Guest guest Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 I started riding jumpers when I was a kid and continued to do so through college. In those days I enjoyed riding, but I was oblivious to the injustice inherent in the exploitation of animals. Fortunately, I've changed. I've seen jumpers fail to make it over fences and other barricades and suffer greatly when their legs broke, often causing them to be put to " sleep. " I've seen horses " broken " on a ranch in Montana that was once owned by a relative. It is truly sad to watch a horse try for hours day after day to kick off a rider while a metal bar that has been forced into its mouth is pulled back, obviously causing pain. The idea is to break the will of the animal and force it to accept domination. When the process is finished, the horse is indeed broken. But it is also ready for you to ride. In my opinion, the answer to your question is simple: It is never alright to exploit an animal for human entertainment. - " SamL " <saml Cc: <SamL Wednesday, May 14, 2003 3:06 PM [sfBAVeg] Query re: Relationship with Animals > I recently resumed taking horseback riding lessons. I am writing because > I continue to think about whether this is a bad thing or not. I would > appreciate any perspectives on this, as I consider whether I will > continue. > > My story is that I love animals--yes, including humans, even though humans > in particular make it VERY difficult at times. Anyway, before the lesson > I arrive early, and I take the horse out of its stall and over to where I > can prepare the horse for the lesson. I brush the horse gently, reaching > out to establish a relationship if the horse is willing. After brushing, > I massage the horse, then clean the horse's feet. (I keep saying " the > horse " because I ride different horses, but usually I ride the same horse > for several weeks and then switch as I progress (or regress)). (Today, I, > Sam, rode Sam--yes, that's right, they call the horse " Sam. " ). > > Anyway, after the massage, I put the saddle on, making sure it is not on > too tight, and that it is placed appropriately--this will make the horse > more comfortable. Then I put the bit in the horses mouth, and head out > for the lesson. During all this time I talk to the horse, and I try to > attend to the horse's mood--is the mood excited, distracted, resistant, or > something else. > > When the lesson occurs, I work very hard to assure I do not come down > heavily on the horses back as we are trotting. I do not weigh much, about > 115 pounds, but I still think it can not be pleasant for the horse to be > slapped in the back by my weight. As you are supposed to come down gently > (I am told), this is a nice confluence of technique and care for others. > > Also, I try to be *with* the horse, and I am quick to point out to the > teacher if I have done something that led the horse to fail to do > something the teacher wanted us to do. Also, while on the east coast I > was told to kick the horse--I refused. I find a gentle squeeze is > sufficient to get going, or to move into trot, or even cantor. That did > not work so well when I was back east, perhaps because the horse's had > been kicked. > > Parenthetically, I worked hard to find human trainers, both here and back > east, who took care of their horses. Both east and west coast trainers > use the most gentle bits, have indoor training areas (especially so the > horse will not be at risk of slipping on snow or ice), lots of space for > the horses to roam outside their stall, and more. > > All that is fine, but I really wish I could ask the horse directly whether > it is okay for me to ride. As it is, when the lesson is over, I repeat > the set-up ritual, taking off the saddle, brushing, massaging, cleaning > hooves. And sometimes I bring a special treat for my four-legged teacher. > > I confess I am conflicted about this process. I have no plans to compete, > I just wanted to learn how to ride, and perhaps to jump. I thought it > would be fun to move as one with this graceful powerful being. And I > thought I would grow in spirit in the process, as I re-connected with > another, a very different being whose species I admire. But, I welcome > others' insights on this issue. > > Thanks in advance for any helpful (including critical) perspectives you > can offer. > > Sam > > > > > BAY AREA VEGETARIANS (BAV) is a community group for veggies to network & find support. Free > membership and lots of free events :-) See below links for more veggie info.... > > *Next Vegan Food Party -- See Event Calendar http://www.bayareaveg.org/events.htm > *Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.bayareaveg.org/faq.htm > *sfBAVeg Mailing List Charter: http://www.bayareaveg.org/charter.htm > *Be Active for Animals! http://www.freedom4animals.org/events.html > > Tell your friends to Be-A-Veg with Bay Area Veg! > http://www.bayareaveg.org/join.htm > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 I have received numerous replies and they have been helpful. I wanted to let the conversation run a bit longer before saying anything else, but I do feel the desire to speak to Mr. Pete's message. I agree with you--it is never alright to exploit an animal for human entertainment. And, I'll go even further--it is never alright to exploit an animal. But, part of my query was whether riding *was* exploitation, and under what conditions, if any, it would not be exploitation. So, yes, the answer is simple, especially if one assumes facts not yet in evidence; but the question remains--is riding exploitation? It sounds as if it was on Mr. Pete's relative's ranch. It sounds as if I need to explore that aspect for the place where I ride. Maybe it is that way everywhere, which would greatly undercut my desire to ride. But, then again, maybe it isn't. Anyway. Additional insights continue to be welcomed, including critical one's such as that of Mr. Pete. Indeed, does anyone have any information about whether the process works pretty much everywhere as Mr. Pete so sadly had to describe? I appreciate any help anyone can provide. Thanks. Sam On Wed, 14 May 2003, Mr. Pete wrote: > I started riding jumpers when I was a kid and continued to do so through > college. In those days I enjoyed riding, but I was oblivious to the > injustice inherent in the exploitation of animals. Fortunately, I've > changed. > > I've seen jumpers fail to make it over fences and other barricades and > suffer greatly when their legs broke, often causing them to be put to > " sleep. " I've seen horses " broken " on a ranch in Montana that was once > owned by a relative. It is truly sad to watch a horse try for hours day > after day to kick off a rider while a metal bar that has been forced into > its mouth is pulled back, obviously causing pain. The idea is to break the > will of the animal and force it to accept domination. When the process is > finished, the horse is indeed broken. But it is also ready for you to ride. > > In my opinion, the answer to your question is simple: It is never alright to > exploit an animal for human entertainment. > > > > - > " SamL " <saml > > Cc: <SamL > Wednesday, May 14, 2003 3:06 PM > [sfBAVeg] Query re: Relationship with Animals > > > > I recently resumed taking horseback riding lessons. I am writing because > > I continue to think about whether this is a bad thing or not. I would > > appreciate any perspectives on this, as I consider whether I will > > continue. > > > > My story is that I love animals--yes, including humans, even though humans > > in particular make it VERY difficult at times. Anyway, before the lesson > > I arrive early, and I take the horse out of its stall and over to where I > > can prepare the horse for the lesson. I brush the horse gently, reaching > > out to establish a relationship if the horse is willing. After brushing, > > I massage the horse, then clean the horse's feet. (I keep saying " the > > horse " because I ride different horses, but usually I ride the same horse > > for several weeks and then switch as I progress (or regress)). (Today, I, > > Sam, rode Sam--yes, that's right, they call the horse " Sam. " ). > > > > Anyway, after the massage, I put the saddle on, making sure it is not on > > too tight, and that it is placed appropriately--this will make the horse > > more comfortable. Then I put the bit in the horses mouth, and head out > > for the lesson. During all this time I talk to the horse, and I try to > > attend to the horse's mood--is the mood excited, distracted, resistant, or > > something else. > > > > When the lesson occurs, I work very hard to assure I do not come down > > heavily on the horses back as we are trotting. I do not weigh much, about > > 115 pounds, but I still think it can not be pleasant for the horse to be > > slapped in the back by my weight. As you are supposed to come down gently > > (I am told), this is a nice confluence of technique and care for others. > > > > Also, I try to be *with* the horse, and I am quick to point out to the > > teacher if I have done something that led the horse to fail to do > > something the teacher wanted us to do. Also, while on the east coast I > > was told to kick the horse--I refused. I find a gentle squeeze is > > sufficient to get going, or to move into trot, or even cantor. That did > > not work so well when I was back east, perhaps because the horse's had > > been kicked. > > > > Parenthetically, I worked hard to find human trainers, both here and back > > east, who took care of their horses. Both east and west coast trainers > > use the most gentle bits, have indoor training areas (especially so the > > horse will not be at risk of slipping on snow or ice), lots of space for > > the horses to roam outside their stall, and more. > > > > All that is fine, but I really wish I could ask the horse directly whether > > it is okay for me to ride. As it is, when the lesson is over, I repeat > > the set-up ritual, taking off the saddle, brushing, massaging, cleaning > > hooves. And sometimes I bring a special treat for my four-legged teacher. > > > > I confess I am conflicted about this process. I have no plans to compete, > > I just wanted to learn how to ride, and perhaps to jump. I thought it > > would be fun to move as one with this graceful powerful being. And I > > thought I would grow in spirit in the process, as I re-connected with > > another, a very different being whose species I admire. But, I welcome > > others' insights on this issue. > > > > Thanks in advance for any helpful (including critical) perspectives you > > can offer. > > > > Sam > > > > > > > > > > BAY AREA VEGETARIANS (BAV) is a community group for veggies to network & > find support. Free > > membership and lots of free events :-) See below links for more veggie > info.... > > > > *Next Vegan Food Party -- See Event Calendar > http://www.bayareaveg.org/events.htm > > *Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.bayareaveg.org/faq.htm > > *sfBAVeg Mailing List Charter: http://www.bayareaveg.org/charter.htm > > *Be Active for Animals! http://www.freedom4animals.org/events.html > > > > Tell your friends to Be-A-Veg with Bay Area Veg! > > http://www.bayareaveg.org/join.htm > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 > but the question remains--is riding exploitation? To this general question, I would expand the issue a bit further.... Unless you are the " owner " or " guardian " of the horse, you are " renting " this horse from someone else. Like any animals used as " employees " , I wonder what happens to the animals when they are no longer deemed profitable. i.e. if this horse goes lame, or simply gets old, do they go to a nice retirement home somewhere or are they discarded and sold for horsemeat in France? And... the horse may not always have riders on its back that are as sensitive to the horse's needs as you are.... Here is one local news story about abuse of riding horses at Friendly Acres Ranch in Half Moon Bay: http://beta.kpix.com/news/local/2003/01/30/Vets_Warn_About_Mistreatment_at_B ay_Area_Horse_Stables.html This place is most likely at the opposite end of the spectrum where you are riding. I'm just pointing it out as an example of the abuse that can happen when profit takes over a relationship. In our neighborhood, we occasionally see a woman walking with her horse. I've always thought it nice that they can walk together... Tammy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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