For OBP

LOL, well, as usual, a reply to a reader comment made a post. How do you do that... My blather button finally coalesces, for a minute.
This was to be my brief Reply to your comment, OBP, and again, thanks for the pings.
That's what I think kids "take away" from rodeo. That NOT handling them is fine, and wrestling with them is normal/good. I wouldn't mind this as much if the point was to teach something useful. I guess it's the old instructor in me.

When I first found a SHARK video, I had no sound on my computer. It helps a lot. I don't agree with old Steve's harsh judgement of the entire rodeo planet, which is what gets people annoyed in the first place.
Heck, I wouldn't even MIND the broncs so much if they'd skip the flanking and the spurring. Horses that "love to buck" should BUCK. I keep hearing "it makes them buck straighter, so they don't hurt themselves". I dunno, I think flanking makes them panic. I guess it's no fun, or something, if the horse isn't at least pissed off. The experienced broncs mostly stalled in the chute. The REALLY well-bred ones came out backwards. They all reacted strongly to the flank application. And to me, not in a good way.

Gosh. I am one cranky old broad. I love watching a good bucking horse, with a rider that can sit him. Did you watch the SHARK video of the CS bronc throwing himself to the ground several times, and rolling? CBC didn't show THAT. CS horse, "born to buck", or have fits. Whatever. But CBC did show the chute staff just whaling on the broncs' heads to get them out of the chute.

How weird is this rationalization, anyway, from a rodeo supporter. "Bronc riding is rather different than other events. Its the only one that you work against the horse to win. so yeah the standard rules are going to be a little different."

Yeah, standard rules fly right out the freakin' window. How is that good... And what does that teach the new rider?!

I remember a horse named "Smudge" that I re-broke for his owner. Wild man. Gorgeous fire-breathin' dragon he was, bright liver solid chestnut, an early warm-blood, with LOTS of blood. He could have made a great bronc, I think. If I had rewarded him each time, and shaped the way I wanted him to... Nah. Hard to re-sell:)

I taught first mare Royal Gamble to buck. Then I quit, quick. They can really start to dig it after a while:)
There was an ex-bronc at the barn I worked at for a few months through university. "Pirate" was his name, cute little light bay, never EVER touch his ears for any reason. Bridle him, fine. Leave ears ALONE. His back was so sad. The barn tried using him for polo, but he later ended up at Peter's barn for a while, and I rode him a bit. (This was after GL sold.)
Pirate's back was board stiff, he could NOT trot to start. He just couldn't. I had to walk and then canter to loosen him, and he had the dearest little tiny rockin' horse canter. STIFF, though, so, so stiff:(
I just wonder what he went through, before the rodeo owner decided he was NOT born to buck.

Anyway, I promise to stop ranting so much. There are much larger problems to deal with in this world.

Like who gets the couch.

Thanks to FV too, for her patience with me and my foibles. I got a few;)

OH, NO!!

I'm going there, AGAIN!!
How can I post another SHARK video, I am such a deranged tree-hugger/pussy/vegan/more expletives than you can shake a sock at... Quick, where's my chequebook, I gotta send SHARK/PeTA/HSUS some money!! That'll fix everything! sigh.
But ya know, the thing is, I saw this already, on CBC-TV, our most bestest esteemed Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's coverage of the Calgary Stampede. This is the "high" point of every show. People LOVE to watch kids being dragged around by ponies, ponies falling on kids, kids falling off and under ponies, kids wrestling ponies to the ground! It's hilarious, it's a blast!! Did you see that one girl, looks like she broke her neck! AWESOME!!

sigh. Why do you think my horse light has burnt out? (Besides the obvious!) Because as long as THIS is funny, I am not going anywhere near a barn. Or a horse. Or a pony. I'm too ashamed of my species to look them in the eye. Well, that, and my own deep sense of guilt &/or sorrow for so many of the horses I've known. Horse baggage can be pretty heavy, ya know.

I have finally accepted I have a minority sense of humour. Some might even say I have no sense of humour. Ah well. As long as I can make myself laugh, I'll be alright. As long as there are dogs smiling at me, I'm good.

Falling Scenes, with thanks.

Taken November 7, 2012

Picture taken October 7, 2012

To the veterans of our wars.
Thank you. 

You Know....

When I was throwing that pitchfork at that horse 37 years ago, deep in the throes of whatever was messing me up at that time, I guess I should have been grateful.
No-one video-taped me. I didn't miss, and I got the poor bugger's withers, and he wouldn't come near me after that. Huh. Wonder why.... He healed up fine. We were "lucky" I was such a bad aim at that time. Since I became a dog person, my aim has greatly improved;)

I guess my point is, anyone can look bad for 11 seconds on you-tube. But I have to wonder. No-one saw me do what I did, just the unfortunate horse. If anyone HAD seen me, I hope they would have said something to make me aware what I was doing was wrong. Only I did that. As soon as the pitchfork left my hand, I was horrifed at my actions, and it shook my brain back onto the semi-even keel it semi-enjoys today;) I stopped doing stuff that was wrong. I stopped a lot of badness to myself.

Today, it seems, the opposite happens.

I have to smile that my discussion video has a ton of views, but no opinions. There are some people in horses who don't seem to know what's wrong anymore. We love staying in one century. It's starting to feel like the freakin' 1600's again.

I definitely would have said something to that guy. Or would I? Who am I to say what's wrong? I guess just my head. Just my heart.

8 Years together!! Arrived Nov. 4, 2004!

She's had a pretty good life so far:)

Blaze turned 6 on October 26, 2012! My puppy:)

Her life hasn't been too bad either:)