Let out the overcheck 6" and you would've avoided most of the unnecessary stress put on this sensitive filly. You can't throw multiple things to a horse in the same day and expect any different than what she did. She felt trapped, horses are claustrophobic by nature....
I have backed and trained many babies with many personalities and have never had any act like this the first time under saddle or in a cart. 'She' was put in a situation she was not mentally or physically ready for.
All of the junk on her head and in her mouth and having the bitting rig to tight and taking away her freedom of movement of her head and putting her in a situation where she could slip on the pavement and fall spells a disaster waiting to happen. Nothing like demanding a baby to perform as an adult horse. She was definitely being rushed.
broke many young racehorses to drive, have ya? she's just full of herself and after all, it's her first time hitched (after long lining work). She's just figuring it all out.
***** Really? Cause all the horses i've trained to harness never had to "figure it out" because I properly prepared them. This mare was completely unprepared and confused. The dumb ass owners are lucky she didnt slip on the concrete and break a leg!
I'm fully aware that dragging a cart is less damaging on a horse's joints than being ridden. But this horse is a YEARLING! she's a baby and her joints shall suffer due to this early work
50+years with American Saddlebreds. We never started a horse like this. Never in the open, always in a round pen or working aisle. Started by lunging, then lunging with all driving tack, then training shafts. Adding only a piece of equipment at a time. Every horse is different.
I am thoroughly aware of what a yearling is. Idc if she turns two in a week-she is still too young to be pulling a cart. If she was a late two yo, then working her lightly in harness would be fine. Teaching her to drive as a yearling is too stressful on her joints. and the lack of protective boots is still worrisome.
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my comment. I too, have started horses and the goal is to to initiate them without 'compliant'. I hate to ponder the future of this baby- Amish Torture or the Slaughterhouse?
I've never seen a horse broke to drive this way, if she had been long lining in an overcheck she would be used to it. Also, on asphalt, are you crazy, it's a wonder she didn't hurt all of them.
It’s amazing how a horse will have issues and people will completely ignore it, never looking at their equipment or adjusting anything and allowing this horse to keep telling them without anybody listening..
The head check was perfectly fine and not too high. The horse was used to that being done and having the cart hooked up as well. From what I saw, what the horse DIDN'T like, was that stupid lead rope connected, either the chain over the nose, or hooked at the halter. That is what irritated her. I do agree, they should not have done this on asphalt.
whenever we did this when I was working with young race horses we'd be TWO people holding lead lines, one on each side just to be extra safe. AND we'd wear helmets. ;)
It is more the long term effects it will have on the horses developing body. It is like asking a child to become a weightlifter, you may make them seem strong enough at the time but the repercussions can be devastating.
I don't see attitude, I see fear and even more so, confusion. Two people telling her to do things at once. I gasped and thought she was going to fall when she slipped. I'm not a computer(armchair) trainer and I know nothing of harness racing but her body language is screaming something is wrong. Attitude means spunk, fiestiness and orneriness,this youngster is displaying none of that.
okay people, just have to say it isn't only trotters that put yearlings in the harness. there are horses of all breeds that are put in a light harness as a yearling because it teaches them about the bridle and how the reins work and gets them used to some confinement without the potential damage to growing joints. Done is short sessions, this is very benefical for the horse because it makes the transitions to riding is a few years alot easier,
And if you look carefully, the grassed off area that they later work on is quite close to exit of the facility. And the gate is open, leading to a busy road! If the filly had truly flipped out...
I don't understand what people find wrong with this video. Typical young horse learning something new and different. The handlers did a fantastic job and were quiet and patient.
You did not do enough work with the overcheck before moving her onto the cart. A little looser couple of notches and she would have been more comfortable and less resistant with the upward pull of the overcheck.
We break yearlings every year and they where the check in a pen for 3-4 days then they go behind our towing rig for a few, then with the cart behind for a few then off the towing rig with no problems!
Ive been successfully training horses for 36 years & although i agree with the bit in your comment about self proclaimed experts i totally disagree with your claim that these horses are ready for breaking at 1. No horse is mature enough mentally or physically to with stand the stress in the longterm, hence why a high percentage of these horses lives are cut short. Lets face it a civilized society doesnt expect a child of 8 to do the same physical job of a 20 year old
My bad, your exact words were " It is clearly bad handling that is the main reason this horse is reacting like this" so I think my paraphrasing was fair, even though I misused the quotes.
The development going on in a horse when they are a yearling like this one can be compared to what's going on with a teenager, which is much earlier with this breed than non-racing breeds. I agree on putting shoes on a horse at that age is not good for the horse, but it will not make the horse lame. Just because the horse is learning things, doesn't mean that the horse is doing this ALL DAY. Maybe an hour a day, and playing with it's friends the rest of the day. That is not harmful in any way.
Thankyou, but i still think its to young, we are training our horses for the big world when they are 2 yours old, they first grow up, with other foals, when they are three we start riding, so this is why i think its to early..
I would recommend lounging your horse before you hook it up to the cart. That's why she was prancing. Also loosen her over check about 2-3 holes. The next time. Trust me i would know i drive horses.
"A trotter (OTTB) will always be worse in the joint tanken the age in consideration because the trotter starts races years earlier than a jumper" Exactly why trotters should be left until later, we need to consider the horses future quality of life before we get selfish and make them do what we want!!
I do agree, one maby is a little young, but they don't race at one, they are just broken and lightly trained, at two tho, they are equivalent to human 14-16 year olds, who would already be playing sports, kinda of a cheesey comparison, but it makes sense. And at one, these horses are literally bred, to do one thing, race, it runs in there mind in body, and going fast is one of the only things they know how to do. At birth there ready to race, Foals on breeding farms usually play race.
A racehorse is bred, fed and trained (The bigger the load of the training the bigger the harm) to be ready to race at the age of two-three. It is not animalabuse to start a racehorse at the age of two if it is ready for the race. A horse not ready to race will not think it is fun, and you end up with a racehorse that's not as good as it could have been. The first races for a racehorse is therefore very important.
First of all why racing of any kind is cruel. "Hey let's force yearlings to work for us." Horses don't mature until 5 or 6 at minimum. This horse is clearly confused and trying to do the right thing. Having this horse on concrete is the worst idea ever. If she had started bucking and rearing she could have easily slipped and dislocated a hip or broke a leg, thus ending her life. She's chomping on the bit and tossing her head so she's clearly not desensitized to the bit to start with. For god's sake she's only a year old! I cannot stress this enough. A yearling should not be doing anything but having fun in the pasture and being desensitized to things such as halters and grooming and farriers. This pisses me off so much. That poor horse is trying to do what it's told but she's so clearly confused. She probably never had any of that equipment on her before and then suddenly she can't see to the sides because of the blinders, there's a piece of metal in her mouth, something chasing her! Horses are prey animals! That cart has gotta seem like a predator chasing after them! Unbelievable. That horse is going to be ruined if she's trained like that. Pushing a horse destroys a horse no matter what it's being trained for. But it's so clear that the bit is the main problem. Anyone who knows horses could just look at how she's shaking her head and opening her mouth that it's the bit.
you dont know how to break a yearling to the cart so dont say anything. and racing isnt cruel i race standardbreds and my horses get the best care and love racing. why dont u go to a racetrack and get ur facts right dont say wrong info like horses dont mature till 5 or 6 they reach full maturity at 4 somtimes 3.
jesse mcassey Because someone who can't even use proper grammar is so clearly a genius on horses. You don't know about my experiences with racehorses so don't assume. And the fact is that no horses don't reach full maturity until five or six.
jesse mcassey If your horses 'love' to race then take the bit, whip and blinders away. Hell take all the tack away and let them race themselves if they are so 'in love' with it as you claim! I'd bet money the horses would NOT race of their own will. It goes against a horses instincts to run that hard for that long with no breaks. You won't see wild horses running like that unless they are fighting or being chased by a predator or a helicopter. Also, I've been in standardbred barns before and after a race and EVERY single owner owns about 5 or 6 different linamints and creams etc to spread and wrap the legs with because the legs and feet are so sore and overheated after a race. These horses break legs on the track just like the runners do because they are started to young and worked to hard! You wouldnt send a 4yr old child to work in the mines so why send yearling or even a 2yr old horse? Oh yeah, right, cause you're a greedy asshole that wants money!
Kelsie Beaulieu There's nothing natural about anything we do with horses.. Nothing. Horses wouldn't chose to be ridden or driven at all if given the choice. In the wild they prefer to go around obstacles rather than jump over them. Does that mean we should stop all jumping competitions? In the wild, horses never self-carry as they would in dressage. Should we stop dressage? Silly argument. Every serious competition barn in ANY has liniments and poultices and wraps.Just like human athletes, muscles get sore and tight and need care. I've been in standardbred barns too, in the morning during training, in the paddock on race day.. and you have no idea what you're talking about. Liniments, creams, and poultices have nothing to do with legs being "overheated," and if they're SO sore after a 1 mile race that they need to be immediately bandaged up, I don't know how on earth they survive jogging and training miles, or road work with the Amish. Standardbreds have VERY good bone and strong feet. Catastrophic injuries are not at all common in harness races because of the way these horses are bred and conditioned. Thoroughbreds have a problem, yes.. breakdowns are not an epidemic in harness racing. Let's ban cross country, horses AND riders die in that often enough. You're free to hate racing but if you don't know what you're talking about, just don't comment.
Attitude? Neh, more unsure. And the girl leading isn't really paying attention. But this IS a lot better horse handeling then I've seen in a couple of years (don't ask me where I've been :P). The guy in the cart is calm, and except the girl with the line they are all doing very slow movements. My oppinion: Use another person for the leading, but a lighter man in the cart for a more gentile start, and go away from traffic...
while that is great for a pleasure horse, this is trotting horse (a racer). Their mind set needs to be different, pressure to perform is going to be part of her life. Also who is to say this yearling didn't get the correct intoduction to the bridle and such, she has probably been ground driven many times before this considering how patient her trainers were and she did very well with this.
@drafterGal I agree, for her first time, the check should not have been fastened at all. A horse naturally pulls with it's head slightly down, having the check on when a horse is not used to it will always results in spooking, and could injure the horse.
Pretty good start, I'd say! For all the haters, this is an ordinary training day. The handlers did nothing wrong, and the horse did nothing unusual; she just needed to realize she could go forward in spite of her check rein, and then she did! Ya know? Humans probably look pretty upset and out of control the first time they try Wii activities ... What would horses say about us?
OK, maybe it was a good first experience with this baby, but that is also not what I am talking about. I am talking about stressing the body before it is mature enough to properly handle this kind of stress.
Right fair play to the trainer hope u win a few races in time. To train a standerdbred horse u start at 1 as if u don't they are so big/strong u end up broken urself. They start by mouthing the horse ( putting bit in mouth) then training harness with false reins at a permanent position. This gets the horse used of it. Then a few weeks of long reining( walking behind the horse no cart) and finally a few days with the cart. The winkers on the bridle make the horse concentrate and stop it from spo
Look. to be honest i don't like any form of horse racing for a multitude of reasons but these trainers are not doing anything wrong, they are being calm and patient with a horse that is getting used to something new.
A yearlings bones aren't fully developed yet, is the point that's trying to be made. Also a 12 year old child is fully aware of what is going on, a yearling is not.
A horse's bones are not "fully developed" until 6 years of age, I have yet to meet anyone who waits that long to start training horses. The issue is, is the work enough stress to do damage to the growing skeleton? Its been long accepted that pulling light carts, such as this one is easy enough to be safe for still growing horses. This video was made because this individual showed "attitude" (hence the title) if yearlings in general couldn't cope, this video would be redundant.
For one, they are stabled at a race track some trainers do not have a farm with grassy fields or dirt to break them on. That maybe the only place they can break her. Two, they have rules when stabled at a track. Three, Standards have a less break downs then Thoroughbreds and they get broke to the saddle very young too. I know some very good trainers and I know very bad. They did good with that filly. They should have had a second person on the other side of her to break her properly.
When training a foal you should definitely do it on a softer surface, not on asphalt. And using helmet and a strap to prevent the horse from kicking is also important.
Ladies and gentlemen, how not to break a race horse. Lady from behind shut up. Girl on lead get out front so horse can see you. When the horse wants there head do not pull lead and lines at the same time. You got away with that one. If the horse is on the track jogging is mouth going to run behind.
You think that taking a yearling from it's friends an hour a day, even if it is for cuddling or just taking care of the horse, is harmful to the horse?
All over the UK I see horses left in their stall for 23 hours a day without contact (animal or human) it's the most common form of cruelty. How would those horses like the stimulation and exercise this filly has got. Yes ok she's a yearling but she has not been put under any strain she couldn't cope with.
The first time she has been put on the cart and you expect her to pull a large guy around and her to be use to it. Some people are fools and dont deserve to be around these beautiful animals. Imagine if it was you in their shoes. What would you do? Idiots these days.
@bfornaro Good for you. Like I said, not all horses take to training without complaint, especially when they are as young as yearlings - and many of these yearlings from large breeding farms aren't handled more than it takes to do their feet and vet work, at least until it's time to sell or break them to race. These are generally not super-socialized babies to begin with. Yeah, you're going to get complaints.
firstly id like to know why someone would hook a young horse for the first time on concrete and better yet in an open area. There doesnt need to be someone leading the horse with a leadrope. My barn breaks and hooks young horses all the time and theres not been any problems even close to this. by the time they're ready to hook they should be able to line in a surcingle and have proper steering and concept of whoa before the persons life or horse's life get put in danger. That being said these women need to be educated on horses lol. Sorry had to voice my opinion:P
That would be a long yearling, not a baby just turning one. 18months or more is more like it. If they are to race at two, training kinda has to start before that....
Yea i have now learnt more into the racing bisness as helped a farrier for a few days and hoping to become a farrier, so i learnt more, but thanks it just seems a bit mean but i guess its not like they actually being ridden .
I am talking about what is being done to this baby during the hour that she is away from her friends. What is being done now will affect her entire life and not in a good way.
The (blinkers) really are called winkers are to make the yearling concentrate on her work and not spook. Pull a log u say this is a racing horse not a draught horse it is a race horse. The log would do Fu*k all for her. And saying take the chain off the rope is the best of all they come like that. These comments show the complete lack of respect and knowledge people commenting have.
The horse has been mouthed properly and treated well for fuck sake there not locked up 24/7 they get pasture time and more than likely light alloy shoes nor heavy iron
It is not a baby. I am not sure, but according to the development of the horse I think this footage is shot at the autumn. When a horse is at this age, thinking about the reproductive-organs, this horse can be compared to a human that is about 14 - 16 years old. They are not babies, are they?
Had she had the overcheck on before? She really doesn't seem to care about the cart, just that she can't get her head down. Glad to see her work out of it though without injuring herself.
@xUppetup This is a standardbred racehorse.. They race at two years old. To be in shape and trained to race at two, they need to be started as yearlings.
I worked at a barn that rescued OTTBs fresh off the track for several years and have worked with jockeys and exercise riders.I know how the racing world works quite well. and trotting a 3 yo over a 2 ft cross rail is less damaging on their joints and tendons than galloping full out.And if the horse gets a pole between its legs or is jumped too hard then "serious damage to their legs" can result, regardless of age. Need I list the plethora of injuries young race horses commonly endure?
My Point, is that your criticisms of what this video shows are WAY to harsh for what is actually happening. Hooking a fairly large yearling to a light cart for a few minutes, is not going to harm the filly, and even if a better handler could have helped the filly settle in a bit better, she by no means deserves to be called a "bad trainer/handler" she did nothing to cause any more anxiety to the filly. She just gave her some space to settle in, and it worked.
Let out the overcheck 6" and you would've avoided most of the unnecessary stress put on this sensitive filly. You can't throw multiple things to a horse in the same day and expect any different than what she did. She felt trapped, horses are claustrophobic by nature....
Amen.
ख़
Amen!
I have backed and trained many babies with many personalities and have never had any act like this the first time under saddle or in a cart. 'She' was put in a situation she was not mentally or physically ready for.
I believe that the horse is exhibiting pain. Not as because of what or how she's been asked to do, but some other problem.
All of the junk on her head and in her mouth and having the bitting rig to tight and taking away her freedom of movement of her head and putting her in a situation where she could slip on the pavement and fall spells a disaster waiting to happen. Nothing like demanding a baby to perform as an adult horse. She was definitely being rushed.
I agree Havanna. The filly was mentally overloaded. And what an obvious ly bad environment to start a colt in.
The check is too tight for this horse
Stupid of the year award !!! That isn't spirit, that's the horse hating all of it !!
broke many young racehorses to drive, have ya? she's just full of herself and after all, it's her first time hitched (after long lining work). She's just figuring it all out.
***** Really? Cause all the horses i've trained to harness never had to "figure it out" because I properly prepared them. This mare was completely unprepared and confused. The dumb ass owners are lucky she didnt slip on the concrete and break a leg!
I'm fully aware that dragging a cart is less damaging on a horse's joints than being ridden. But this horse is a YEARLING! she's a baby and her joints shall suffer due to this early work
The poor horse is stressed out, he's trying to tell them something.
50+years with American Saddlebreds. We never started a horse like this. Never in the open, always in a round pen or working aisle. Started by lunging, then lunging with all driving tack, then training shafts. Adding only a piece of equipment at a time. Every horse is different.
I was terrified watching it. The woman on the long line was causing such stress and danger. Yikes!
I am thoroughly aware of what a yearling is. Idc if she turns two in a week-she is still too young to be pulling a cart. If she was a late two yo, then working her lightly in harness would be fine. Teaching her to drive as a yearling is too stressful on her joints. and the lack of protective boots is still worrisome.
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my comment. I too, have started horses and the goal is to to initiate them without 'compliant'. I hate to ponder the future of this baby- Amish Torture or the Slaughterhouse?
If you as driver have helpers like this, you don't need enemies.
Traurig, traurig... da fehlen einem echt die Worte
I've never seen a horse broke to drive this way, if she had been long lining in an overcheck she would be used to it. Also, on asphalt, are you crazy, it's a wonder she didn't hurt all of them.
It’s amazing how a horse will have issues and people will completely ignore it, never looking at their equipment or adjusting anything and allowing this horse to keep telling them without anybody listening..
the bearing rein doesnt allow natural range of motion in the neck, for those who dont know
The head check was perfectly fine and not too high. The horse was used to that being done and having the cart hooked up as well. From what I saw, what the horse DIDN'T like, was that stupid lead rope connected, either the chain over the nose, or hooked at the halter. That is what irritated her. I do agree, they should not have done this on asphalt.
wowie, that filly does not appreciate that woman.
whenever we did this when I was working with young race horses we'd be TWO people holding lead lines, one on each side just to be extra safe. AND we'd wear helmets. ;)
It is more the long term effects it will have on the horses developing body. It is like asking a child to become a weightlifter, you may make them seem strong enough at the time but the repercussions can be devastating.
You could see directly that she did'nt like The overchek
I don't see attitude, I see fear and even more so, confusion. Two people telling her to do things at once. I gasped and thought she was going to fall when she slipped. I'm not a computer(armchair) trainer and I know nothing of harness racing but her body language is screaming something is wrong. Attitude means spunk, fiestiness and orneriness,this youngster is displaying none of that.
My horse gets nuts too if there are two people pulling the reins. LOL
Some people just have to do things the hard way. Horses choose thier owners eventually by giving back what they get...
What she doesn't like is the overcheck rein.
something is bothering her head. Tongue over the bit? She doesn't seem prepared enough for this step - and I agree, too young.
Blind leading the Blind
So in agreement. The risk to the horse here is too great.
okay people, just have to say it isn't only trotters that put yearlings in the harness. there are horses of all breeds that are put in a light harness as a yearling because it teaches them about the bridle and how the reins work and gets them used to some confinement without the potential damage to growing joints. Done is short sessions, this is very benefical for the horse because it makes the transitions to riding is a few years alot easier,
ever think WHY he's shaking his head?
I agree. side note: ick.....spitting on camera. ick......now there's some class
And if you look carefully, the grassed off area that they later work on is quite close to exit of the facility. And the gate is open, leading to a busy road!
If the filly had truly flipped out...
I consider that not ready to start yet. Needs a lot more ground driving.
le cheval se défend en bouche violemment du début à la fin: heureusement que la pouliche et jeune est de nature calme!
I don't understand what people find wrong with this video. Typical young horse learning something new and different. The handlers did a fantastic job and were quiet and patient.
ok i can just tell by the way the horses tail is shoved between his but that he isnt ready.
tht horse needs something i like to call boot camp
just to clear this up for you. they call this a yearling, but it was born early in the year, and this would be the fall. this yearling is nearly 2.
You did not do enough work with the overcheck before moving her onto the cart. A little looser couple of notches and she would have been more comfortable and less resistant with the upward pull of the overcheck.
U should wait for a few more years until u can do this! Beautiful horse though!
We break yearlings every year and they where the check in a pen for 3-4 days then they go behind our towing rig for a few, then with the cart behind for a few then off the towing rig with no problems!
Thank u someone with since finally
Trigger stacking at its finest jfc
Ive been successfully training horses for 36 years & although i agree with the bit in your comment about self proclaimed experts i totally disagree with your claim that these horses are ready for breaking at 1. No horse is mature enough mentally or physically to with stand the stress in the longterm, hence why a high percentage of these horses lives are cut short. Lets face it a civilized society doesnt expect a child of 8 to do the same physical job of a 20 year old
My bad, your exact words were " It is clearly bad handling that is the main reason this horse is reacting like this" so I think my paraphrasing was fair, even though I misused the quotes.
poor little Baby!
The development going on in a horse when they are a yearling like this one can be compared to what's going on with a teenager, which is much earlier with this breed than non-racing breeds. I agree on putting shoes on a horse at that age is not good for the horse, but it will not make the horse lame. Just because the horse is learning things, doesn't mean that the horse is doing this ALL DAY. Maybe an hour a day, and playing with it's friends the rest of the day. That is not harmful in any way.
Thankyou, but i still think its to young,
we are training our horses for the big world when they are 2 yours old, they first grow up, with other foals, when they are three we start riding, so this is why i think its to early..
A short lead stresses a horse more, they feel trapped and like they can't move. Long is best with a scared or stressed out horse.
I would recommend lounging your horse before you hook it up to the cart. That's why she was prancing. Also loosen her over check about 2-3 holes. The next time. Trust me i would know i drive horses.
Sorry if the harness is fitting properly .there's no way I'd drive a horse who rears.🇬🇧🇬🇧
"A trotter (OTTB) will always be worse in the joint tanken the age in consideration because the trotter starts races years earlier than a jumper" Exactly why trotters should be left until later, we need to consider the horses future quality of life before we get selfish and make them do what we want!!
I do agree, one maby is a little young, but they don't race at one, they are just broken and lightly trained, at two tho, they are equivalent to human 14-16 year olds, who would already be playing sports, kinda of a cheesey comparison, but it makes sense. And at one, these horses are literally bred, to do one thing, race, it runs in there mind in body, and going fast is one of the only things they know how to do. At birth there ready to race, Foals on breeding farms usually play race.
A racehorse is bred, fed and trained (The bigger the load of the training the bigger the harm) to be ready to race at the age of two-three. It is not animalabuse to start a racehorse at the age of two if it is ready for the race. A horse not ready to race will not think it is fun, and you end up with a racehorse that's not as good as it could have been. The first races for a racehorse is therefore very important.
First of all why racing of any kind is cruel. "Hey let's force yearlings to work for us." Horses don't mature until 5 or 6 at minimum. This horse is clearly confused and trying to do the right thing. Having this horse on concrete is the worst idea ever. If she had started bucking and rearing she could have easily slipped and dislocated a hip or broke a leg, thus ending her life. She's chomping on the bit and tossing her head so she's clearly not desensitized to the bit to start with.
For god's sake she's only a year old! I cannot stress this enough. A yearling should not be doing anything but having fun in the pasture and being desensitized to things such as halters and grooming and farriers.
This pisses me off so much. That poor horse is trying to do what it's told but she's so clearly confused. She probably never had any of that equipment on her before and then suddenly she can't see to the sides because of the blinders, there's a piece of metal in her mouth, something chasing her! Horses are prey animals! That cart has gotta seem like a predator chasing after them!
Unbelievable. That horse is going to be ruined if she's trained like that. Pushing a horse destroys a horse no matter what it's being trained for. But it's so clear that the bit is the main problem. Anyone who knows horses could just look at how she's shaking her head and opening her mouth that it's the bit.
you dont know how to break a yearling to the cart so dont say anything. and racing isnt cruel i race standardbreds and my horses get the best care and love racing. why dont u go to a racetrack and get ur facts right dont say wrong info like horses dont mature till 5 or 6 they reach full maturity at 4 somtimes 3.
jesse mcassey Because someone who can't even use proper grammar is so clearly a genius on horses.
You don't know about my experiences with racehorses so don't assume. And the fact is that no horses don't reach full maturity until five or six.
jesse mcassey If your horses 'love' to race then take the bit, whip and blinders away. Hell take all the tack away and let them race themselves if they are so 'in love' with it as you claim! I'd bet money the horses would NOT race of their own will. It goes against a horses instincts to run that hard for that long with no breaks. You won't see wild horses running like that unless they are fighting or being chased by a predator or a helicopter. Also, I've been in standardbred barns before and after a race and EVERY single owner owns about 5 or 6 different linamints and creams etc to spread and wrap the legs with because the legs and feet are so sore and overheated after a race. These horses break legs on the track just like the runners do because they are started to young and worked to hard! You wouldnt send a 4yr old child to work in the mines so why send yearling or even a 2yr old horse? Oh yeah, right, cause you're a greedy asshole that wants money!
Kelsie Beaulieu There's nothing natural about anything we do with horses.. Nothing. Horses wouldn't chose to be ridden or driven at all if given the choice. In the wild they prefer to go around obstacles rather than jump over them. Does that mean we should stop all jumping competitions? In the wild, horses never self-carry as they would in dressage. Should we stop dressage? Silly argument.
Every serious competition barn in ANY has liniments and poultices and wraps.Just like human athletes, muscles get sore and tight and need care. I've been in standardbred barns too, in the morning during training, in the paddock on race day.. and you have no idea what you're talking about. Liniments, creams, and poultices have nothing to do with legs being "overheated," and if they're SO sore after a 1 mile race that they need to be immediately bandaged up, I don't know how on earth they survive jogging and training miles, or road work with the Amish.
Standardbreds have VERY good bone and strong feet. Catastrophic injuries are not at all common in harness races because of the way these horses are bred and conditioned. Thoroughbreds have a problem, yes.. breakdowns are not an epidemic in harness racing. Let's ban cross country, horses AND riders die in that often enough.
You're free to hate racing but if you don't know what you're talking about, just don't comment.
I probably wouldn't have hooked my horse for the first time on pavement. Just a number of things that could go wrong with that alone.
Let the fella sit on the side
Thank u
Attitude? Neh, more unsure. And the girl leading isn't really paying attention. But this IS a lot better horse handeling then I've seen in a couple of years (don't ask me where I've been :P). The guy in the cart is calm, and except the girl with the line they are all doing very slow movements. My oppinion: Use another person for the leading, but a lighter man in the cart for a more gentile start, and go away from traffic...
while that is great for a pleasure horse, this is trotting horse (a racer). Their mind set needs to be different, pressure to perform is going to be part of her life. Also who is to say this yearling didn't get the correct intoduction to the bridle and such, she has probably been ground driven many times before this considering how patient her trainers were and she did very well with this.
@drafterGal I agree, for her first time, the check should not have been fastened at all. A horse naturally pulls with it's head slightly down, having the check on when a horse is not used to it will always results in spooking, and could injure the horse.
I'm thinking she wants the "blinders" off. Horses normally see a panoramic view. I wonder if there would have been a difference without them?
Helmets are the persons choice. And u can't have a kicking brace on the horse when walking. Thats why there is a kick bar on the cart
Pretty good start, I'd say!
For all the haters, this is an ordinary training day. The handlers did nothing wrong, and the horse did nothing unusual; she just needed to realize she could go forward in spite of her check rein, and then she did!
Ya know? Humans probably look pretty upset and out of control the first time they try Wii activities ... What would horses say about us?
OK, maybe it was a good first experience with this baby, but that is also not what I am talking about. I am talking about stressing the body before it is mature enough to properly handle this kind of stress.
Right fair play to the trainer hope u win a few races in time. To train a standerdbred horse u start at 1 as if u don't they are so big/strong u end up broken urself. They start by mouthing the horse ( putting bit in mouth) then training harness with false reins at a permanent position. This gets the horse used of it. Then a few weeks of long reining( walking behind the horse no cart) and finally a few days with the cart. The winkers on the bridle make the horse concentrate and stop it from spo
Look. to be honest i don't like any form of horse racing for a multitude of reasons but these trainers are not doing anything wrong, they are being calm and patient with a horse that is getting used to something new.
this is stupid i mean i have no words for this video. that horse is so scared it might just have a heart attack.
A yearlings bones aren't fully developed yet, is the point that's trying to be made. Also a 12 year old child is fully aware of what is going on, a yearling is not.
A horse's bones are not "fully developed" until 6 years of age, I have yet to meet anyone who waits that long to start training horses. The issue is, is the work enough stress to do damage to the growing skeleton? Its been long accepted that pulling light carts, such as this one is easy enough to be safe for still growing horses. This video was made because this individual showed "attitude" (hence the title) if yearlings in general couldn't cope, this video would be redundant.
Yeah, that´s a few, the rest still ends up on Fido´s dinner plate.
She's only a baby! Just let her enjoy her childhood for two more years before working with her like this... why the rush?
For one, they are stabled at a race track some trainers do not have a farm with grassy fields or dirt to break them on. That maybe the only place they can break her. Two, they have rules when stabled at a track. Three, Standards have a less break downs then Thoroughbreds and they get broke to the saddle very young too. I know some very good trainers and I know very bad. They did good with that filly. They should have had a second person on the other side of her to break her properly.
When training a foal you should definitely do it on a softer surface, not on asphalt. And using helmet and a strap to prevent the horse from kicking is also important.
Dude, get the chain off the lead rope. Anyone else noticed that every time the handler pulled, the horse reacted to the handler with the lead rope?
Ladies and gentlemen, how not to break a race horse. Lady from behind shut up. Girl on lead get out front so horse can see you. When the horse wants there head do not pull lead and lines at the same time. You got away with that one. If the horse is on the track jogging is mouth going to run behind.
Head check, I should have said. Although I have heard them called many different things, check rein, over-check, etc.
Thanks for sharing your video!
You think that taking a yearling from it's friends an hour a day, even if it is for cuddling or just taking care of the horse, is harmful to the horse?
All over the UK I see horses left in their stall for 23 hours a day without contact (animal or human) it's the most common form of cruelty. How would those horses like the stimulation and exercise this filly has got. Yes ok she's a yearling but she has not been put under any strain she couldn't cope with.
Where are they now?
The first time she has been put on the cart and you expect her to pull a large guy around and her to be use to it. Some people are fools and dont deserve to be around these beautiful animals. Imagine if it was you in their shoes. What would you do? Idiots these days.
Yes.
@bfornaro Good for you. Like I said, not all horses take to training without complaint, especially when they are as young as yearlings - and many of these yearlings from large breeding farms aren't handled more than it takes to do their feet and vet work, at least until it's time to sell or break them to race. These are generally not super-socialized babies to begin with. Yeah, you're going to get complaints.
firstly id like to know why someone would hook a young horse for the first time on concrete and better yet in an open area. There doesnt need to be someone leading the horse with a leadrope. My barn breaks and hooks young horses all the time and theres not been any problems even close to this. by the time they're ready to hook they should be able to line in a surcingle and have proper steering and concept of whoa before the persons life or horse's life get put in danger. That being said these women need to be educated on horses lol. Sorry had to voice my opinion:P
this isnt harsh or anything so thats good BUT ITS ONLY A FREAKING YEARLING!?
That would be a long yearling, not a baby just turning one. 18months or more is more like it. If they are to race at two, training kinda has to start before that....
Yea i have now learnt more into the racing bisness as helped a farrier for a few days and hoping to become a farrier, so i learnt more, but thanks it just seems a bit mean but i guess its not like they actually being ridden .
I'm not going to lie, i don't know anything about driving but it doesnt seem right to break a horse to drive as a yearling?
I am talking about what is being done to this baby during the hour that she is away from her friends. What is being done now will affect her entire life and not in a good way.
Danke
The (blinkers) really are called winkers are to make the yearling concentrate on her work and not spook. Pull a log u say this is a racing horse not a draught horse it is a race horse. The log would do Fu*k all for her. And saying take the chain off the rope is the best of all they come like that. These comments show the complete lack of respect and knowledge people commenting have.
With all the head tossing you wonder did they pull the wolf teeth before they put a bit in her mouth and a check rein on her?
Well there is a quick hitch system one pull down on each side to detach it.
I really have to disagree that this isn't harmful to a growing youngster in any way.
I'd agree with the overcheck. Every time she tries to lower her head, she's banging into it.
And why is the driver not wearing a helmet?
The horse has been mouthed properly and treated well for fuck sake there not locked up 24/7 they get pasture time and more than likely light alloy shoes nor heavy iron
what did the trainers do wrong? most horses get scared and act up when learning something new. it's just something you expect to happen
It is not a baby. I am not sure, but according to the development of the horse I think this footage is shot at the autumn. When a horse is at this age, thinking about the reproductive-organs, this horse can be compared to a human that is about 14 - 16 years old. They are not babies, are they?
Had she had the overcheck on before? She really doesn't seem to care about the cart, just that she can't get her head down. Glad to see her work out of it though without injuring herself.
You're right! She shouldn't be!
A yearling having an attitude isn´t normal?
@xUppetup This is a standardbred racehorse.. They race at two years old. To be in shape and trained to race at two, they need to be started as yearlings.
What is a yearling even doing pulling a cart (with a pretty heavy man in it too) ?! Should wait till she's at least 3 if you ask me..
I worked at a barn that rescued OTTBs fresh off the track for several years and have worked with jockeys and exercise riders.I know how the racing world works quite well. and trotting a 3 yo over a 2 ft cross rail is less damaging on their joints and tendons than galloping full out.And if the horse gets a pole between its legs or is jumped too hard then "serious damage to their legs" can result, regardless of age. Need I list the plethora of injuries young race horses commonly endure?
My Point, is that your criticisms of what this video shows are WAY to harsh for what is actually happening. Hooking a fairly large yearling to a light cart for a few minutes, is not going to harm the filly, and even if a better handler could have helped the filly settle in a bit better, she by no means deserves to be called a "bad trainer/handler" she did nothing to cause any more anxiety to the filly. She just gave her some space to settle in, and it worked.