1. Research-based medicine, every time. Homeopathic cures, acupuncture, even chiro: there is no research here. These are probably harmless most of the time, but they're also risking the transferred placebo effect, so the horse's problem (if there's actually a problem) may not be solved. Same goes for 99% of feed-through joint supplements, aloe juice (cracks me up every time), etc. Go read Dr. David Ramey's blog, where he discusses what the evidence does and does not show for just about everything. Anecdotal evidence is not data.
2. Gadgets are delightful if they are used correctly. Draw reins, standing martingales, running martingales, and a whole lot of non-snaffle bits are fine if the rider is skilled. Otherwise, they are razors in the hands of monkeys. On the flip side of this coin, I've observed that a lot of people who use bitless bridles on green horses haven't gotten their horses broke to the bit yet, and have given up, thinking their horse is a special butterfly, when really, he just needs to be educated. That said, if everyone is safe and happy and no one's nose is getting unduly hauled on by the bitless contraption, no material harm is being done with them.
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| Our only XC school was in draw reins. We walked up to some logs and hopped over them. Should I give her aloe juice to help her overcome the trauma? |
3. Everyone in the world needs riding lessons. And even if they have riding lessons, I don't think green riders should have green horses. We all know the "green-on-green leads to black-and-blue" thing, but a lot of people seem to assume it doesn't apply to them. It probably does, and even if you don't end up in the dirt a lot, you're bound to confuse the horse and yourself sometimes. Green riders don't have the confidence in their aids to keep asking the same way over and over until the horse gets it, and they keep changing the rules so the horse can't ever figure it out.
Have fun eviscerating me in the comments. Here is a cute picture of my nephew practicing his ponying skillz to ease the blow.
Agree with you
ReplyDeleteWell that makes one! :D
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ReplyDeleteThere's quite a bit of misinformation wrapped up in acupuncture. For one thing, it is not part of the "traditional Chinese medicine" the way a lot of people seem to think. It was a fringe practice in China, banned by Mao for being unscientific. When Nixon visited China, it sparked a US obsession with all things East Asian, and some of those fringe practitioners jumped at the chance of revival. You can read more about how acupuncture has nothing to do with traditional Chinese veterinary medicine here: http://www.doctorramey.com/traditional-chinese-veterinary-medicine-a-modern-fairy-tale/
DeleteHere are quite a few things to read about acupuncture:
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/reference/acupuncture/
http://www.doctorramey.com/acupuncture/
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/05/alternative_medicine_for_pets_veterinarians_should_not_perform_acupuncture.html
Scientific medicine is based on testing, evidence, and peer review. That's not to say that nothing homeopathic ever works; it's to say that until something is evidence-tested, I'll be choosing options that ARE evidence-based. That means good, blinded scientific studies, with a large sample size, etc. The studies people often bring up to support things like acupuncture and chiro are shoddily designed at best.
I also think there's a bit of a difference between adult humans choosing things like acupuncture and humans choosing it for animals. Animals can't use their words, and we can interpret their reactions in any number of ways.
CORRECTION: I have been reminded of what "homeopathic" means, and now I want to change my statement there. There is no way that anything homeopathic ever works. According to Wikipedia, homeopathy is a pseudoscience "according to which a substance that causes the symptoms of a disease in healthy people will cure similar symptoms in sick people."
DeleteSo that's out. Maybe some holistic treatments work, and I believe I have mixed up my h-words.
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DeleteYou're entitled to your opinion, but I always encourage people to remember that anecdote is not data. Facts are facts. I feel quite strongly about this because it's so easy to see what we want to see with our animals. We love them and want to do what's best for them. But the research is clear on this issue.
DeleteFound you through the blog hop - hi! ;) I won't really go into the medicine and etc because honestly, I don't know enough about it to debate with someone on it, ha! But I do sort of disagree with point number 3. I do 100% agree that green riders should NOT have green horses. Nope, nope, nope. But I have a very good horse, broke as they can possibly come, and I've been riding for almost 2 years. I'm 15. I've had one lesson but had to get away from that trainer for a very good reason that I won't get into, but so far, I've learned a lot from my mom who was a professional barrel racer/great rider (she isn't one of those crazy barrel racers, haha) and from my barn manager. Even though I've really only had one lesson, I feel like I'm a decent rider and I've retrained my horse pretty well. :) But that's just my own two cents.
ReplyDeleteWell, are you getting coaching from your mom and your barn manager? I think that counts as help. In your situation, I highly encourage you to read as much as you can about horsemanship, too. There's a lot to learn out there! I have a long list of recommended books. Let me know if you're interested. I'm glad you have a lovely horse.
DeleteI'd love to hear some recommendation on books! I'm always willing to read more. :)
DeleteI'm definitely getting helped a lot by them! But I wouldn't necessarily say I'm taking lessons from them and etc. They would most certainly tell me if I'm doing something horribly wrong that would be dangerous to me or my horse, and sometimes my mom picks at me for having a needless defensive sit, haha!
Have you read the Pony Club manuals? They're excellent, regardless of discipline. I'd start with the D manual.
DeleteI'm enjoying this blog hop. I like seeing other people's opinions, whether I agree with them or not. Just not sure if I want to deal with the possible backlash of sharing my own though LOL.
ReplyDeleteGrrrl, I hear you! I knew I was opening several cans of worms here. But whatever, it's a blog. I'm not gonna lose my job over it, and some things are worth talking about. I'm sick of hearing the "anyone who uses a bit is evil" crowd beating the rest of us over the head on every FB group.
DeleteOn my own personal FB wall, I post a lot of things that are probably unpopular with folks (although FB lends itself to some curation, and people either defriend me or I them), like supporting LGBT-inclusive curriculum in schools and whatnot. But the thing I've gotten the most blow-up from BY FAR is when I posted something about how acupuncture isn't effective. Fortunately, I was not alone in tackling that one. So anyway, I'm kinda used to it, but the viciousness of the pro-acu crowd on my wall blew me away. I guess I just couldn't resist jumping back in, heh.
Love these, and agree with all three. I almost used the first myself!
ReplyDeleteIt's a verrrrry divisive issue, for sure. I knew what I was stepping into when I wrote it, but it is my #1 unpopular opinion, so it belonged! I don't like to back away from controversy. :)
DeleteI agree with you on most of this. Not everything, but I'm certainly not going to get pissed because you were honest about your opinion. Especially when you were asked for it :) This is a great blog hop, but I could definitely see it starting some serious arguments.
ReplyDeleteOh, it will. Serious arguments are part of my life. I'm a radical queer activist in the South. <3
DeleteLOL! Then you are definitely tough enough to handle anything anyone is going to throw at you :) I think it's cool that you were brave enough to throw an opinion out there that people might actually disagree with instead of playing it safe. I have a feeling I'm going to get murdered if I put my unpopular opinion up....
DeleteI hope not actually murdered! I want to know what it is now! :)
DeleteWell, your blog just ate both my comments and somehow logged me out of google. Argh. Suffice to say, Dr Ramey is the best.
ReplyDeleteWithout question. I always look things up on his blog first. Sorry for your commenting troubles!
DeleteI agree with you! Great topics. Everyone is stealing the good ones!
ReplyDeleteYou can certainly use things other people are saying, I think! Just adds volume to ideas, and you might say something differently that resonates with more people.
DeleteHey found you through the blog hop :)
ReplyDeleteAgree with all 3 of your points!
Thank you and welcome! :)
DeleteNah, I'm going to agree with you. Although to me sometimes my research is as simple as "did my horse improve after this treatment or not?" I'm having a really hard time with the research thing now, bc my brain wants to try EVERYTHING to heal my horse and it's hard to figure out where to put my doll hairs logically.
ReplyDeleteIt's really tough! Check out Dr. Ramsey's blog, seriously. He'll give you the straight dope on what is and is not shown to work, and you can go from there.
DeleteI find myself in the interesting situation of agreeing with you completely, yet acknowledging that I myself am guilty of violating all 3! I believe in research-based medicine, yet am so desperate about my horse's recurring situation that I'm giving a non-scientifically-proven approach a shot anyway (2 vets said it can't hurt, but likely wouldn't help). Also, I agree gadgets/specialty tack can be harmful, yet I try them out with my horse experimentally, to see how we do. I do so gradually and intelligently, but I'm not a trainer with years of experience with these things. And of course I'm guilty of green-on-green (twice). But I knew it from the get go and have professional help. But I agree I *should* have gotten better-trained horses!
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