “multi-DVD training sets” you see advertised on RFD-TV’s “horse programming” and think the set will help them learn how to ride, train, or handle horses. I know I learn from observation (in person or on television) but I also learn by DOING and by having eyes on the ground to correct or praise “in the moment.” I know sometimes when I ride, I DO something and the instructor will say, “Good correction” — and I have no idea what I did or what I was correcting. I just knew that “something wasn’t right” and I fixed it. To ME that’s a good thing because I’m starting to develop the FEEL.
I remember one dressage lesson where I said I wanted to know how to fix the problem “in the moment” when I was doing a dressage test. The instructor said that was a good thing to aim for but the NEXT goal would be to fix the problem BEFORE it starts.
Don’t think you can do that by osmosis or by just watching a how-to and then going out to the barn and trying to replicate that. It also doesn’t help to show the DVD to the horse or give the horse the book to read ;o) Not that I’ve tried that, of course, but I have certainly thought about it.
Fugs, I’m really not surprised by the ebook. Bookstores have always carried how-to books about horses, everything from caring for them to riding them. So what’s the difference here?
Is it that they are saying you don’t *need* lessons?
I remember when I was a little girl, reading some of those horsey novels where the little girl gets the horse and learns how to ride. They were very detailed. I remember practicing on my stick horse and anything else I could find. Then, I found a place in the phone book that rented horses, and talked my dad into dropping me off there. I was…maybe 10? I put all that I had “learned” to use and did pretty well trail riding there for the next several years.
Could I have competed? Hell no. But I *did* learn everything I knew about riding from books, including how to stop a runaway horse, what NOT to do (yanking on mouth, kicking hard on sides), how to keep from falling off if you lose your seat, etc. I never had lessons but managed to use ALL of those things I had read about in a successful manner.
If I hadn’t read those books I would have been clueless when I first got on. As it was, I knew exactly how to lead, how to mount, and what to do, and yeah they let me go off and ride by myself. Not saying it’s the best idea in the world, but books can be really really helpful.
Yes, my objection is that they’re saying you can do this INSTEAD OF lessons. The horse books we rode as a child never said that – in fact, most of them emphasized the importance of finding a good instructor.
Books are helpful but they’re not a substitute for good instruction. You lived, so did I (I had lessons but they were crap) but we were lucky.
True, they always were being taught by someone who knew what the heck they were doing. And it was usually the trainer explaining such things in great detail.
I was just a kid presumptively believing that because I had read all that stuff I actually knew what the hell I was doing. It’s really amazing that trail riding place let me just gallavant off on my own, for a mere $10 an hour!
Yup, it is a wonder we are alive!
Gawd, if I don’t take one or two lessons every couple of weeks, my hands get horrible, my legs go every which way, and overall, I lean waayyy to forward. It happens slowly, so I don’t realize it until my trainer says “What the hell happened to you?”. So, it’s nice to know that I don’t need that trainer anymore. I can use a book for all of my problems. I will be buying this right away. *sarcasm*
OT: But does anyone in the Great Lakes area know anything about Horse’s Haven, and equine rescue in MI? I am thinking about donating some money there. Any info would be appreciated!
Oh I hear you. I rode four this morning and I have not ridden regularly since last fall. I am well aware of how to ride properly and what it looks like and what it feels like, but that does not mean I was doing it today, LOL. I got tired fast and my legs were weak. It is definitely something you have to do a lot of to continue to do it properly!
Re Horse’s Haven — I haven’t quite figured them out. They take in needy horses and take good care of them, but they don’t appear to try to find homes for any of them, only sponsors for what seem to be animals that should be in some useful work. Many of the horses do have issues that would prevent this but not all, and some of the excuses are lame. They don’t showcase horses on the website that are available for adoption, and they have rather strident restrictions on the one’s they claim are available (no breeding, no using for commercial purposes such as riding lessons (??). I’ve tried to schedule a visit and found that to be a daunting endeavor also, but that was years ago. If you’re in the area and are interested, if I were you I would try to schedule a visit before I give them any of my hard-earned cash.
Off topic, but if this stallion is worth $5,000…….I’ll eat my hat:
http://boise.craigslist.org/grd/1783682747.html
OoooOOOOOooooOOOOooo! But he’s BLACK — he must be a Friesian! And he has a lllllllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggggggg tail! Just like a My Little Pony!
Yes, stupid people are from all races. However at a horse expo I watched in horror as a father had his young girl do some kind of dance, barefooted, in an arena, while he “danced” his stallion around her which looked to me wildly out of control until the saddle slipped under the horse who then dumped the father. The poor horse took off madly around the arena. It was only by the grace of God the little girl didn’t get trampled. Stupid asshat. Part of their “culture”.
Any parents that allow children on a horse with out a helmet should be treated as a criminal, no different then a carseat.
I recently went to the Midwest Horse Expo. You can’t imagine the temptation to go ahead and ride a couple of horses that my friends/clients had there, but I refused, saying that I didn’t technically have a rider’s pass and I would feel guilty.
Imagine my shock and relief when my friend and I stopped on our way out to view the ring that the exhibitors used to exercise their horses. A few little known facts about expo exhibitors:
1. The only horses that weren’t stallions were mares in heat. Most were stallions.
2. Evidently it is less important to know how to handle or ride a stallion than it is to know how to fill out a form to bring him to the expo. I saw women on friesians riding in curb bits without curb straps. I saw men riding paints whose sole goal was to find another mare– or a stallion in a pinch– so they were on their ‘breeding toes’ the whole time. I saw poor fitting tack, no tack, and cross dressing tack. I saw riders in shorts, in sneakers, and barefoot. I saw a group of people who I strongly suspect saw a reining class once, and then decided they were reining trainers, so they bought stock horses (stallions of course!) and went to it.
3. In the midst of this havoc was a young woman, wearing schooling attire and a helmet, lunging a very classy warmblood gelding/stallion (one of the few I couldn’t tell from watching) at a nice easy gait. Poetry. So there is hope!!! (unless that guy riding backwards on the Percheron stallion ran her over once I left…..)
Anyway, point is, there was only one Hispanic in the arena, and his horse was in control, although over-controlled by my standards. There may be a certain culture within Hispanic populations that is reprehensible in their care of animals, but there are also some pretty raw hillbillies who swear by dog and cock fighting.
Midwest Horse Fair? My friends and I used to go there SOLELY for the purpose of playing identify-the-lameness. Damn, people, stop riding your completely head bobbing LAME horses at expos…
Remember that certain N/H buckskin stallion being advertised for breeding in that area? HE was there… with a rope across his stall door, and his head hanging over it so that little kids and babies in strollers could pet him as they went by in droves. I wonder how many CC’s it takes to make a stallion in breeding season stand quietly for that for three days?
Actually some stallions are that quiet (and honestly, they should be). Breeding season is irrelevant, they should know when they’re breeding and when they’re expected to act like a gelding.
That said, OF COURSE I 100% oppose any N/H horse being bred and OF COURSE I think that set-up is way too risky both in terms of a possible escape and in terms of a child feeding him their fingers.
ROFLMAO cross-dressing tack! You really don’t want to know what went through my brain. Laugh of the day … thanks for providing it, and I mean it in a good, sincere way!
Some of the books sound like a good deal and a fascinating read, if it wasn’t so painfully obvious you’d be taking a chance and dealing with someone outside of the US.
I had a Tippery … bought it because it was cheap. I dropped it this past winter and it shattered!! You would think I dropped it from a mile high. Splintering into pieces was very unnecessary. I’m glad my head wasn’t in it.
While I certainly agree it is important to learn to ride properly, I wouldn’t say that if you don’t take formal lessons you are going to go out and hurt yourself and the horse. I took lessons very briefly when I was 5 and then just ended up finding a way to keep myself with horses when I moved across the country (neighbor had a fat old Arab no one used). So my only formal training was when I was 5 and one dressage lesson when I was about 16. However I have owned horses since I was 15 and am a successful endurance rider; that said, I may not have been in an arena with an instructor but as a horse owner, trail guide, rider of the “badies” at rescue ranches, and someone with generally open ears, I have been learning and learning and learning since that first day when I was 5. Let the lessons never end!
from the ad:
“For over 20 years Valerie Mellema has been involved in horse management. She has experience breeding and training horses, and is also an expert on horse health and care. This book is the result of her wealth of expertise in all areas of horsemanship. She authored several horse related books and ebooks some of which are currently being sold on Amazon.”
Well, let’s see:
http://www.amazon.com/Valerie-Mellema/e/B001JSAAOS/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
“Valerie Mellema was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on October 9, 1982. She has had a lifelong love affair with horses and writing. Today, Valerie Mellema is an author and ghostwriter. She attended West Texas A&M University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness/Equine Business and Industry with a Minor in Animal Science. She was a bartender for several years and is the author of The Professional Bartender’s Handbook. She is also the author of Horses 101: The Complete Guide to Buying & Caring for Your Horse.
Valerie resides in Amarillo, Texas with her husband, Troy, and son, TJ. Together, they operate an SEO writing and ghostwriting business called Words You Want. The offer writing services in SEO articles, blogs, eBooks, press releases and more.”
Valerie is a ghost writer! Don’t really see anything about being a horse trainer …. Nice. She’s also a bartender, so when you are recovering from your injuries she can make you a nice drink.
So this guy in Beirut went to one of those sites where you can hire a ghost writer for peanuts and had her write a book. GG, Valerie and crew. Way to internet scam.
So the ad says, “For over 20 years Valerie Mellema has been involved in horse management.” If Valerie was born in October of 1982, she is now 27 years old. I would assume she ghostwrote the book at least a year ago, but whatever, say 27. So she’s been in horse management since she was 6 years old? She’s a prodigy!
Also, don’t see anything in her most recent blog post about riding:
“There’s a few things that I do everyday and it pretty much goes like this:
Wake up with TJ going “Dad!, Dad!â€
Pour TJ’s milk
Make coffee
Fix TJ’s breakfast
Check email
Answer email
Check Facebook
Check The Pioneer Woman’s blog
Forget what I was doing
Drink more coffee
Check that TJ hasn’t thrown his breakfast all over the floor
Check and answer email again
Realize it’s getting late morning
Take TJ to the potty (we’re potty training)
One of us puts TJ in the bath and gets him dressed
TJ goes down for nap
Check and answer more emails
Look for work
Work on some odd project that I have going on
Take a shower
Eat lunch
Pretty much from here on out the process might start over again with more Pioneer Woman blog checking, maybe some Bakerella blog checking with some I Heart Faces thrown in. Then more looking for work. More writing on odd projects. Setting up writer assignment sheets. Then realize that it’s almost dinner time.
In between all of this I may have a number of cars, balls and other toys brought to me to hold by my son. If it’s nice but not too hot, he’ll play outside and maybe bring a handful of sand in to thrown on me.”
Um, horse training expert….no horse in your life??
What a scam!! I went and looked, and I was AMAZED to see the ‘Prof. Beery’ booklets being promoted; I saved up my allowance and bought a set of those things almost FIFTY-SIX years ago…and even as barely a teen, could see when I got them that they did NOT have the ‘answers’ to proper horse training, as they promised!! Just goes to show you how LOONNNGGG a scam can continue to be a money maker for its perpetrator!! I think they were being advertised in the “Western Horseman” back then; when I was lucky then, I would have the money to buy a copy(of course, the per-issue price was maybe a dollar then, if that much?)
I think I may even have seen my set of booklets in my old trunk awhile back! I wonder if they’re worth anything as antiques nowadays??!!Why the HECK I still have them is the question…I tend to forget I have things I’ve put away, and I am not ‘into’ that trunk oftener than, say, every 10-15 years!!
Margo
It promotes one of my biggest pet peeves, use of horse back riding as the form of exercise to lose weight. Riding and horse ownership is a great goal or reason to work towards for weight loss, but don’t use it as the way to loose weight. It’s not fair to the animal.
It is a great way to lose weight if you already happen to have a horse. I changed my diet and upped my riding program (OTTB didn’t mind at all) because my calves were too fat to fit into my show boots and dieting was cheaper than custom boots.
“Go out and buy a horse so you can be skinny” – not so much.
I’ve never seen “fat calves.” I think that’s a physiological impossibility. Calves are pure muscle. There are boots for the more muscular calf.
Erin, I am going to disagree with you on this. Horseback riding is good exercise and can be included in a weight loss program. The horse should be the appropriate size for the weight of the rider.
For instance a horse that can carry a 6′ 180 lb. rider can also carry a 5’5″ 180 lb. rider. One of the riders needs to lose weight and riding can be an enjoyable way to do this.
Thanks for saying so, littlebigred. I’m on the voluptuous side myself, and have always found it incredibly aggravating that many 250 lb man can speed around in say, reining classes, on a 14.2 QH. Oh, yeah, beer belly hangin’ over the horn and everything. Not to mention the 40 lb. saddle.
But let a woman who weighs over 140 lbs. get on anything smaller than a draft cross, the jokes and phoney ‘concern’ for the horse start flying.
This poor girl could use an upgrade. TB, ex-racer, now broodmare:
Old Ad, complete with skinny ribs: http://kpr.craigslist.org/grd/1770856418.html
New ad (pic cropped): http://kpr.craigslist.org/grd/1785197181.html
Shoot, here she is again: http://yakima.craigslist.org/grd/1784389182.html They dropped her to $250. Anyone have room for her? I’m going to look into it, but I don’t think I have the skills to do her training.
What are the KB in WA paying nowadays for horses? Just curious….
Well, the baby is obviously awesome enough that an American Idol contestant bought it! So, it’s a steal of a deal to get the mare!!!
*headdesk*
“Know how to get any excess energy out of your horse before you get on him!” Do they give instructions on tranquilizing?
Sorry, but no book can prepare you for everything. I’d love to see one of these couch riders stay on a horse that’s bucking with his ass over his head every other stride in an all out gallop (is the one rein stop in there do you suppose?) or even do something simple like get a horse that’s broken in the fifth vertebrae moving forward into the connection. Or do you have to buy batteries for the book and the book shows you what connection feels like?
I should buy the book…can’t wait for the chapter that tells you how to handle a horse that’s pissy about having other horses coming up too close behind you in a class that he’ll canter sideways so he can kick out. Must be an AWESOME book if it will tell me everything I need to know! Where can I buy it?! I’ll give one to my trainer too. She wants to go to the olympics and she’s wasting all kinds of money with a trainer actually WATCHING her ride!
I’ve read the “over-horsed” comment re: the Reeve accident several times as well, so I quite believe it. In his autobiography, Chris even admitted that he considered the horse very strong. I think I also remember reading that the horse “just stopped for no reason”… sounds like it DID have a reason, and that would be his rider not judging the distance very well, which is what I always suspected.
The other thing I heard or read somewhere was that Chris was really too tall for the horse. So during the stop, when he sailed over the horse’s head , there was a “physics in motion” aspect going on (don’t ask me what, I practically flunked physics, but it makes sense to me).
What I’ve always heard is that he got ahead of the horse. Because he was a big guy on not the biggest horse, that was enough to throw the horse off balance and make him hit.
Sad, but a pure accident – rider error leading to horse error.
My trainer saw him with the horse and said the horse was too small for him so he was top heavy. So when he got into position to jump he was ahead of the horse.
Here’s where I pipe in with the less popular response and admit to buying the kit. In my defense, I bought the kit because I wanted to read the Prof. Beery horsemanship manuals. I had heard about them… the originals are quite expensive as they are very old, and it was a kind of cool read. I could see elements of the beginnings of roundpenning and “natural horsemanship” in the manuals.
What you get is downloads of the manuals and a couple of videos. Some of the stuff included is an interesting read… some of it less so… but it’s actually not an internet scam. You do get what you pay for and, so far (I did this a year ago) my identity has not been stolen.
As to the video and sales pitch… I didn’t actually watch that, so I cannot comment.
For riding lessons, again it depends on what you want to do. The top athletes definitely had coaching. As to the rest… falling off your horse a few times and/or having it run away with you makes a pretty great teacher if all you’re doing is riding down the trail. As does a stubborn little Shetland pony… lol. I did take riding lessons, but I had already been riding regularly for a couple of years, bareback, before taking them so other than learning to sit a little deeper in my seat I didn’t get much out of them.
I would question the quality of your lessons if you were self taught and got nothing from an instructor. There are some very bad teachers out there. If you had the interest in buying the kit, good for you for wanting to improve your riding and training. There’s probably a good instructor that can expand your horizons in your area if you look around, so you can practice some of what the book is suggesting under an experienced eye.
No… it wasn’t for the “learn to ride” part. It was for the Beery books… the other books were interesting reading too. The Manger books on horse taming were… interesting… although his methods scared me a little.
On the lessons… for trail riding what I did worked. I got to where I could sit a seat pretty well… bucking, rearing. spooking… bareback is a great way to learn balance. Even herded my uncle’s cows in bareback on his thoroughbred.
However, when I get to showing my horses, of course there will be need for lessons. It would foolish to expect that my bareback trail riding is going to get me through a show class.
UGH UGH UGH! This is off topic but is anyone looking for a halflinger filly? In absolute need of an upgrade. The lady told me $400 for her and the goat she’s kept with. They must go together because they don’t have money for feed. Right now she is getting grass clippings when the woman or neighbors mow. Very sweet, but has a swollen front ankle that looks like she got from the junk laying around. (Or the chicken coop in with her) I got a few pictures, but not enough to flag the PSPCA’s attention.
OT: Fort Smith AR Craigslist
“Golliath” is an 8 year old Oldenderg that stands a whoping 17.3 hands tall. He was a national champion Hunter Jumper a couple years ago. He is a deep Chestnut gelding with an AWESOME personality. I really hate getting rid of him he is such a fun horse. He has good manners, longes nicely, moves off leg and is just a really cool horse, just to big for what I need. 700.00
Copy of the add
Oldenburg Horse on AR Craigslist
OK, what’s wrong with it?
Someone should at least go look. If it’s not neurological he might be fixable, whatever it is.
Waiting for pics….
I want to comment on the bashing of the e-book. I’m pretty sure that e-book is likely to be pretty useless, but I don’t like the discounting of reading about the art of riding. As a kid my family couldn’t afford many lessons. I was lucky to have lessons leading up to my first pony, a grandmother who had ridden for 40 years and a mom who had ridden as a teenager, but eventually I moved past their skill level. At that point I was sort of on my own. And to top it off I wanted to ride dressage, not exactly easy to do without lessons.
I spent hours reading and re-reading any book that had to do with horses and I observed everything possible. I would audit clinics that my neighbor rode in, I did horse judging in 4-H which taught me how to critique and analyze form which I then turned around and used on videos of myself, and I listened to anyone who would talk to me. Yes, I did have lessons along the way, but I learned the vast majority from watching, reading, and listening. I am very proud of the accomplishments that I managed as a “backyard” rider. I understand your point and agree with it to a degree, but I also don’t think we should discount the hard work that riders who can’t afford lessons put into their riding. We each are dealt a different hand and make the best of it and I would offer that those who have less have to work harder.
The “free books” they’re pimping on their site can be found in several internet archives. They’re just out of copyright texts, not all of them so useful (if historical curiosities).
This is totally off topic, but just wanted to show you this. Fugly breeding stock doesn’t only exist in North America, unfortunately. I came across this gem of a breeder while looking at horse ads. WTF is all I can say. The text is all in French, but basically:
The page this link is to shows, 1) their grade stock breeding mares (all fugly) 2) their registered broodmares (I’m glad they’re registered, that’s a small plus for their foals, but take a look at that first mare’s front legs… holy cow…) 3) their grade stock PONY stallion (can you say, dewormer?) and his son who is just 6 months old that they are already advertising as a stud… 4) their registered TB stallion (who looks like a total nutjob; they show a vid of him on youtube where he’s trotting around in the round pen. I noticed that in the vid of the pony stallion, they are IN the round pen with him; not the case with this 3 year old probably either unbroke or race track reject stud…) and 5) pictures of what happens when you mix all this fugliness together! “VENDUE” marked on some of the listings means “SOLD.” Prices on most ads are about what the butcher would pay, so I’m guessing some of these poor guys end up… yeah.
Enjoy. http://ajm.pension.free.fr/AJMElevage.htm
Slightly off topic: is anyone in NW Oregon or SW Washington familiar with a trainer named Linda Ketter? I would love to come back and see some info or opinions…I promised someone I would ask in here because y’all probably do know her or of her. I believe she’s in Yelm or thereabouts.
Just keep in mind that the cross-boarder Mexican cowboys you are seeing are probably the equivalent of our very own, beloved red-necks, with all the same poor IQ, addictions, low cultural standards etc. I have seen some horrendously ignorant treatment of horses by yobbos from various southern states (not that the north is immune to idiots either, just seem to see more southern boys at western events) — see YouTube for any number of examples. I’ve seen Puerto Rican trainers (yes, they ARE US citizens) that I wouldn’t put in charge of a houseplant let alone a horse. Likewise I have seen Mexican trainers who have ‘repaired’ mentally and physically damaged horses by slow and patient handling. IMO the main difference is actually cowgirls — I think the US cowboys would be a whole lot rougher if women weren’t watching and willing to stand up and say something about the animal treatment.
Very good point indeed. Look, it’s like anything. I’m from Wisconsin and understand it’s often thought of as a land of beer-guzzling idiots. Every state, culture, whatever, has tons of intelligent, educated and compassionate people who cringe at how some other people are making their state/country/culture look.
Very good point. I have seen the way that the Hispanic gentlemen at my past job treated the animals. They cried when a litter of kittens from a feral cat in the tractor shed died. I also saw tears from the one that found a dead newborn baby in a water trough when the mother had it prematurely and the baby drowned before the guys went out to feed. Those guys took so much pride in the horses that they always got to bring the trophies from the show ring back to the barn with the horses after a class, and they always treated the horses with kindness and respect. I have never even heard one of them raise their voice at a horse. I would prefer them to any one of the horse crazy American girls that I have worked with. On the flip side, I have also seen the way that Mexican “rednecks” at certain halter barns in the Midwest treat the horses.. disgusting. Perhaps it’s regional differences as far as where they come from, or perhaps it has to do with following the example of their employers. I just know that it is not a “Mexicans are hateful to animals” thing.
Some of the books they were showing are very old, out of print, historical references. I read every horse book I could get my hands on when I got my first horse/pony. A whole different story when i began to ride him. I didnt have formal riding lessons except 4-H camp. I could ride and stayed on but I didnt look so pretty doing it. lol I learned alot from a book but its a different thing when your on the horse or dealing with a horse for the first time. better to have some one show and help you..
On the topic of bad training..a friend posted this on her website..she found the video on You Tube.. I was appauled at the treatment of this poor horse and how on gos earth could the owner allow thier horse to be abused in this manner.
Not sure if link would go through..I was told it is Linda Parelli in the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyF2QqP29DU&feature=player_embedded
The statement th ‘olympic trriders are self taught’ is patently absurd. MostB of them have spent decades getting coached nearly every day of their lives to get where they are.
I think this e-book is a great idea! Do I attach my iPad to the front of my saddle, or the neck of my horse?