Comment

Comment by SUSIE-SOLOMON-MABE on February 7, 2010 at 10:25pm

Barbara, often the post goes to the heart of the matter and while you may find it offputting,
it just says how incredibly real and valid some feel about what is dressage to them.
What has happened to riding for the show-sucks, as compared to the committment one should have for the ride- vs the sport of the ride.
Many on this blog do ride really well and could explain many things for you - should you care to go past the posts you find disconcerning. A show horse who is lame at 12 is brutally unfair- and one who at 12 needs to have a full team of vets/chiro/meds daily to be able to continue his showing is considered cruel to many .
So for others a 17 yr old horse who is working well and does not show his years should be what we strive for- the correct work at the level you wish to explore- vs the highest level of work and the horse be damned.
Thanks.
Susie

Comment by SUSIE-SOLOMON-MABE on February 7, 2010 at 8:19pm

I watched RFD today and saw a trainer use it for western riding- the old bump them until their head is down crap- as nothing is any different.

A new day is the day you get up and go and ride and make good on the promise to be a better rider.

Comment by Mary McGuire Smith on February 7, 2010 at 5:59pm

slc--this chiro issue is so old and forgotten that I almost didn't know what you were refering to. You are the one who said you didn't want to defend your position, and yet, you are the only one who keeps mentioning it. Please move on; the rest of us have.

Comment by Mary McGuire Smith on February 7, 2010 at 2:53pm

Went to the World Dressage Masters Grand Prix Freestyle Fiinale last night. The results are listed in the Eurodressage group on this site, for those who haven't seen it, and for everyone here, please visit my blog for my opinion on the event. http://iridedressage.blogspot.com I welcome and encourage all comments, even anonymous ones! :-)

Comment by SUSIE-SOLOMON-MABE on February 2, 2010 at 3:54pm

Ah you did miss my point- in fact all of them......
I am against anything that will cause physical and mental pain in any animal.
I am against the need- of iv injections or whatever else must be employed to keep a horse sound for showing-.... and yes I am on pain meds- but they are so I can continue to ride- and live, and enjoy my wonderful life, and my pain is due to a horrid car accident- that broke my back and neck in multiple places.
As far as gag ordered to keep things on the QT- again didn't the QH indurstry do this for yrs with HYPP? Didn't the world disease control do this about AIDS?
Don't say , don't ask , don't tell, and it will go away.
What I thought I did say clearly was that ANKY is just one of many- and many who have been seen by judges other riders and trainers for many many years..... who CHOOSE to ignore what is right there and seen.
I am not saying she ( ANKY) is correct or that what she has done for the sport is to be admired, but she is one of so many and behind the barn riding is rife with mechanical devices of torture in the name of training....by tons of riders who are jumping on the lets admonish Anky bandwagon.
The whole thing S U C K S.
I hope I have cleared this up. Thanks for reading what I wrote and taking the time to write back.
Riding for anything but the clearest in visions of this days ride with your horse makes no sense what so ever.

Comment by Mary McGuire Smith on February 2, 2010 at 3:26pm

Susie, I am not sure what position you are taking in this? On the one hand, it sounds like you are against rollkur (and the other methods you mention, which I agree with you about), and on the other hand you are saying we are picking on "poor Anky". Their "method" (rollkur), which they have steadfastly defended beyond all reason--to the point of suing people in court for videotapinig warmups, shoved down the throats of the officials at FEI, jumped into the middle of every fray that mentioned rollkur/hyperflexion, officially gag-ordered everyone who would speak against it, and only showed the horses that they didn't ruin forever with this "method" are finally being called out for the schoolyard bullies that they are. Just because it has taken this long to gain some ground against the "darling of the dressage world", doesn't mean that behind behind the Prada doesn't lurk the Devil. And to be sure, it is NOT "just Anky". There is a whole following to the "method", just as there are staunch defenders of drawreins, gogues, neckstretchers, etc. etc. etc.
But do we throw our hands up in the air because the FEI has not recognized that the Emporer has no clothes? No. We defend the horses the best we can. We lead by example, and we speak out against what we know is wrong. We can't go behind everyone's barn, but we can set rules at the shows that at least there, this will not be tolerated.
You say you quit showing because you don't like the practices that were allowed at shows, and yet, you are complaining that people are persecuting someone who IS A PROFESSIONAL AND SHOULD (DOES) KNOW WHAT SHE IS DOING, for doiing just that AND holding it up in front of the faces of other professionals and DARING them to do something about it. Even the weaklings (in this case, the FEI) eventually has to stand up to the bully. Or in this case, as you point out ALL the bullies. We have to fight for the horses, or the animal rights activists will fight this battle to the point where NONE of us are allowed to possess animals. Rollkur is only one tenet, but we have to call the giant out, and cut him off at the knees. I do not know how much you truly know about this particular issue, Susie, but this is not a johnny-come-lately issue. The groundswell against rullkur (not just Anky) started about 10 years ago. Anky and Sjef were just very cunning at keeping the "feds off their tail", so to speak.
oh, and about meds--I agree with you--and I believe the press you are referencing is the one that is reporting that the drug restrictions at the FEI level just got MORE restrictive, not less...so again, I am not sure what you are getting at. In dressage in the US, it is even more restrictive than the FEI level. Now in the hunter/jumper world.....that is a different story--is that what you are referring to? I'm confused.

Comment by SUSIE-SOLOMON-MABE on February 2, 2010 at 2:55pm

So if it isn't rolkur, it is draw reins or side reins, while riding, or any kind of attachment one can use to brace, hold in , stop the horse from doing something to show its displeasure.
Why now is rolkur such a big thing when riders have been using it for a very very long time and dominating the shows with such high scores--- it seems that just a short 10-12 yrs ago Anky was the equestrian media darling- the crowds screamed for her- she could do no worng....now she is being made into the Antichrist of dressage-
Don't get me wrong- but she is not the BLAME- the quick fix the striving to get to the next level and awards and the accolades- while the ruining of horses be damned.
Horses should not have to be taking more meds iv and orally than I do to stay sound- they should be sound if they are trained and taught well- and one would not need to spend hundreds a week on chiro and other practicioners who come to work magic that is short lived on the horse who is just TIRED and in pain and over used, and ridden so wrong .
my 2 cents- and dictated by my horses

Comment by Mary McGuire Smith on February 2, 2010 at 2:42pm

As to rollkur--so we condone it at shows because we can't control it at home? Rollkur is abuse, no matter who is doing it, and/or where they are doing it. You are correct, we cannot enforce what we do not see--but we can, and have every responsibility to, prevent its use in the public eye.

Comment by Ellin McGinley Daum on February 2, 2010 at 1:46pm

Well said, Susie. Amen!

Comment by SUSIE-SOLOMON-MABE on February 2, 2010 at 12:53pm

OK, I will take the time to hit a few points so we can go back to our happy discussions.

1.If we are going to be comfortable enough to post here then everyone has to understand that some of the posters may have a different way of saying NO.

2.Sic2 made it clear, that she was not interested in discussing chiro.
Perhaps she has been there and after trial and error and money spent found it to be unsuccessful. TBH I don't want to read testamonials , one after the other either.
In any event- why jump on her or me or YOU for a point?

3. Dressage is fun for me- I delight in its timing and its collaboration of the horse and I. However I will not show- tons of reasons- used to and have done well thank you very much.
However I do breed horses and start many of them who have delighted their owners and have gone on to be trained in the highest levels of work- and some are shown and some are home- delighting their owners only- which is just as wonderful for me.

4. Another short Topic- rolkur- and all the wonderful gimmicks that are sold to aid in training- so here we are signing petitions and screaming about Anky and who ever....and taking rolkur off the table hopefully for showing- SO do you actually think that the barns/ trainers/ riders/ who employ this will not continue in the indoor far away from a show grounds?
Taking it aways from a warm up is not going to make it go away, not as long as the hurry to succeed and win, garnishing the big prize for your country, your trainer, your barn filled with horses for sale continues.
Nothing will change- but what we will see at the venues.
Side reins, martingales,draw reins, over bitting, riding the horses down for 2 hours will continue.
Nothing will change. Horses will still be tied with their heads up or down for hours for that special western look, shoes will be made to enhance the movements of gaited horses, and riders will buy expensive horses they are ill suited to ride and own.
People will continue to flock to whatever instructor is the flavor of the month- and clinic with that one because he likes their horse- HE said SO!
I suggest one reads, and understands this journey is going to be different because every horse will be. And as we learn we change- and that is the journey itself- re directing, never staying in one place, and taking the time to have fun, enjoying what you learn and using the knowledge to be a better owner.
So it is said and so it is written.
Susie

BTW they call me the Ass Whisperor

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