or perhaps too much?
CatOnLap, You’d prefer to see them in short, blue, permed hair?
Barbaro had regular turn out while racing, even being turned out between the Kentucky Derby & the Preakness. He wasn’t out all day, but he did get out into a grass paddock daily. That wacky Michael Matz, what does he know about horses, anyway? 
Edited to add: link to picture of Barbaro turned out in a paddock at Fair Hill…scroll down to read the caption. It was taken May 10, 2006, shortly after the Derby.
It doesn’t make a difference whether it is an olympic dressage horse, world class racer or a Lipizzaner at the SRS. Biologically horses need to be able to move freely on a regular basis (and by freely I do not mean standing around dozing in those 10x10m jokes of paddocks that pass as ‘turnout’ in many facilities) in order to maintain their mental sanity and fitness. In particular those that are on the highstrung end of the temperament spectrum. Soft tissue-wise there are few horses that are fitter than those who are kept on permanent turnout on a naturally grown variety of surfaces. Think asphalt jogger versus bushman if you like human comparison. They ought to do what they’ve been made for every now and then. And they’ve not been made to make someone money or display anybody’s wealth or skill but to be out and grazing 16h a day.
Human attention and a plastic ball is inacceptable as a surrogate for a healthy lifestyle. Mentally those allegedly ‘dangerous’ or fiery horses would be a lot better off if they were at least allowed a flat out galopp under saddle. Of course they turn mental after a while with this kind of stress (training, competing, travelling) and no way to destress in the fashion that is their nature. Any horse would. Some turn dull, some turn ballistic, others pick up weaving or cribbing, some may compensate with less pronounced habbits such as bolting away under saddle or acting up ‘over nothing’. Re. space available this is a complete joke. You think someone who can afford training a high scale dressage horse up to GP level isn’t capable of acquiring and maintaining a few acres of pastureland? It’s 1,20 Euros the squaremeter around here and if you can’t buy it you can easily rent it. Gosh you won’t even get a building permit for an indoor here unless you can prove you work enough land to provide sufficient feed for the horses you keep on it. And even in urban areas, if you can afford the 20x60m ground to have an indoor for riding where is the problem in offering turnout space really?!?!
I agree with Kareen. If the concern is the horse’s safety and health, then imo their best bet is to allow him turnout.
Kareen, Kareen, Kareen… growing up in Germany I remember the good old rule spoken by many of the old riding masters - A horse in work does not need turn-out because then you don’t have a horse left to work! Go to any of the Reitvereine to this day and you see very little in the way of turn-out. So, it’s not just the top horses that get little turn-out, it’s the same for lots and lots of average horses.
Go to the US, specifically California, and you will find many boarding barns where the “turn-out” for each horse consists of a little open area the size of its stall attached right to the doggone thing - that’s it! If they’re lucky, the horse’s owner will come out and throw it in the riding area (which is sand and fenced in) a few times a week.
But, this is the mighty Totilas… therefore we have a right to critizise everything about and around him, starting with his training and going to his daily routine. It doesn’t matter that the horse lives better than the majority of people in the world… he’s our new target since we haven’t seen Anky on Salinero for a while.
Yes, most horses would probably prefer to spend their time grazing and galloping in a big field. Just like I would prefer not to have to work in order to pay for my house, food, horses’ upkeep, etc. Woe is me!
Let’s be realistic and not forget that we’re not trying to protect an animal from neglect and starvation. We’re merely trying to impose our emotional standards on a horse that happens to be on top of the world right now.
Think about it…
I understand why horses do not get turned out. But personally I find it rather sad… I think its too dangerous to turn a horse out with boots, in a private paddock, with no hazards, and nice weather :yes:. That is how I like my horses taken care of but if others do not wish to turn there expensive horses out or whatever that is there choice not mine.
On another note… The draw reins are meh I could care less what he straps on his horse and why.
The article however is very well written :winkgrin:
[QUOTE=alicen;4586201]
CatOnLap, You’d prefer to see them in short, blue, permed hair?[/QUOTE]
I’d prefer them HAPPY. 
Obviously whatever they are doing , it is not making them feel good. 
I mean, most of us would give our eye teeth to be watching Totilas and Teddy in person at some grand european venue. And those jaded celebs? Not even that wonderful experience can bring a smile to their faces. Maybe blue hair would help!Maybe figuring out what their hair colour really is would help. 
How would I know? I have to work for a living and will likely never have the chance to watch the horse except in the virtual small screen world.
And even there, that pair brings a smile to my face. :yes:
[QUOTE=siegi b.;4586541]
Kareen, Kareen, Kareen… growing up in Germany I remember the good old rule spoken by many of the old riding masters - A horse in work does not need turn-out because then you don’t have a horse left to work! Go to any of the Reitvereine to this day and you see very little in the way of turn-out. So, it’s not just the top horses that get little turn-out, it’s the same for lots and lots of average horses.
Go to the US, specifically California, and you will find many boarding barns where the “turn-out” for each horse consists of a little open area the size of its stall attached right to the doggone thing - that’s it! If they’re lucky, the horse’s owner will come out and throw it in the riding area (which is sand and fenced in) a few times a week.
But, this is the mighty Totilas… therefore we have a right to critizise everything about and around him, starting with his training and going to his daily routine. It doesn’t matter that the horse lives better than the majority of people in the world… he’s our new target since we haven’t seen Anky on Salinero for a while.
Yes, most horses would probably prefer to spend their time grazing and galloping in a big field. Just like I would prefer not to have to work in order to pay for my house, food, horses’ upkeep, etc. Woe is me!
Let’s be realistic and not forget that we’re not trying to protect an animal from neglect and starvation. We’re merely trying to impose our emotional standards on a horse that happens to be on top of the world right now.
Think about it…[/QUOTE]
California has the same issue as Europe not much room but hey come on over on this side of the country you will see very very expensive hunters and top GP jumpers turned out. By the way this is not about 24/7 turnout as some on other lists have tried to make it. 
Emotion you got to be kidding. Horses by nature are grazing/herding animals this has NOTHING to do with emotions. Yelling and screaming about RK looks mean and the horses feelings are hurt is emotion not this…shaking head in disblief.
Mathias Rath, translated from the current issue of the Dutch magazine Dressuur, which I am enjoying reading on this lovely day off: The competition horses are not turned out, there is too much risk of injury. Of course they are grazed in hand every day.
And that from a German, no less.
[QUOTE=Coreene;4586764]
Mathias Rath, translated from the current issue of the Dutch magazine Dressuur, which I am enjoying reading on this lovely day off: The competition horses are not turned out, there is too much risk of injury. Of course they are grazed in hand every day.
And that from a German, no less. ;)[/QUOTE]
Nationality has nothing to do with it Coreen:eek:
Well, what of those poor polish or austrian or spanish horses then? You know, the ones at the SRS, whatever nationality they are? They don’t get hand grazed everyday!
[QUOTE=CatOnLap;4586883]
Well, what of those poor polish or austrian or spanish horses then? You know, the ones at the SRS, whatever nationality they are? They don’t get hand grazed everyday![/QUOTE]
They don’t get hand grazed, but they do have the world’s largest horse walker there that they use to exercise them. It can take about 20 horses at a time. They also get worked 6 days a week. In the summer they get 2 months out at pasture outside of Vienna and get ridden outside for more exercise.
As someone already pointed out once, the article does not specifically say he doesn’t get any turn out.
It says he isn’t turned out ALONE.
But I spose I’d be a lil cautious with a horse worth that much money,but all mine live outside 24/7…
I thought that was a really neat article though!!
In interviews Gal has, many times, stated that Totilas is not turned out. Not alone means that he is on a lead accompanied by a human.
Thanks, I didn’t know that, as I only got my information off the article which the thread is about.
Didn’t even think about ‘alone’ having to do with a human companion haha.
Either way, sounds to me like the horses get to stretch their legs plenty, just not in the way they want to.
This horse Totilas after a few years at top sport will likely have a better retirement than your grandmother, complete with as much sex and turnout as he could ever wish for.
How do you know what her grandmother does or doesn’t do?
How do you know what her grandmother does or doesn’t do?
:lol: er…maybe I friended her on FB…
[QUOTE=egontoast;4585818]
This horse Totilas after a few years at top sport will likely have a better retirement than your grandmother, complete with as much sex and turnout as he could ever wish for.[/QUOTE]
And the horse knows about this future that he could “ever wish for” HOW? Just interested in knowing how they are portraying the future to the horse.
for god sakes when a horse is on tour it probably isnt going to be turned out
for various reasons - think about it please
different country diffrent rules of stablng different quarantine laws of whilse you here type thing so every horse is well kept pampered and safe as these arnt hroses that are 100 quid and normal joe bloggs average owner types
they are competition horses with points and cash wins on there cards so are very valuble horses or poines
now if one is representing a country and his partner is the horse
then one must take care of that horse during his competiton as without him he cant enter nor represent your country
the horse is and does have the same as any competitor in any sport
you wouldnt go out drinking if you had to compete he next morning and youwouldnt eat a huge dirty great big meal of food is you had to do track and field you have a diet and exercise plan to help keep you fit for that dispiline along with doctors and trianers etc and back up crew support etc
its the same for a horse - they are kept in as resting from each event
so no harm comes to them hence why they may be led in hand by the grooms
its the same thing wherever they go on tour to compete - they have expertise help and support until the tour is finished
and most events places dont have extra space for turn out but do provide stabling and schooling areas be it indoor or outdoor
and it at these places where one pays to see the top notch horses and ponies etc
and its the same thing but in a smaller scale of what you do
ie you go to a show you do your classes in between you tie up the horse to the trialer and feed him hay until the next class you dont turn your horses out but tend to keep them near the trialer or horse box under your close supervision or if the grounds provide stabling you stable the horse after which when the show is ended
guess what you go home and either turn the horse out in his paddock or put him in his stable till morning
and guess what top people do
as soon as they come home then they do as they normally have there own paddocks and yes some are turned out with boots on as added protection of the legs
and i will tell you something else to - most hack out when they home be a sj eventer or dressage rider as hacking out is relaxing and when they home they still get the 100% support via vets farriers grooms etc
