Sunday, July 18, 2010

The dumbest training device I've ever seen!

People never cease to amaze me with their new "training" techniques. A friend emailed me this website the other day and I couldn't believe what I was reading (or watching!). The video starts out well enough describing "average cowboy joe" (for lack of a better name) who had a bad training session when teaching a horse to accept a saddle for the first time WHILE TYING THE HORSE TO A WALL!

That is the first red flag that got my attention. First off, this method of training is both a danger to you and the horse. The horse panics and tries to escape any way he can, can hurt himself by pulling back hard against the wall to the point of neck injuries, can loose his footing from thrashing around or can hurt you by kicking out because he now thinks of you as a predator that just threw a mountain lion on his back. This method teaches a horse nothing but to fear you. This is the side of horse training I hate. All it does is create a horse that no longer see's you as a safe leader but a threat.So average cowboy joe used this method, got the crap scared out of him and starts questioning his training abilities. Instead of changing his training techniques to actually desensitizing the horse to a saddle without scaring him he created this!



THE IMPRINTER




After watching the video I had quit a few questions running through my head:

1.) So you want me to tie a horse to a harness rigged cart with wheels that has a leverage device around his rear to take away ability to stop or resist anything that may scare him? Hmmm... Thanks but no thanks. First off, what is this teaching the horse? Surely its not teaching him to think and trust you because as soon as he bulks you pick his butt off the ground and make him do it anyway! I'm sure the horse will eventually get used to this contraption but is he really learning anything? What happens the first time the horse is ridden out of this thing? Ever taken a green horse that has only been ridden in a round pen out into a new environment for the first time? Well let me tell you, its a whole new ball park and you will soon find most young horses are out of their comfort zone and need to be retaught/ brushed up on saddling, mounting and responding to you. Some do great but others act as if you have fed them a pack of wolves!

2.) If you got tired of tying your horse to the wall and created this thing for saddle breaking, why are you telling me my horse needs to be desensitized to being saddled or wearing a harness before being put him in this thing? I thought that was the whole point of this contraption!

3.)What happens when I mount this horse for the first time and the horse becomes afraid and starts to panic? O that's right, you still hold on and pray like hell that your butt sticks like velcro to the saddle. There is just one little thing, you see those bars on the side of this thing? You leg is going to get smashed if that horse should move from one side of this cart to the other. I have had my legs hit by panels, trees and who knows what else while riding but this cart looks to be a lot more dangerous simply because the horse has nowhere to go except back a forth. He cant push the cart forward and he can't change direction because the cart will just drag him forward anyway...

I'm done ranting for one afternoon. I just can't believe trainers anymore. This is why I train my own. I have tried tons of different methods over the years and have my own way of doing things but I have never wanted to saddle break a horse by tying them up because its not just about getting them used to a saddle or teaching them to accept pressure around their cinch area. Its about teaching them to listen and respond to me before they panic, to always look to me for leadership and most important, to learn I will never set them up for failure or throw a scary mountain lion on their back and simply walk away!!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The Saddle Every Woman FEARS!



When I first saw this saddle, the first thing that popped in my head was "Did Aunt Flow come early?". Lady's you know what I mean!


The sad thing is this saddle made by a top of the line company! Retails for over $2000.00










I just happened to run across its "matching" saddle blanket on another site. This hideous thing retails for over $130!!!! I wouldn't pay $20 for this eye sore!






Friday, August 7, 2009

My Husbands Dream Saddle (head*desk)

I wouldn't call my husband a die hard horse lover like myself. He is more the type who loves them from afar. He loves watching them graze or chase each other in a field, helping me groom one of my dead broke geldings, or taking short rides on a horse that has its lower lip a few inches from the arena floor and only knows one gait... walking. (You know the kind). So today while I was cleaning and he was playing on the internet I hear him yell my name from the back of the house. He was all excited and I was praying he got an email saying that he had won publishers clearing house and I could hire a maid! I hurried to the computer room and was dumbfounded when he showed me a saddle he wanted and couldn't wait to see what I thought. He said "Now this is a saddle!".




Ugh, his hunting obsession is shining through full force. There isn't a month that goes buy when "some poor critter" isn't in season. Deer, rabbit (which I wish he would hunt more aggressively... little guys are eating my flower gardens this year), squirrel, coyote(really bad this year!), quail, and about anything else that can't be bought at a pet store.
He started rambling about the many patterns and combos he could get. Mossy Oak Break Up, Mossy Oak Brush, Real Tree APG, Advantage Classic and solid hunter orange!

Plus the option of brown ot black leather, piping or saddle skirt.




The Saddle Ad:

This saddle is a Hunters Dream Come True!It sports the Mossy Oak Break-Up or your choice of Mossy Oak Bursh, Real Tree APG and Advantage Classic camo pattern on the fenders, and top skirt with the Hunter Orange on the bottom skirt. It also includes nylon tie strap & off billet.These saddles are custom made and shipped directly from the manufacturer here in the USA.
Look at the matching Saddle Pad, Bridle, Breastcollar, and Halter also available on our site.
Tree: Ralide, Semi QH bars (5 yr Manufacturer's Warranty)Horn: ~3"Cantle: ~4"Seat: 14"-17", Nicely Padded Chocolate Roughout Skirt: 25.5 x 13.5 Finish: Camo & Brown or Camo & Black Trim: D-rings for breast collar and D-rings for saddle bags on the rear, otherwise as shown Stirrups: Nylon Bell Bottom

Price:
$399.99

I Think I Found Rainbow Brights Saddle!


These saddles are just waaayyy to much. When I first laid eyes on them I was overcome with a serious case if the giggles. I had instant flashback's of my childhood watching Rainbow Brite, Pippi Longstockings (if she used a saddle) and My Little Pony.

Not only do these saddles have every color known to man on them, they are also available with seat sizes up to 17", so I know they weren't intended for children only.

I have yet to see a colored saddle show up at my arena... even from from the youngest barrel racers and ropers. So I'm starting to think that I am either surrounded by some great parents or some very smart and smart kids!





The saddle ad:
Southern Trails Heart Barrel B-790 and B-791
Handmade in The USATree:
Ralide 5-year warranty
13"-17" Semi QH - 15"-17" Full QH
Horn: 4"
Rawhide Wapped Cantle: 5"
Ostrich Leather Seat: 13" 14" 15" 16" 17"
Ostrich Leather Accents: Ostrich - Orange, Red, Lime Green, Blue, Black, Brown, Pink
Stirrup: Contest Leather Covered
Rigging: In-Skirt C
Finish: Light Oil, Medium Oil, Black, Mahogany or Chocolate
Special $ 739.00 (ARE YOU KIDDING ME!)







Saturday, August 1, 2009

Are you sh*ting me?


For the past few weeks my husband has been hinting around that I should buy new horse trailer. I already have a 2 horse bumper pull that has done its job for local shows but I've been wanting to upgrade to a 3 horse gooseneck. So today I started looking around online. I searched a few sites and then ran across this sorry excuse for a trailer! What were these people thinking?





The Ad: "Too pretty to be real! But it is! Calico 2 horse slant load trailer with swing wall dressing room, window in dressing room door, V-chrome, dome lights, low profile roof, 2 saddle racks, torflex axles, hub covers. $4,350.00"








They even painted the floor boards! Ugh... not only do we have to deal with pink saddles and other misc pink tack... now we get the joy of seeing this eye sore go down the road. I can only pray it doesn't park by me at future horse shows. I think even my horse would snicker seeing this thing go down the road!

Friday, July 17, 2009

The Most Downhill Horse I've EVER seen!

A friend sent me a link of a 2yr. old Paint Stud for sale for $350.00Once I ckicked on the link she sent... I was in shock! Thanks to backyard breeding, this poor guy is going to have a hard life. I should have more info on this guy within the next few day. I emailed the owner asking for a registry number and pic or info of the sire or dame (the ad said he had papers!)


Even with the crappy quality of these photo's you can se how downhill he is! Now, I know a lot of young horses go through an ugly stage, where you just want to hide them behind the barn! His, though, is a severe conformational defect. I would wait until he grows up to pass a real judgement, but for now this is scary!
At first I wondered if this guy was standing on a bit of a slop, but this pic shows level footing.


And I love the pig eyed look! lol (eyes set really far apart.) What were these people thinking!

Plus, the horse is tied in a NYLON halter that is way too big for it... accident waiting to happen!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Tacky Tack... Its All About The Bling! Kinda?



Lets just dig right in..



From Rhinestones To Gravel!



.




1: If you look closely you will see this bridle has 3 different shades of green on it!

2: Look at the loose beading on the cheek pieces? My horse would tear those off within 10 minutes! Just sloppy craftsmanship in my eyes.

#2: Wow




Is it just me or does this look like aquarium gravel? Enough said!







#3: The Bubble Gum Bridle!





Bubalisious right? (sp?)

I found those today online and couldn't believe my eyes. I had to share them. Honestly? Would you really put those kind of bridles on you horse?