24/07/2024
Together we can all improve. I thought I might suggest some simple ways in which I believe the horse world can improve across the board.
1️⃣ - Stop referring to horses as “it” ! Happens all the time from industry professionals to young riders! Why does it matter?! Words have power, words reflect your attitude and your attitude influences your actions! So horses as a sign of respect should be referred to as he / she or by their name.
2️⃣ - We must all continue to improve our understanding of horse behaviour. On social media there is an abundance of innocent ignorance. Music and memes made of horses showing stereotypies like weaving, box walking, head shaking and lip slapping all put to music implying that it is funny…Which is isn’t!
Horses that show these behaviours need help to improve them, equestrians on social media should have the knowledge that these things aren’t funny and most definitely infulencers shouldn’t be getting viral likes and comments for what is ultimately just a lack of actual knowledge of horses!
3️⃣ - All horses must have turnout everyday- no exceptions, no excuses! All horses should have access to graze / roll / have zoomies. It is / should be there right as we all except that looking at videos of battery chickens is cruel so the horse world should stop making excuses and make sure all horses have adequate turnout time. (Only exception is while under veterinary treatment)
4️⃣ - Horses mustn’t be kept alone. They are herd animals they are not designed to live alone. While many horses accept this, it is not good for their mental health and deprives them of one of there greatest pleasures to scratch & groom another horse.
5️⃣ - Children / young riders should not be eligible to wear spurs. It’s not necessary and more training should take the place of a quick fix.
6️⃣ - Those who have the loudest voices aren’t always the ones who have the greatest knowledge! We can all be responsible for being better informed about training and making sure the horse world is an involving improving story. 💕 Emx