I know very well how to back a youngster, but thanks.
The fact that you believe that you can tell from the ground if a young horse is going to buck if spooked or stung by a wasp seems a bit naive. Horses are complicated beasts, some more than others.
Ugh can we not derail yet another thread everyone. I think the topic at hand is way more interesting that whether a horse starter a decade ago misread the body language of an unknown horse resulting in a buck.
We’re talking about starting young horses and bucking because someone is on their back for the first or third time. Not reasons any horse would buck at any moment. Don’t try to change the subject to make yourself right.
Sorry. 
I agree. One of mine could teleport sideways when spooked, but he never completely lost his mind.
If you read carefully and quote the entire post you would understand what I was saying and that I wasn’t changing the subject “to make myself right”.
No horse that I have owned has bucked as a result as a spook or an insect sting. They’ve flinched, or kicked out, or spooked, because they were startled.
Bucking isn’t the go to reaction for most horses. In my experience, a spook or an insect bite isn’t a situation where “any horse would buck at any moment.”
Bucking is more likely to be a response from a youngster, due to the newness of having a rider on its back (even after the obvious groundwork in preparation for being ridden.) When combined with an outside stressor, a youngster will be more inclined to buck than a horse that has had some mileage.
Mine spooked, but didn’t buck, ever. That was their nature. Other horses may react differently and a trainer of young stock who charges people to back their horses needs to be capable of dealing with that behavior.
Back to the subject of the thread. Quoting @blue_heron “She tries to come off as grounded but instead just seems out of touch. I don’t think she realizes how her blogs sound, based on her response to some reasonable critique she’s gotten on Facebook. She’s had so many opportunities and a LOT of financial support. I’m sure there’s a lot of things she doesn’t share but she seems to have struggled a lot less than many many other trainers out there who aren’t writing “woe is me” blogs about how US breeders are the future and then buying horses from Europe when the US breeders aren’t gifting her horses.”
Sprieser’s blog reminds me of another COTH blog that didn’t sit well upon reflection. Catherine Haddad’s was worse for the ego and tone deafness, but both show some sort of disconnect.
Not sure whether I agree… horses are less complicated than people…. With horses you can almost ever tell how they will react…. With people you cannot….
Well, compared to people, I agree completely. 
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ETA The blog and post that I referenced were from many years ago. However, some of us who were around then, hope that reading the history of the COTH forums will be helpful to new members.
Unless they’re in Carl Hester’s barn.
But that, for me, is where one finds the enjoyment of the process. Time alone (or with my coach) with my horses and experiencing their improvements and “ah hah” moments. The 3-4 shows a year were just a double check from objective eyes on where our training was going. But then, I never lived for competition. I guess competition is the fun part for some people, which would make the current situation pretty miserable.
If the shows fill in fifteen minutes, why not add more rings? And if the facility can’t add more rings, add more judges for classes running from 5pm to 7 or 8 pm? Or add another day. Add temporary stabling if shows are over-prescribed (at Global during the winter, tent stabling is pretty routine for all but the CDI horses).
Run some sweepstake classes at the lower levels to get more entries, get some nominal sponsorship ($100.00) for amateur classes so the winner gets a check for $100.00.
Hire judges for Training-Fourth level classes that aren’t going to crucify amateurs. I don’t think humiliating and discouraging amateurs is the way forward.
That was pretty tone deaf.
I would be way more likely to financially support some type of educational system in the US that can adequately train and prepare individuals to become horse trainers of various types and specialties. Some have mentioned colt staring and developing the young horse - I think that is a very relevant conversation. We have few qualified individuals who can start and bring young horses along, few who have the adequate facilities to do so, few who are willing to work with these large, sensitive and intelligent WBs, and even fewer with the facilities to develop stallions as a way to support US breeding. Breeders put so much money into foals and young horses, there is so much risk in developing these horses to the age of riding. It’s a huge ask of breeders to do. I’m not even sure many realize just how much stress and frustration and outright pain there is when breeding horses, but that’s another conversation.
Also, the idea that if you adequately train a young horse (such as preparing them for saddle), that you can some how remove all risks (such as the unexpected buck when breaking) is unrealistic/unfair for the people (and horses) tasked with these jobs. There is always risk, despite great training and preparation. There will always be unforeseen circumstances working with horses - that risk only multiples when working with the young ones. Hopefully the desensitization and training you do prepares them for the unexpected, but at no point should we think that training/preparation mitigates all potential for shit to hit the fan. We should value our young horse trainers because of the inherent risks associated, despite how competent the trainer is and not set unrealistic expectations IMO. I do believe how we treat professionals in this industry matters and is part of the bigger pictures.
As an aside, I saw this on Robert Dover’s FB page. I don’t follow him, but it made it onto my feed.
Interesting concept and actually things are a bit more “open” in some other countries. I rode at 2 barns in Germany where people could watch us ride and/or watch us ride from the hiking path that ran through the property. It wasn’t totally uncommon for a hiker to watch for a bit, or for someone to sit on a bench outside of the outdoor arena at the state stud.
Auditing fees were also far more rare. If a clinic with a big name trainer happened at the barn, members of the barn or those that we knew from other barns could watch for free. It was also a “social” thing.
I had many a “stranger” watch me and/or my trainers ride. Things were pretty open. That doesn’t go for all barns there though.
I think Robert’s transparency is great. I’d love to watch training via live stream since most aren’t local to him.
Live stream training would be so cool to see!
This is done deliberately to make money for the insider breeders and agents. Exactly the same thing in the US hunters. They decide what wins, and they decide the price it costs to win. They change it at their whim.
Maybe so, but do they intend to create that with bungees and weighted bell boots and tie downs, etc.? Once you see video of what is done to the horses, you wouldn’t ever consider buying one of them unless you want to rescue one
I also would love to see live streaming!!! What would be fantastic is if he rode a horse he was training and explained what he was doing and why.
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