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;)