Check out this eye-popper of a riding sequence, posted by Stal Bosman and shared with me by Becky Boydston of NC. While it's a near-emergency situation IMHO, and you can't hold anyone accountable for acting in the moment, the trainer on the ground does no good at all by shouting through the entire episode. That said, I would probably have started crying.
Stal Bosman Herman Koorman en Elmondo - Zadelmak maken & voor de derde keer erop.
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My goodness, that guy has the most impressive velcro seat I have ever seen. I wish I could stick a horse like that!
ReplyDeleteWow!! Wonder how much ground work that horse had before he got on. There are quieter ways to start a horse under saddle, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteThat rider is pretty amazing. The horse is a big mover and some of those bucks are huge!
Wow, it looks like this was the first time the horse was backed. How awful. Why wouldn't they have someone holding a lead to prevent this?
ReplyDeleteThe horse is obviously terrified and confused and pushed waayyyyy past his comfort zone. You shouldn't need to be able to ride broncs to back a horse for the first time. As someone who has put the first ride on a horse, let me tell you it doesn't need to be anything like this if the horse is slowly prepared through groundwork and you have a good groundperson.
They sure do seem to push them harder overseas.
I agree with McFawn. You could totally tell from the horse's body language what was going to happen, and the horse has way too much room to get up a head of steam. Poor thing.
ReplyDeleteMcFawn, I'm with you. I see absolutely no reason why this should even have taken place, unless they really, truly didn't think the horse would react this fashion. Heaven knows they're capable of faking everybody out! But the horse seemed uneasy from the get-go. I sure as heck wouldn't have climbed aboard, no sirree - and if I had, I would have been unloaded at Leap #1! DANG, I can't BELIEVE that rider stayed on! He is missing his calling in the rodeo, for sure. In an English saddle, no less!
ReplyDeleteAnd Stacey, I agree with you, too - the person on the ground didn't help. The last time I was on the ground and a horse started behaving badly (with my non-rider son in the irons) I didn't shout, but *fairly* calmly and firmly said "Whoa. Whoa. Whoa." while trying to grab a rein... maybe my voice went up a teensy bit as internally I was freaking out, but I still knew shouting and waving my arms wouldn't have done a BIT of good!
this has been going around on my facebook page and i watched it and thought of how much of a good seat he has. theres a couple of other videos of this that i've seen you should check them out
ReplyDeleteThe so-called trainer running toward the horse yelling with a whip and swinging it at an obviously terrified horse is just ridiculous. I admire the rider's ability to stay on, but the constant jibbering is just too much. A low soothing voice would I think be much more likely to calm the horse. I can't see what's going on with reins/bit so I'm not sure if that is adding to the mix here.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I wouldn't at this point buy a horse from Europe unless I knew without question how he/she was started. They are so different when they've been started slowly and well - it carries through their entire lives in how they react to things, and how much trust they have with people.
What McFawn said... the guy's an amazing rider, but that's no way to back a horse. We usually back ours with at least two ground people, and nothing happens the first time except just sitting there until the horse relaxes, then getting off. It also doesn't look as though that horse has had any long line training.
ReplyDeleteThe word that comes to my mind is UNNECESSARY. I don't think the horse will have lasting damage from this, but it could have been done over a few sessions, in a stall or round pen, and with more effective ground help. I hope this horse gets the benefit of a little more forethought in the future.
ReplyDeleteSeveral thoughts: Cold backed horse; why God made grab straps (rider is either holding onto the saddle or a strap); EXCELLENT BALANCE--he really isn't SITTING for the first few bucks because his right leg isn't in the iron.
ReplyDeleteTrainer is WORTHLESS--where did he learn that the best thing to do is dodge the horse while YELLING?
The second mounting was better; this time the horse seems more fearful of the trainer than the rider on his back.
Last, I loved the laughing ladies behind the camera. Not.
Needs. More. Ground. Training. YIKES.
ReplyDeleteAlso, NEVER EVER EVER mount a green horse from the ground or without someone to hold it still. It's just plain stupid.
I find it amazing that people think rushing a horse and putting life and limb in the balance is a great way to start a horse under saddle. There really is no need to go through this dangerous bronco routine if you do it right. And, to me, it looks like this horse has so much energy it needs to be lunged well before any rides in the future ... even when it IS used to being under saddle. Sheesh! Interesting that we usually see guys doing this kind of thing ... not so much women. Is it a testosterone "thing"? What do they have to prove?