More and more early backing threads popping up - is it really ok to email sellers !?!

[Toffee_Monster]

Sorry if this seems like a rant, but just some of my thoughts .......

Every month there are an influx of members posting about x, y and z horses that have been broken in at 2 years old, etc, etc and whilst i dont agree that it the best thing, am I the only one who doesn't think we need to see EVERY horse that is advertised in this way ?:confused:

As for people emailing sellers to slag them off about their choice of age to break, saddle, etc etc, i really think this is a bit off and am not surprised with some of the responses you get. I would never do it, and yes, while its good to know about the rights and wrongs, emails like that are not really going to change dealers / sellers minds about their methods.

There are people in all wakes of life who do things against recommendation (rightly or wrongly)
I weaned my son at 12 weeks and stopped feeding him myself at just 6 weeks but I am appalled that some people think its fine to PM me (on a different forum) and pass comment that I was harming my son :mad:

Everyone does things differently and my view is that as long as WE are happy with how WE are doing things, then its our problem! Other people have no conscience so comments and advice fall on deaf ears.

Anyway, I dont think I am really explaining myself here so I will stop now :o

[pedilia]

I would not personally email a seller but can see why people do, although I doubt it makes a blind bit of difference.

There does seem to be a rise in the number of 2 year old being broken, I saw an advert yesterday of a 2 1/2 year old being jumped, it is appalling but little can be done about tbh.

[newforest]

Sorry if this seems like a rant, but just some of my thoughts .......

Every month there are an influx of members posting about x, y and z horses that have been broken in at 2 years old, etc, etc and whilst i dont agree that it the best thing, am I the only one who doesn't think we need to see EVERY horse that is advertised in this way ?:confused:


we can by choice ignore the threads

[Toffee_Monster]

we can by choice ignore the threads

Of course - i was merely making an observation !

[beating_hooves]

It doesn't matter how many times I see a backed two-year old for sale, it still shocks and disgusts me. I agree emailing sellers isn't the way to go, but I'm sure you know if someone does, they only have the horses best intrests at heart :)

[IrishDQ]

I tend to email a seller if what they are doing is wrong, wether that is jumping a 2 y/o, driving a yearling, selling a pup at 5wks etc! You never know, they might listen, at least it lets them know that people think what they are doing is wrong, it may even be because of genuine ignorance in which case hopefully they'll take the opportunity learn in order to start doing things the correct way. for example I know a perfectly nice person who told me his son was planning on starting having his yearling ridden, I told him that you weren't supposed to, it could cause health problems etc, and he listened, hopefully he passed the message on to his son as well, he just didn't know anything about training horses, so some people just don't know. (of course the vast majority seem to know but just don't care!)

[kitcat2]

I tend to email a seller if what they are doing is wrong, wether that is jumping a 2 y/o, driving a yearling, selling a pup at 5wks etc! You never know, they might listen, at least it lets them know that people think what they are doing is wrong, it may even be because of genuine ignorance in which case hopefully they'll take the opportunity learn in order to start doing things the correct way. for example I know a perfectly nice person who told me his son was planning on starting having his yearling ridden, I told him that you weren't supposed to, it could cause health problems etc, and he listened, hopefully he passed the message on to his son as well, he just didn't know anything about training horses, so some people just don't know. (of course the vast majority seem to know but just don't care!)

I would agree with this. I don't feel I am experienced enough to email a seller but a lot of people on here are. There is no harm in sending a
politely worded email pointing out the dangers/problems with breaking a horse at 2:o No harm done in the end, and somebody may actually take notice:)

[vimto92]

I don't think it is something I would do, and I think some people who have emailed sellers have been rather rude and less than tactful. If you are going to, then it is very important not to come over patronising/angry, but instead act friendly and willing to help rather than belittle. :)

[Mary Poppins]

This forum is all about promoting the best possible care and treatment of horses. If people stop raising issues which are of concern to them then they become perceived as 'normal' as no-one would object.

I think that it is great that people raise threads about things which concern them. I think that backing 2 year olds is wrong and I'm pleased that others think this as well. Lots of people browse NR to learn about horses and these threads help educate people who are new to horses.

I always think that the threads that you talk about are well titled so if you don't want to read them, you don't have to open the thread.

As for e mailing sellers, this is not something that I have ever done, but I agree that it is a worthwhile thing to do. Apart from anything else, reputable dealers want to have a good reputation and negative e mails may well make them think twice about the horses which are advertised.

[sadiesparkle]

I tend to ignore the threads about stuff like that to be honest. I don't think it's very nice at all to email sellers - yes, we think it's wrong, but everyone does things differently.

When I posted on here that I was taking on a horse with low grade kissing spines I got a few PMs - some trying to be helpful, and some that were just really mean! Someone told me that I shouldn't even think about riding him until I have worked him in a pessoa for at least six months, then when I ignored them went on to tell me that I obviously don't know what I'm doing and people like me shouldn't be allowed horses!!

As far as I'm concerned (without offending those who were trying to help and were nice) I wouldn't be taking on a horse without knowing what I'm doing, and it was pretty offensive and quite unneccesary.

Even though the people that break 2yo's shouldn't be, I bet they feel a bit like I did. They obviously think they are doing the right thing, and it is their horse - we shouldnt interfere as we don't know the person, horse or anything more.

xxx

[s4sugar]

I would not email the seller but would, and have, emailed the advert provider.

Some even have an on page facility to report an advert and in many cases you can play the welfare card. Certainly if a horse is shown ridden at less than two or jumping at less than three or with an obviously oversized rider then it can be considered a welfare issue.

I don't have a problem with youngsters being "lightly backed" ie sat on by a rider far smaller than their eventual potential to carry for a few minutes but do object to babies being worked.

[Ace87]

To be honest I ignore threads like that... And I think emailing sellers is okay in principal if you query their reasons for jumping their 2yo. BUT if you go in there all guns blazing saying what they're doing is wrong then I think it's unacceptable.

To be entirely honest how worthwhile is it? Are they going to change? No. What is the point? If you want to help a horse, send some money to a sanctuary. A horse that's broke and riding at 2 isn't abused and mistreated, okay it's bad for it's joints and it may have problems in later life but there are horses out there who really need peoples attention more than those who had too early a start..

And I'm all for leaving them til 3 to back 4 to break and 5-6 to jump but I still think the way I do..

[Elly Koopman]

I'll open it, see the advert and then normally ignore although have made comments.

Ultimately it comes down to opinion - I'm not a fan of backing a 2 year old and then being ridden, but having now met and bought a horse that had a saddle and bridle on at two and sat one once then turned away until 3 1/2and seen others at the stud that have had this done and are none the worse for wear I am prepared to have a slightly more open mind to the reasoning.

I don't like seeing horses jumping 1.2m at 3/4 yrs old or being taken round 1* eventing at 5, but that's preference and whether it is right or wrong is not really for me to decide.

What about racehorses - do the people that email sellers on horsemart email race trainers as well? You can't do one and not the other :rolleyes:

And also, people that do email the sellers about their opinions - are you aware of the potential legal implications there might be should someone take offence? Especially then posting on an open forum such as NR, H&H etc about what you have said 'could' leave you open to defamation and libel claims :o

[Ruskii]

I weaned my son at 12 weeks and stopped feeding him myself at just 6 weeks but I am appalled that some people think its fine to PM me (on a different forum) and pass comment that I was harming my son :mad:


Sorry O/T but :eek: and :mad:

I'm a guilty one for putting a thread up about a broken 2.5 year old :o I personally wouldnt email a seller as no one can stop them and dont think there is anything you can do is there ?

I would just like to think by highlighting it on a horse forum if someone where to come onto this place literally as a 'New Rider' and was looking at a horse to buy / or just looking around and building their knowledge at the beginning they might see it raised on here that breaking a youngster at that age isnt right ?

[EquiBabe]

I wouldn't email a seller but theres enough info around these days for people to know that it's wrong. It's not just my opinion it's the opinion of people who know including chiropracters etc. If people don't speak up then nothing will change but yuou don't have to be nasty to change opinions in fact that won't work usually. A good article that I've seen a few times on here is the Ranger article by Dr Bennett. http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf Someone on here said that putting weight on a youngsters back is a lottery some will be ok but others will suffer and we can't predict who will get away with it so why should we take the chance. I would agree with that.