This season, the hunters are wearing tan, the dressage boots are a few inches higher, the western pleasure riders are abandoning their bedazzlers and pre-two is the new three!
Ya, ok, I have no idea if any of that is true, but it certainly seems like we’ve talked about a LOOOOT of horses being started “coming two” in 2012. And this one is no exception. And hey, he’s uber sweaty! Awesome. And being ridden down a cement road. Spectacular. And having his mouth hauled on. Fantastic! Who could ask for anything more?
Provided nothing goes wrong with this little guy’s musculoskeletal system as a result of his upbringing, he’d probably make a very cute mount. He certainly seems to be calm on the road and with traffic – although who knows about the rest of his training if the rider’s blatant overuse of the bit is any indication…
Why does it seem to be so difficult for these “trainers” to get it through their thick heads that their investment will be worth more, long term, if they let it do just a little bit of growing up. But then, on the other side of that, I suppose, is to hope to hell the horse doesn’t break down before ya sell ‘em quick and turn some sort of profit.
Ps. the write up on youtube states the horse is a stud! And the hits just keep on a-comin!
*headdesk*
29 Comments
I was mesmerized by the fact that this poor horse’s hocks never flex. At all. Maybe they have undergone some protective self-fusion…
In racking horses you don’t want any flexion in the hocks and very little in the stifle. It’s considered “wasted movement.” It’s just like with Walking horses. At the running walk you want those legs to go low and long. That’s why they’re able to go for so long.
Maybe this is thought to be correct in some gaited horse circles, but I believe that in order for the horse to properly collect and perform either running walk or rack, they must flex at the hocks (and through the rest of their body). When a horse does not flex in his joints he is performing false collection, with his back hallow, neck upside down and feet swinging like pendulums. While the horse’s legs are in the correct beat, it is not a correct, balanced and collected (soft) gait. The rider appears to be using a lot of bit pressure to achieve false collection and resistance in his horse.
Oh gawd….not only the terrible hanging on the mouth, but one of the worst “sack of potatoes” positions I’ve seen in a while, WITH massive rowel spurs, on boots that are at least halfway, if not more, through the stirrup, and those toes aren’t coming up anytime soon…
Please no more road riding!! gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, my brain….it bleeds…
I really hope that horse gets an upgrade soon. He/she has nice movement, if you can encourage that hind end to engage a little more. Perhaps a proper rider might allow him to release his back…
His boots are like ALL the way in the stirrup-any more and they’d pass the heel of the boot! Plus I could ride better than that guy when I was first starting out (‘course I tend to have a fair amount of natural core strength. I don’t even know how.) And I agree about riding on concrete–it even sounds painful! I can understand walking relatively short distances when their foot isn’t coming down too hard on the ground, but trotting/loping?
Unfortunately this is the norm where I live when it comes to speed horses. Thank goodness I was taught by a decent rider and I can see how wrong this is but basically I can tell you what’s going on here. The term “coming two year old” is a horse that is currently two, from my understanding. It’s a common term in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry and other gaited horses. Especially speed rackers (shown here) and speed pacers. In this area there are classes for speed pacers. Why, I have no idea. It’s super dangerous and when people put there 10 year olds on horses going 40 mph around a small ring with 15 or so other horses going the same speed is enough to make you feel sick. But anyway! It looks like this rider is holding his reins the way that most riders around here do with the hands turned upside down and the reins exiting through the thumbs to the horse’s mouth instead of the pinky or ring finger. It’s awfully rough on the horse’s mouth but everyone believes you should hold your reins that way and also lean waaay back in the saddle with your feet about to touch the horse’s nose. Basically just makes them look like a bunch of idiots. And on top of that everyone says “Oh, if you’re gonna have a speed horse you have to have a shanked bit.” Why? I still to this day have no idea. This guy is just what I call a typical “hillbilly rider.”
The cement thing is what I think is up for debate. It’s common knowledge that it’s not good for a horse’s legs but people who ride gaited horses say there isn’t nearly as much concussion to the legs because they gait so it’s okay… I don’t really know if that’s true though I guess I could see it being possible. I personally don’t think going that fast is good for the horse’s legs. Especially since there’s probably borium welded onto those shoes. For those who don’t know, borium is put on shoes to prevent slipping on surfaces such as pavement and rocks. It’s not good for the hoof capsule as I’m told it multiplies the concussion the horse gets when taking steps. I keep borium on my horse’s shoes only in the summer when I bring him home (He stays at an equestrian facility with me while I’m in college) because of how mountainous and rocky it is where I live. But assuming all of this I do believe these horses undergo extreme trauma to their legs and hooves because just about everyone thinks it’s okay to ride your horse full out on pavement just because they’re gaited. Not surprisingly, these horses either are retired or go lame before they reach old age and for whatever reason, nobody has made the connection.
Anyway, that’s my input on this.
Thank you for the informative comment.
On top of everything else, what a stupid, dangerous way to shoot a video. Just asking for a serious accident to happen here. Ugh!
Yep people do it to clock speed which is pretty dumb. The more responsible owners will just use a GPS or someone holding a radar.
The guy’s feet are all the way through the stirrups…I was hoping the horse would spook at that “car” and drag the rider for awhile.
Riding a baby – check. Too strong of a bit – check. Riding like a caveman – check. Gaiting down the road – check. The only thing we are missing is a shot of him STANDING on the poor critter’s back. By the rider not having his legs underneath himself, his butt just bangs away on the poor baby’s back like a pogo stick. Apparently he missed the riding lesson where your ear, hip, heel are supposed to be in alignment. Either that colt is small, or that man’s feet are HUGE.
It’s kind of a clue when your horse’s normal sized saddle pad covers his hips that you horse has some more growing to do. Can he scream any louder – I’M AN IDIOT? I think not.
I don’t have a problem with riding on the road at less than a lope/canter, assuming the horse is either barefoot and has VERY good feet or is shod with road studs. (I’m from England. If you say you’ll never ride on the road in England, you’ll never leave the property. I know horses that were walked and trotted on tarmac roads several times a week for years on end and stayed sound well into their twenties. None of them ever developed hoof problems or road founder as a result. Quite a few got arthritis, but I don’t blame the roads for that – where I grew up, EVERYTHING got arthritis…dogs, horses, cats, people…it happens when you’re literally at sea level and can find the water table planting potatoes.
There is, of course, no way of telling whether this horse is shod with road studs or not, but let’s go through everything that IS wrong.
Other than the obvious ‘riding a baby’, the rider’s feet are too far through the stirrups, and his leg is not quiet. Can’t actually tell if he has a helmet on or not. Hands are also not quiet.
Bit is too ‘loud’ for a green horse…why is it that some gaited people think they need a shanked bit or an elevator (as seen here) on everything? I thought gaited horses were generally quiet breeds? Reins are too long…at least I ASSUME that’s the end of a rein nearly touching the ground on the off side. There are two straps, so it doesn’t seem to be an over-under, which is the other possibility. And as a minor thing, is it me, or are those over-reach boots too small?
“it is too ‘loud’ for a green horse…why is it that some gaited people think they need a shanked bit or an elevator (as seen here) on everything? I thought gaited horses were generally quiet breeds?”
I’m not defending the asshat on the lil guy bookin’ down the blacktop……. that shit drives me insane.
….however…..
… “Control” is FAR FAR FAR from the only use and purpose of a shanked bit. And, just to note, gaited horses VARY from breed to breed and individual to individual…. and MANY are very forward and hot.
Yes, but what he’s using is an elevator bit, which IS intended for difficult/hot/strong horses….English side you most often see them on eventers who get over-excited during the cross country phase.
I know about the correct use of shanked bits for fine control…and a 2 year old would not be ready for fine control. Or should not, anyway.
My youngsters (30+ months old) are started in a Columbian Bosal or a rope bridle and don’t see a bit until they’re around five…
… As I stated before, I’m not defending the asshat in the video. I was responding to your “why do gaited people use a shanked bit on everything” and “gaited horses are generally quiet” blurbs.
Just was stating that there’s a reason for a shanked curb on TRAINED-FINISHED gaited horses and that many, actually, are not that quiet.
Take a nice speed-racking horse or a good Largo horse out sometime…. they’re a fricking blast but, methinks, would scare the shit outta the average ole English rider.
Btw, gaited horses are typically trained to move onto the bit…. the more pressure/rider’s hands elevated with rein tension… the faster and harder they go.
I like the way he ran through the stop sign. Since I almost got broadsided the other day by someone running a light, I found this to be a dangerous tactic while on a horse.
I think he blew a stop sign.
Go to youtube and watch more people ride their gaited horses. For what ever reason, it still illudes me, that a gaited horse equals no equitation. Drives me nuts. I don’t ride my RMH like this, and when I see other people ride their RMH like this I was to do the exact same thing their doing to their horse. Their was one on you tube where it was a RMH show, I think, and every guy was wearing buck stiching, leaned forward and was slouching, bits that made me cringe and what not. Sit up people! It’s still a horse you twit! Seriously need more equitation classes for gaited horses, really we do.
The people causing the problems wouldn’t enter them.
I own a TWH and this stuff just beyond frustrates me. Yes, gaited horses can and will move out faster than their non-gaited counterparts. Why do some people feel the need to ride them next to the car and then record it??!!
Why is he yanking that horses mouth, why is he riding a young horse like that, and why are his heels in the stirrups? The whole thing makes my head hurt.
He’s got a wonderful gait, too bad they couldn’t wait! His legs probably won’t last as long then if they would have waited for him to grow up. Gaited horses work their legs hard, and he’s a baby plus he’s on pavement, that’s a big no in my book! Also, there is no need for that extra big bit! I’ve trained a VERY pacey, and trotty (yes he did both) Rocky Mountain horse to gait on a nice loose rein. It’s not hard just takes practice, and that guy was 4 when he was started. He’s still going nice and strong now!
It makes you wonder if such idiots should not be allowed to breed , meaning the bloke on board of course. Ye Gods & little fishes the poor horse should be in a field doing his growing ,he’s only a baby for goodness sake. Was waiting in anticipation of the horse spooking,spinning & lighting off in the opposite direction leaving the half wit on board lying in the road or perhaps banging up & down on the road instead of the colt . Am convinced that if you cut the reins through he’d go straight over the colt’s tail,no problem with hat wearing nothing in there to protect. please please tell me not all of the southern states are peopled by dimwits .
Why are there so many videos of dumbasses riding gaited horses on the road? The gaited breeds must have an extreme ass tolerance…
OK, here goes. They ride on pavement, especially in videos, so that the potential buyer or mare owner can *hear* the lateral 4 beat gait of the Speed rack. They use big bits and hard pressure to keep the horse’s head still. A lot of Racking horses are descended from Walking horses that were commission registered in the RHBAA, and as such have a definitive head shake, which is undesirable in the Racking horse. Poor equitation is quite common, the excuse being to shift more weight to the rear of the horse so that it makes it easier for the horse to not break gait. These horses are more often than not started under saddle the fall before they turn 2, because of greed and ease of “breaking,” to get them ready for their 2 year old show/race season,( yes, there are races for speed racking horses, usually not affiliated with any registry other than the good ole boys network) or breeding season, whichever is your primary goal. The youngster in the video shows promise, too bad he is owned by FUCKING MORONS. I am so tired of seeing these babies that are too thin, being ridden hell bent for leather when they should still be in the pasture with their buddies. My 18 month old filly is a speed racking prospect, She has a pretty quick natural single foot in pasture,but we won’t know for sure how well she’ll do for another year and a half. And even then I won’t ask for more than a fast rack. Third gear is for grown ups, NOT BABIES! AND LOSE THE SHANK ! You can get the head still by *gasp* training. Ugh.
Rack em Up—— Whoooooo Hoooooo!!!!!!!! x 10 to the 10th power. I see you have had a REAL trainer at some point. Don’t you want to haul AssHats like this guy off that poor baby and beat him senseless with a Al+3 bat? Screaming- ” We Never ride the babies! “
Actually, I’ve never worked under a trainer for gaited horses, but I’ve watched aplenty. I know what I like, and especially what I don’t like. I will train my filly myself, in my time and more importantly, her time. I’m in no hurry, she’s not for sale and will likely never be bred. And yes, every time I see someone riding a baby, I wish for the superpower of making a clothesline miraculously appear at throat level….
But hey – at least all his tack matches. And the bell boots! All very stylish . . . .
since when are bell boots, or overreach boots considered enough protection for anything?we have TWH and OTTSTB horses our st. bred has borium on his shoes to prevent slipping on pavement,we also use splint boots, to protect his already race track damaged legs.he is now 17 yrs. he is sometimes used at faster speeds on pavement,then we use S.M.B. wraps to protect him further.somehow despite him having two low bowed tendons- on both front legs, and having been pin fired 19 spots on one back leg, and 12 spots on the other, we have been able to keep him using sound, pain free,and happy for 11yrs. and plan on several more years of his good company. common sense, and compassion,and love for the animal .above and beyond some peoples grasp
Aww, the big babies got upset and made their video private.