I was attempting to drive home from Victoria the past few days. However, recent rain meant several roads en route were blocked with floodwaters. It meant spending a little more time than expected in West Wyalong, NSW while I waited for the flooding to recede.
I went to a local diner to order some dinner. While waiting for my order to arrive I studied the historic photos on the wall. The photo below caught my eye.
There is nothing remarkable about this picture. Similar photos exist of almost every town in Australia and no doubt throughout the world. But it made me think about a lesson at my last clinic where the rider asked for help on how to get their horse to be okay on trail rides. It is such a common problem that at most of my clinics the subject of how to make a horse a better trail horse comes up. For many people riding their horse on a relaxed and quiet trail ride seems an insurmountable goal. Yet, here I was looking at a photo where dozens of horses were walking down the main street of a small country town.
My horse, Satts and I once participated in an annual ride around the town of Berwick, Victoria. I guess there were 200 plus horses taking part - ridden and carriage. It was chaos with the majority of horses freaking out. Only 30 or so horses were able to hold it together (I’m proud to say, Satts included).
I studied at a university in a country town. I was poor and couldn’t buy a car. I lived 15km from campus, so I had no choice but to ride either Luke or China to lectures each day. I would also ride Luke to town to do the weeks shopping. I would tie him outside the supermarket until I was finished, then ride home trying to not break the eggs.
I rode my horse to the showjumping club for the monthly rally while ponying my young up-and-coming horse at the same time. Fifteen km of riding through the bush, over a creek, down into gullies, and across the busy streets in town, then jumping a few rounds before heading home again.
There was a time when the average rider didn't ride in an arena. There was a time when people thought nothing of riding in the bush, chasing stock, going to town. Yes, the prevalence of the horseless carriage made horses more a luxury than a necessity. But surely that’s not the only reason. What else has changed? Why is riding a horse out of the arena such a big challenge for many people? Has it always been that way? Has the transformation of horses from being a necessity of daily life to horses being a recreational luxury made us better and more aware of the welfare of horses and caring more about how they felt about the work or has it turned us into riders that don’t have the time to help our horses become well-adjusted, can-do anything warriors? Are we less brave and ‘gung-ho’ as riders or are we more aware of and more concerned about our horses emotional well-being? In the old days did we care more about their obedience and less if they were shutdown or anxious?
What do you think?
Thoms Corner, West Wyalong, NSW Australia. Year??