The two most important aspects of equine welfare—education and licensing of trainers and handlers and the use of drugs to keep horses participating in events have been ignored (once again) in the new National Equine Welfare Code of Practice.
“Get Real” American Horse Council and all the breed associations which have quickly endorsed the “vanilla spin” code which is completely useless in any way to protect the welfare of horses.
Every horseman says he or she is “committed to the dignity, humane care, health, safety and welfare of horses in all activities.” Everyone is going to claim to be “committed to responsible training techniques” and that “all training should be done with the maturation and ability of the horse considered”.
Who would endorse “excessive discipline” methods? No one!!!!
So “get real” and address the real problems…lack of education, no educational standards, no licensing and the use of drugs to keep horses going when they should no longer be participating in competition (or for recreation for that matter).
“Get Real” American Horse Council and all the breed associations which have quickly endorsed the “vanilla spin” code which is completely useless in any way to protect the welfare of horses.
Every horseman says he or she is “committed to the dignity, humane care, health, safety and welfare of horses in all activities.” Everyone is going to claim to be “committed to responsible training techniques” and that “all training should be done with the maturation and ability of the horse considered”.
Who would endorse “excessive discipline” methods? No one!!!!
So “get real” and address the real problems…lack of education, no educational standards, no licensing and the use of drugs to keep horses going when they should no longer be participating in competition (or for recreation for that matter).
The reason that people train horses in certain ways is so they can win-point in question-western pleasure. My god, who in their right mind would want their horse to move that way if it didn't win. The change needs to come in the judging. If it didn't win, it would't be trained for. Licensing is not an answer, it's a placebo-their is a segement of the horse world that does license, and what has it helped? Spend some time in the barns of a race track and you will see what I mean.
ReplyDeleteRon: I agree they train to have a horse move a certain way...and that is to win...can't agree on the licensing issue...I did spend more than 20 years on the backside of race tracks, racing at Los Alamitos, Turf Paradise, Hollywood Park and Bay Meadows...licensing provides leverage..abide by the rules or be fined, suspended or out for life. Licensing could require that a trainer have some basic knowledge, such as the ability to define a snaffle bit...most trainers can't...have a basic knowledge of nutrition...most trainers feed half a dozen supplements and have no idea what they are feeding...or know basic health and disease management...there needs to be an educational standard...licensing at race tracks provides a mimimun education standard of the rules of racing; not perfect, but it's a start.
ReplyDeleteWhen some western pleasure trainer takes a two year old and ties a bit in their mouth to bloody and make it "sensitive" and then puts a saddle on for week without removing it, or ties them in their stall so they can not lie down or drink all night just to "break" the horse, or make it more "ready to ride" that is ridiculous and inhumane. In the long run for those that do not end up as point earners and big time world or congress show horses this beginning can be a dangerous time bomb that they carry with them for always and some never get over. It renders them very unpredictable for the general riding public. I am sure all of the desciplines, Saddlebreds, Thorobreds as well as the western pleasure showhorse people have their horrible methods--they should be stopped efore they become entrants and the trainers lincensed, investigated and held to a higher standard!
ReplyDeleteJust to play devil's advocate - A little knowledge can also be a very dangerous thing. I know of Licensed trainers/coaches who have completed the EC Level one course (Canada)and have no business teaching. I know of at least one person who got their Level one accreditation on the fact that they had good working knowledge of Barn management (part of the criteria) Riding and teaching were narrowly passed but because such a strong mark was attained in the other section they passed with a high mark. How is this right? I also know of quite a few unlicensed trainers/coaches who are absolutely wonderful and produce beautiful horses and sympathetic riders and are not licensed because they think the licensing program here in Canada is a total joke..... Me, I tend to agree.
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