Quote:
Originally Posted by Azure
Lets look at the actual article, shall we?
I don't know if you've ever ridden a horse, but every single person that owns horses does training stuff with them. This could happen anywhere.
Ever watched horses run around? They tend to buck. Even in the wild.
Does that happen in the 'wild?' All the time. I've personally seen a couple horses get hurt on just routine rides.
Now, not saying that the horses aren't under stress, but running and bucking is what horses do.
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I have been around horses for over 45 years - working with them and owning them. I was a riding instructress (English style) for many of those years. I have never personally known a horse drop dead. The only instance I can recall was Lucinda Green's horse Wideawake dropping dead whilst cantering round on his victory lap after winning Badminton (a three day event). The cause was found to be a heart attack as a result of the administration of the anti inflammatory drug phenyl butazoladin (bute). This drug was subsequently banned for all horse sports. I am concerned that rodeo horses are not under the same rules for competition. Does anyone know if the horses are drug tested?
Horses will buck to some degree for fun but the only reason rodeo horses buck is because of the bucking strap that is cinched on them. Horses are a prey animal and those animals are bucking to remove the strap (thinking they are being attacked - which, of course, I feel they are) not the rider - which is why they carry on bucking even when the rider falls off. Those bucking horses are not enjoying themselves - they are scared. Anyone with an ounce of equine knowledge could read the horse's body language to know. Those open mouths speak volumes.
And if you have seen horses injured on routine rides then there was something very wrong there. And I would always blame the rider's in that case for either foolish behaviour or claiming more knowledge or skill level than they have.