Ashkal Way and the cruelty of man

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

I take it they don't do three day events in America?

Cross country, showumping and Dressage?

I'm not a fan on dressage and because i don't know a great deal about i never really likely to get into it. However, after going to an Equine college, i know several people that have their own dressage horses and ponies and i know how hard they have to work to do it.

Having a thoroughbred to do dressage isn't exactly the easiest thing, although some t-breds take to it really well.

It is a very difficult pursuit for both horse and rider, but not in a physical way, unlike cross country and showjumping. I know i certainly couldn't do it. How some of these riders remember all of the things they have to do in a dressage ring is beyond me.

Ashkal Way has had many problems through his racing career, and if it really was risky to keep racing him, i'd much prefer him to become a dressage horse than being stuck in a paddock somewhere being ridden once or twice a week for the rest of his life.

I hope he goes an wins some good shows for his new(ish) owner.

We have three day eventing here. Wish I had the balls to do it, but I've seen too many falls over unforgiving fences, so I'll stick to the hunter/jumper stuff.

[Pedigree Ann]

Back when I was more limber, I took riding lessons with the UKy riding program on their donated horses, several of which were TBs. Top Gamble (1966) and Swing Papa (1960) were two of them. We did elementary dressage and jumping, so I have just enough knowledge to appreciate what a difficult thing higher level dressage is.

Dressage means 'training' and that's what it does - trains the horse to use its body in its most athletic expression. They learn how to relax, and bend, and control their gaits and in the process develop balance and muscle tone. And they learn to listen to their riders, something a few racehorses could benefit from knowing.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Cardus

This thread's headline is ridiculous.

Made ya look, though, didn't it?

[gallant bloom]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Made ya look, though, didn't it?

one person has
a sense of
humor here
anyway.

[NoChanceToDance]

I too fail to see why this was "cruel".

What would have been cruel is to continue to race the horse with a weak tendon. More than likely he would have suffered a bad injury and then we would have been slating the connections for keeping him in training.

Dressage is a perfectly good equine pursuit to keep the horse active and fit without being anywhere near as physically demanding as racing.

[ddthetide]

thanks to all who posted in this thread. i found it very informative.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I'm not fighting...nor am I even mildly annoyed. In fact, I'm on the phone. I'm just pointing it out. Maybe I'm wrong....but it seems that way to me.

You respond to posts while on the phone?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by justindew

You respond to posts while on the phone?

Only in emergencies.

[AeWingnut]

for some reason while watching the video I kept thinking about this

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fusea...videoid=545754

[Port Conway Lane]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Only in emergencies.

LOL. Great answer !

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

I too fail to see why this was "cruel".

What would have been cruel is to continue to race the horse with a weak tendon. More than likely he would have suffered a bad injury and then we would have been slating the connections for keeping him in training.

Dressage is a perfectly good equine pursuit to keep the horse active and fit without being anywhere near as physically demanding as racing.

Exactly. I am totally lost. Everytime a horse is retired these days, we get all these posts about how the connections are doing right by the horse and how they've earned the right to not have to go to through the rigors of training anymore. Then here, we read about a horse that is retired and getting a chance at remaining active in life and it's man being cruel? Can't have it both ways. You are exactly correct on what the reaction would have been had they brought him back and he suffered a more serious injury.