How would you handle this?

Barbara F · Grand Prix

How would you handle this?

justice · Grand Prix

MY horse, MY limits. If I am not comfortable with a certain application, I address it. Calmly yet clearly ask the reason for the "assertion". Ask how the horse can be managed in a SLOWER way (translates to gentler or more patient but to put it that way can put the rider/Clinician on the defense of their actions... cue the domino effect). If not satisfied with the answer and/or result, respectfully request that the rider dismount as you are not inclined to be able to follow thru with this method, or you prefer a different approach, thank you so much for your time and willingness to help us : ).

-- Edited by justice on Thursday 18th of November 2010 10:31:26 AM

Ranna · Well Schooled

I would be very surprised to end up in a clinic with a person who would treat a horse as you describe in the first place.
But for the sake of it, let's say it happened.

I would ask him/her in a friendly way why he/she does what he does and add that I don't like doing things like that and ask if he knows a more friendly way of achieving a good result. If not, I'd ask him kindly to dismount and thank him for trying to help but tell him I don't feel good handling my horse's in that way.

Remember your horse is YOUR partner. I would not have my horse to think I gave him into the hands of someone who doesn't respect him and handle him fairly.

shaiarabs · Well Schooled

your horse your rules.. 'get off my horse'

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Ranna,

I agree that I would do my BEST not to end up in a clinic with that type of a person. In fact I think that some clinicians might tone it down for a audience, but I have seen other clinicians do whatever they thought it took to get a result in front of an audience.

One very public instance that comes to mind is that video of the Pat Parelli/Catwalk clinic which caused a huge stir a few months ago.

At this point in my life, I would politely ask the clinician to get off. In the past, to be honest, I might have deferred to the clinician "He/she knows more than I do". No more though.

Julius · Well Schooled

I agree with all of the above and I will add Get your money back, and who was this guy/girl?
Too many people want to make a fast buck by giving clinics and are not qualified (or shouldn't be)

Ranna · Well Schooled

@Barbara
I know about the case you describe.
That's why I absolutely adore Mark Rashid. He is not a showman. He looks at the horse and whenever he thinks the horse has done the best he can, no matter what the result, he quits.
It doesn't matter if the public or the owner want's to see more he always looks at the horse.

At least, it has been a couple of years I saw him, and that's how he was back than :)

dbliron · Advanced

Hi, Ranna:

I don't know in what Utopia you live (it would be nice to live there!), but this kind of stuff happens more often than we'd like to think. I've seen internationally renowned clinicians in every part of equestrian sport do this, and it's more disgusting every time I see it.

For me, the bottom line is that no one I don't know well and haven't assessed in the saddle gets on my horses. Bear in mind that some of the best coaches aren't great trainers, and vice versa, so I need to have seen them in action in both roles, before they put a foot in my stirrup. I don't even take clinics from coaches/trainers I haven't seen work. I've been in this game too long to take risks with my money and my horses in that regard.

Gary Stuart · Well Schooled

Approach the clinician, so that you can tell them privately that you are not comfortable with what they are doing. Prepare to be humiliated by the clinician.

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

I think I'd personally say something like "oh I think Brownie is having a rough day, I think I'll take him back to the stable area, thanks for offering to get on him though".

I'm in accordance with dbliron, often times great coaches aren't great trainers and it isn't worth it to take the chance, so I'd rather look like a dummy who takes my horse back to the stable, rather then have more issues to deal with.

Buckshot · Foal

Its your horse,if you disagree with the treatment then put a stop to it in a polite and diplomatic way. If that fails be prepared to kick B, you owe it to your horse.

Willy_Wonka · Yearling

Personally, at the moment the clinician offered to ride my horse I would say no.

My theory to this is that, as a clinician giving my a lesson you should be able to teach me how to go through this.
I am probably doing something wrong in the first place that the horse is being uncooperative to begin with.

So I would hope that the clinician will go back to basics first and make sure my aids are being correct by showing to me from the ground how to apply the leg the way it should be done and what my hand should be doing- showing pressure and placement.

Then if that is still not helping just go back to basics with the horse.

I went to a Belinda Trussell clinic in December and one of the horses were a tad spooky and being a little uncooperative so she went down the the basics to make him understand its okay and they were able to work through much more after that. and get to the things they wanted to learn - She is an amazing teacher and clinician, wish she was my coach but hopefully I will get a chance to ride with her in either her 3rd or 4th clinic of 'Back to Basics'

However in the circumstance that you have said I would pretty much ask what their aids are doing and why is it so harsh if what were trying to achieve is a relaxed and supple horse? ( My horses if they had harsh aids would throw bucks if they felt like it was too much or just be totally hollow with their heads like camels :P)

And I would hope they get the hint that theyre being rough if not then I would go over and politely tell them they are being rough and then if I am humiliated from the clinician - as Gary Stuart said then it would just come out as get off my horse now. :) And it would not be polite.

kschmittendorf · Well Schooled

At the first indication of harshness I would certainly step up and ask them to stop and dismount. I certainly have no issues with telling anyone to stop mis treating my horse or any other. Coach/trainer, whatever, there is never a good reason to use force or cruelty to coerce an animal into a behaviour. I have seen this in clinics and just at stables during schooling and trail rides. If any animal is forced to do something out of fear or pain they will always carry that experience so even if you were not the one to create the situation, when the same circumstances occur, you will have the benefit of dealing with the aftermath and "untraining" the fear response. As an example, a trainer at a stable I boarded with was throwing rocks at my horse when the hay bale was dropped to get him away from the truck. I did not know this and did not find out until one lesson the trainer reached down to pick up a rock in the arena and throw it outside the fence and suddenly I was 30 feet away when my horse spooked. Not fun! And I have had to spend time re-training him to learn that everytime I pick something up off the ground I am not going to hurt him with it. Thankfully he is pretty smart and we spend a lot of time together and have built a great level of trust.