This is why....

Gimp

Gimp

Gimpy Gimp Gimp
Jan 19, 2005
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A driving horse properly trained makes a damm good horse! It must be calm under pressure! and carry on regardless.

And also why having a groom or two is really rather good sense.


( Scroll to about 8 mins 50secs)

 
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How did the horse manage to get like that? Did it get its leg over the red shaft? Sorry I know nothing about this sort of thing but really impressed by how it just sat there until they freed it!!

I also love at the start the one lead horse who insists on cantering!
 
Wow that could have ended very badly!!!!
So glad the horse remained very calm thru it all~

I wonder too how he managed to get over the top of the pole???
It did not seem like he was kicking out or anything prior???
 
Im guessing he got his back leg over the shaft/pole. Could of lost his footing, bounced up, kicked, bucked got a bit excited in the ring or harness snapping?! not sure! luckily he didnt panic bless him! He looked a little excitable when they entered at first! what a magnificant turnout though dont fancy all that harness cleaning :D
 
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As much as I admire the quality and training of the individual horses, and the skill of the driver, I really don;t see any point in spectacles like this. I'd rather see 4 or 6 at most driven well than spectacles like this, Randems, the same, Yes there's skill, but it is nothing more than showing off. Randems maybe had a use at harvest time on proper work horses, but nobody ever drove a random for any purpose.

Maybe I am just a stick in the mud traditionalist. Why put them to a vehicle that 2 horses can pull, 4 at most. Hurrumph (in curmudgeon corner)
 
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Its good to see how calm he and the rest of the team stayed during the rescue, but there doesn't seem much point to having so many hitched
 
He was becoming unsettled due to the leaders bouncing and cantering up front.
 
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I came across so many videos of similar ( in my boredom in teh early hours watching youtube while not sleeping!!) watching them with so many horses does make you bottom clench. Imagine teh carnage IF it all went wrong !!
 
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I saw one of the bud team a while back doing an indoor demo, most of the horses ended up on the floor and on top of one another, was seriously scary but they too stayed calm and walked away unscathed.
 
Been pondering over it all really, as like others it seems rather a pointless risk for human graditude, but ( im in no way support it!) but where does it stop in using animals in unnesscary way for our gratitude. Yes they are all very well trained for their job and purpose, but does the likes goes for horseracing to? or putting a horse through a gruelling badminton course both posing extreme risk to animal but trained for the job. Even hacking our own horses out on a road!

Ponder ponder ponder !
 
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Yes, I am ambivalent, I do think that there is immense skill involved, both horses and driver. But you don;t need 20 horses to pull a vehicle 4 horses could pull in more safety.

Tandem had many uses. A randem in certain circumstances on hills with farm carts I can see, but they would not have been driven from the box seat.

racing???? I am ambivalent over that one, I was involved with some very small yards back in the 80's with owners who actually cared for their horses and found them good homes after their career. Not all racing yards are bad, but the good ones with good owners and trainers are few and far between.

Badminton?? the courses are really testing for horse and rider, I don;t think I know the answer.

Horses involved in sports generally adore what they do. If they didn't they wouldn't be at the top of their game. A minimus pony club course generally sorts them at the start
 
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Agree about the horse racing part, good yards and bad. I dont like the fact they are working hard and being trained at 2 years and below, however thats a whole new post and can of worms I suspect! Agree about not needing 20 horses to pull a carriage that 4 can, however what is the need to even be pulling a coach carriage anyway? Even 4 is un nessacary. 20 is extreme, but like other sports is it not showing off the skill and training of said horses for our own egos and enjoyment to be doing it or to be watching it? ( again Im just pondering over it all from an outside aspect!)
 
From a PETA, extreme animal rights perspective, there is no need at all to have , own , keep, ride drive, race jump or exploit it in any way. my lot might argue with PETA over that one, Especially in winter when they see me lave the house, and are waiting at the gate for feed and hay......and sometimes wanting to come in to get out of the weather, They seem happy to exchange care and food and a bit of mutual grooming for the few hours a week they are asked to cooperate.

I will train Tór to drive once I can long rein and keep up. He might do a show if he ever becomes reliable enough, who benefits????? me, but he loves an outing too.
 
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I think most of what we do in the saddle or driving benefits us more than the horse as does some ways horses are kept but if the horse is healthy,sound,offered essential care,eg Food,water,shelter,turnout with company alongside it then as long as we only ask what they are capable of both mentally and physically people should be allowed to enjoy the things they do. I have no desire to do showjumping,dressage, leap great hedges etc but I do enjoy riding round the countryside exploring.I know lots of horses that hate that so we wouldn't suit eachother. I have also owned a horse who very much thrived on competing,jumping and faster work,I couldn't offer her that so we parted ways and she is much happier for it.
 
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I used to ride a mare who lived for hunting and eventing, X country, hunter trials, anything high octane, fast and brave. Dressage to her was a vexation and show jumping far too disciplined, If you can;t go 90mph she got cross. She was a great mare to give confidence as she never stopped at a fence, as long as you sat tigiht and didn't interfere she looked after you and LOVED every minute of being a hoodlum. Tór, on the other hand, for all his tender years and enthusiasm sees no point in charging about. He wouldn;t really like a serious competition home, he's just too laid back.
 
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