Charlotte Dujardin

If owners are happy to sell on horses doe meat then that's on them.

There are riding schools, families, individuals that would be over the moon to take in a beautiful horse.

MissAdventure

*calli*, the examples you give- I don't believe the animals are trained by whipping them.

I don't believe dressage horses are either.

Which is why, when clear evidence of abuse comes to light it needs to be addressed.

When did I say they should be trained by whipping or any kind of cruelty? I did not.

I was answering this:
So, given that horses can live to over 30 years what will happen to all the horses involved in those banned sports?

I'd hope their owners would look after them.

It's the least they could do for their beloved animal

Time to leave the thread, think.

MissAdventure

*calli*, the examples you give- I don't believe the animals are trained by whipping them.

I don't believe dressage horses are either.

Which is why, when clear evidence of abuse comes to light it needs to be addressed.

Of course it does, and I don't think anyone is denying that. But it seems as if some on here would stop any ordinary person from enjoying the pleasure of having horses and ponies. That's a whole different world from the higher echelons of equestrian sport. What about the many who benefit from Riding for the Disabled, for example? I've seen at first hand how transformative that can be.

I've no objection to that, or service dogs, or gentle training of animals.

MissAdventure

If owners are happy to sell on horses doe meat then that's on them.

There are riding schools, families, individuals that would be over the moon to take in a beautiful horse.

They wouldn’t be able to afford them and you’re making it sound as though anybody could be a suitable owner.

Naive.

People have always had ponies and horses as pets.

Who is to judge who can afford them?,

I'd donate a pet, sooner than it being used for meat.

Of course, I would think its obvious that I'm talking about people who know what owning a horse entails.

I haven't since said any old Tom dick or harry.

MissAdventure

Of course, I would think its obvious that I'm talking about people who know what owning a horse entails.

I haven't since said any old Tom dick or harry.

No but are you familiar with the term, ‘overhorsed?’

These animals are highly trained and are not pets.

merlotgran

MissAdventure

Of course, I would think its obvious that I'm talking about people who know what owning a horse entails.

I haven't since said any old Tom dick or harry.

No but are you familiar with the term, ‘overhorsed?’

These animals are highly trained and are not pets.

Exactly. Especially where racehorses are concerned - you couldn't just put any ex-racehorse into a riding school, for instance. I've ridden a former racehorse and she was a beautiful mare, but not the easiest to ride. My daughter also got to ride a polo pony which had competed at a fairly high level - again, a beautiful horse, but by no means a novice ride. To expect any top sporting horse to slot into a normal life just like that is naive.

No, I'm not familiar with it.
I presume it means used to the training, highly strung, not for hacking around on.

I may be totally wrong, so I'm probably naive in that respect.

Well if the events didn’t exist nor would these highly trained and probably cruelly trained horses either would they .

If dressage makes horses hold their heads in dangerous positions for hours or are whipped round the legs to make them prance higher it’s time it was GONE surely most people would agree on that

MissAdventure

No, I'm not familiar with it.
I presume it means used to the training, highly strung, not for hacking around on.

I may be totally wrong, so I'm probably naive in that respect.

No, it means someone riding a horse which is - to put it very simply - too much for them. If you were to put me on one of the top dressage rider's horses, for example, I would most definitely be 'overhorsed'.
And BlueBelle, as I've repeatedly said, while that may happen at the highest levels of dressage, it most certainly doesn't at the lower levels of the sport - such as riding club or Pony Club dressage. There's no 'holding in unnatural poses' or whipping involved there.

MissAdventure

No, I'm not familiar with it.
I presume it means used to the training, highly strung, not for hacking around on.

I may be totally wrong, so I'm probably naive in that respect.

It refers to the rider and not the horse and means the mount is beyond the rider’s capabilities.

That would definitely rule out riding schools as suitable owners unless they have an experienced and well off clientele.

There wouldn’t be horses without homes, horses are bred for
events

So what have I said wrong Merlotgran keep it in pony clubs or whatever but not for the high end training where this cruelty obviously happens Give it another name if you want it separated from the over trained versions

As for what will happen to all these poor horses that have been whipped into submission hopefully they will be given/sold to people who care and then put out in fields to enjoy life
If the discipline no longer exists there won’t be new horses so it will have been wiped out in 30 years time

BlueBelle

So what have I said wrong Merlotgran keep it in pony clubs or whatever but not for the high end training where this cruelty obviously happens Give it another name if you want it separated from the over trained versions

As for what will happen to all these poor horses that have been whipped into submission hopefully they will be given/sold to people who care and then put out in fields to enjoy life
If the discipline no longer exists there won’t be new horses so it will have been wiped out in 30 years time

If you can’t see what’s wrong with your second paragraph then I give up!

I’m off.

If the discipline no longer exists there won’t be new horses so it will have been wiped out in 30 years time

'The discipline' exists at all levels. 'Dressage' is just the French word for 'training'. I'd be interested to see what country would dare to ban training your horse...

I'd like to know what the police are going to do now. CJD should be brought to justice swiftly, before she spirals into decline from the monstrous media circus surrounding this evidence. Not many people could keep it together with the way the press hounds people to keep this sort of story going.

The police? Are the police involved? Haven't seen anything reported which suggested that, although I could be wrong.

I somehow feel that the police won't be the slightest bit interested. It isn't a criminal matter.

Animal Welfare Act 2006 - covers physical violence against an animal. There has been nothing reported that the police are taking action given the evidence, CJD's admission etc. This is ny point

MaizieD

I somehow feel that the police won't be the slightest bit interested. It isn't a criminal matter.

Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal can carry either a fine and/or up to 5 years in prison.

Freshair

Animal Welfare Act 2006 - covers physical violence against an animal. There has been nothing reported that the police are taking action given the evidence, CJD's admission etc. This is ny point

I believe any prosecution under that Act would have to be brought within three years of the date of the alleged offence.

You can cause suffering to a horse or pony by putting it in a field and doing nothing with it. They’re intelligent animals. They enjoy fresh challenges. Many retired racehorses do dressage or in hand showing. Some take to dressage, some don’t. Leave a horse in a field and it can get kicked by another horse. Get colic (to me the worst thing that can happen to any horse or grass sickness if the grass is too rich and it gets fat).Laminitis.Rain scald if it hasn’t got a shelter or a rug. If it’s a thoroughbred it will probably need stabling every night.Then there’s the problem of children growing. Get your child a pony and unless you can afford to keep several horses and ponies they will need a bigger one at some point.Then, of course, you have to poo pick their fields. All the time.Year in year out. I reckon that’s what caused my arthritis. If people think that sporting horses lead horrible lives just watch the documentary COW and realise what a miserable existence cows have.

I’ve had horses for over 40 years and my daughter still does dressage with a horse we bred & works as a professional groom . We’ve followed Charlottes career for years and also seen her perform . I was in awe of her skill and couldn’t believe the press report until I too had seen the video . Using a schooling whip and lunge whip ( the long one ) is very common in training horses but not to use it as she did . It’s also clear this wasn’t an isolated exercise as suggested . I’m devastated about the impact this will have on the Equestrian world but I do question what the motive if behind the whistle blower waiting 4 years to release the video and just before the Olympics . I hope our other highly skilled riders will not be tarnished by this episode . Watching dressage is amazing and takes hours of patience not punishment