tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post356100649525510196..comments2023-04-03T07:50:40.147-04:00Comments on Riding Rainbow: Another Post on DrugsJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03275971301824881125noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-38406810744275558452015-08-21T16:32:22.945-04:002015-08-21T16:32:22.945-04:00great post - and i agree with your reasons complet...great post - and i agree with your reasons completely. yes there are opportunities when it might be in everyone (including the horse's) best interest to chill things out. but that shouldn't necessarily be when riding (and especially winning) is on the line. and i don't like that the hunters judging system rewards those who don't get caught. emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686949099663199382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-3504188246641305492015-08-21T01:05:59.895-04:002015-08-21T01:05:59.895-04:00I wholeheartedly agree with you. It's sad wha...I wholeheartedly agree with you. It's sad what humans do to horses. I would never drug unless it was a "need to" situation. KateRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12870548960430847612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-43166835509759944782015-08-19T14:54:05.628-04:002015-08-19T14:54:05.628-04:00In endurance, winners are often tested. They also ...In endurance, winners are often tested. They also do random drug testing regardless. Hence one of the many, many reasons why I now compete in endurance and why I said sayonara to both competitive arenas of jumpers and dressage. <br /><br />Awesome post, Jess. I agree with you on all counts.Nicole Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09817619834026667737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-16221441118170376792015-08-19T14:52:32.308-04:002015-08-19T14:52:32.308-04:00I get the WB thing from the movement perspective, ...I get the WB thing from the movement perspective, it's just that I so often hear that people need WBs because they can't handle TB brains. The people saying that should come ride my WB and my TB and tell me which one is quieter, heh. <br /><br />I'm glad that Prairie can handle stall rest and I hope she doesn't need too much more of it! Such a good girl.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03275971301824881125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-57419707089623764552015-08-19T14:50:28.821-04:002015-08-19T14:50:28.821-04:00Yup. Exactly.Yup. Exactly.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03275971301824881125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-83427306405522727462015-08-19T14:50:15.578-04:002015-08-19T14:50:15.578-04:00They need to take away the judges licenses.
Excep...They need to take away the judges licenses.<br /><br />Except then there won't be any judges.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03275971301824881125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-45535726807141009082015-08-19T14:49:38.674-04:002015-08-19T14:49:38.674-04:00Yeah, the penalties need to get serious quick.Yeah, the penalties need to get serious quick.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03275971301824881125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-51475334077818350312015-08-19T14:48:44.656-04:002015-08-19T14:48:44.656-04:00Seems like that's what has to happen at the up...Seems like that's what has to happen at the upper levels to get the kind of trip the judges are rewarding. It's gross. Local hunters sound like much more fun, honestly.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03275971301824881125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-83892339864368731912015-08-19T14:48:02.792-04:002015-08-19T14:48:02.792-04:00I like the choice/not a choice part--that's ex...I like the choice/not a choice part--that's exactly right.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03275971301824881125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-74939875772841457612015-08-19T14:47:27.487-04:002015-08-19T14:47:27.487-04:00Nothing wrong with drugging to clip, either. I sho...Nothing wrong with drugging to clip, either. I should have mentioned that one. M drugs hers to clip them, but mine don't need it. I would if they did.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03275971301824881125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-87846510682518225442015-08-19T14:46:20.204-04:002015-08-19T14:46:20.204-04:00Thanks! Good luck with the stall rest. It's a ...Thanks! Good luck with the stall rest. It's a pain for sure.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03275971301824881125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-34689879797059819762015-08-19T14:38:30.279-04:002015-08-19T14:38:30.279-04:00Great points. I know there are some disciplines (...Great points. I know there are some disciplines (Arabs I think?) where winders are ALWAYS TESTED. I'm not sure that's the magic solution (I've heard stories of trainers deliberating losing a class they were winning so they wouldn't get tested..) But who knows. I like the idea of it. <br /><br />Also, just as a side comment to your #3 why does everyone need a WB... I have two answers (at least in hunter land). one - they are trendy, and Hunter Land follows trends, you want to stand out... but not because you're driving what was cool in 1972. And also for the movement, the big, WB floaty trot is what's winning the hacks now. I'm guilty of loving to win the hack, but I think that's part of it. I know my trainer thinks *most* TB's are significantly more rideable for a lot of ammys, but her ammy's want something pretty and flashy and that will win... so it's off to Germany for WB's. :) <br /><br />In the bigger picture I'm SO GRATEFUL that Prairie doesn't need regular drugging for her stall rest... since you know... she's been on it forever. small blessings I guess. Ginghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06677667981067220682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-12793624867078668432015-08-19T14:23:05.827-04:002015-08-19T14:23:05.827-04:00There are certainly circumstances that make druggi...There are certainly circumstances that make drugging ok, as you've alluded to. Beyond that? It baffles me. <br /><br />Why don't we just automatically test every horse entered in a money class? <br /><br />Is the answer "because then there wouldn't be any entries?"SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-3319740399149101272015-08-19T13:25:42.872-04:002015-08-19T13:25:42.872-04:00I'm totally with you. I recently had to resort...I'm totally with you. I recently had to resort to acing my mule to get her on the trailer. We did it a few times, she got over being terrified of the trailer and now we don't need the ace anymore. Might we need it again in the future? Maybe. I'm certainly not throwing it away. But it solved a problem for us and let us move past the problem. But I don't ride drugged horses and I therefore do not show drugged horses. <br /><br />I get why people do it though. As long as everyone else is doing it, you're literally at a disadvantage by not drugging. And at high end h/j shows, everyone is doing it. I think the organizations need to test every single winning horse. If people actually had some fear of getting caught, maybe they'd stop doing it.Olivia @ DIY Horse Ownershiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16138490796669110523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-27454044489828967852015-08-19T13:21:25.559-04:002015-08-19T13:21:25.559-04:00I love this post. I've been out of the H/J ci...I love this post. I've been out of the H/J circuits for quite some time, but it seems to be that there isn't much of a punishment for those who do drug horses for competition. A couple months suspension? That's it? <br /><br />I actually left a barn at one point in my life because I didn't agree with some of their views on "supplements". I was also advised at this barn to dose my wild, anxious, hot (at the time) mare with Reserpine to help her with training. Um, no thanks. I don't think drugs should substitute for proper training or have any business in this industry other than the reasons listed above. <br /><br />Anyone remember that pony that died at Devon a few years ago after being injected? What if that kid had been on the pony when it went down? Money should NEVER come before safety.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06726155529024447711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-2634758297156407072015-08-19T11:09:14.065-04:002015-08-19T11:09:14.065-04:00It is baffling to me that Inclusive, of all horses...It is baffling to me that Inclusive, of all horses, was drugged. He's an amazing athlete and Tori is a great rider. Why? It's just sad. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10567094702344719852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-58817155471336379602015-08-19T10:13:41.600-04:002015-08-19T10:13:41.600-04:00I agree completely with everything you wrote here....I agree completely with everything you wrote here. Drugging is sometimes necessary to create a safe situation, such as with trailering (I agree every horse should go on the trailer without drugs, but sometimes you're in a hurry and it's easier than fighting the horse, which could potentially make the whole situation worse) and turnout/stall rest after injury. However, if your horse isn't safe (or competitive) in the show ring without drugs, well, showing is a choice. Most of the time stall rest/turnout after injury/trailering a naughty horse to the vet are not choices. Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04255900012774193536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-81947067881160560142015-08-19T09:50:03.089-04:002015-08-19T09:50:03.089-04:00I really like this post. There aren't too many...I really like this post. There aren't too many things I have a hard and fast viewpoint on within the horse world, but drugging to ride/compete is definitely one of them. I like to think of each of the drugs mentioned above are really no different than having a drink before a first date... fine, if you think it'll take the edge/nervousness off, but you wouldn't have a few whiskeys before a job interview (or maybe you would -- ha!). <br /><br />I especially agree that drugs in situations where the horse's flight/fight response is going to be largely amplified is completely warranted. Horses are dangerous and unpredictable. I don't count attempting to obtain a qualifying result or shiny ribbon one of those situations.<br /><br />Riley is really good about most things, but he got drugged the first time I clipped him because it made the experience much better for both of us -- now he falls asleep when he hears them. He doesn't need them for the dentist (ours is very slow, old-fashioned and methodical -- so we let him take all the time he wants) -- and he actually stood really well for radiographs too! <br /><br />I don't think I'll ever truly understand the hunter world (and I won't pretend to know much) but I hope that these stories help open a discussion (rather than it turning into a witch hunt) about the welfare of the horses involved and the risks that people are willing to take to stay at the top of the leader board (and the unrealistic "ideal" that has been set by this deadhead, elusive, quiet hunter).Niamhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12445287419135378606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131537869469670021.post-20412921632963889502015-08-19T07:36:11.474-04:002015-08-19T07:36:11.474-04:00I 100% agree with this entire post, especially the...I 100% agree with this entire post, especially the part about stall rest and after stall rest. Roger has to be on stall rest for the next week, and he's most definitely the type of horse that thrives on his 12+ hour daily turnout, so if he's getting super restless at some point, I'm sure we'll give him a tiny bit of something. Trainer/BO is absolutely against drugging unless it's necessary, and never ever for shows or even off-property schooling. I'm sure Roger will need some "supervised turnout" after this stall rest period so he's not a complete maniac when he gets turned out, which will probably require a tiny bit of something too. I think using drugs during stall rest/after stall rest is for the safety of both the horse and the rider/trainer because (IMO) horses aren't meant to be in a box. <br /><br />Well written post!Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00297192461648201907noreply@blogger.com