This question has perplexed many readers so let me attempt to answer it. To begin with, Fugly has no horse experience and very little riding experience. Beyond her comments all you have to do is look at photo of her riding to see that she rides like a student in a beginner riding class. Fugly’s opinions are formed by her conversations with her friends on HorseDopia (HD) who are just as inexperienced as she is or limited in their experience. One such person is Sarcasta Bitch. Yes, the name says it all. SB has five years of questionable experience with horses and yet goes from forum to forum giving her pronouncements on the horse world. Here is an example. The following statement was taken off of the Chronicle of the Horse Forum (COTH).
In the comment SB pontificates about the uselessness of instructors who don’t compete. With a single click of her keyboard SB writes off George Morris and other top level trainers who no longer compete. Her reason for doing so is that riding has changed in the last five years since she began thus older trainers are now obsolete. Yes, SB in the old days we used wheel barrels to carry the horses around the course and spring board for them to jump the jumps. Yes, riding and jumping is so different today. SB has created the argument so she can continue to confront others with more knowledge and more experience. In SB mind, if you have been competing for 10 to 20 years then you don’t know how to ride as only people who have learned to ride in the last five years have been taught properly. I’ll have to write Ian Miller to tell him he doesn’t know what he’s doing. The sad thing is, Fugly with listen to her and absorb what she says and use it for material for her articles.
SB writes…
"From what I'm learning from my current coaches, saddle fitters, clinicians...there is a fair bit of progression in the techniques, equipment and even horse quality over the past 5 years...even more over the past 10. People who showed as kids 20 years ago, or who got off the show circuit 10 years ago just CAN'T prepare you. I know, I've taken lessons from both types."
"But a good many of those trainers-who-don't-ride are out of shape, middle aged women who have grossly inflated views of their own riding ability from BITD and their ability to train students. One talented student in 10 years justifies their entire approach, and they bilk MANY beginners every year. Maybe if they'd hopped on a horse once in the last 20 years they'd have had to think about what they were quoting from their old Pony Club days."
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Ding ding, we have a winnah...Pony Club is still teaching horsemanship the same old way. The problem we've ran into in the last 5 to 10 years is that too many people have watched the 'you can be a great rider in 3 lessons' clinics, and are dumb enough to believe it. The student motivation has changed. If they can't have their candy cane RIGHT NOW they won't work, and act like spoiled children when their horses behave like horses. SB (IMHO) is not a rider and never will be, because she doesn't want to have to learn muscle memory and mental control.
ReplyDeleteUm, what is her show win record by the way?
I tend to be a show me the proof kinda person. It's not bragging if you've done it. SB is dissing a teacher who has produced a great student in favor of a newbie? Snork....!!!!!!
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ReplyDeleteIs this a blog about HD and Sarcastabitch or is it a blog about FHOTD? I am confused.
ReplyDeleteThe blog is about Fugly and were she gets her ideas from.
ReplyDeletePaddy,
ReplyDeleteYou have a good point. A good instructor will be learning and have students who are doing well.
What exactly IS Fugly's experience with horses? How many years has she spent doing what? Could you post some photos of her riding? I have only seen the odd one here or there and I am sure there are others like me who would like to know more (fact-wise).
ReplyDeletePersonally I do not necessarily put a whole lot of stock into individuals with show records - I don't care if they are a GP show jumper, have competed in 6 Olympics, or have never shown a day in their life. I just care what their horses think of them and what they are able to do in partnership with their horses. Showing success can oftentimes just be the result of an individual's ability to conform and force their horse(s). On that note(ish), I find it difficult to place value in much of what Cathy says when she is not even capable of training her own horses or following her own advice.
It never ceases to amaze me how many new ideas/concepts end up giving way to how they used to do it in the "old days".
ReplyDeleteFeed-Everyone used to feed their horses grass hay and oats. Suddenly alfalfa and concentrated feeds became the hot new commodity. After 10's of thousands of horses have DIED from those diets, now people are spouting the vitues of grass hay and oats again.
Dentistry-Old timers DID used to have their horses teeth floated when necessary. However since most of those horses lived in very natural(to horses) environments, they certainly did not need their teeth floated as much as modern technicians seem to think they do. Now articles are coming out and a good equine dentist will tell you that you DO NOT have to float every horse's teeth annually and in fact, you can shorten a horse's lifespan by over-floating of the teeth.
Farrier-Gee...barefoot(unless absolutely necessary to shoe)...to shoeing everything...now we are back to barefoot(unless absolutely necessary).
The list of how things evolve and then end up going back to how generations before did them is really endless. So for someone to say that to be a good you have to be competing currently is just ignorant. Some of the most fabulous horseman and teachers I have ever had the priviledge of being around NEVER set foot in a show ring.
Point of order, SB is not a member of HorseDopia, and hasn't been for a few months now. You also might read the COTH thread, bhm, it's pretty clear that you missed my point.
ReplyDeleteSarcastabitch,
ReplyDeleteJust because you got your panties in a bunch, took your toys and went home on 10/1/09 at 10:00PM doesn't mean you weren't a part of what BHM is describing. Until that point, you were a regular poster on Horsedopia, so quit trying to deny that you were a contributor to what BHM is talking about.
Incidentally, maybe you should go back and read your comments on COTH, notice a number of regular posters there also missed your point? Maybe you need to attend some communication classes, as you do have a problem getting others to understand what you are trying to say. Seems like you spend alot of time backpeddling on your original posts in many places.
CCC,
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. The COTH readers did have a problem with her statement.
Until that point, you were a regular poster on Horsedopia, so quit trying to deny that you were a contributor to what BHM is talking about.
ReplyDeleteI'm not denying anything. Just giving bhm the facts so that she can avoid looking more and more like FHOTD. She wrote her post in the present-tense, implying that she wasn't aware I left the group in October. Now, when is she going to post about YOUR statements on HD?
You are correct. The COTH readers did have a problem with her statement.
Some did, some didn't. Trixie particularly seemed to have trouble accepting that I meant EXACTLY what I said, as opposed to the hyperbole that she (and you) rephrased. Nowhere did I say that I expected a trainer to be competing actively...just that a trainer RODE. George Morris does, btw. In clinics! Try not to take clear statements to the extreme, bhm, you sound like FHOTD that way. That's her style, I guess maybe you're going for parody?
Finally, I find it laughable that you think I'm so important. An entire column devoted to a very minor posting string on a very large BB...wow. I can assure you, my opinions are neither special or unique. While I don't speak for anyone but myself, I can assure you that I don't arrive at these conclusions completely independently.
And as far as Kestrel...I think I am a rider, since I ride horses a few times a week. Maybe not a good one, but one who is working very hard with some professionals who are respected in their fields. It is a mistake to assume that because I have distaste for your opinions, suggestions and the suggestions of your pals that I am not making an effort off the computer. Where it counts. My horses tell the tale, I suppose.
Forgot to say, best of luck with your horses and life in general. I have learned recently that when you leave the spite and negativity out of the horse world, your eyes are re-opened to the joys. Enjoy your spite ladies! I may continue to read here...particularly if I am going to be a continuing feature...GoLightly tells me that I seriously over-estimate my importance in the world, but here I am
ReplyDeleteWell, it read that BHM says that Fugly's opinions are formed by her conversations with her friends on HD to include you. That really doesn't read as either past or present tense.
ReplyDeleteWhich comments of mine are you referring to? There have been SOOOOOO many, like 60, practically a plethora of comments.
I am afraid I also do not know what hyperbole I am being accused of rephrasing, but then again, you have repeatedly accused me of doing and saying things that I never have, so I guess this is just one more example.
Thanks for the best wishes with my horses and my life, but they aren't necessary. You flatter yourself if you think because I have expressed my opinion and dislike of you (and Fugs) on the internet that my life with horses is full of spite and negativity. Quite the opposite actually.
Good luck with your riding.
I am afraid I also do not know what hyperbole I am being accused of rephrasing, but then again, you have repeatedly accused me of doing and saying things that I never have, so I guess this is just one more example.
ReplyDeleteNot you, that was in response to a quoted comment of bhm's. The hyperbole she rephrased was changing my statement which clearly said I expected trainers to GET ON HORSES AND RIDE into "trainers who do not compete are worthless."
Do you understand CCC? When I quote someone specifically and address that statement, that doesn't mean I'm accusing YOU of anything. I really hope that's clear now. Let me know if it isn't. Maybe I can draw you a picture.
:D
Good luck with your riding too.
Ah, my mistake. I thought the "she" was referring to BHM and the "(and you)" was referring to me since this Tixie person was not part of the original comment.
ReplyDeleteYes, you could draw me a picture, I prefer pen and ink and it would be nice if it were of a cute foal or maybe a puppy.
This ridiculous, how do you know that trainers aren't riding. Almost all own horses and ride. This also doesn't mean that they don't know a great deal. What your comments are about is GL. She know quite a bit about riding and sports and many have benefitted from her.
ReplyDeleteThis ridiculous, how do you know that trainers aren't riding. Almost all own horses and ride.
ReplyDeleteYes, most trainers do still ride. Some, particularly the crummy, poser ones, don't. If you haven't experienced that, good for you. It's not all that uncommon to find someone who rode many years ago operating as a trainer. Badly. My issue with them is that novices and PARENTS believe their nonsense.
This also doesn't mean that they don't know a great deal.
Also, words that could have been taken directly FROM ME. What I said, specifically, was that in a day-to-day instructor, I expected one who COULD hop on my horse and compete at my level (preferably above) and who proved their riding ability from time to time. I need a trainer who rides, but I fully (explicitly) recognized that many people who no longer ride can have useful information. Someone with a further along horse, or much better riding ability might not need a trainer who rides, as many of the COTH posters evidenced.
What your comments are about is GL. She know quite a bit about riding and sports and many have benefitted from her.
I'm sure GL has been useful to many people. I think that she would be a rather good influence on a lot of trainers, particularly. Her posts are a little overly philosophical and easily misinterpreted for beginners and kids, though her teaching style might be very different IRL. I've never read her calling former clients names either, so chalk a big one up there for professionalism. I doubt very much she'd be a good trainer FOR ME, but I also doubt very much that she'd like to have a client, LIKE ME. Too eager, too confident and waaaaaaaay too independent in terms of going out and buying totally wrong horses.
The reason my post had NOTHING to do with her, mind you, is that GL doesn't give lessons or pose as a show trainer, so she is emphatically NOT one of the people I am talking about. The entire COTH thread was about people (in real life) who pretend to have the experience and ability to coach at high levels, levels that they themselves have not attained (or maintained) as the case may be. I did have an individual or two in mind as I wrote my post, but they are real-life figures with whom I've had personal contact...not internet people. The WHOLE POINT of wanting a trainer who rides is so that you have a tangible way to rate their skills...something you don't have on the internet.
SB, thank you for your response. It was well written and to the point.
ReplyDeleteIt is really interesting that just how the tools and equipment used (I'm thinking of Speculums and Carbide Cutters) hasn't really changed, neither has the practice of equine dentistry considerably, only perhaps through sedation and anaesthesia.
ReplyDelete