What trends have you seen show up in the horse industry in past 20 years that you disagree with?

Question

Alternately, what former trends do you rarely see now that you would like to see more of?

Answer 1

I was around when AQHA headsets changed...:(  I had a big AQHA gelding that I shipped off to a trainer back in the mid '70's trying to get his head down.  The trainer who was an old timer, simply said "God didn't make him to push peanuts" and we went on from there.

When I was training under Barbara Torrea at Bay Bar Ranch in Whittier, CA, her daughter was showing a mare in halter and undersaddle in youth.  Another one of the kids was showing her mare in broodmares in halter and also trail...

I also wish that they'd bring back the romel reins, saddles that are rigged off the tree instead of the skirt and Navajo blankets!

Answer 2

Current trend here in Australia is for riders in dressage and doing Official competitions to retire if they or their horses perform badly cause they don't want their marks on public display cause they are probably planning to sell the horse and it will look bad.  That way they can say 'came 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc at first Official competition'.  Load of BS! They have probably competed in a number of competitions first.  This is called being a liar.  

Also when did it become acceptable to scream and yell at a judge at a competition because a certain class wasn't on the program and you wanted it on the program?? BAD Manners has become acceptable from both humans and horses in some horse worlds. Or am I just old school of manners and respecting your peers and the judge's decision.  Protests can be made in a more dignified way.

Addit:  I agree with antigone.  Look at the eyes on that horse! He is struggling to see where he is going. Maybe the rider should try putting his chin on his chest then look up to see where he is going then try holding that for even 1 minute.

Answer 3

I agree with the poster who said we're starting horses too young. It seems like there's a big push to get these horses under saddle and over fences faster and earlier, and to jump them higher sooner. I hate that. I've seen too many needless suspensory injuries, sore backs, tendon pulls, and more. Horses are getting hock and stifle injections at younger and younger ages. That's just wrong.

I'm also not a fan of the way the equitation ring has been going lately. It used to be about developing young riders for our show jumping ranks. Now it seems to be whoever can leave out the most strides and make the sharpest turns wins. What happened to smart riding? What happened to straightness and balance? This just encourages the sort of frantic riding I've seen in the jumper ring lately. I'm starting to see medal classes where inside turns are harder than the longer routes, and the courses try to encourage kids to think instead of just run at the fences. I hope that trend continues.

I hate how simplified the hunter courses have become. I remember the days of galloping natural obstacles out in a field. Obviously indoor shows killed the old style hunter riding, but the courses and jumps have become downright predictable. Every jump has a groundline, plus a flower box or gate, plus a top pole. Even the "verticals" ride like triple bars. It's ridiculous. Horses are pinned based on smooth lead changes instead of boldness to the fences and athleticism in tricky combinations. The new hunter derbies are bringing back some of that brilliance of the old days, and I hope they continue to grow in popularity.

I also miss the thoroughbred in modern competition. I know the warmbloods are popular now, and it's getting harder and harder to find a good TB that hasn't been ruined by the track. The WBs are easier for the ams to ride, being quieter in most cases. But something in me still perks up when I see a nice TB in the ring. Nothing can quite compare to their big, free stride or natural athleticism. And in my opinion, most of them are smarter than the so-called "dumb-bloods." The indoors killed the TB. In a smaller space, there's less of a need or opportunity to gallop and show off that long stride.

I also really hate some of the gadgets I see nowadays, particularly in the jumper ring. The bits these people are putting in their horses' mouths are insane. And the way they're riding these jumpers makes me shake my head. It seems a lot of inexperienced trainers and unsure ams think a jumper should drag the rider around the course. Not so. My jumpers all know to wait for me. They're all balanced and correct. Our rounds don't make spectators wince, and I've had people make me offers on horses as I'm trotting out the ring, saying, "We just never knew it could be so easy." Riding in the jumper ring isn't about galloping all-out to every fence. It's about thinking, about finding the right path and right stride and having the scope to follow through with the plan. But too many people seem to miss that. That's why I see the worse falls in the jumper ring.

I'm also sorely disappointed in trainers who let their clients ride in classes that are clearly above them. I make sure my students are jumping 6" higher at home than they will be in competition, and doing it well. You shouldn't be praying your client makes it through the course alive. Overfacing horse and rider just shatters confidence and sometimes bones.

Okay, I think I'm done ranting for now. I just miss the classical systems of riding which seem to be getting replaced for anything that can deliver a quick fix. There are no quick solutions. There's only time, patience, and consistent training.  

Answer 4

My least favorite trend/fad-

Western pleasure horses sticking their noses in the dirt, especially during the stop.  We have taken level toplines to the extreme, training our pleasure horses to not only keep their heads extremely low, but to drop them even lower during stops.  To me, a pleasure horse should keep their head where it looks natural and free-flowing, and they should not stick their noses in the dirt during the stops.

Answer 5

Disagree with;

Big fat over muscled useless halter horses (QH)

Tail blocking (Numbing the tail so it doesn't move).

Can't think of what it's called - breeding mares with other mares eggs.

Riding with two hands and plow reining in any cow-horse class.

Answer 6

--Kids riding with kinked wrists over fences...it's become a style

--people riding too much with their hands. I keep as little contact on the mouth as possible, while trying to use my seat and leg to direct the horse.

--people only hosing their horses. I still like doing a nice 45 minute groom job after a lesson.

Answer 7

I was thinking it's been closer to 30 years that the AQHA trends have met with my disagreement.  It just kept getting worse.  I do hear rumors that a change for the better is on the horizon...I hope it's true.

Answer 8

These should be about within the past 20 years... not sure though

-Soring gaited horses (I think this has gone on for longer than 20 years though)

-Peanut rollers in WP (head way too low, exagerrated slow movement, four beating)

-Poorly conformed halter horses (i.e. overmuscled body, posty legs, a halter horse should still be RIDABLE)

-Rust breeches (aha please let these NOT be coming back)

-Over releasing in hunters (this is only common on some circuits)

Some of these are WAY older than 20 years,, sorryy  

Answer 9

Close shaving around eyes (Arabian) - looks fake, makes the eyes appear smaller.  (fourth picture down)  http://paradisearabians.com/2008-egyptia...

Answer 10

I can't stand the new western pleasure headset where it looks like the horse is dragging its nose through the dirt.

EDIT:  Yeah, you're right, it's not really new but it seems like it's getting lower and lower and lower.

Answer 11

Parelli & other so called trainers who steal long ago PROVEN training methods & slap some stupid name on it & say "lookie what I did!" & then laugh all the way to the bank at all of the people who think these techniques are new or original & spend tons of money buying their b.s. & ruining horses.

Answer 12

I don`t like the trend you see in higher level (or everywhere else western/jumping...) dressage. I don`t know how it is called in english so I show you a picture of what I wanted to say:

http://everyrider.typepad.com/photos/unc...

In my opinion people who ride  horses like that should be banned from shows and should be punished by law! It just wrong!

I would love to see refugees stand up against it and stop keeping their mouth shut! I also would love to see horses ridden in the correct way, without hyperflexing...

Answer 13

LOL only one thing especially at the moment. Katie Price(Jordan) going to HOYS when there's riders who have been riding for years and not got in! It's just not fair that people have worked hard to try qualify and haven't when she can throw a wad of cash about and she's qualified!!

Also horse slaughter! I don't think that it started in the last 20yrs but I think the only time they should be allowed is if the horse has broken a leg and it won't recover or some other injury that they won't recover from.(I know that I'll probs get thumbs down for that but thats my opinion)

Charlotte x

EDIT: Juliane I agree, I don't ride western but when ever i watch western riders at my stables I can't help but think it looks like they're having their noses dragged through the dirt.  That's why I like English because it seems to have a  neater headset to me. Some people say English is not comfy but I don't think it's THAT bad, it's not like your breaking your pelvis when riding English and it's not like you can't ride for hours with an English saddle. I like western saddles though. They have all the pretty decorations and they look really cool.

Answer 14

I show Quarter Horses and Paints and what I really miss are the days when one horse went into the ring and did halter, western pleasure and won at both.  There is too much specialization of disciplines now.  If you want to do Halter, showmanship and western pleasure, you'll probably have to have at least two different horses.  One for the halter class, and one for the showmanship and western pleasure classes.  And heavens forbid if you want o do english or hunter classes too, that's another horse you'll have to add.  It makes it hard for someone like me who has a very nice gelding who could do whatever I want him to.  If I bulk him up for halter, he won't look right in a riding class.  

I am, however glad that the AQHA has decided to do something about the proliferation of horses with HYPP though.  It's a bad disease and needs to be gone.  I'm also glad that they've enacted the performance halter class for horses who aren't "halter" horses but who are still good looking enough to do halter.  

Answer 15

I think many people are starting horses too young. This puts too much pressure on their bodies, minds and physical well being. Years ago horses were healthy and vital well into their 20s and 30s. Horses years of useful life have diminished significantly. My grandfather had a farm horse that was in use at the age of 36. How often do you see that now?

Answer 16

This one are a bit more resent in dressage, people are starting to wear a lot of navy blue and it doesn't look good at all.  I see many people wearing a black jackets and a blue top hat or the other way around.  I don't know, I just think it looks silly.