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Post by piopico on Oct 21, 2008 21:21:27 GMT -5
What's with the droopy heads on the horses in English Pleasure now? Is this a new standard? "Fuglyhorseoftheday"- my
other 'must read' daily blog, has a picture on it today. I can accept that posture in Western Pleasure, but what happened to a "balanced, collected, on-the-bit" frame in English? No wonder that the horse wins in both English and Western........there's not a danged bit of difference except for the tack!!
Do I need educating? Or am I just showing my age?
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Oct 22, 2008 1:38:27 GMT -5
LOL - especially at the lower levels it does seem like English pleasure classes have the horses with a longer and lower frame that is not as collected at it used to be. Many 4-h and lower level shows have riders that compete across the board in both western and english - not specializing in one particular thing. I think that this is part of the reason that you are seeing more and more "western Rail" type horses in english pleasure.... But, that is just my own opinion!
Sara
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Post by sassiedogtk on Oct 22, 2008 10:05:51 GMT -5
I know what you mean. My daughter just went to a show couple of weekends ago and she is learning dressage and her horse has a very good headset, level neck and against the bit. It was driving her trainer crazy because none of the other horses there had a good head set. But a lot of these horses also showed in the western classes so that is probably the reason. We are learning all this new stuff about collection and balance and the horse using there back end and there back right. Its very interesting and I have to say is much more comfy to ride than before but a lot of work to switch from wester/ranch riding to dressage.  |
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Post by beckybee on Oct 22, 2008 10:59:14 GMT -5
Yeah, I was watching a youtube video linked from the fugly blog - something like AQHA hunter equitation. Same thing with the nose draggers. I expect to see that in western tack, but it really looks odd to me in English.
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Post by jenm on Oct 22, 2008 12:00:02 GMT -5
From what I can tell, it has become the standard in the QH world. I was in a show this summer where many of the horses were in both the english and western classes. Needless to say, Jamaica did not do well in the "pleasure" class. I was watching the western pleasure class with some friends and we were appalled. The horses were barely moving their feet at the trot and looked like they had been drugged. The riders weren't even smiling and had no expression on their faces. I didn't get it. To me, they all looked like zombies.
I am still trying to figure out how they get the horses to move so slow and hang their heads like that. UGH!!
Peanut Pushers is what they are called.
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Post by piopico on Oct 22, 2008 16:31:25 GMT -5
"Peanut pushers"  ?? you mean they only have to move a peanut's distance?? Too funny. I think I need to come to a show and see 'what time hath wrought', since it's been about 40 years since I attended a 'general' show. (not breed related'.) |
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Post by gratefulknits on Oct 22, 2008 19:17:34 GMT -5
"Peanut pushers" ?? you mean they only have to move a peanut's distance?? LOL! I think it refers to the image of the horse pushing or rolling a peanut along the ground! And I'm SOOOOOO glad I'm not the only one who is reacting to this "I'm lazier than you" look! I thought it was just me, and I'm glad that you all think it looks ridiculous in English classes, too. (Actually, I confess, that it looks pretty silly to me no matter what kind of tack the horse is wearing. After all, what in the world is so attractive about a horse that projects all the energy and interest of a slug on heroin?) |
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Post by pnp4kidz on Oct 22, 2008 19:44:25 GMT -5
I just want to figure out how they get them to DO that! it is SO unnatural, that 4 beat canter-thing... you have to know ahead that is what that is, as you would NEVER guess they thought they were CANTERING... seriously!!! and the pattern of footfall is more like a running walk... or sumthing...
If I could get Bob Marley to act like that I'd eat my hat!
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Post by piopico on Oct 22, 2008 20:42:18 GMT -5
Pssstttt..........I think they call it a "LOPE"..........that's why it isn't a 'canter', which IS a 3-beat gait. There's no doubt that it's comfortable.......when my Peruvian finally can't gait any faster, he canters, but it's a 'broken' canter...so 4 beats, and thus, your butt just doesn't move.
But I think, there's a difference between what you want on a trail-ride, and what a SHOW horse should exhibit.
And don't get me started on the Tennessee Walkers...they have gone entirely in the OPPOSITE direction. Their SHOW action is so extreme, the horses are exhausted doing it. Did anyone see the story a few months back, with Video....maybe from Fugly.....about the bronze-colored FLAT-SHOD stallion that they wanted to show in the World Champion class, and the organisers got their knickers in a knot?? The 16 year-old daughter showed him, and he was just stunning.........course 'they' didn't place him, but it was a victory of sorts for the owners.
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Oct 23, 2008 1:59:12 GMT -5
With these types of horses alot of it is breeding - but, training this type of movement is actually fairly easy. You start with teaching basics and leg yeilds to the horse, then, you ask for a specific gait - Say - LOPE - then, you gradually keep asking for that particular gait, only slower and slower and slower until it looks the way you are seeing. The frustrating thing about western pleasure trained horses is that most of them are NEVER able to be used for other stuff once they are fully trained like this. It is always ingrained to move all stupid. Granted - many WP type horses were bred over a course of time for this particular movement - ok, fine and dandy. But, after training WP horses for years I finally said - NO MORE. Sad thing?? The headsets are actually UP somewhat from what they used to be. Now - a level head is ideal - where as 5-7 years ago even, they wanted the nose almost dragging the ground with the headset completely verticle. LOVELY - the horse could see NOTHING outside of the ground lol. Rediculous IMO. AND - It honestly, is not that comfortable to ride on about 7 out of 10 horses. Becauseo f the way they are asked to move, often times it feels like the front feet are smacking the ground rather than propelling forward. So - half the stride is a rock, then half is a pound. OHH and Piopico - BAD BAD BAD - don't let your peruvian lope!!! LOL I trained for curry ranch for a good long time training peruvians. NO CANTERING OR LOPING LOL...... NO TROTTING Either lol. If we had a hrose that even naturally would try to canter or trot - they were taken off of the show string and generally sold!!! Go figure lol..... Fun horses though Sara |
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