Jade, Thanks. That says it all! Barbara

Hi Clueless- thanks for sharing your really positive experiences. Experiences like yours build good lives and character. I admire what you wrote and of course, I’m always in favor of saving horses. They give us so much – they deserve to receive something back. And thanks for being a longtime reader. By the way, I don’t think you’re actually clueless! Barbara

Only later, after *legitimately* learning and mastering these skills with suitable, incredible pony mounts (who lived out their retirement days with us as thanks for their service), did I “upgrade” to our own, home-bred but nationally trained hunter. At first, yes, I was WAY over-mounted on him, as I was accustomed to the sweet little ponies, and had several falls when he’d take the long spot on an oxer (and I wasn’t ready for that at first), bucks, and excitability. However, through just what you said, I learned from countless hours in the saddle and working with him, developing A RELATIONSHIP with him, learned HOW to ride him, how to work with him, how to anticipate his every move. And again, without *ANY CLUE* what others were doing around me in terms of cheating, we rose in the local circuit to be seasonal champions nearly every season, and to ultimately win a state hunter championship. Despite that he still had a “show horse” excitability but listened to me because we had respect for each other. In shows that led us there, at regional and state, people in the background on the old school VHS home videos said during my rounds things to the effect of: now there’s the winner, or “now that’s a team” as you couldn’t even see my riding aids and we were in such sync with each other. I know that people don’t take the time for this anymore, and as you said, throw the horses away, but to me, I couldn’t imagine subjecting horses to drugging vs taking the time needed to become the athletic horsewoman that I became, just as you suggest.

Thanks for the post — I am long time reader, first time posting. I just had to weigh in as it boggles my mind on all fronts on this article, the drugging, the “getting rid of the horse” idea, the win at all costs idea. All of it. It’s a shame. BTW, while I am no longer in the hunter show world (a lot to do with all that you mention above, and I don’t really want to be a part of it anymore), I still ride, and operate a horse sanctuary, taking in rescues and retired horses, riding and exercising them gently/as appropriate for their ages, and letting them enjoy being horses after their long show and even amish buggy careers. I wish as many people cared about the welfare of the actual horse as you and I, and many of your readers.

Alli,
Thanks for your comment. There was a time that they actually were hunters. . .Maybe a name change is next. Barbara