Despite my slow dial-up, I waited out the download and watched the video. Accompanying comments stated that it was from a regional Arabian breed show, circa 2003.
Between storm41 and midnight star, they pretty accurately portrayed what occurred--except, the last horse to go down-who indeed had lost his bridle and cart, either had a rope thrown at him, or, a long rope was 'stretched across' in front of him, and he ran into it(either would have been a poor idea, because a man on the ground isn't going to be able to hold either)...whichever, the action was ineffective, with the rope falling away as the horse actually was tripped by all the stuff trailing from it. The horse wasn't seriously hurt-no horse or human was, according to comments by someone who'd seen the actual occurance.
The video was a 'study' in how NOT to react, for the most part. The announcer made some bad suggestions, some good ones...understandable with the adrenaline flowing. The video shown was nearly 7 min. long, so this event lasted for a good while....
IMO, the horse that started it all was likely NOT READY for a show ring. It had no kicking strap. It began by kicking out/a slight 'buck'; by the time it 'reappeared' to the camera on the cameraman's side of the ring, the whip(driver) was gone from the cart. It was by then galloping fast, but not bucking/kicking. Most of what occurred, IMO, might have been avoided had the headers all 'stayed with' their assigned horse, while others in the ring(there seemed to be a RINGFUL of 'on-foot' people), instead of RUNNING AFTER the horse yelling 'whoa', or jumping in front of it when it was at full gallop(which is idiocy, w/ a full-sized horse!), had concentrated on keeping the horse out on the rail, away from the others, and letting it 'run itself out'. One 'crash' was IMO DIRECTLY caused by a man who grabbed the first horse's bridle and literally 'made' the horse crash into another hooked horse, and the person at its head.
There was NO 'throwing a fit' by any of the horses, after the first kick/buck by the original horse---it was really 'just' galloping--panicky at first, but soon settling into a 'steady run'....
It is SOP for the other horses in the ring to immediately come to center ring and line up when something goes wrong, in ALL driving venues I know of. Unhooking would be a judgment call; if you had a competent header, it *might* have been good idea--such a decision would have to be dictated by the situation and your level of experience, I believe. Some in this instance evidently DID manage to exit the ring when the loose horse of the moment was at the other end, with the gate quickly shut behind them--and some did appear to get unhooked during the ruckus.
Everyone should realize that BREED SHOW RING rail driving is by and large an entirely 'different animal' than ADS-patterned pleasure and other events, driving. Too often,in the BREED ring, many horses aren't truly 'trained' to the level they should be-they are 'hurried' into the show ring; action and/or speed is 'favored' over genuine ability and level of real competence on both horse and whip's part--in some breeds,for instance, just before horses enter the ring, they are 'juiced up' in various ways with the rationalization that they will better 'show themselves', when in reality, such actions represent an unkindness, if not outright cruelty, to the horse, and create potential for danger to ALL participants, horse and human, having upset the horse to the point it is all-to-ready to 'blow up'. So-called 'fine' harness makes the horse pull via the harness saddle-NOT a comfortable nor a kind situation--mainly because breeching isn't used. It is 'gotten by with' because show rings are (hopefully!)level and firm, and the horse is driven for a relatively short period of time. The 'worst' time for the horse is when it is asked to back, under these circumstances, BTW. AND, those who have a good level of experience working with BOTH will tell you that MINIATURE HORSES are remarkably tolerant(which IMO, may be to their own detriment....).
I began training my horses IN ORDER TO breed show, and did so, for a good many years, with good success. I hitched and drove (in the breed show ring) in ways I now would not--because I've worked at learning about the WIDER world of driving. I owned two gorgeous Lutke harnesses, three Jeralds, drove w/o breeching, 'cinched down' the shafts of same w/ Tilbury tugs and/or wrap straps.....all because that's what I saw others do, and was told to do. I came to realize that I didn't LIKE things, like running martingales and overchecks, and quit using them. Luckily, the first harness I'd gotten, on advice of a local, ADS-style driver, included breeching, so I have ALWAYS trained to breeching--one of the best things I've ever done!
For those who want to breed show, a few suggestions, based on experience, study, and research (with a number of minis, not just one or two)---
Train from the beginning WITH BREECHING, and using good sturdy harness, NOT 'fine' harness(for training, at least). The horse has the chance to be truly comfortable in the harness, presuming it is properly fit and adjusted--and guess what? You can REMOVE the breeching for the show ring--and you will more likely have a horse that can be driven and enjoyed in the 'real' world.
Don't forever rely upon checks and running martingales to 'force' a horse into a false 'frame'; you will NEVER have a truly collected, balanced, and HAPPY horse. REAL balance and collection come about SLOWLY, and gradually. In a false frame, you will see things like hollow backs, bulging undersides of the neck, pinned back ears, stressed expressions....meaning uncomfortable horses. Sad to say, such stuff often wins, in the breed ring--but it is NOT seen elsewhere as desirable.
As the driver, learn the proper use of a whip. It is a substitute for the 'ridden' leg--a way to signal your horse, NOT just 'decor'-nor a way to harangue, or worse, 'beat', the horse.
You will be told that you 'can't win' using breeching in the (miniature)breed show ring....well, all I can say is, I did so, on occasion. And, as I said, you *can*remove it for the show ring--but understand its reasons-for-being and its importance. Work to educate yourself, don't just look around and see what others are doing...there is a LOT of basic ignorance of good driving principles within those who drive miniatures---including many so-called 'trainers', whose focus is satisfying owners by wins, not on creating safe, solid, truly well-rounded driving horses.
I know---strong statements. They are so because the longer I have been a driver, working to learn all I can, the more I have realized this is so. You CAN 'do' the breed ring, and do well, and still give your driving horse and yourself the maximum opportunity to ENJOY the experience!
You don't need to fear the experience of driving--it is wonderfully enjoyable!!--
--but please, DO arm yourself with PROPER knowledge and a sense of kind fairness to your horses!
Margo (driving and learning since 1985, and still today....)
