For something different to do today (and to stop me churning up our field) I decided to rent the school at the yard just up the lane. We havent been in a school in over a year and I felt it would be a set space to work on cantering etc, plus change is as good as a rest and all that.
However, when I arrived there was a girl there on a lovely little cob - really sweet face, but she ended up whipping the crap out of him for no reason and it has really upset me. He moved when she went to mount and straight away she really whacked him. I hadnt seen it but heard the noise and por Rosie really flinched.
I went over and had a little chat (the mounting block is right next to the school) thought Id be a bit reassuring (there is nothing worse when things arent going well to feel that people are watching and judging you) and see what the problem was, and she admitted she was hot and bothered and felt that he was stubborn and she didnt like him!!! I pointed out that Rosie was very ‘opinionated’ but we’d worked it through over time.
She didn’t take the hint as when they rode up the track a little way, he wouldn’t get close enough to the gate to open it so she beat him to bits – he ended up rearing and all sorts but only because of what she was doing. She pointed him at the gate and whacked and whacked him, but instead of moving forward, or even being given the time and the space to figure out what he was meant to be doing, she hit him again. The YM came out and spoke to her and opened the gate but Im fairly sure she wasnt admonishing her for treating her horse that way.
I did say to the YM that I had found that quite distressing and unnessacery and her only response was ‘well he was sold to her as bombproof as she had also lost her confidence’ – like that made it OK? Poor thing wasn’t doing anything wrong till she beat him up.
Sorry to go on but its been playing on my mind. Would like to stomp up there and steal that pony and give him a home where he’s appreciated! I know she was stressed out and uptight and me watching didn’t help but thats no excuse. I really feel quite tearful and sad about the whole incident and am sorry i didnt step in earlier (the whole thing was right outside the YM's house so she came straight out)
Poor Rosie jumped at every whip and we had to just walk around until they were gone. It has however really made me appreciate the relationship we have, grateful for the fact that I dont even carry a crop nor do we need one and eternally grateful that we have other ways of doing things.
It came up in a DVD I was watching the other day, and it is a little corny, but the suggestion was 'if you horse's mother was watching you working with her daughter - would she be smiling?' And I think that a pretty good base line - would you be embarrassed to do that in front of someone who loved that horse? It certainly made me think and Im pleased to say Ill sleep easy with my conscience clear - not sure that girl will.
However, when I arrived there was a girl there on a lovely little cob - really sweet face, but she ended up whipping the crap out of him for no reason and it has really upset me. He moved when she went to mount and straight away she really whacked him. I hadnt seen it but heard the noise and por Rosie really flinched.
I went over and had a little chat (the mounting block is right next to the school) thought Id be a bit reassuring (there is nothing worse when things arent going well to feel that people are watching and judging you) and see what the problem was, and she admitted she was hot and bothered and felt that he was stubborn and she didnt like him!!! I pointed out that Rosie was very ‘opinionated’ but we’d worked it through over time.
She didn’t take the hint as when they rode up the track a little way, he wouldn’t get close enough to the gate to open it so she beat him to bits – he ended up rearing and all sorts but only because of what she was doing. She pointed him at the gate and whacked and whacked him, but instead of moving forward, or even being given the time and the space to figure out what he was meant to be doing, she hit him again. The YM came out and spoke to her and opened the gate but Im fairly sure she wasnt admonishing her for treating her horse that way.
I did say to the YM that I had found that quite distressing and unnessacery and her only response was ‘well he was sold to her as bombproof as she had also lost her confidence’ – like that made it OK? Poor thing wasn’t doing anything wrong till she beat him up.
Sorry to go on but its been playing on my mind. Would like to stomp up there and steal that pony and give him a home where he’s appreciated! I know she was stressed out and uptight and me watching didn’t help but thats no excuse. I really feel quite tearful and sad about the whole incident and am sorry i didnt step in earlier (the whole thing was right outside the YM's house so she came straight out)
Poor Rosie jumped at every whip and we had to just walk around until they were gone. It has however really made me appreciate the relationship we have, grateful for the fact that I dont even carry a crop nor do we need one and eternally grateful that we have other ways of doing things.
It came up in a DVD I was watching the other day, and it is a little corny, but the suggestion was 'if you horse's mother was watching you working with her daughter - would she be smiling?' And I think that a pretty good base line - would you be embarrassed to do that in front of someone who loved that horse? It certainly made me think and Im pleased to say Ill sleep easy with my conscience clear - not sure that girl will.
clear round jumping to collect rosettes all in the aid of a well known animal charity.....
