RhineStone
Well-Known Member
This comment was made on another forum by someone else in regards to Rollkur or hyperflexion....
"This reminds me of something I once saw in a Roadster class at a major Miniature Horse Show. In the show ring, Minis wear both overshort over-the-poll check reins and running martingales, and their drivers, at least from what I've seen, seem absolutely determined to keep both their horses' heads up and their chins tucked to their chests. I don't think there's a way to make it more difficult for a tiny horse to pull both cart and full-sized driver.
In the Roadster Class, speed is what gets you the win. While I watched, these little horses were forced to trot faster and faster, with no chance to stretch their necks out and round their backs. Finally, one mare literally collapsed at full trot....just dropped mid-stride. People ran to unhitch her and get her up, including her driver, who called out to the crowd, unbelievably, "Don't worry. She just ran out of air."
She just ran out of air. Being forced to trot as fast as she could, with her windpipe constricted until she dropped from lack of oxygen. That was JUST running out of air.
If someone did that to a human being, it would be called torture. With horses, it seems like this is sometimes seen as just doing what you need to win.
What are the judges and officials who regulate these sports thinking?"
I did not see this class, or any other Roadster class for that matter, but I find it interesting how other drivers interpret the mini breed driving arena. While I am guessing that maybe this is the exception rather than the rule, but if this is really the case, I can't say the writer is too far off....any comments?
"This reminds me of something I once saw in a Roadster class at a major Miniature Horse Show. In the show ring, Minis wear both overshort over-the-poll check reins and running martingales, and their drivers, at least from what I've seen, seem absolutely determined to keep both their horses' heads up and their chins tucked to their chests. I don't think there's a way to make it more difficult for a tiny horse to pull both cart and full-sized driver.
In the Roadster Class, speed is what gets you the win. While I watched, these little horses were forced to trot faster and faster, with no chance to stretch their necks out and round their backs. Finally, one mare literally collapsed at full trot....just dropped mid-stride. People ran to unhitch her and get her up, including her driver, who called out to the crowd, unbelievably, "Don't worry. She just ran out of air."
She just ran out of air. Being forced to trot as fast as she could, with her windpipe constricted until she dropped from lack of oxygen. That was JUST running out of air.
If someone did that to a human being, it would be called torture. With horses, it seems like this is sometimes seen as just doing what you need to win.
What are the judges and officials who regulate these sports thinking?"
I did not see this class, or any other Roadster class for that matter, but I find it interesting how other drivers interpret the mini breed driving arena. While I am guessing that maybe this is the exception rather than the rule, but if this is really the case, I can't say the writer is too far off....any comments?