23/07/2024
I'm going to talk about an aspect of riding which is a welfare issue for myself and my team, the habit of 'kicking' a horse to create forward movement.
We see some of our riders start with such, a jab, a boot to the ribcage, which they have learned in Riding Schools and equally riding privately owned horses, despite our asking them to ride sympathetically using a squeeze, with a happy willing horse as a result.
An easy question for you.
Would you consider it ok to repeatedly kick that horse anywhere else on its body?
No?
Then why is it oh-too-often considered OK to kick the horse repeatedly in the ribs?
Our horses are well mannered, polite, and we do not permit kicking, but we get adult and children riders who have been encouraged to KICK their horse in their lessons, riding bored, fed up, switched off horses, to create momentum, to move forwards.
Not here, not on my watch, I love my horses and firmly believe they have the right to a decent work environment free of abusive riding.
Therefore, is kick kick kick OK?
No!
No, it really is not.
We all know horses are live animals with moods and reactions and yes some love schooling some do not, but surely, either within or outside the industry, we can - we must - do better than kick, kick, kick.
I saw a video last night on FB of a lady attending an experience elsewhere, a jump class, where all you can hear, as the horse approaches the jump, is the instructor shouting 'kick kick kick' as she heads towards a low easy jump, trying to find, trying to create, momentum.
How can we change this?
We can educate our horses to react correctly to a squeeze. That's a basic.
Physical reasons should be routinely addressed not when they might become an issue (teeth, backs, saddle fit, bitting) and as riders/ owners we should be aware of changes, the weather, flies, heat, age, lameness etc.
Importantly, particularly within Riding Schools, recognise the psychological effect on any horse of riders not knowing what to ask, either being given poor instruction or not listening to any instruction, and the horse learning to ignore them and switching off.
Change the task for a while, change the job, just as you would, and consider how you can improve that horses life. Horses are individuals, just like us!
Kicking continually is also physically damaging.
This is a true tale!!
I was Instructing on a Beach Riding Experience a few years ago now, and in conversation one of my ladies mentioned she loved our Pre Ride Briefing, where we discuss NOT kicking, rather, squeezing the horse forward. She was a Vet, and told me about a disection she performed as a student on a 14hh pony.
The pony had passed away and was being used as a teaching tool, of huge value.
They went through the various levels of skin/ fascia/nervous system/internal organs/musculature etc discussing as they went, then came to the skeleton; the students were surprised to see that the last three ribs were fused together.
The tutor asked them why they thought that was. Genetics perhaps?
Nope. You might have guessed.
That pony was a Riding School pony and had been kicked so much for so long, to protect itself the ribs had fused together.
I wanted to cry.
If we want to be serious about equine welfare either as professionals within the industry or as riders at home, we need to do better, we really do.
Stop telling kids to kick on.
Stop doing it yourselves....
If you're an Instructor, do better.
Stop advertising horses as 'kick alongs'
Stop accepting that it's OK for horses to be booted repeatedly in the ribs.
If your child is at a Riding School and you repeatedly hear the phrase 'give him a good kick', take your kids elsewhere.Leave, but tell them why. Educate.
Because IT'S NOT OK.
Ask yourself how you can build a relationship with that horse which encourages the horse to enjoying being ridden, wanting to work with you, a willing partner. If a Riding School, encourage young riders to ride correctly. Back up leg aids with a crop rather than kick kick kick.
Briefly, then, I must mention use of a crop, because I also believe there are occasions when your horse can simply pull the 'talk to the hoof, human' manoeuvre and an appropriately placed effective tap is infinitely better than kicking and kicking. A crop used correctly is an extension of your aids, and effective without the long term damage which we know occurs with repeated kicking.
To quantify, before a load of FB warriors who never have anything to do with horses start ranting at how awful this is/I am, the true effectiveness of a crop is the noise, not the infliction of pain, ok?! I'm not 'justifying use' it's the truth! A crop should never be used in temper, it's a teaching aid.
Horses love getting out and about, whatever constitutes 'work' (they love being occupied, a fit active horse is a healthy horse who has energy, a zest for life, will eg self load into a trailer, free school, loving 'doing stuff') however, akin to small children, will occasionally for no reason have a paddy.
An equine 'I don't wanna....'
If you KNOW there's no reason for a horse to have said paddy, if all psychological needs are met, you know there's no pain, no real reason other than 'not today' or the rider is trying their best but the horse is being a mule for the day, ignoring ineffective riders, then an educational tool aka a crop can be of use to back up your aids. This is WAY better than kicking and kicking which is so damaging.
One sharp smack, the loud noise (try it on yourself it doesn't hurt) (I am defo appealing to the wrong kind of followers with that statement!!🤣) and the gelding will give a sigh and do it, and if a mare a swish of the tail of cross discontent, then yes, go and do it!! Better than kicking. Always.
Create your willing partner and STOP KICKING HORSES REPEATEDLY IN THE RIBS!
PLEASE!!!!!! Rant over!!👍💯
Ps pic of a gaggle of our Suffolk Punch, Clydesdale and Shire horses, getting on just fine, content, on the beach...yes, all enjoying their lives and no, no one is allowed to kick kick kick!!!!
PPS please share to raise awareness!!🙏❤️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
