Are the Faces of Fortune Changing for Horses?
April 29th 2007 16:00
Anna Sewell, author of Black Beauty
It’s been a long time since 1879 and we’d like to think that much has changed for horses and we’d be correct. It has. It would be hard to find a team driving under the bearing rein, even harder to look the other way on an emaciated thoroughbred. Such things that would have been seen on the streets we shared with horses are now either few or behind closed doors.
Yet I can’t help but feel that these doors are everywhere, and disguised. Many, many years ago I witnessed a horse wearing a roller with side reins for hours each day in what his owner deemed an acceptable and effective aid to ‘fixing’ the horse’s head into the correct outline – a lesson in how to forever disengage the quarters! In Bathurst last winter I had an eye-opening introduction to the cutting horse circuit – hobbling – proving that old habits, even the disgraceful ones, die hard. And racehorses… well, they are dying harder every day with faster track times over shorter distances, un-natural living conditions and all the associated risks they endure because they were born a thoroughbred.
During the last weekend of March I joined over a thousand others at the Horsley Park to listen to Pat Parelli. His methods in natural horsemanship have penetrated millions of riders and owners around the world - truly a phenomenon. And while the Parelli package is laced with money generating marketing strategies his message is sacred. He is sending saddleries into recession with his emphasis on minimalism. So, Parelli and Monty Roberts and others like them have demonstrated there is no need for the bearing rein and any good rider will tell you that a horse will come into a contact with the
Draw reins
Any sport engineered by aesthetics will bear question marks, so showing would be no different. It annoys me to see show horses with four and five rugs on in the warm Australian autumn, with full hoods and tail bandages as owners endeavour to prevent winter coats from growing. In my part of Sydney riding school horses are granted ten days off a year, and work seven days of every remaining week. At an Irish horse fair several years ago I watched my friend sell her wonderful 24 year old gelding Tom to naïve owners under the auspice that he was 14. I still wonder how he fared with another lifetime of work through years that should have been punctuated by retirement.
If only every horse human relationship were this perfect...*
I like to think that the movement of horses from industry and necessity to optional pleasure has been successful, and in the last 60 years it has. In the UK alone there are 6 million registered riders, a healthily fantastic magazine industry dedicated to them and very spirited, very successful welfare organizations protecting them. Australia is not so motivated, though its riders are no less devoted. And while the world is smaller thanks to technology, its secrets are still easily disguised.
In Spain this month it came to international light that fighting bulls are taunted to gore a tied, blindfolded horse to death in preparation for the evening battle with the matador (‘battle’ in that the thousands in the stands share agreement that the bull has no chance). The UK-based International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) had no idea of this practice and has taken the case to the EU. I have a feeling that there are many closets around the world that are like this one – full.
It is unfortunate that we must write and read about these things. It would be nice to say that horses are held in the highest stead today, as high as the horse who wins a good race and his people are pleased. It would be nicer if his people stayed pleased with him for the remainder of his life, but it is a sad reality that when it comes to horses the word commodity rings true. Anna Sewell, they say, started it, and thank god that she did because I am sure things are better for horses today, but were she immortal she would have plenty left to do.
Author's note:
I choose to keep the issues on The Tack Room relatively positive. The world is full of negative press because negative press makes money and the more sensational the better, so I put weight behind positive press. This post however comes in the footsteps of the previous post on the unnecessary death of another wonderful 3yo racehorse and the chilling but absolutely truthful post on Nickoftime's Sanity Corner that I stress any concerned animal lover should not only look at, but read with concentration.
Additional detail on this post's information can be found at various sites, including:
The International League for the Protection of Horses
Pat and Linda Parelli
Nickoftime's Sanity Corner (viewers are advised that the contents of this page are incredibly upsetting)
The British Horse Society
The International League for the Protection of Horses
Pat and Linda Parelli
Nickoftime's Sanity Corner (viewers are advised that the contents of this page are incredibly upsetting)
The British Horse Society
*Photo of horse woman silhouette entitled "Horse and woman..." by Salih Güler[
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Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
you know my position on cruel practices perputrated on the equine community...
This was a great uplifting blog, and yet, it got valueable points across...
I only wish I could show the same restraint that you do when it comes to the abuse of such a magnificent animal...
But when I see the sorts of things you describe here, I liiterally scream my head off!
Fantastic post!
Take care,
Nick
Comment by Jess
The Tack Room
I do feel like things for horses are improving. But don't stop screaming your head off... it usually works if the ears are open.