Ideas

"Well Done BHM, Well Done."

Thanks Anon. for your kind words. It made my day. In reality I'm the facilitator and have limited input into the content. Most of the material is written by the members of this blog and it's they who should be congratulated. If I was to write this blog readers would be passing out from boredom.

I would like to encourage readers to post articles and direct me to a Fugly thread that you would like to see posted on this blog for discussion. I feel that this blog can also be educational so please submit your ideas. Ideas are always welcome and will be addressed in a respectful way. I changed the blog caption in hopes to better reflect the sentiment of the readership. We can thank a brilliant Anon for the caption suggestion.

Capstone Stables

Percheron Foal

A brilliant Anon. took it upon herself to write to Capstone Stables and express her regret over the abuse that they've received from Fugs and her followers. This is a great idea to counteract the nastiness that FHOTD spews. I attempted to contact Capstone but it the email didn't go through so I created this thread for those of you who would like to send positive message but can't get through.
http://www.capstonetrainingstables.com

Shock Collars

Schwartwalder Fuch

From FHOTD:

More “natural” horsemanship!  Complete with shock collars!
Seriously. Are you kidding me?
In case they take the entry down, it is about a mare who beats up a gelding in the pasture (no, really?).  Julie actually states:
“There is one sure-fired method of curing aggressive horses and I have used it a few times for this purpose. It is a shock collar. It straps around the horse’s neck and is operated off a remote control, issuing a mild and brief shock when you push the button on the remote. Shocking her for her two or three times for her unwarranted and dangerous behavior would probably be all it would take to permanently resolve her of the aggressiveness.”
Oh my GOD … you did NOT just tell people who sound totally like beginners (they were wondering if aggression toward a horse could develop into aggression toward humans) to use a SHOCK COLLAR on a HORSE, did you?
YES.  YES, you DID.
Folks, I’m not kidding. It’s not like I’M digging the hole Natural Horsemanship is burying itself in. I’m simply repeating the stuff they put on their own websites, in their own newsletters, and on their own DVD’s.  This advice could go wrong in about 16,456 ways.  I cannot imagine any kind of normal traditional trainer suggesting anything like this. I mean, it sort of sounds like it belongs in some blog about Shady Halter Horse Trainers – but no, it’s right there in the “Natural” Horsemanship newsletter!
Julie goes on to explain how she has used a shock collar in the past:
“It is intended for use with extreme behavior that is harmful to horse, humans and/or property and it is highly effective. I’ve used it for stall and trailer kickers, for aggressive horses and for a tantrum throwing horse, who threw a wall-eyed destructive tantrum any time you’d take his buddy away. In most cases, one or two training sessions resolved the bad behavior; for the tantrum thrower, it took a few more”
Again, OMG. You just suggested dealing with a herd-bound, freaked out horse with a SHOCK COLLAR?    You know, I don’t get why you and Linda Parelli have so much trouble dealing with a herd-bound, distracted horse. I kind of feel like someone just needs to make you both work at a Thoroughbred breeding farm for a while and deal with broodmares without your handy-dandy sticks, collars and whatever else to help you.  Really, it’s amazing how the rest of us can and do deal with these behaviors without it turning into a big stupid drama.  I just growl at them, back them up a few steps every time they get stupid, and they figure out that acting like a twit results in getting growled at and made to back up.  As for stall and trailer kickers, there is this amazing invention called kicking chains that has been around for probably fifty years.  They don’t even require you to be there watching to work – awesome huh?   By the way, I’ve typically found most stall kicking can be cured with (a) enough turnout and (b) not putting the horse next to a horse they hate in the barn.  You might want to try those tips first before you break out the shock collar!
Oh, and aggressive mares are often turned into sweet mares with Regumate – another totally humane method you might want to try before you start shocking them!
See, this is just another classic example of how stupid all of this is.  Using an e-collar to deal with any of this is like using a nuclear bomb to weed your lawn.  It’s not necessary.  I guarantee you that I can fix anything a horse might do on the ground without any tools, sticks or gimmicks.  So can a large percentage of my readers.  It’s really not that special a gift.  Beginners, there are no tricks that will give you these talents.  There is only experience – and I guarantee you that you aren’t going to learn anything from putting a shock collar on a horse except how to pay vet bills and fix your fence.
Now, Natural Horsemanship Defenders – PLEASE explain to me how an e-collar is NATURAL?  Is that like lightning striking from above if God sees you do something bad?
Gosh, I wish my Crabby Old Bat were still alive — ’cause she was extremely pasture aggressive to other horses and humans she did not care for and she’d have taught Julie a lesson or two about that e-collar bullshit.    That would have made for one awesome pay-per-view special for our friends at Really Fucking Dumb TV!
On a more serious note, I know that you good trainers are busy with actual client horses, but could one of you PUH-LEEEEZE do a video series showing people how to effectively create ground manners, deal with bucking, deal with barn sour behavior, etc. without all of this silly nonsense?  PLEASE?  If you do, and it’s good, I will advertise it for free on this blog.  I am freaked out at the fact that beginners do not seem to have any GOOD advice out there to go by.  Why doesn’t a successful hunter/jumper or dressage trainer do a series of videos that also show ground work and creating ground manners?  Or a successful reining or cutting horse person?  Someone?  Anyone?  If it exists, tell me about it – if I watch it and I like it, you can bet I’ll plug it. I am just so sick of terrible advice being given to beginners!   And the beginners are baffled about where to find good advice.  Do they have videos showing the Pony Club stuff?

Animal Rights vs Animal Welfare.

The Schwartzwalder Fuch Coldblood

I don't believe Cathy understands the difference between Animal Rights vs Animal Welfare..

Animal Welfare is about treating animals humanely.

Animal Rights is about animals being viewed as non-human persons.

If the latter is so, how will the courts deal with a horse who bites and injures another horse. Humans have the ability to reason morally, I don't think horses (or most non human animals) do.

If Cathy is advocating Animal Rights, then logically she can't breed BYC. That would be using an animal for human

Fubbs takes girl's ribbon away

Justine Jevon riding a Shire

by Kaede

Did anyone else read today's Fugly blog? Cathy was very upset about what she perceived as cheating. A girl on a appy entering a novice walk trot class at a schooling show and winning a blue. 

Cathy "Yep. Ms. Breed Show Appy proceeded to win yet another blue ribbon, taking a chance for a ribbon away from the kids in nylon bridles, the genuinely green horses and the adult riders who were in there for the very first time. So you know what we’re gonna do today? We’re gonna talk about how much that sucks on this blog! :)"

She seems more upset than usual about this type of cheating. Normally she gives short shrift to 4-H and schooling shows. I tried to think why she would be so upset about a scrap of blue ribbon. Then I noticed the show was in the same area that I believe BYC is in, Redmond WA. 

I looked at Capstone stables website that there were lots of trivia (little kind hot wearing hunt caps!) that she normally gets all hot and bothered about, that she let by without mentioning.

Sooo, Do you think that this horse beat out BYC? That maybe she will have to put up (Geld) or shut up ? 

Any opionions?

Finding An Instructor

by Grainne Dhu

It can be tricky finding an instructor, no matter if your interest is
riding, dancing, dogs, music or whatever. Anyone can put their shingle
up as an instructor or teacher, with very little in the way of
regulation. I've often been asked how to find an instructor in my own
particular field of expertise. I think most of my recommendations
apply to finding an instructor in any field.

1) Look for someone who genuinely likes humans. Too many people who
love horses would love to find a way to make a living around horses
and the idea of instructing immediately comes to mind. They don't
realise that instructing is mostly about working with other humans and
very little about working with horses.

2) Riding and teaching are two very different skills. A great rider
can be a terrible instructor and someone who doesn't ride can be a
good instructor. Look at how the instructor's students are performing.
That's what your situation is going to be! Does this instructor have
students who are doing well in the type of riding you are interested
in?

3) Listen to how the instructor talks about their students. Someone
who derides and bad mouths students to you is going to do exactly the
same thing behind your back as well.

4) Ask yourself if the instructor seems more invested in helping you
attain your personal goals or in helping you to attain the
instructor's goals. If you want to trail ride and occasionally show at
small local shows, you don't want an instructor who is determined to
turn you into the next dressage sensation. Will this instructor
support your goals if they do not match the instructor's desires?

5) Ask yourself if the instructor seems more concerned about your
horse's welfare than your own. You and your horse both need to be able
to work safely and comfortably. If you sense your horse's well being
is a higher priority to your instructor than your own well being, that
is a big red flag.

6) Make sure that your general philosophies of training are reasonably
well matched. For instance, if your instructor prefers to work every
problem out from on top of the horse and you feel that it's better to
work problems out on the ground first, you will find yourself in
conflict.

7) There is always more than one way to do something. Pose a couple
hypothetical questions in order to find out what happens if the first
suggestion won't work. A good instructor can come up with several
different ways to tackle the same problem... and none of those ways
should include "sell your horse and buy this one I just happen to have
in the barn!"

March Horse

I cannot remember who suggested it, but this month's horse is for sale. This economy is bad for horse people trying to sell, but it's great for people who still have money and want to get into them. This month's mare would be an exceptional gal to have hanging around. I personally think it's awesome enough she looks like she is wearing a jousting mask with those eyes of hers.

She is located in Ostrander, Ohio, and her description reads as such:

"Beautiful 14 yr old, 16h snowcap Appaloosa mare by Wap’s Spot 2. Showing Training level, working First level. Ridden and shown by a junior rider for the last 18 mo. Regularly placed last show season. Will jump small fences and can be taken out on trail rides. Wowie is an agreeable mare and is good for the vet, farrier, etc. She travels well and is current on vaccinations and negative Coggins. Lifetime registrations with USEF and USDF as well as ApHC. Proven broodmare (colt ’05). Sadly for sale as I am downsizing. For more information please call or email Julie and Ron Clark, trainers at Maryhill Farm, Ostrander, OH. Price reduced as I really must sell her, to a good home only. Now asking $7000.00 neg."

For more information, take a look here.