An update I’ve been meaning to share
Jul 03 2010
My original blog on the incident
Good job, USEF! This sends a clear message about how much is too much. No one wants to prevent riders from disciplining a horse when appropriate, but this action shows that over-the-top abuse and temper tantrums that make the whole sport look bad will not be tolerated.
Way to go!
101 comments to “An update I’ve been meaning to share”
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Yea! That’s a win for me!
Yay! Pity it wasn’t a bigger punishment, but still, good for them. Hopefully the next three months covers all kinds of big events for him.
Yay, but I smell a rat. $3,000 is nothing, and three months… does it say WHEN this three month suspension must be taken? It wouldn’t be, say, during the off-season when there are no shows anyway?
No, it’s now. He’s missing shows NOW. He IS being hurt by this.
Woohoo!!!! Another win for the good guys
I bet he thinks twice before having a “temper tantrum” again!!
How many of us would love to have that job, and ride that quality horse?
Glad the USEF were strict.
If more people and organizations spoke out and handed out punishments for flagrant abuses, then reports like this would be the ‘occasional’ not the ‘normal.’ Your blog probably helped get this out and contributed to the exposure and justice for the poor horse. Let’s hope that during his suspension, the horse doesn’t pay while he is unable to participate in any horse activity.
“Let’s hope that during his suspension, the horse doesn’t pay while he is unable to participate in any horse activity.”
Let’s hope his owners take him out of training with that jerkwad and give him to someone else who understands about correct form, demeanor, and rider “responsibility” when it comes to riding a course of fences. To be honest, had that horse been mine, I was in the audience and saw “my” trainer do that to him, I would have left my seat and pulled that sh*t off the horse at the soonest possible moment. I’d have written him up myself.
That’s another thing I don’t understand about these trainers — how do they stay in BUSINESS?? How can ANYONE keep a horse in training with someone who does that sort of thing? Same with the Cleve Wellses of the world.
Good on him! I hope his clients appreciate who they’re paying and hurt him in the wallet as well!
Similar to Schickendanz-the-lowlife, who has now been officially banned from Woodbine Race track (along with his trainer!) indefinitely, with the other tracks threatening to follow suit pending the ORC investigation!
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/57746/schickedanz-barred-from-racing-at-woodbine
now, if we can convince the dressage and hunter-jumper crowds in Ontario to boycott the shows held by the RCRA (also owned by the lowlife!), we’ll be all set!!
Ooooh, do tell!
W00t! That is far faster (and more severe) than I expected. Huzzah for Woodbine! Hopefully that’ll give the horse’s insurance company what it needs to deny his claim as well.
“Crelido” (butthole’s horse) thanks the USEF also!!!
Ok, that’s awesome news!!!! Also, completely off topic, this is a fun “spot the hilarious typo” ad:
http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1553882&share_this=Y
Har har! I was thinking well, WTF, he’s a beautiful boy, looks like a male version of MBG, then the payoff! How did they make such a dumb mistake? OMFG.
Way to follow up on that low life, Fugs.
no doubt we will see this horse in temple for services
and good grief! I was so busy laughing at the first typo, that I did not continue on to see the second typo! ROFLMAO!
Oh dear. XD
Now that is one hell of a typo!
LMAO! That’s quite a typo! I watched the video, out of curiosity. His hocks look pretty funky on the picture, so I wanted to see how he moves. Didn’t manage to watch much of his movement, though. I was too distracted by the rider’s funky position and her hands all over the place; she seems to be balancing on the poor guy’s mouth.
Yay for the USEF sanctioning M. Morrissey! I don’t know that he will actually change his methods (I’m willing to bet my right hand that if he can have that kind of temper tantrum in public, at home those horses are pretty much beaten into submission) but at the very least it sets a better example for young people everywhere who watch and copy what they see GP riders do. The message is out to other riders: that is NOT appropriate riding!
I was losing patience with the small typos and almost stopped reading before coming to the BIG typo. Yep, well worth the time spent to find it.
This horse is just my type. He can come live in my back yard any time.
I laughed when I read that he had a floating ‘cantor’.
Then I spotted the other typo – what a classic !
YEP..gotta watch those “genital giants”!!!!!!! Proof read your ads people!
I also find it to be a typo when you’re advertising a Half Percheron, Half Dutch Harness Horse as a Dutch Warmblood, which is a completely different breed in itself.
I never have figured out how a part-draft becomes a warmblood of any sort, LOL!
Well, supposedly the crossing of Coldbloods (Drafts) with Hotbloods (i.e. Arabs, nowadays TBs would count, too) is what created the Warmblood in the first place.. Not sure how true that is as there MUST have been an in-the-middle-thing even then, in my opinion, but maybe people read about this theory and then decide to create their very own type of ‘Warmblood’…?
Hahah, you never know.
It’s like mixing water.
If the sire is a cold blood, and the dam is hot and hard to handle, by definition when you mix the two you get a warm blood.
Clearly because anything hot + cold = warm, right?
…Riiiight?
*headdesk*
This is tongue-in-cheek, but really…..why wouldn’t a cold blood (draft) crossed with a hot blood (TB) result in a warm blood?
I am nowhere near riding a GP jumper – nor will I ever be. But, one thing I have learned from my trainer about jumping – the horse will follow your eye – if you look down, so will he (as in look down at the tiny box and the pony dodges out – trainer says – “Did it move?” Me: “Yes, but only from the wind as we zoomed by it…”. So, after watching the video – it would appear that Mr. M steered his horse toward the standard and then punished his horse for going the wrong way. Not Kosher!
There are times when the ruling bodies of the Powers That Be align and we get rulings like this. Often these organizations that act like labor unions — you pay your dues but don’t see much benefit — and when there are issues like rollkur in dressage or soring in TWH circles, the wheels of justice grind exceedingly square.
And then, other times (like THIS one), voila. Mr. “I Lost My Temper When People Were Watching” has to pay bigtime AND cannot participate for awhile.
WooHoo!!
“Morrissey is forbidden from attending any shows, as a competitor or spectator, or participating in any USEF-sanctioned activities”
Now THAT is a suspension. None of this stupid stuff where the assistants ride the horses wearing a headset while mr. suspended trainer stands at the rail and talks to them. Or he shows up and watches. Out is Out, and I personally like that there really is only one main jumping association in the U.S. Guess he can’t just shimmy over to a different breed for a few months.
Yeah, unlike Cleve Wells who laughed all the way to the bank showing NSBA while he was suspended from AQHA. For shame, NSBA, and it’s the reason I will NEVER patronize your organization in any way, shape or form.
All USEF suspension are TOTAL — the suspended person cannot even be on the showgrounds, and no horse owned by that person may be shown during the suspension. Suspended is suspended, no ifs, ands, or buts. And yes, perhaps he’s being hurt a little — but the suspension ends before the WEG or the big fall shows.
Agreed. My first stop after reading you was at “Horsin Around” a horse friendly version of Pleasure Horse Journal Forum. They were glad to hear of this too. At least two of the members are active suggestion makers to the AQHA Executive Committee. Maybe they can show them how to write a suspension, which is what I titled my post.
This from a response on the Canadian blog:
Sympathetic – April 14th, 2010 at 2:49 am
to be perfectly honest, this really is not that bad. if any of you. I respect MM for not getting after that horse going to it the first time. This horse is a world cup horse, it should jump the water. I am not saying it is legal, which it obviously is NOT, but it is NOT by any means abuse… if any of you ride at all, im sure you have seen horses get schooled and in some cases, it is necessary.
My thoughts are simple– Yes, it’s a world cup horse. Why does a world cup horse so lack in its training that it must be flogged in the ring in front of thousands of people? I thought horses were trained BEFORE they went into a $75,000 Grand Prix event.
My last thought– Yea, I’ve schooled horses before. I just never expected to see someone of that class and level resorting to the same type of ‘schooling’ I might see at a backwater open show. Besides, I’m thinking that my personal idea of necessary generally takes into account whether a horse has enough momentum and angle to carry it across a wide water jump.
It hardly makes sense to ‘school’ a horse for a rider’s miscalculation.
It’s very simple. The rules say no more than three strikes with a crop per offense. He’s aware of the rules because he’s been disqualified for this exact behavior before, on this exact horse at this exact type of fence, a couple of years ago in the UK. If he can’t get his horse over the water without breaking the rules, he needs to sell it to someone who can.
As for “schooling”? That’s baloney. If his whipping hasn’t trained the horse in this many years, it’s not going to be effective starting now.
As I said in my original blog, I believe the refusal was due to rider failure – I don’t think the horse was steered straight to the jump.
He should have whipped himself for fucking up.
I know it looks like that from the video, but if you watch the other incident, it was the same. This horse has a well know and long-standing hatred of liverpools and was trying to run out from a long way back, thus the messed up line. That seems a lot more likely than that Morrissey habitually tries to jump standards.
It’s still the rider’s fault – he’s had plenty of time to correct this problem if he were capable of it. Since he’s not, he needs to pass his horse on to someone who is.
So, this person describes whipping as ‘schooling’, eh….
My goodness, that blog about putting nice names on nasty things would really be interesting I think…
The FEI issued a press release about this today. They agree with the USEF view — I don’t think there is any organization more world-class in competition than the FEI — so much for the people who accept this kind of abuse as normal! I am also impressed that all the members of the Ground Jury were reprimanded for doing nothing at the time.
FEI PRESS RELEASE
9 July 2010
Three-month suspension for US rider Michael Morrissey
Michael Morrissey (USA) has been suspended for three months and issued a yellow card with retroactive disqualification for excessive use of the whip in class 101 at the Wellington CSI 2* held on 27 February 2010. Mr Morrissey has also been subjected to a fine of CHF 2,000. The suspension from FEI competition will run from 5 May to 4 August, concurrent with the three-month suspension imposed on Mr Morrissey by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).
“I apologise unreservedly for this incidentâ€, Mr Morrissey said. “I overreacted when the horse stopped and that is unforgiveable. Horse welfare has to take precedence over competitive interests and I know that I was in breach of that basic principle.â€
An investigation into the role of the Ground Jury in this incident showed that Mr Morrissey should have been disqualified at the time. Letters of reprimand have been sent to all members of the Ground Jury.
The full text of the decision is available here: MORRISSEY
Media Contact:
Grania Willis
FEI Director Press Relations
Tel: +41 787 506 142
Email: grania.willis@fei.org
Suspension. Great. Fine. Not so great. I would have loved it if it had been 3k for every absuive slap he did to his horse. This is a guy that does riding as his livily hood, so how much money does he make riding, training and showing horses? I bet he just laughed at it as he wrote out the check. I am, however, quite estatic that USEF actually took a stand and upheld their policy of animal abuse. I applaued that. But as someone that makes their living riding, training and showing was probably chump change. Luckily I don’t run USEF >:) or else I would make him and everyone else like him pay out through the nose to make abundantly sure that they understand what they did was wrong and to ensure that it would never happen again. By hitting their pocket book.
LOL !! I love that you have the impression that being a horse trainer means that you are rolling in money
I can assure you that with a few exceptions this is very much not true. Anyway, the suspension is the real punishment. He will be losing his business for the entire season. That means that he loses training, show fees, and potential winnings. Plus it is mighty hard to sell horses without showing them, so there go the big commission checks as well. A show season suspension is the harshest punishment that the USEF can give. Can you even imagine being suspended from your job for three months without pay? I think that the USEF really took a stand and made a HUGE statement with this one.
And the sad part, arabtrainer, is that most of the truly talented struggle. It is the snake oil salesmen like Pat Parelli and the charming abusers like Cleve Wells who roll in money.
I know and it really drives me crazy! Part of the way that these guys make big bucks is by telling people whatever they want to hear. An honest trainer loses lots of money every year by telling people things that they don’t want to hear, such as “Your horse simply does not have the neck for English” or “I’m sorry, but you and your horse are not a good match. He is too much for you” or “your horse needs another year to grow up”. These guys just lie lie lie and they are the ones with all of the money!
Haha, it’s funny you mentioned the neck thing. My friend keeps horse shopping and my trainer keeps saying uh-uh on the necks.
But hey, if someone wants a show horse, you do have to be honest about what will and won’t make one. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear and as I’ve observed before, trying to shove a horse into a niche he doesn’t fit conformationally or temperament wise ends in disaster EVERY time.
I work for a BNT who if owners want to have their horse shown at nationals and what not have to fork over $$$$$. Do I realize that every trainer doesn’t make the big $$$$? I know a lady who is horse rich and has few $$ for herself after she gets all of her horses squared away. But most asshats (cough *Pat cult* cough) think it is there way or the highway. That they should be allowed to do whatever they want, rules smules. And because of this attitude we have serious issues in associations. How much do you want to be that he’s done this numerous times and that this is the first time that someone dared to tell him that wasn’t acceptable? Just like with the judge that informed a participant that the abuse would be noted and handed over to that association. How many times had that person been allowed to basically beat on their horse?
To enter that $75,000 jack pot show, the entry fee was probably what his fine way. That is why he was probably laughing. To the people who can easily afford these things are sometimes the people that take it to the extreme. Because what person who could barely afford the entry fee would beat on their horse and risk injury if that horse was their livily hood, compared to a BNT who, oops I broke it better go out and get another one and toss this one aside.
I forgot add. He was just suspended ffom USEF shows, he can still show at other shows, such as open shows that aren’t run by the USEF. And he might even belong to other associations. If he does I hope they kick him out of their shows as well. And chances are, he’s probably still being paid by dumb ass owners who think that this was just a fluke or it couldn’t have possibly been him. And probably has a savings account. If not he’s probably going to play the violen to his parents, friends, family, etc so they can help him out. I hope they don’t. He did this to himself, no one forced him to crack his horse with his crop. He did it himself. I hope he truely learns from this, and this is the last time we hear about him.
It should have been till August 1212. Imagine what he’s done behind the scenes.
That might require a TARDIS.
The doctor is in, but I don’t think he wants horse poop in his police box…
wheeeeeee ooooooooh dooooo weeeeee ooooooooh
(I’m maybe a little in love with the Doctor . . .)
You’re not alone!
Yay!
Although, aw, they missed the part about making him jump a course with some guy steering him whacking the shit out of him with a riding crop (with a nice leather slappy-bit at the tip) when he doesn’t make it because the crop-wielding lunatic miscalculates and steers him into the side of the jump…..
The only thing I would change is that his suspension ends in plenty of time for the WEG.
That’s irrelevant. He didn’t qualify for the WEG.
He got his just desserts.
A little OT but do all the locals wear rose tinted glasses in Mattawan? OK, so she’s an old mare – that’s why she looks so skinny (that old chestnut), and she lives in a junkyard with barbed wire but everything’s rosy because everybody loves her and she has a Facebook page…
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/06/junkyard_horse_is_mattawan_ico.html
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mattawan-junk-yard-horse/122134271134793
Glaring visions of neglect to me…
look at that sad ,defeated eye. She does NOT look happy to me …I think her parents could use some guidance on nutrition, her hooves look like someone is trying to keep her healthy though. I guess the owners are just trashy, uneducated people.
Uugh, something about her back left looks really off. She’s very fuzzy, I’d had to think of what she looks like withOUT all the fuzz. (And old doesn’t have to mean skinny! That’s been shown many, many times on this blog.)
I hope someone can help her out.
“Typically, you wouldn’t see a horse in a salvage yard,†said Steven Van Steenhuyse, zoning administrator for Antwerp Township, where the business is located.
I think there’s a reason for that… Maybe it’s because having a horse in a junkyard isn’t the brightest of ideas? Poor Sugar. *sigh
Well duh. And did you see what passes for fence?
If I was that horse, I’d use my last bit of energy to hop the fence and high-tail it to horse-loving, mush-making people that don’t believe that old horses have to be skinny. Where people can drive past her paddock and admire her and her old pasture buddies. Seriously, when was the last time she saw another horse?
It looks to me like these people may not be educated on how to feed a horse that old. They do feed her grain and I believe they think they are doing right by her. Since horses are uncommon in that area, they may just really not know any better. Perhaps they need to be educated to feed her soaked alfalfa or beet pulp, or soaked equine senior pellets by a gracious horse person nearby.
Hey, I put it in the newspaper comments…if they read them.
Good for you! Maybe someone will help them help her.
“She’s just old, but is loved.” Pah. I wonder if any of her simpering FaceBook ‘friends’ would consider showing their love by giving her a bale of hay.
My guess is she doesn’t have enough teeth to get what she needs from hay. That horse is going to choke to death on an apple or a carrot while someone’s child watches. At her age, it should all be mush. Hay pellets, maybe some beet pulp, throw some applesauce on the top or finely chop the apples.
“I love driving by that horse,†said another person. “It’s like playing, ‘Where’s Waldo?’â€
Ugh…….
Wouldn’t it be nice if we had the name of the veterinarian who evidently vetted the mare as being fed just fine?
The real problem is that a lot of vets DO NOT know how to feed a senior horse. They truly don’t.
I posted to the comments of the news article with feeding advice…not that anyone is likely to listen but heck maybe someone will, even if does not help Sugar, maybe it will help another horse.
If they’d give her away, I’d be more than happy to take her over just to prove the point – that I could put weight on her in 60 days (barring a diagnosis of cancer or something similar). Because I could (and so could a lot of people reading this). It’s a real educational opportunity for the good folks of Mattawan IF old coot would give the mare away to a better home.
re: Junkyard horse…. Apathy and ignorance. Two things that piss me off. Since it is a one horse town and the “local veterinarian” was called, the vet is probably a small animal vet who does not specialize in horses. Poor horse. This is a serious neglect case, while the whole town watches. Does anyone in Ohio want to stop by and nicely educate the owners? That poor mare needs some real food, a nice tasty mash! It ain’t that hard to soak hay cubes either. Geeesh.
re: Michael Moron-and-a-sissy…..The jumpers get so sore at the end of a show day. How dare he add to it when they always give all they got. I hate to think of any jumper not enjoying what they do and being made miserable. Yay for the USEF for suspending MM 100%. Personally I’d like him to be banned indefinitely, but 3 months is a nice start. I hope clients go elsewhere and stay there.
That is just horrid. I don’t give a rats ass how old the horse is. That is what senior feed is for! Forget the sugar….how about feed!!!!!!! A blanket and a nice warm stall. What about vet care? I cna’t believe all of those people on that Facebook page think that is ok.
I am going to go hug my old horses now.
Check out who was handing out good advice a week ago on the news page XD.
On June 15, the sheriff’s office hired a local veterinarian to examine Sugar.
The horse had a swollen right eyelid and an injured right leg that was healing. Other than that, “the old mare†was in good condition and did not need to be put down, Walker said.
*headdesk*
Wow.. Terrific.
Sounds like 2300 facebook fans are more self absorbed in playing Facebookie while slapping themselves on the back than actually shutting the computer off, get off their dead hinny and help the poor old mare. It’s not just the mare that has swollen eyes.
*head desk* what is wrong with these people who say that they like this? I mean really, just because the horse is old doesn’t mean that is a free pass for the horse to be skinny and sad. I know a lady that had a fat, sassy and very happy black TB. He was 32 before he was put down. He was useless as a riding horse, but his owner made sure he got what he needed. She paid for him to have alfalfa (which he could only eat the leaves as he had little teeth left in his head), he got mashes with his supplements with a little bute mixed in, and paid the farrier the big bucks for his special shoes. He even got a pasture to himself. Everyone loved the big boy, he would let you wrap your arms around his head and hug and kiss him and he loved it. She put him down when it was clearly he was losing the fight with his back legs. Now he’s in heaven. Sorry but compared to this owner and what these back yard idiots are doing, this is no where compared to love. The people who like this is basically saying they like the neglect this horse is going through. I mean what else do you call it? Junk everywhere, the vet will love the amount of money that they have to pay after the horse get’s injured, or will the horse simply ‘disappear’? Or maybe it will decide to drink the antifreeze leaking out of a vehical? Someone needs to get down there and educate these idiots. And educate all the idiots who like the page as well. I wonder about people sometimes……. Nothing should shock me anymore, and yet something pops up and makes me shake my head. Ugh.
People like these should just stick with Howrse. Nothing living is harmed.
Hooray! This was a huuuuge problem at a school that I rode at in Northern Ireland – I remember we had a little grey mare that was a dirty stopper, and there were couple of boys that “solved” the problem by beating the piss out of her every time they headed her at a jump. The show jumping world (or any equestrian discipline for that matter) has no room for your temper tantrums. Put on your big boy panties and give your horse a better line next time.
My trainer always teaches us that horses are our friends. Well, duh, but she extends that logic to jumping. She says that every time you jump ahead, you don’t support with leg, you don’t release, you look too early/late, you are betraying your friendship. Also that a horse will only take so much betrayal before they start to be mistrustful. It’s a different way of thinking of it instead of just trying to get your position correct and get your horse to the jump safely. Not only have you missed a jump, or knocked a rail, you also betrayed a friend.
So what this guy did was doubly wrong in my book. He betrayed his friend once by setting him up improperly and then by beating the snot out of the poor thing.
My only grievance is that he can’t go to shows to watch proper equitation at work, but I’m sure he’d only end up abusing his power. Besides, who wants to see him anyway? It’s a shame that such a world-class horse has a rider who feels the need to “train” in the show ring.
Ooooh, I like your trainer!
She thinks like I do. Proper equitation is PART OF being a responsible, KIND horse owner. I am not saying you have to ride like Brianne Goutal, but do your best. Work at it and try to improve. We all have our flaws and challenges as riders, but the better you ride, the happier your horses will be. Poor riding can cause back soreness, neck pain, etc. for the horse. I’m still totally fried at that moron Pat Parelli acting like equitation is optional. Man, when they handed out stupid, he got in line 16 times.
I really love my barn. The horses are great, the trainers know what they’re talking about, the barn is kept neatly, and everyone has a good dose of common sense horsemanship. I have non-horsey parents and I am more and more grateful that they started me in a good place when I was young especially reading about how bad they can be.
I pat my horse on the neck every time she’s been especially good to me or I mess up and she still does her job. It’s my job to direct her and give her the confidence over jumps. If I can’t do my job well, we both suffer. I won’t have a good ride, it’s dangerous for both of us if I’m not performing well, and it’s harder on her physically as well. I’d rather drill the basics over little stuff or on the flat than do courses and big jumps 90% of the time. It’s easier on her and besides, jumping is just flat-work with rails in the way. Some day I’ll get around to figuring out how to post pics…
Pat Parelli is five kinds of stupid. I’m not sure why he expects his horses to keep trying for him when he can’t ride properly enough not to punish them. What are you communicating then? ‘You should keep trying even though I don’t really give a hoot what I’m doing to you even though I’m a professional and it’s my job to be proficient and I’m going to be downright dangerous and even hurt you because I don’t believe in looking pretty. Huuurrrr-derrrrp.’ If I had a job with a boss like that, I’d quit and never look back!
Also the fact that he expects people to buy a piece of string on a stick for $45. I wouldn’t take the stupid thing if he paid me. I could use it if I wanted to look really ridiculous, otherwise it would take up space in storage next to broken yardsticks and old pieces of twine.
Maybe it’s a good thing he doesn’t wear a helmet. With all the bad ideas he keeps having, he should really win a Darwin award.
When I got with my current instructor, she had a bundle of issues to contend with. She never once lost her temper with me and never yelled at me (which is why I followed her when she moved, because I don’t think anyone else would have stayed sane). She always had me think like my horse would would think. I have learned to sift through the BS my horse could be giving me, to a horse that is truely confused. I ride a horse from time to time that tells me when he is tired and wants me off his back. He pops a slight rear with me, and I get off. That is just one of his quarks. He’s cooroperative with a side of bull headedness at time, but truely tries. Sure I could just beat the crap out of him but what would that accomplish? It would make him sour and not want to try something new. Now if he acted like the pony I ride from time to time, that would be a different can of worms.
Also there is a benifit horse show on August 7th at Donida Farm for SAFE. Just in case no one has heard already.
I think that’s ridiculous that this guy did that to the horse. Race horses get hit less times on their final stretch! Geez!!! There’s NO WAY that horse could have jumped that obstacle…. he was headed for the standard from the start. Maybe if the guy gave the horse the benefit of a chance he would have jumped on the straighter approach… One thing I noticed is that the horse didn’t really react to being hit— no bucking? no speeding up? no flying over the water from two strides out? Seems to me like he’s endured that kind of treatment before and has become desensitized to it… I know back in my glory days when I was jumping 3+ foot, if I used a crop ONCE on my thoroughbred jumper, I’d be flying over the jump and bucking all the way around the other side of the fence. He did that to me a plenty… I stopped using a crop
LOL. Carry it, but not use it.
Off topic, but I welcome you to have a visit to my blog about my never ended horse search..
http://www.kshai1715.wordpress.com
On topic: It’s great that USEF took a stand about this, AND it’s great that the race track in Canada did too over the horse that died. The facilities and organizations (from 4H to FEI) really need to be the first line of defense on the horse’s side. Obviously that rider just wanted to win, just wanted to qualify, and put his needs above the welfare of the horse… so did that racetrack trainer. The organizations NEED to stand up for the horses and make examples out of people.
Here here. Fully agree. Organizations need to get off their asses and start telling people they can’t abuse/beat on their animals/horses to win.
I witnessed a wonderful example of good sportsmanship and someone who truly cared for her horse while I was jump judging at the last Aspen Farms horse trial. A rider was approaching her last obstacle on course and her horse took a wrong step and came up slightly lame in the right hind. The horse was still eagerly approaching the fence and definately would have continued on. The rider realized her horse was lame and immediately withdrew and dismounted. I was very impressed that she made the right choice and didn’t push her horse to finish even though it was the last obstacle and a clear round up to that point. At every jump judge meeting I have been to, we have been told that abuse is not tolerated and that we should report any signs of abuse. So far I have been impressed with the USEA and their stance on abuse. I have not witnessed any abuse at any of the recognized events.
I checked out your blog “Someday”. Your post with your buckskin that you moved out of the stable with the moldy hay… It looks like you got him out just in time. I can tell by the pictures you had some serious gastric distress brewing. Yikes.
Hope your newest edition happens soon and that he is everything you want and more.
If you believe racehorses get hit less often than this, count how many whacks Calvin Borel dished out to Rachel Alexandra in last year’s Woodward Stakes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysO_Fhc8Fpw
Appalling.
You just have to wonder how many race horses are ruined because they know that every time they go through that starting gate, they will get a beating. I can’t think of any other kind of animal training or performance where that would be done, simply because it is so counterproductive.
Fantasia, it looked like Calvin was not only hitting her a lot, but he was hitting her hard.
Yeah. I was quite pleased when I went to Canterbury Downs recently to see that MOST of the whip use was ‘showing’ the whip…taking the hand off the reins and waving it as a signal to go faster…I didn’t see much actual hard contact between whip and horse. (I DID see one jockey pull a VERY egregious and stupid blocking maneuver that could easily have resulted in a wreck, though. Sigh)
Great job USEF! Wish the penalty was stiffer but at least they did something.
Speaking of big associations trying to do the right thing, Jim Heird, an AQHA judge, wrote an article for America’s Horse (AQHA’s free magazine for members) talking about taking personal responsibility and not accepting inhumane practices at AQHA shows. Also introduced a new program called the AQHA Stewards Program. These are supposed to be watchdogs at shows. Now, it is imperative that those who care about the breed jump into those positions to ensure they aren’t taken up by the abuser’s pals.
Here is a link:
http://www.aqha.com/news/2010PressReleases/03182010stewardsprogram.html
It’s an excellent article and he’s dead on. The reason entries are down is the abuse. How many people just here on this blog will not patronize AQHA shows because they don’t want to watch horses being yanked and cranked, or have to see someone like Cleve Wells (as far as I’m concerned, he and that other Shane somebody guy are flat-out sadists) being hailed as an expert.
And maybe AQHA realizes they’re going to be in the same boat as TWH…someone IS going to start an abuse-free alternative show organization if this keeps up!
Think they did, FQHR…..and Pinto shows
I know, I know…FQHR is not perfect but at least we have a true lope, heads are “normal” and people wear functional clothes…and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg for saddles/bridles.
I also agree with not supporting AQHA…been there, done that…don’t want to go there again….
He even mentions the danger of attracting animal rights advocates. He’s dead on there too. That is exactly what happened with the TWHs. The largest horse association is always going to attract the big names but we little guys have to demand that the big guys don’t run it their way.
Not only that but their Pro slaughter staus. I will NOT support any organization/group this is pro slaughter and has shows that are running rampant with abuse. If these organizations will be left is the pond scum competing against other pond scum. I rode a Tenn. walker during a schooling show, and people gave me odd looks -_-;, yes he’s a Tenn. walker but he isn’t sored, if he was the owners would have me to deal with me and my ethical speech and I wouldn’t have ridden him. It’s sad that the magnificent Tenn. walker has to endure the suffering to make them gait better. To me it’s just a fancy way to breed crapy gaiters because to make them better just pressure shoe or use chemicals and chains. If he/she can’t do it naturally, they can’t do it at all and shouldn’t be bred. Your doing a disservice to this magnificent breed.
Well two of the new ‘stewards’ are hardly going to make waves……..for one, Diane Eppers was suspended a few years back for ‘hanging’ a horse….you know, tying up their heads so high they get sore and thus travel hardly moving a low hung head. Another big name female trainer is listed too and one of her apprentice trainer/grooms (also a while ago) told us of the ‘closed arena’ sessions she would have with difficult horses. I think it is going to be very difficult to use the very people ‘in the business’ to clean it up. I’ve always thought that judges could be the answer in all disciplines, be stewards and true horsemen….(it’s really not that difficult to recognize a good horse, willingly moving correctly, performing what the class requires)….but again most judges are ‘in the business’, a big conflict of interest that’s basically ignored.
“He has a ground covering walk, an animated trot, and a cantor that floats across the ground.”
Those things might be true, but he’s stiff, moves like a harness horse, and frankly looks like a ground pounder — not light on his feet. He’s super sickle hocked, as well. That’s not bad, but it’s not an $8K horse. She’s riding funky because he is very uncomfortable to ride IMO. I have a problem with harness horses as prospects for upper level dressage, they aren’t built for it. I would be concerned about jumping him as stiff and resistant as he is to coming into the bridle. With his neck structure, perfect for pulling heavy loads, rounding correctly at the poll and raising his back is going to be a lot of work. He is pretty, but as a nice pleasure horse for someone.
OT:
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Just another reminder that sh** happens with horses, even bombproof ones. You never know what will happen.
Florida Farm Mom posted:
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Speaking of big associations trying to do the right thing, Jim Heird, an AQHA judge, wrote an article for America’s Horse (AQHA’s free magazine for members) talking about taking personal responsibility and not accepting inhumane practices at AQHA shows. Also introduced a new program called the AQHA Stewards Program. These are supposed to be watchdogs at shows. Now, it is imperative that those who care about the breed jump into those positions to ensure they aren’t taken up by the abuser’s pals.
Here is a link:
http://www.aqha.com/news/2010PressReleases/03182010stewardsprogram.html
>
Unfortunately, there IS someone on that list who has been alleged to have committed some horrifying abuses. There is also on that list a past president of the NSBA. Yeah, that Stewards group is going to do whole lot of good, yeah, you betcha alright!
I got tis notice today from a friend. I can’t believe anyone would have 27 arab stallions in one place and they are starvig to boot. Here is the link http://www.examiner.com/x-7641-Dallas-Animal-Rescue-Examiner~y2010m7d2-47-purebred-Arabians-seized-last-month-to-be-auctioned-on-July-10th-in-McKinney
What is up with some people.
fugs, i give you and this wonderful blog some of the credit for getting the word out on horse abuse. of course, the internet. especially youtube, is making the abuse more ‘in our faces’ too. thanks for all you do for our beloved horses.
between the cool aqha judge who stood up for the horse recently, the arab association doing a little spine straightening, and now the usef giving morrisey a wakeup call, there just might be a glimmer of hope for better treatment in the show ring. i know it is not much, but ya gotta start somewhere. being aware that there is a problem is half the battle.
happy independence day, my fugly friends.
OT:
Colorado Red Rose was a two year old filly making her first life start against colts and geldings in the first race at Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, on July 3d, 2010. The track mostly races Quarter horses. The track was sealed because of rain. However the show must go on. Speed is king. Colorado Red Rose was racing for $7,500 claiming over 4 1/2 furlongs. Despite being her first start, the filly was already on Lasix and Bute and perhaps other chemicals. Milkshakes are still legal in New Mexico except in stakes races. Terrible stuff goes on in that state based on a series of three shocking articles written by Pete Herrera in SureBet magazine over a year ago about abuse, doping and miracles.
Colorado Rose broke two legs then tried to follow the field. R.I.P. little one.
Equibase, a Jockey Club company only reported that Colorado Red Rose broke down and was vanned-off. Hopefully she was euthanized first then her carcass was hauled-off the track.
One horse was vanned-off in the second race and a third horse was vanned-off in the third race.
I wonder if the all suffered broken legs due to the sealed track.
OT, but I had to share…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GRkNhkgB3w
My mom would have whooped my ass for treating that mare like that.