Why do most show jumpers have to haul on the reins to get their horse to check a stride when approaching a jump? Why do most team-roping horses fidget so much when waiting for the cow to be released?
A friend of mine told me she had been invited to compete in a horse-starting event at the Iowa State Fair. I was initially disappointed that she agreed to it. But my friend is my friend and that means I support her decisions in the best way I can.
Lately, horse abuse by some high-profile horse trainers has been in the news. Public outrage has been loud. It’s hard to imagine the perpetrators are unaware that what they do is animal abuse.
In my view, we should compete only when we feel we have had a good day because we spent it with our horse, even if we came last. I suspect competition has ruined more horses and more human/horse relationships than most of us want to admit.
