We have an American Bald Eagle nest right behind the barn.  They are beautiful, proud, magnificent creatures.  They have been great neighbors.  They have never bothered any of the small animals on my property.  I don’t know if it’s the male or female, but when I give a lesson, in the jump pasture, he/she sits on the branch of the pine tree, and watches the whole time.

My girlfriend gave me her Paint Horse Journal about a week ago, and as I was looking through it the other day, I noticed one thing that disturbed me.  So prepare, because I’m on my soap box.  I usually am when I write my posts.

Now this isn’t just about Paints, or Quarter Horses, but it seems prevalent in those horse show circles.  It’s the look in their eyes.  The look of eagles.  The brightness, the confidence, the presence of life.  It’s not there!  Yes, with some of the halter horses it is.  Their heads are up, proud as can be.  Their eyes are bright and alive.  They love showing themselves off.  They love saying “Hey, look at me.  I’m special.”  Now look at the pictures of the horses in Pleasure or Horsemanship.  Their eyes are sad, downcast and weak.  They have resigned themselves to what they are doing.  There is no life in them, no pleasure in their task.  Did anyone ever ask themselves why?

Why are they still traveling with their heads so low?  Yes, depending on the neck placement into the shoulders, some horses carry their heads lower than others, but most, these days, carry it that way because they were told they had to.  Don’t even get me started on how this is obtained.  These great Associations are supposed to better the breed, not destroy it.  They are not supposed to reward the cruelty of some trainers to obtain this “perfect head set.”  What is so perfect about a horse that is neck sore, and has lost all the life in its eyes.

Come on judges.  You are supposed to be the best of the best.  You can tell when a neck and head carriage is natural, and when it’s been forced.

Some forty years ago I showed a friends horse in Western Pleasure.  He was born with a neck that was placed high.  This is the way he carried it, whether he was in the pasture, or in the ring.  I’ve ridden three horses in my life time that just naturally floated when they cantered.  It wasn’t this man-made stilted gate they now call a canter or lope.  You could carry a champagne glass filled when you got on, and not a drop would spill through your whole ride.  He had a light mouth, a brain,  and was truly a pleasure to ride.  When we didn’t place I asked the judge, why?  He said his head was too high, even on a dropped rein.  I told the judge to get on this horse, ride him, and then tell me he wasn’t a pleasure to ride.  He can’t help it if he was born this way.

Now I know the original horse who created the perfect look of a pleasure horse was natural, and relaxed in his head carriage.  This became the example for all the horses, but not all the horses have that conformation.  This goes along with the relaxed tail set.  Hello?  The trainers started injecting the tails so they couldn’t move.  Horses also couldn’t swat flies.  The head and neck thing isn’t horsemanship or showmanship, this is outright cruelty.

Next time you look through a magazine, or are at a horse show, just look at the horses eyes and see if you see the look of eagles, or the look of resignation.

We pamper them and think they are happy, but are they really?  It’s just sad what people will do for a $3.00 ribbon and some points.

Look into their eyes, I mean really look.  What do you see reflected there.  It’s who you are, and what your priorities are.  How does it feel to suck the life out of something that you say you love.

What do you love more, your horse or the prestige of winning?  Is it the best for your horse, or your ego?

I know, you say you have to do this to compete, but why?  Why do you compromise your standards and principles?  Why not go out there and demand changes.  You’re the one paying the money.  You are ultimately the one in control.

Most people won’t “rock the boat.”  But who is the real loser here?  Unfortunately it’s the horse.  You do have a choice.