banned over the weekend. When a supposedly classical group can’t find a decent word to say about Charles de Kunffy, other than to criticize his wardrobe and vocabulary choices. What a bunch of whackadoodles. Nothing is correct that is remotely good or balanced or connected. Long strung out horses in their forehands…good. Ingrid K or Charles or anyone from Holland…bad. Bad no matter what. Just bbbbbbad to the bone.
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It’s such a pity that the dragon harted Buck removed all his pictures and videos from on line. Such an inspiration! Why would he do such a thing?
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I was so confused by the posts when I joined that group! I’m glad I’m not alone in wondering what the deal is. I’m still in it but it’s a scroll and roll situation lol
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Kyra Kirkland and Catherine Haddad Staller have recently started posting on this FB page and making an effort at civilized discussion. Don’t know how long their patience will last but it’s making for some entertaining reading.
Here’s a post from Catherine’s showing her horse progressing through the training scale:
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It’s weird that in other sports, fans can discuss athlete performance without having actually ever been a player at that level.
People discuss - hell they are PAID to discuss (in some instances) and critique athletic performance without ever having been a player. Happens in sportscaster spots every day, everywhere.
So why in horse sports does one have to have ridden at very high levels in order to comment on some inconsequential FB page?
Bucks page allows for learning and developing the eye. Nothing wrong with discussion.
Equestrian culture is often like a clash between levels of horsemen.
I like this FB group and I am a member. I haven’t posted in a very long time.
I went to a friend’s house for Superbowl a few years back. They started discussing athlete stats and performance. As an experiment I then said “How can you guys possibly comment on athlete performance if you’ve never played at that level?”
They laughed in my face.
Food for thought.
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Yes I agree I am a member of this group as well and I enjoyed that Kyra Kyrklund joined the group. I like her way to get adjusted to the athmosphere and trying not to be offensive. And I like that she got some food for thought (if she cares) already… because I do believe that she sacrificed some of her ethics for business in the last decades… she is influential so let’s hope some of what she reads in the group can be used for change…Catherine Haddad not so much she simply posted to make a stance how good she is…and maybe she should have checked how people in this group think before…
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I think there is a big difference! I went from hunters to dressage and it was a HUGE learning curve when you have the opportunity to ride different horses and train up the levels. Not all horses can be trained dressage following one approach, you have to be flexible in your knowledge and get a feel for what the specific horse needs. My big dutch horse could not be ridden long and low until he was 7 and he still needs to do less on long and low at 19 until he is under himself. He is naturally very lateral and a tricky ride. Riding a stiff horse is very different than riding a very loose horse. Both have taught me a lot with the guidance of some great teachers!
edited to add…then I got a PRE and now a Lusitano…so added new information and training to the tool box!
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that’s bananas.
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Criticizing riders and trainers that are much more talented than they will ever be, seems to be a theme with people who want to appear as if they know more than they do.
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That group is interesting to say the least. I joined recently not knowing it was Buck’s wonderland and was totally puzzled when I refused to bend the knee this morning and got dragged by a bunch of fangirls.
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You missed my point entirely.
My point is that in every other sports it’s quite OK for EVERYBODY to offer their opinion. There is no dismissiveness titled “You never played at that level”. There are just opinions bantered around without the need of or demand for, a resume.
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It becomes a problem in horse sport, when the opinion is given by someone who has zero experience and doesn’t know what they are looking at, let alone how to achieve it, yet purports to teach others.
Buck has no competition record (he does however have a criminal record) and those of us who have been here for awhile have seen his attempts at “dressage”. His riding and his attempts to “teach” are sorely lacking.
People really need to do their due diligence beforehand to avoid giving their money to con artists.
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There is some excellent discussion on various topics in that group, but there are also, “Tom Brady should try to make more three pointers!” level of absurdly wrong comments.
(For those who don’t get my reference… Tom Brady = famous American football player, three-pointers = basketball…
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Doesn’t that apply for ANY sport or endeavor?
Manolo Mendez also has a very limited competition record. People who trained with the SRS may also not have competition records.
Buck is a low level trainer - perhaps at best. But that, it itself, is not disqualifying to running a page. And he can shoot his opinions out as can anyone.
Also, consider that show records DO NOT make people good trainers. Would you send your horse to Helgstrand, Parra, CDJ, Kittel, Sjef, etc?
And again, this is a SPORT. And all around the world people who are “unqualified” share their opinions. Even on FB.
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No law against being ignorant, but pretending that you know what you don’t know and taking peoples money, is a con.
Buck is hardly to be compared with riders from the SRS or other people who actually know what they’re doing.
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And dangerous
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Is the USA not ripe with folks who hang out their shingles when they should not?
Just today my friend asked me about a situation involving a coworker of hers. Coworker is a beginner rider who can’t canter yet. She is single with a lot of disposable income. She found herself a trainer. Trainer has her doing 4 lessons a week and wants her to buy a GP horse she is selling. Oh but the horse has shivers.
Buck does not charge any $ for a person to be in that group. All info is free. Anything he say gets pushback.
So which deal is the more honest one?
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Neither.
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Ah, but one costs nothing and it’s quite clear to the reader that Bucks credentials are lacking.
I question anyone who could be on the page actively reading comments who does think he’s qualified more than he is. I mean people literally comment that all the time.
