Well that was ugly. I can’t imagine how much pressure is on that poor horses mouth between the leverage and his tall body. IMO he should’ve been eliminated for excessive use of the crop. He didn’t hit him a lot but he hit him HARD
He didn’t hit him that hard and it was two quick smacks and back to the course. The second time he pulled him up looked ugly and at the end it looked like the horse was starting to run through the aids. Why don’t you go ask the rider why he did that during the course? Perhaps he could let you ride the horse so you can have a better understanding.
It’s still not as bad as when RK was running poor Mika into the ground and when she spurred the crap out of CosICan while putting him into a tight frame during the LA Masters because he refused a jump.
He didn’t hit him that hard. It was two quick smacks and back to the course. The second time he pulled him up looked ugly and at the end it looked like the horse was starting to run through the aids. Why don’t you go ask the rider why he did that during the course? Perhaps he could let you ride the horse so you can have a better understanding.
It’s still not as bad as when RK was running poor Mika into the ground during the Ruby Webber class and when she spurred the crap out of CosICan while putting him into a tight frame during the LA Masters because he refused a jump.
Temper has no place on the back of a horse.
I saw that stop coming from the very beginning… Behind the bit and not near enough forward implusion.
Poor form to rip on a horse’s face like that, especially when it needs to go forward.
Lovely horse though, I’ll take it!
It honestly looked like a bad day for both horse and rider. The smacks didn’t seem that bad, somewhat in anger versus telling the horse hey you are ignoring me. It looked like he was pushing the horse through the course for the whole time. Not knowing the horse, I’d still say it might have been a good idea to retire and go school since there was an obvious disconnect between rider and horse’s mindset that day.
That riding is NOT what I would expect from Katie’s son.
How was this not flagged as abusive riding? If the correction after the refusal wasn’t harsh enough, hauling on his mouth should have raised an eyebrow or two. Sure people have bad days. Taking it out on a horse, not cool.
I’m blind, but isn’t that a hackamore? Or a hackabit?
[QUOTE=m&m;8504129]
That riding is NOT what I would expect from Katie’s son.[/QUOTE]
Seriously. I assumed it was some amateur his first time in the ring who just happened to have the same name until I checked.
This guy has no business riding until he learns to get his ego and temper in check. A horse doesn’t stand a chance of success with a rider with a chip on his shoulder sawing on its mouth, leaning so far back he is nearly horizontal to the horse’s back, and hitting him repeatedly for mistakes caused by rider error. I’d be mortified if I were KMP.
Its a hackamore. He is not sawing on its mouth, as there is nothing in its mouth.
Sure looks like a hackabit to me. And the stopping and backing up after already having a refusal should have ment elimination if I’m not mistaken
[QUOTE=chunky munky;8504228]
Its a hackamore. He is not sawing on its mouth, as there is nothing in its mouth.[/QUOTE]
Fair point!
Hackamore or bit, what he lacks in talent he makes up for in frustration and it shows. Appalling.
While the smacks were harsh (no reason to raise your hand above your head to get it done), I didn’t mind the correction. The horse stopped (and, yeah, I saw it coming, too, but whatever). I DID mind the very harsh over correction when the horse leapt forward after that big forward aid (smack with a stick). The horse responded to the correction correctly; he went forward. And while it was overly forward and a little wild, a cooler headed rider would have allowed it for a step or two then quietly and coolly composed the horse.
The bitting to me looked more like what I commonly see in the eventing world. Too much bit and then having to massively chase the horse, which then makes the horse run. I’m not opposed to big bits, but if the horse is sucked behind the leg and requiring you to chase it, which in turn scoots the horse out from under you, you may need to reevaluate your weak spots.
I see a leverage bit. If you pause when the horse comes off that combo and he slams him down near the camera, you can clearly see a bit in the horses mouth. I can’t tell if it’s a hackabit or not. I’m 100% not opposed to leverage bits when needed (see thread I made the other day below). I’m also not opposed to a reprimand when needed or a shut down when needed.
I was not on the horse. I was not riding it. I don’t know what was going on. A lot of things look different form the spectators point of view rather than what the rider is feeling. To my untrained, unprofessional eye, the horse looked rather behind the bit most of the course. However, he did step up nicely a few times. It all just looked slow to me. Again, there could have been a purpose for this. He obviously wasn’t riding to win, IMO. So he could have been schooling or something. Maybe the horse ran away with a junior earlier. We just don’t know.
From the spectators eye, it did look like emotions got in the way and there was some over reaction. However, I was not on the horse. I do not ride the horse. I do think some of it was poor showing of horsemanship, but I am the first to admit that I have let emotions come over my riding as a junior and did a similar shut down at the end of a course in tears. It is still not a proud moment for me, but we are all human and make mistakes. I have since learned to control my emotions, and it has been one of the toughest things to do. Riding can be so emotional, and you can experience a range of them during one course.
Was it a bit harsh looking? Yes. Do we need a lynch mob? No.
It’s definitely in a hackabit, though that is really neither here nor there, as it is his appalling use of his hands that makes the ride harsh, not the bridle.
The beginning of the course didn’t look that bad to me. A little backed off, maybe, but it looked like it might have been intentional. My first thought was that he was trying to teach the horse to wait to the base.
The stop did not appear, to me, to be the fault of the rider. Looked like the horse got spooked by something in the corner and then overreacted when he knew he was in trouble. There may have been a lot of flailing of arms, but the whip only landed twice - hardly a beating.
After that, though, it does look like the horse took off and the rider lost his temper. We don’t know what this horse’s history is or why he was in this particular class, but it sure looked to me at the beginning like he was being schooled around, not hunting for a placing. Would it be better to school this particular horse at home? Probably. But that isn’t always possible when you’re camped out at WEF.
I did find Mr. Prudent’s show of temper by hammering on the horse’s mouth to be appalling and there’s really no excuse for it. But I definitely think there was more to it than some others have posted.
Riding can be so emotional, and you can experience a range of them during one course
Respectfully, no, riding should not be emotional. Not ever. Some emotions are certainly not damaging - happiness, etc… - but there is never ever room for anger with a horse.
[QUOTE=Cascades;8504446]
Respectfully, no, riding should not be emotional. Not ever. Some emotions are certainly not damaging - happiness, etc… - but there is never ever room for anger with a horse.[/QUOTE]
You have never gotten angry at your horse or a horse, ever? I’m not saying you yank on their mouth in the middle of a course, but it’s hard for me to believe that you or a person has never been upset or angry while riding. I’m not saying bad behavior is okay, but I am saying that it can be easy to let emotions get better of you. As much as I want to be 100% calm and collected all the time, I am not naive enough to say that I am. When my lovely horse ran away with me and split open my finger, did I get angry? Yes. Did I slam him down? No. I stopped him, took a deep breath, and I just walked until I felt like I could make a rational decision. Horses are humbling animals.
