@@equestrian.life. I honestly don't know, but I'm so grateful for Raleigh's content, I love her and will support her in whatever decision she makes as a content creator :')
I couldn’t agree more. As a former English riding coach who started western, dressage has been wrecked by selfish riders who want to win a show. Would rather train and not compete. Dressage used to be an art. Now it’s a train wreck. 😮
I agree, there are a lot of hoity-toity rich people who throw money, thinking they can buy their way to ribbons. That’s not what Dressage is about and I’m glad my trainer agrees. We ride with the horses interest at heart. Depends on where you are, though. I’ve ridden Dressage since I was 8 and am lucky enough to have wonderful trainers and only board where they have adequate turnout and facilities. Maybe I have an older idea of how Dressage should be, back in the days of explaining it as a horse/rider partnership, almost like a dance.
I contacted my old dressage instructor and introduced myself and explained my goals were to help retrain my rescued twh and to learn the principles of dressage to help my horse move better rather than competing. She was pleasantly surprised and I think enjoyed our sessions with her horse initially on groundwork and then with mine.
@@beckymrtn81 yup we used to say it was dancing with your horse. It was about the horse’s comfort and ability. If the horse wasn’t ready for something we didn’t force it. Dressage js as you said about money and it’s unfortunate. It is so beautiful when done classically.
@trppro7640 My rescue was underweight and under muscled, and I knew groundwork was where i had to begin. I spent probably a good 4 months on the ground before I took a 10-minute ride. We've been groundwork only since I hurt my shoulder last year and dealing with workers comp. But he's still made improvements and is a sweet boy for my 4 year old son to ride occasionally. He will dance around during grooming unless my son is there, then he's a statue.
I actually did a year of vaulting before learning to ride, my mother thought it would be good for me to learn balance and movement before learning to "control" and steer the horse. She was sooo right! I would recommend it to anyone, especially children to try vaulting first, I definitely didn't regret it!
@@nicolaxoxo1 we always did, you were not allowed on without. idk about other places, but I was around 5 y/o so, safety always came first with the little kids.
Helmets are used only in therapeutic programming or in CHA run programs but we don’t use helmets ever in competitive vaulting because the human athletes do so much going upside down and they are more likely to injure themselves or the horse because of the helmet getting caught on something. Because there are lungers responsible for the horse, the vaulters are able to focus on their own safety in emergency situations rather than worrying about ending up with a loose horse or something similar. Vaulters begin practicing emergency dismounts and falling/jumping from the horse from their very first practice so that I’m emergency situations the muscle memory takes over. Accidents do happen (rarely) but statistically, vaulting is the safest equestrian sport recorded for both athletes and horses in terms of percentage of athletes with injuries and the severity of injuries. Many riders actually go to vaulting clubs just to learn the emergency dismounts to better improve their own riding safety.
As a vaulter, I never wear a helmet when vaulting or riding in vaulting tack but I ALWAYS wear a helmet when in a saddle or riding bareback. It is all about the context of the activity and for vaulters, there is more risk in wearing the helmets while executing such difficult exercises than there is benefit.
I do Mounted Shooting! I know I'm biased, but we do take serious care of our horses when we compete, and everyone is so supportive in the community and everyone cheers everyone else on. It was a breath of fresh air compared to the jumper world. Give it a try, y'all! We're trying to get more people involved, it's such a blast!
I'm 72 and as a young rider dressage taught riders how to ride properly and sensitively and it built the musculature & flexibility of the horse in a gentle way. Its appalling to see how it his now an instrument of cruelty. 😭 Thank you for calling them out.
As a barrel racer, I couldn't agree more. I do a lot of barrel racing bare back, and constantly get asked why I don't have a saddle, or why I don't have a tie down, or why my bit isn't a shank. People can't understand basic horsemanship to save their life, and it is absolutely pathetic! I think my horse would go CRAZY if I barrel raced her every week, and she would let me know!
I agree about professional Dressage riders, but I’ve been riding Dressage for 34yrs now with wonderful trainers who actually take the horses into consideration when teaching or training. You can easily ride Grande Prix w/o showing or using double bridles, whips and spurs. You just need patience, the right training and trainer. PATIENCE AND HORSE HEALTH ARE KEY!
As a farrier the only problem I've seen in endurance riding is that it's really hard on the hooves, the shoes are basically always tinfoil when we take them off. But that's what the shoes are for so that wear isn't on the hooves. Completely agree with Raleigh's take!
@@dogsenseforu301 Rubber wears a lot quicker than iron, also rubber tends to eliminate the glide of the step as they put the feet down, which increases wear on the joints as well as reduces momentum. All of the endurance horses I've shod have had either plastic or leather soles though, to give it a little bit of cushioning!
There's a famous video about ten years ago where they covered a Mongolian endurance ride. The woman who came in first drove her horse HARD to the finish line. A dead gallop and the horse's heart rate didn't go down properly, she lost due to the two-hour penalty they added due to the condition. She was livid, but it's a good lesson for riders when it comes to riding.
I wouldn’t really point to this documentary as a shining example of what an endurance ride is like. The Mongol Derby is so extreme and dangerous. There were some pretty traumatic injuries depicted in the documentary itself.
Vaulting was a normal part of my training as a young rider in Quebec. The French cavalry system was de rigueur. Vaulting of you horse while you were riding at a canter and landing upright beside your mount, reins in hand was an expected part of training. Our wonderful horses would stop beside us as soon as we left the saddle. Riding over a fence bareback (2 riders on), one facing forward and the other facing the tail. These exercises made us fearless and unflappable.
I love that your advertising for sports that are actually horse friendly to help show people "look there is this u can do to u dont have to do the standard " also they sound cooler when u tell people what u and your horse do and i. Sorry for your loss i know its super hard ....to lose someone uve had with u for years
I'm sorry for Rain. Now for the video, I wouldn't have put vaulting in the top 3 best, maybe top 10 best. I think you should have put horseback archery, which pretty much is just the horse having to canter on a straight line, the archer has to do the shots, and the reins aren't even touched most of the time. Those horses are incredibly well trained. They are also often competed bitless, as there's no reason for a bit when you're not even going to hold the reins anyway for most of the ride.
We all appreciate you sticking around! Your one of the only UA-camrs besides horse plus and a few others that truly care about the welfare of horses and educate people on it.
Omg im so sorry about rain i feel soo bad for u. When i saw ur post on poting rein done i literally almost cryed. he lived his best life with u, he will always be above and one day u guys will be united again❤❤❤😢😢😢
Cried watching the intro. The deeper the pain, the more you know the love means to you. I love your attitude; you’re so right, we WILL be reunited. You look tired, it’s obvious you’re still absolutely reeling and that’s okay. Take your time, and I’m glad you’re still making vids. Love ya Raleigh ♥️ PS, you probably won’t even see this but yesterday i was watching a reality show with my mom and on it they went horseback riding and i was so proud of myself for being able to call out the sad reality that one horse was underweight, uncomfortable with the bit, and was lame. Before you i could never have ID’d something like that before. Your education is making me wiser, so if i ever get the chance to see horses irl or someone suggests something sketchy i can educate them. Your work is making a difference.
Endurance rider here! (Although I dont ride for mouths for now lol) In Turkey, spurs and whips are forbidden in endurance races. you must know how to make your horse faster or slower without them. Yes, there are plenty of people who dont know what they are doing but I can say that, horses love going on long challenging rides. and its so fun to explore new places. its just an amazing feeling.
@FarBear-by6rw "several horses" Two. Two horses. Yes it's awful that happened, but they were freak accidents. I've know two horses in my area who have also gone off the trail on leisure trail rides within the same year and died. Some things you can't prevent. I've ridden many of the trails which are part of Tevis. I'd call some parts narrow and unnerving, but not dangerous. You also don't get to Tevis on a horse who doesn't like endurance. Every last one of those horses at Tevis love what they do and those riders lost valuable partners and friends. Yes, there's going to be problems in the sport, there's problems in all equine sports unfortunately. But endurance riding (at least here in the US) is far less problematic than many other equine sports
We have a pretty cool (and relatively recent) sport here in France called TREC, which literally translates as "competitive equestrain hiking techniques" (weird I know). It involves riding outdoors in varying terrain, going through small natural obstacles (things you could encounter on a trail ride like a small log, a ford, going through gates etc). Competitions are pretty well regulated and are (still) mostly about having fun outdoors with your horse. Of course you have problem riders in every horse sport, and I am sure there are in TREC as well, but it's harder to get away with it when the whole sport is about being a chill outdoor rider. Outdoor riders in France are the first to have made the switch to shoeless, bitless, ethical riding, paddock paradise etc. and tend to be a little more welfare-focused than in other more competitive horse sports.
I am still quite new to riding, but I am planning on doing dressage but lower levels for a while! My “trainer” competed Grand Prix and the horses she have trained are amazing and she is so kind to them, and treats them to such a high standard. Also I am so glad you didn’t quit UA-cam you are my favorite person to watch and you are an amazing inspiration to other! I am sorry you lost rain and I hope she found peace!
What's interesting is that there are two types of dressage, classic dressage which is the original dressage and modern dressage which is the most known dressage and is the one with most competitions, there is a difference between the two and I will explain this difference. Classic dressage is where you must work with your horse to through gentle riding and balance so that the horse will relax and find rhythm in movements, classic dressage is more focused on the nature of the horse and the natural movements that could help strength and flexibility rather then forcing flashy movements that modern dressage is focused on. I would definitely prefer classical dressage over modern dressage since classical dressage is definitely the better version out of the two, in terms of which one is better for the horse's health.
Classical Dressage = Uno Olivero . Dressage doesn't come even close to what it used to be .Too many over bent horses not enough air between the head and neck ,Even this apparent from the top riders and the Poll is never at the highest point as it should be .
@@jrmints80 Link some of it, then. Because as of 2 months ago, Shelby Dennis posted a couple videos on rollkur in grand prix, including at least one rider who got an 88% on his dressage test and was behind the vertical almost the entire ride. A month before THAT, she posted a video of a person who won on a horse that was so far behind and so tightly held in place that his tongue was blue.
Its definetely more popular in Europe than America, but there are a ton of people who train using academic art of riding. A big name in classical dressage is Bent Branderup, most of the AAR people I follow are students of him. Theres obviously many different styles, some better than others, and though I dont think the Branderup school is perfect, they do a lot right, better I think than some of the French schools, called Legerete I think, where I see more weak backs and heavy hands, but again, everyone is an individual. Its not about competing, just about what a rider and horse can accomplish together, and its very beautiful
Hi! Barrel Racer and Pole Bender here. I’d just like to say, I completely agree with most of the stuff you’re saying. Whips, tie-downs, and spurs are absolutely hurtful/abusive. I don’t use drugs on my horse and he trail rides more than he runs barrels to be honest. He’s recently retired from rodeo, just because he’s old, but I know his old owners were awful to him and only ran him in rodeos and nothing else. So glad to give him a happy retirement. Thank you for pointing out the bad parts of my sport! ❤
@Florian-xg2jr the spikes at the end of a spur are on a towel that spins. This means that It rolls off of their hide rather than sticking in. And horses should have a decent amount of fat and muscle covering the ribcage.
@@TheAnimalAGvocate Horses have much thinner skin then humans. If it hurts for you to be stabbed in the ribs with spikes, it hurts them much more. Please watch Raleigh’s other videos that address this.
@Florian-xg2jr That's actually false. Human skin on average ranges from 0.3-2.6 mm thick. Horse skin ranges from 1.2-7 mm thick. They do have thicker skin than we do and a harder fat layer. And again, spurs don't stab. They roll. That's how they are designed, and most displaces ban or discourage the use of fixed rowels.
I have been doing barrel racing for several years now, and I knew it was gonna be on the video for worst. But I don’t have any issues with that! Most riders have little to no eq, rely on their stirrups and reins for balance. I often bareback ride to make sure that isn’t the case. If I can race the pattern bareback, I have good seat and balance. Thankfully practice has been my buddy, and my eq is very good. I also ride in a hackamore and spurless. I do have a whip, but I only have to lift it and he will hit the gas. And I always ride in a helmet (unless I forget to wear it-that’s only been once though). I also make sure to take him through other drills besides just the pattern. Thank you Raleigh for pointing out the issues in this sport and others, and how to do it ethically if it is possible. ❤ and I’m terribly sorry about your pup.
This video popped up on my feed so I watched it! I could not agree more with this whole video! I did some vaulting when I was younger, it really helped my balance! I basically only trail ride on my mare and a little bit of arena work. if only more equestrians were like you!😀
You actually made me cry in the begining first with the dog. Then the intro "We will all reunite with our loved ones" cause recently i lost a family member to suicide. Im glad you are back.
My mom always used to say that when she died, she wanted to cross the rainbow 🌈 bridge to be with her animals. She had enough of people when she was living, she didn't want to deal with them in the afterlife, too.❤
Hi, I saw one competition in the Czech Republic where there is a competition to work with a horse (with a young horse) not to be ridden, but to walk with him around the hall between the cavalets on the ground, the rider shows how he relates to the horse and it's amazing to see
i’m so so sorry for your loss Raleigh she was such a sweetheart, i lost my two girls last week, they found rat poison and ate it i know how it feels losing a pet you’ve had lots and lots of memories with and i get it, it hurts but you can get through this Raleigh believe in yourself! xx
I'm getting my first horse on April 15th. You have been such an inspiration and a reason for me to have been awake to what really goes on in the horse world. I used to want to be a barrel racer but have learned from multiple of your videos It's not something that is good for the horse. I'm getting a retired pacer standard bred and wanted to see if you could give me some tips on what i should know about them or anything i should watch out for when going to look at him. ♥
I’m sorry sorry for your loss of rain, sending my condolences The video was amazing though, so glad you are still making videos you truly do make a difference! ❤
I used to love riding cutting horses in an arena using adult cattle. I became sour after a few shows when I thought that was the way for me. Afterwards I joined endurance rides and trained on trails with other riders. Super fun and I’m so glad you talked about it. It’s a passion for me and my mare.
Oh my! I am so sorry for your loss! Thank you for not quitting UA-cam! You are in my top 3 favorite equestrians! Don't lose motivation we all love you!!!
Hi, I love your channel. I’ve been watching for so long, but I do bear race and I make sure that all of my tack fits properly and I don’t use tiedown spurs or whips. I am not hating but also I am very sorry for your loss.❤
(Not a hate comment just my opinion) as a young barrel racer, in Australia we don’t do any of that,we don’t drug them,kick them and we make sure that our tack fits and if we don’t have balance we have to do it at a trot or even a walk but this is my opinion please don’t get mad but I love all your videos ❤❤❤
i adore your videos, thank you for speaking up for animals💕 please don’t use ai generated images though, even if just for thumbnails! they’re incredibly harmful in so many ways
Rainbow bridge is what I look most forward to when I pass! Your intro made me cry, and your ending slides had me balling. Girl I love your content and your voice for the animals ❤❤❤
I love Raleigh’s videos and surprisingly as a barrel racer I can totally agree! I’ve seen so many people that go to my shows that can’t ride, horrible balance, wiping there horse and kicking them to a point were they rear up. But were I show had all men or women have properly fitted tack and WE HAVE TO HAVE HELMETS.
I am so sorry for your loss with Rain:( I haven't been watching you for that long but I can see how lovingly you cared for her. She was very lucky to have you. Thanks for the video, it was very interesting. Also I feel like reining could be a decent sport, they have super light rein contact and mainly ride using their body instead of pulling and kicking. However, i haven't done the research.
I'm so sorry for your loss of Rain. Yes, we absolutely will see them again... but until that day being apart from them is heartbreaking. Thinking of you and sending you love x
I did equestrian vaulting until two years ago (not on a competing level) and we also frequently used wooden horses to train. There are also vaulting competitions on these wooden horses which are mostly held in winter
Raleigh, sorry for your loss of Rain…you will meet again for sure! Thank you yet again for another quality video..educating and so much passion in your videos.
I completely agree about mounted shooting, I feel like theres NO praise for it. Its just not talked about but the horses are so well taken care of and overall its a wonderful sport
Dressage rider here. I agree. So happy that you pointed out how to DO IT ETHICALLY. A lot of people like to jump to conclusions and say it’s abuse. Thank you!
Did you already do a video about Working equitation? I have friends that do this, they do 5 years of groundwork before riding, they make sure there is almost no pressure in the horses mouth when using bits and make the horse move, turn and stop by using their bodylanguage instead of pulling in the mouth. I don't know how other people in this sport do this and would love to know a bit about it. The way my friends do it for me WE is certainly one of the best horse sports!
jumping anything higher than 4 feet, no groundwork, bad equitation, whipping horses, jumping breeds that aren't suitable for jumping, insane courses, no turnout, no vet checks, bad tack, spurs, etc. is crazy and insane. I love how you address these important things in horse sports. I've learned a lot from your videos!
as a barrel racer i can understand your reasoning for not being very fond of barrel racing. Personally every horse ive ever rode who i put on the barrel pattern has been trained with years worth of low level/basic dressage, slight reining foundation and we go on regular trail rides! i hate seeing blown up barrel horses especially since its not that hard to create a calm, healthy and well mannered horse if you put in the right work. I started riding as an english rider and personally i think cross training is great! if you want better equitation you should definitely invest in bitless and english riding lessons (IMO) My mare can walk into a barrel arena calmly and know that she isint about to get the living sh1t beaten out of her lol! i think its important to do other disciplines with your horses too + LOADS of ground/flatwork
I I know this was a month ago, but I felt a need to say Im doing horse riding soon! I plan to make my future through jumping, this helped me learn a lot more about it I’ll stick to low level I would never abuse a horse through drugs, your definitely a great help for beginners!
6:15 fr, as a barrel racer, SO many people just buy expensive horses and hold on for dear life, it’s unfair to other competitors, unfair to the horse and unfair to those who actually make an effort on their horses comfort and bond (there are a lot of good barrel racers where I am thankfully!) but a lot of the internet barrel racers I see.. uhm.. 🥴 and the use of Lasix is bs if you’re horse is BLEEDING from the lungs, don’t. Work. Them. Fix. It. Call. A. Vet. 🤦🏼♀️ and HELMETS oh. My. Gosh! The kids without helmets that are so close to literally dying is ridiculous! And the main problem is that when, if, they take lessons it’s from people who also don’t have a clue wtf they’re doing!!
@PurpleGirlllllllll from personal experience that’s more than likely just from being a hot running bred horse than being abused, usually abuse makes them skittish of people rather than their surroundings!
@PurpleGirlllllllll yes, for sure, you have to be able to pick and choose what part of it is them actually being scared which just needs to be worked through, or a learned habit that needs to be stopped before it gets dangerous, which can be incredibly difficult. But yes, always ask your trainer or someone irl that you trust and that knows your horse! Good luck with you and your horses journey!
@@Fancy.and.Meg13 Agree with you. I have seen Fallon Taylor Barrel racer and she takes care of her horses and she have a good balance when she rides in the race. According to Ken McNabb numb spurs do not hurt the horse and you use the bits with soft hand. You mostly use your body and legs to ride the horse
Hey Raleigh! I recently got a 2 year old qtr/walker horse and I’m training her! Soon it’ll be under saddle(with me not on her obviously) but I’m wanting to do barrel racing and maybe a little jumping but I’m wanting to do bitless! To summarize this, watching you for many years has made me want to do bitless and recognize animal cruelty when I used to couldn’t. I’m happy you’re still uploading because you have helped me so much and educated me even more!!
My horse jumped over a 4ft fence because she didn’t want to be in a certain part of the pasture but it’s completely respectable lol. I don’t want to do big jumps but as a little hobby maybe jump 1-2ft every once in a while
Thank you for your videos. They are not only very instructive but are done in a very accessible way to everyone. What I also like about them is that you are proposing and intelligent reflection, so the viewers can make their own thinking process.
I agree fully with the video and I’m so glad I’ve finally found someone with a strong popular opinion. But a video I would like to see in the future is your thoughts on flatwork. I don’t want anything pacific, I just haven’t seen anything much on it yet.
I 1000% agree with you, I started with regular lessons first then I started barrel lessons when I had the money and felt ready. I always ride with a helmet. I Will NOT wip or Spur my horse for some money or a fancy trophy. I will always take time to just take trail ride and relax, i absolutely hate drugging horses unless medically needed.
As a barrel racer I agree that MOST barrel racers are abusive and I know someone local who abuses and I just… ew, and my trainer focus on our Eq she is actually a equation rider, and my tack has been fitted by a professional and I wear a helmet because…well it’s obvious, I agree with this, also I don’t abuse my horse, and I barely ride on the pattern but I LOVE trail rides it’s my favorite!!!
I'm so sorry for your loss. Rain was a very lucky girl to be in your family. I completely agree with your good and bad lists. I used to do jumping years ago in England. I was lucky to have a wonderful instructor who taught us to listen to what our horses were telling us. Now I ride and drive. My horses seem to love their lives.
I'm so sorry about what happened 😢we love u as much as everyone loved ur dog he was so sweet and kind ❤love you have the best day ever, and stay strong queen ❤❤
I definitely agree! I do a little bit of show jumping as I only jump up to 80cm and love do grid work, pole work, flatwork and switching it up all the time!
So sorry for your loss, RIP Rain🙏🏻 I am a barrel racer and wear a helmet, but I also totally agree with you. Some things of these people just don’t get it if the horse don’t like it then don’t run it! I could go on and on! 😊
Im not at all hating, but I barrel race and my barrel horse does not just barrel race he's a ranch horse, sometimes I do team roping, and we go for trail rides all the time. I did 4-H when I was 12 and I have perfectly fitted tack spent a good dollar on it. But I will look into bit less tack and I've never worn Spurs
@@Randomcrap-zx5ksSo inform yourself..? There's probably a reason we're mad about literal stolen art and lack of originality.. Doing nothing also still contributes to the problem because you're not actively trying to change or stop. You can either push back, and change will slow down or stop. If you do nothing it doesn't stop the problem coming, therefore contributing to it.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I still miss my first dog that I had as a child. She was a character, for sure! As for your 3 worst and 3 best horse sports…spot on! Keep the videos coming! ❤
I’m so sorry about your dog❤ rip 🕊️ thank you so much for this video. I love your videos and so happy that you’re posting more❤ I do jumping but I don’t jump any higher than 2ft. I lease my horse and I’m not aloud to go bitless. And yes I do use a crop but never really hit my horse. I might give my horse a little tap if he won’t go. But I love my horse to death and he goes to fur out after ever ride and always gets a treat. I also only jump 2 times a week.
WOW girl you must have gotten some random early access to this video! It doesn't come out until tomorrow LMAO. Thank you for your kind words about Rain.
im so sorry that happened.. if it makes you better, after i wached your videos you really helped me to bond with the horses i ride at the lessons i go to and be a better rider, i love you gurl!
Sorry to hear about the dog; while I agree there is work to do across all horse sport I found most of what you said to be very subjective and biased. And I nearly choked on my toast when endurance popped up as one of the top three! 😂
Saw a video of a THREE year old strapped down to a saddle as it went around barrels 1. That shows that all the barrel racers who preach about their discipline being super hard that it aint cos that kid rode it better than like 95% of western riders l have seen , 2 it shows how irresponsible alot of western/barrel racing parents are (its not the only video l have seen of young kids racing) 3. It shows how much else this horse does, like there was no one leading that horse it was just cantering around those barrels with just the kid. In general l don't like Western at all l just don't see any good videos of safe or ethical western riding, and l just also hate how alot of the riders love showing how responsible they are by not wearing helmets or safe clothing and how much they care for their horses mental and physical health by over using whips, using spurs wrongly, star fishing, ill fitted tack, just racing them around barrels, beating them and just alot more which is really sad, and unfortunate especially when these horses are such lovely darlings who just went to the wrong home. (Also l am so sorry about Rain, l know she is smiling down from the clouds and she loved her life so so much and loved being in a family with you Raleigh
Hey, I just wanted to say THANK YOU!! My horse was living in a stall pretty much 24/7 and after watching your video about stalling horses I knew I had to do something….a year later he is living outside 24/7 with a bunch of friends! Since then he has been so much happier.🫶 not only has it benefited his mind it has benefited his body, his coat, his hoofs, etc. so ya I just wanted to give you a BIG THANK YOU for making me realize that his previous living situation was not ok. Also he is soon moving on to a 5 acre track system with a couple of his friends which is so exciting!! Not to mention he is also is a 4 year old so I’m so happy I got him out of that stall ASAP!!! please never stop bringing awareness to the equestrian community!! And once again THANK YOU!!❤❤❤
I'm just a recreational rider with little to no ambition to compete, but if I ever were to try any, endurance is on top of my list! Along with working equitation and some lower jumping. 😄
So sorry about Rain. I know how painful it is to lose an animal. May she rest in peace ❤🤘🏻 Okay, now, I am a barrel racer. And honestly, I agree. A lot of barrel racers SUCK!!! Some riders do improve which is good. But still, I do agree that barrel racing sucks at times. Thank you for sharing your opinion.
Ok first of all, that intro was amazing. I think it's important to make sure a loved one is remembered fondly and with all the happy moments in mind. The moments you shared with us are literally pure happiness and will do a great job at this.
I do showjumping and hunter jumping but mainly bareback and each lesson horse at my barn is only ridden 3-4 times a week and before we ever start jumping we have to have a nice not bouncy canter and before cantering we have to have a nice sitting trot so we can make sure to not slam onto the back ❤ and we use soft bits and only hold crops and not use them unless the horse just needs to wake up and even if we use them we only do a slight tap not a full hit like normally a small one before a jump if a horse is hesitant toward it❤
I hate people i want horse and dog abuse to stop im just starting to hate the world /im really sorry about rain i hope shes liven a good live in heaven ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Yes yes yes to vaulting! I did it when I was younger and the only times our trainer got angry wasn't about the horse but about us not being careful enough. Every movement you make is about being soft on the horses back. And I loved that the horses were free in the warm up, they were allowed to buck around and play on lunge. And then from one moment to another they were completely focused when having us on its back. Just sad that it was a shitty indoor stall and our horses were going in lessons as well.
As a barrel racer I agree with you, I mean there is no reason to push your horse like that it's terrible, but always remember that there are good people out there that love their horses and treat them right even barrel racers, my horse is happy barrel racing and some are not... GUYS STOP HORSE ABUSE!!
Whoops! For the Endurance riding you posted Vaulting horse check info. My husband is multiple times world champion, world equestrian games winner too for Voltige, so its so cool to see it featured❤❤❤
My best friend is a barrel racer her horse is probably the best taken care of I’ve ever seen, she is very ethical she does bit less, no spurs whips or tied downs. She takes him out to do other things and lots of trail rides, she has great balance and her horse is never abused and loves his job .
@@Makaylaandreno Do I even ride HORSES? Yes I do, and I have three. Two TB/APH mixes and one Belgian draft. I take lessons and have been riding since I was five. Riding WESTERN mind you.
@@mrswoodbrooke I’ve been riding since I was 8 months old , gaming since 8 years old, my mom taught me she was riding since she was 3 years old , I have owned 10 horses who have all been a holes except one ,I’ve ridden western my whole life and I have never met a abusive barrel racer from where I’m from and I’ve met tons
I love how you gave alternative ways for people to continue doing these sports without being abusive. I recently adopted a young horse to be an all around horse and run some gymkhana events however that is not going to be his “job” because I do not want a horse that is not enjoying his life.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Im so so happy you didnt quit UA-cam. Literally the most enjoyable equestrian UA-camr out there.
Will she not quit?
Agreed ! She’s the best !!
@@equestrian.life. I honestly don't know, but I'm so grateful for Raleigh's content, I love her and will support her in whatever decision she makes as a content creator :')
Enjoyable? What’s enjoyable about someone that uses animal rights propaganda as a source?
@@Waywardequestrian what source are you referring to? (I haven’t finished the video) but I’ve just seen her site academic papers before
I couldn’t agree more. As a former English riding coach who started western, dressage has been wrecked by selfish riders who want to win a show. Would rather train and not compete. Dressage used to be an art. Now it’s a train wreck. 😮
I agree, there are a lot of hoity-toity rich people who throw money, thinking they can buy their way to ribbons. That’s not what Dressage is about and I’m glad my trainer agrees. We ride with the horses interest at heart. Depends on where you are, though. I’ve ridden Dressage since I was 8 and am lucky enough to have wonderful trainers and only board where they have adequate turnout and facilities.
Maybe I have an older idea of how Dressage should be, back in the days of explaining it as a horse/rider partnership, almost like a dance.
I contacted my old dressage instructor and introduced myself and explained my goals were to help retrain my rescued twh and to learn the principles of dressage to help my horse move better rather than competing. She was pleasantly surprised and I think enjoyed our sessions with her horse initially on groundwork and then with mine.
@@amandaburnham8626 great. Students would get upset sometimes but going to groundwork can be so helpful. Like your coaches approach. Good common sense
@@beckymrtn81 yup we used to say it was dancing with your horse. It was about the horse’s comfort and ability. If the horse wasn’t ready for something we didn’t force it. Dressage js as you said about money and it’s unfortunate. It is so beautiful when done classically.
@trppro7640 My rescue was underweight and under muscled, and I knew groundwork was where i had to begin. I spent probably a good 4 months on the ground before I took a 10-minute ride. We've been groundwork only since I hurt my shoulder last year and dealing with workers comp. But he's still made improvements and is a sweet boy for my 4 year old son to ride occasionally. He will dance around during grooming unless my son is there, then he's a statue.
I actually did a year of vaulting before learning to ride, my mother thought it would be good for me to learn balance and movement before learning to "control" and steer the horse. She was sooo right! I would recommend it to anyone, especially children to try vaulting first, I definitely didn't regret it!
Do they ever wear helmets, even when practicing? It seems even more likely to land on your head when doing gymnastics on a horse
@@nicolaxoxo1 we always did, you were not allowed on without. idk about other places, but I was around 5 y/o so, safety always came first with the little kids.
Helmets are used only in therapeutic programming or in CHA run programs but we don’t use helmets ever in competitive vaulting because the human athletes do so much going upside down and they are more likely to injure themselves or the horse because of the helmet getting caught on something. Because there are lungers responsible for the horse, the vaulters are able to focus on their own safety in emergency situations rather than worrying about ending up with a loose horse or something similar. Vaulters begin practicing emergency dismounts and falling/jumping from the horse from their very first practice so that I’m emergency situations the muscle memory takes over. Accidents do happen (rarely) but statistically, vaulting is the safest equestrian sport recorded for both athletes and horses in terms of percentage of athletes with injuries and the severity of injuries. Many riders actually go to vaulting clubs just to learn the emergency dismounts to better improve their own riding safety.
As a vaulter, I never wear a helmet when vaulting or riding in vaulting tack but I ALWAYS wear a helmet when in a saddle or riding bareback. It is all about the context of the activity and for vaulters, there is more risk in wearing the helmets while executing such difficult exercises than there is benefit.
I started with vaulting!!
I do Mounted Shooting! I know I'm biased, but we do take serious care of our horses when we compete, and everyone is so supportive in the community and everyone cheers everyone else on. It was a breath of fresh air compared to the jumper world. Give it a try, y'all! We're trying to get more people involved, it's such a blast!
I'm 72 and as a young rider dressage taught riders how to ride properly and sensitively and it built the musculature & flexibility of the horse in a gentle way. Its appalling to see how it his now an instrument of cruelty. 😭 Thank you for calling them out.
As a barrel racer, I couldn't agree more. I do a lot of barrel racing bare back, and constantly get asked why I don't have a saddle, or why I don't have a tie down, or why my bit isn't a shank. People can't understand basic horsemanship to save their life, and it is absolutely pathetic! I think my horse would go CRAZY if I barrel raced her every week, and she would let me know!
My sis does barrel racing and she uses a hackamore❤
She doesn't use a tie down she has a back chinch and a breast collar
So true
I agree about professional Dressage riders, but I’ve been riding Dressage for 34yrs now with wonderful trainers who actually take the horses into consideration when teaching or training. You can easily ride Grande Prix w/o showing or using double bridles, whips and spurs. You just need patience, the right training and trainer. PATIENCE AND HORSE HEALTH ARE KEY!
As a farrier the only problem I've seen in endurance riding is that it's really hard on the hooves, the shoes are basically always tinfoil when we take them off. But that's what the shoes are for so that wear isn't on the hooves. Completely agree with Raleigh's take!
Why don't endurance horses have rubber boots to help impact?
@@dogsenseforu301 Rubber wears a lot quicker than iron, also rubber tends to eliminate the glide of the step as they put the feet down, which increases wear on the joints as well as reduces momentum. All of the endurance horses I've shod have had either plastic or leather soles though, to give it a little bit of cushioning!
There's a famous video about ten years ago where they covered a Mongolian endurance ride.
The woman who came in first drove her horse HARD to the finish line. A dead gallop and the horse's heart rate didn't go down properly, she lost due to the two-hour penalty they added due to the condition.
She was livid, but it's a good lesson for riders when it comes to riding.
I wouldn’t really point to this documentary as a shining example of what an endurance ride is like. The Mongol Derby is so extreme and dangerous. There were some pretty traumatic injuries depicted in the documentary itself.
The face at 6:50
Vaulting was a normal part of my training as a young rider in Quebec. The French cavalry system was de rigueur. Vaulting of you horse while you were riding at a canter and landing upright beside your mount, reins in hand was an expected part of training. Our wonderful horses would stop beside us as soon as we left the saddle. Riding over a fence bareback (2 riders on), one facing forward and the other facing the tail. These exercises made us fearless and unflappable.
@@helenehoward6294Would love to see that!
I love that your advertising for sports that are actually horse friendly to help show people "look there is this u can do to u dont have to do the standard " also they sound cooler when u tell people what u and your horse do and i. Sorry for your loss i know its super hard ....to lose someone uve had with u for years
I just came across western dressage which aloud bitless bridles on all levels so I wonder if it's nicer than English dressage hmm
I'm sorry for Rain.
Now for the video, I wouldn't have put vaulting in the top 3 best, maybe top 10 best. I think you should have put horseback archery, which pretty much is just the horse having to canter on a straight line, the archer has to do the shots, and the reins aren't even touched most of the time. Those horses are incredibly well trained. They are also often competed bitless, as there's no reason for a bit when you're not even going to hold the reins anyway for most of the ride.
Horseback archery sounds so fun
Mounted archery is my sport!
@@sheilae4226 So cool! I also want to learn it but I can only learn these things separately as I don't have a place near me that teaches it.
Who was rain? I haven’t watched her in a while so I’m not sure I remember correctly
@@coolbluecarpet491 dog
We all appreciate you sticking around! Your one of the only UA-camrs besides horse plus and a few others that truly care about the welfare of horses and educate people on it.
Omg im so sorry about rain i feel soo bad for u. When i saw ur post on poting rein done i literally almost cryed. he lived his best life with u, he will always be above and one day u guys will be united again❤❤❤😢😢😢
What happends with rain? Sorry that I don't know.
@@EmilyTempia rain had to get put down sadly 😭😭😭😭
@@Equine_Family Ikr I literally started crying it is so sad
@@Horselove3 same 😭😭😭😭😭😭
Same😭😢
Cried watching the intro. The deeper the pain, the more you know the love means to you. I love your attitude; you’re so right, we WILL be reunited. You look tired, it’s obvious you’re still absolutely reeling and that’s okay. Take your time, and I’m glad you’re still making vids. Love ya Raleigh ♥️
PS, you probably won’t even see this but yesterday i was watching a reality show with my mom and on it they went horseback riding and i was so proud of myself for being able to call out the sad reality that one horse was underweight, uncomfortable with the bit, and was lame. Before you i could never have ID’d something like that before. Your education is making me wiser, so if i ever get the chance to see horses irl or someone suggests something sketchy i can educate them. Your work is making a difference.
Raleigh is the best educator, isn't she!
Endurance rider here! (Although I dont ride for mouths for now lol)
In Turkey, spurs and whips are forbidden in endurance races. you must know how to make your horse faster or slower without them. Yes, there are plenty of people who dont know what they are doing but I can say that, horses love going on long challenging rides.
and its so fun to explore new places. its just an amazing feeling.
@FarBear-by6rw "several horses"
Two. Two horses. Yes it's awful that happened, but they were freak accidents. I've know two horses in my area who have also gone off the trail on leisure trail rides within the same year and died. Some things you can't prevent. I've ridden many of the trails which are part of Tevis. I'd call some parts narrow and unnerving, but not dangerous. You also don't get to Tevis on a horse who doesn't like endurance. Every last one of those horses at Tevis love what they do and those riders lost valuable partners and friends. Yes, there's going to be problems in the sport, there's problems in all equine sports unfortunately. But endurance riding (at least here in the US) is far less problematic than many other equine sports
@FarBear-by6rw Auburn, CA. I ride those trails often, volunteer, and sweep the Tevis. "Babe"
@FarBear-by6rw you expect someone not to scream when falling down a canyon? Yikes
@FarBear-by6rw I hope you can find peace in your life soon to not feel the need to lash out and get so nasty so quick
We have a pretty cool (and relatively recent) sport here in France called TREC, which literally translates as "competitive equestrain hiking techniques" (weird I know). It involves riding outdoors in varying terrain, going through small natural obstacles (things you could encounter on a trail ride like a small log, a ford, going through gates etc). Competitions are pretty well regulated and are (still) mostly about having fun outdoors with your horse. Of course you have problem riders in every horse sport, and I am sure there are in TREC as well, but it's harder to get away with it when the whole sport is about being a chill outdoor rider. Outdoor riders in France are the first to have made the switch to shoeless, bitless, ethical riding, paddock paradise etc. and tend to be a little more welfare-focused than in other more competitive horse sports.
In US, it’s called Competitive Trail.
I love it.
@@marycollins1024 Oh excellent! Thanks for the info, now I can look it up 👍
Thanks!
I am so sad to hear about Rain,losing a companion is so difficult.
I look forward to your videos,always loved your honesty and no fear approach.
I LOVE mounted shooting. I watch it every year at the Iowa State Fair.
I am still quite new to riding, but I am planning on doing dressage but lower levels for a while! My “trainer” competed Grand Prix and the horses she have trained are amazing and she is so kind to them, and treats them to such a high standard.
Also I am so glad you didn’t quit UA-cam you are my favorite person to watch and you are an amazing inspiration to other! I am sorry you lost rain and I hope she found peace!
Rolkur is illegal and a crime
What's interesting is that there are two types of dressage, classic dressage which is the original dressage and modern dressage which is the most known dressage and is the one with most competitions, there is a difference between the two and I will explain this difference. Classic dressage is where you must work with your horse to through gentle riding and balance so that the horse will relax and find rhythm in movements, classic dressage is more focused on the nature of the horse and the natural movements that could help strength and flexibility rather then forcing flashy movements that modern dressage is focused on.
I would definitely prefer classical dressage over modern dressage since classical dressage is definitely the better version out of the two, in terms of which one is better for the horse's health.
Classical Dressage = Uno Olivero . Dressage doesn't come even close to what it used to be .Too many over bent horses not enough air between the head and neck ,Even this apparent from the top riders and the Poll is never at the highest point as it should be .
If people actually watch dressage and the names moving toward the top you'd see a huge improvement happening.
Yes, I love classical dressage! Imo every rider and horse should do it, it's the Basis of a good, healthy riding horse!
@@jrmints80 Link some of it, then. Because as of 2 months ago, Shelby Dennis posted a couple videos on rollkur in grand prix, including at least one rider who got an 88% on his dressage test and was behind the vertical almost the entire ride. A month before THAT, she posted a video of a person who won on a horse that was so far behind and so tightly held in place that his tongue was blue.
Its definetely more popular in Europe than America, but there are a ton of people who train using academic art of riding. A big name in classical dressage is Bent Branderup, most of the AAR people I follow are students of him. Theres obviously many different styles, some better than others, and though I dont think the Branderup school is perfect, they do a lot right, better I think than some of the French schools, called Legerete I think, where I see more weak backs and heavy hands, but again, everyone is an individual. Its not about competing, just about what a rider and horse can accomplish together, and its very beautiful
Hi! Barrel Racer and Pole Bender here. I’d just like to say, I completely agree with most of the stuff you’re saying. Whips, tie-downs, and spurs are absolutely hurtful/abusive. I don’t use drugs on my horse and he trail rides more than he runs barrels to be honest. He’s recently retired from rodeo, just because he’s old, but I know his old owners were awful to him and only ran him in rodeos and nothing else. So glad to give him a happy retirement. Thank you for pointing out the bad parts of my sport! ❤
None of those tools are harmful when used properly and responsibly.
@@TheAnimalAGvocate When used properly, yes. But when spiked spurs are being kicked into their ribs, it’ll hurt them nonetheless
@Florian-xg2jr the spikes at the end of a spur are on a towel that spins. This means that It rolls off of their hide rather than sticking in. And horses should have a decent amount of fat and muscle covering the ribcage.
@@TheAnimalAGvocate Horses have much thinner skin then humans. If it hurts for you to be stabbed in the ribs with spikes, it hurts them much more. Please watch Raleigh’s other videos that address this.
@Florian-xg2jr That's actually false. Human skin on average ranges from 0.3-2.6 mm thick. Horse skin ranges from 1.2-7 mm thick. They do have thicker skin than we do and a harder fat layer. And again, spurs don't stab. They roll. That's how they are designed, and most displaces ban or discourage the use of fixed rowels.
I have been doing barrel racing for several years now, and I knew it was gonna be on the video for worst. But I don’t have any issues with that! Most riders have little to no eq, rely on their stirrups and reins for balance. I often bareback ride to make sure that isn’t the case. If I can race the pattern bareback, I have good seat and balance. Thankfully practice has been my buddy, and my eq is very good. I also ride in a hackamore and spurless. I do have a whip, but I only have to lift it and he will hit the gas. And I always ride in a helmet (unless I forget to wear it-that’s only been once though). I also make sure to take him through other drills besides just the pattern. Thank you Raleigh for pointing out the issues in this sport and others, and how to do it ethically if it is possible. ❤ and I’m terribly sorry about your pup.
What happens to the stifles and hocks
that cross country video made me realise WHY my previous horse (had gone cross country) had a torn abdominal muscle and 2 broken and dislocated ribs
This video popped up on my feed so I watched it! I could not agree more with this whole video! I did some vaulting when I was younger, it really helped my balance! I basically only trail ride on my mare and a little bit of arena work. if only more equestrians were like you!😀
You actually made me cry in the begining first with the dog. Then the intro "We will all reunite with our loved ones" cause recently i lost a family member to suicide. Im glad you are back.
proud of vaulting for getting on ur list, i do it and we take very good care of the horses and mostly train in the gym.
My mom always used to say that when she died, she wanted to cross the rainbow 🌈 bridge to be with her animals. She had enough of people when she was living, she didn't want to deal with them in the afterlife, too.❤
Hi, I saw one competition in the Czech Republic where there is a competition to work with a horse (with a young horse) not to be ridden, but to walk with him around the hall between the cavalets on the ground, the rider shows how he relates to the horse and it's amazing to see
i’m so so sorry for your loss Raleigh she was such a sweetheart, i lost my two girls last week, they found rat poison and ate it i know how it feels losing a pet you’ve had lots and lots of memories with and i get it, it hurts but you can get through this Raleigh believe in yourself! xx
I'm getting my first horse on April 15th. You have been such an inspiration and a reason for me to have been awake to what really goes on in the horse world. I used to want to be a barrel racer but have learned from multiple of your videos It's not something that is good for the horse. I'm getting a retired pacer standard bred and wanted to see if you could give me some tips on what i should know about them or anything i should watch out for when going to look at him. ♥
I’m sorry sorry for your loss of rain, sending my condolences
The video was amazing though, so glad you are still making videos you truly do make a difference! ❤
I used to love riding cutting horses in an arena using adult cattle. I became sour after a few shows when I thought that was the way for me. Afterwards I joined endurance rides and trained on trails with other riders. Super fun and I’m so glad you talked about it. It’s a passion for me and my mare.
Oh my! I am so sorry for your loss! Thank you for not quitting UA-cam! You are in my top 3 favorite equestrians! Don't lose motivation we all love you!!!
You are such an inspiration for me! I take so many notes from you and use it on my horse! I am so sorry for you loss. May she rest in peace ❤😊
Hi, I love your channel. I’ve been watching for so long, but I do bear race and I make sure that all of my tack fits properly and I don’t use tiedown spurs or whips. I am not hating but also I am very sorry for your loss.❤
Ahhhhhh!!! I’m so happy she is finally talking about vaulting!!!!!! This is my sport!!!
(Not a hate comment just my opinion) as a young barrel racer, in Australia we don’t do any of that,we don’t drug them,kick them and we make sure that our tack fits and if we don’t have balance we have to do it at a trot or even a walk but this is my opinion please don’t get mad but I love all your videos ❤❤❤
Fr she is just biased
What about their hocks and stifles
i adore your videos, thank you for speaking up for animals💕
please don’t use ai generated images though, even if just for thumbnails! they’re incredibly harmful in so many ways
Came here to say the same thing
just watched the vid after the premiere, i’m so sorry to hear about rain :[ they’re always gone too soon… but we’ll see them again someday💕
so glad someone else said this too❤
So sorry for the loss of your dog 💗 I’d love to know your thoughts on Mountain Trail riding and competing. Thanks for all of the educational content!
Rainbow bridge is what I look most forward to when I pass! Your intro made me cry, and your ending slides had me balling. Girl I love your content and your voice for the animals ❤❤❤
I love Raleigh’s videos and surprisingly as a barrel racer I can totally agree! I’ve seen so many people that go to my shows that can’t ride, horrible balance, wiping there horse and kicking them to a point were they rear up. But were I show had all men or women have properly fitted tack and WE HAVE TO HAVE HELMETS.
I new about Rain and again, my heart is with you and be sure that her beautiful spirit is and will always be with you 💖
I am so sorry for your loss with Rain:( I haven't been watching you for that long but I can see how lovingly you cared for her. She was very lucky to have you. Thanks for the video, it was very interesting. Also I feel like reining could be a decent sport, they have super light rein contact and mainly ride using their body instead of pulling and kicking. However, i haven't done the research.
I'm so sorry for your loss of Rain. Yes, we absolutely will see them again... but until that day being apart from them is heartbreaking. Thinking of you and sending you love x
I did equestrian vaulting until two years ago (not on a competing level) and we also frequently used wooden horses to train. There are also vaulting competitions on these wooden horses which are mostly held in winter
Can't waittttttt! I absolutely love your videos you have taught me so much!!! ❤❤❤
Raleigh, sorry for your loss of Rain…you will meet again for sure! Thank you yet again for another quality video..educating and so much passion in your videos.
I completely agree about mounted shooting, I feel like theres NO praise for it. Its just not talked about but the horses are so well taken care of and overall its a wonderful sport
Dressage rider here. I agree. So happy that you pointed out how to DO IT ETHICALLY. A lot of people like to jump to conclusions and say it’s abuse. Thank you!
Did you already do a video about Working equitation? I have friends that do this, they do 5 years of groundwork before riding, they make sure there is almost no pressure in the horses mouth when using bits and make the horse move, turn and stop by using their bodylanguage instead of pulling in the mouth. I don't know how other people in this sport do this and would love to know a bit about it. The way my friends do it for me WE is certainly one of the best horse sports!
jumping anything higher than 4 feet, no groundwork, bad equitation, whipping horses, jumping breeds that aren't suitable for jumping, insane courses, no turnout, no vet checks, bad tack, spurs, etc. is crazy and insane. I love how you address these important things in horse sports. I've learned a lot from your videos!
Please do a deep dive on vaulting! I am so excited right now! Thank you🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
im sorry for your loss. hope it gets better for you, stay strong
as a barrel racer i can understand your reasoning for not being very fond of barrel racing.
Personally every horse ive ever rode who i put on the barrel pattern has been trained with years worth of low level/basic dressage, slight reining foundation and we go on regular trail rides! i hate seeing blown up barrel horses especially since its not that hard to create a calm, healthy and well mannered horse if you put in the right work. I started riding as an english rider and personally i think cross training is great! if you want better equitation you should definitely invest in bitless and english riding lessons (IMO)
My mare can walk into a barrel arena calmly and know that she isint about to get the living sh1t beaten out of her lol! i think its important to do other disciplines with your horses too + LOADS of ground/flatwork
I I know this was a month ago, but I felt a need to say Im doing horse riding soon! I plan to make my future through jumping, this helped me learn a lot more about it I’ll stick to low level I would never abuse a horse through drugs, your definitely a great help for beginners!
Have a great horse journey. 😊
6:15 fr, as a barrel racer, SO many people just buy expensive horses and hold on for dear life, it’s unfair to other competitors, unfair to the horse and unfair to those who actually make an effort on their horses comfort and bond (there are a lot of good barrel racers where I am thankfully!) but a lot of the internet barrel racers I see.. uhm.. 🥴 and the use of Lasix is bs if you’re horse is BLEEDING from the lungs, don’t. Work. Them. Fix. It. Call. A. Vet. 🤦🏼♀️ and HELMETS oh. My. Gosh! The kids without helmets that are so close to literally dying is ridiculous! And the main problem is that when, if, they take lessons it’s from people who also don’t have a clue wtf they’re doing!!
Yes! Not all barrel racers are bad and it’s 1 out of 50 who are bad barrel racers!
Also I like because of the western comment there is no like from her
@PurpleGirlllllllll from personal experience that’s more than likely just from being a hot running bred horse than being abused, usually abuse makes them skittish of people rather than their surroundings!
@PurpleGirlllllllll yes, for sure, you have to be able to pick and choose what part of it is them actually being scared which just needs to be worked through, or a learned habit that needs to be stopped before it gets dangerous, which can be incredibly difficult. But yes, always ask your trainer or someone irl that you trust and that knows your horse! Good luck with you and your horses journey!
@@Fancy.and.Meg13 Agree with you. I have seen Fallon Taylor Barrel racer and she takes care of her horses and she have a good balance when she rides in the race. According to Ken McNabb numb spurs do not hurt the horse and you use the bits with soft hand. You mostly use your body and legs to ride the horse
Hey Raleigh! I recently got a 2 year old qtr/walker horse and I’m training her! Soon it’ll be under saddle(with me not on her obviously) but I’m wanting to do barrel racing and maybe a little jumping but I’m wanting to do bitless! To summarize this, watching you for many years has made me want to do bitless and recognize animal cruelty when I used to couldn’t. I’m happy you’re still uploading because you have helped me so much and educated me even more!!
My horse jumped over a 4ft fence because she didn’t want to be in a certain part of the pasture but it’s completely respectable lol. I don’t want to do big jumps but as a little hobby maybe jump 1-2ft every once in a while
As a mounted shooter, HELL YEAH!! Also many of us chose to go bitless 😁😁
So sorry for your loss, this video is from the beginning of the year, but that pain never really leaves.
I agree about all of these and mostly jumping. The only time a horse should be jumping that high is without any tack and without a rider.
Thank you for your videos. They are not only very instructive but are done in a very accessible way to everyone. What I also like about them is that you are proposing and intelligent reflection, so the viewers can make their own thinking process.
I’m so sorry about Rain. You two will meet again soon and I know she will welcome you with open arms. Rip sweet Angel 🕊️
Who was Rain?
I agree fully with the video and I’m so glad I’ve finally found someone with a strong popular opinion. But a video I would like to see in the future is your thoughts on flatwork. I don’t want anything pacific, I just haven’t seen anything much on it yet.
I 1000% agree with you, I started with regular lessons first then I started barrel lessons when I had the money and felt ready. I always ride with a helmet. I Will NOT wip or Spur my horse for some money or a fancy trophy. I will always take time to just take trail ride and relax, i absolutely hate drugging horses unless medically needed.
As a barrel racer I agree that MOST barrel racers are abusive and I know someone local who abuses and I just… ew, and my trainer focus on our Eq she is actually a equation rider, and my tack has been fitted by a professional and I wear a helmet because…well it’s obvious, I agree with this, also I don’t abuse my horse, and I barely ride on the pattern but I LOVE trail rides it’s my favorite!!!
I'm so sorry for your loss. Rain was a very lucky girl to be in your family.
I completely agree with your good and bad lists. I used to do jumping years ago in England. I was lucky to have a wonderful instructor who taught us to listen to what our horses were telling us. Now I ride and drive. My horses seem to love their lives.
I'm so sorry about what happened 😢we love u as much as everyone loved ur dog he was so sweet and kind ❤love you have the best day ever, and stay strong queen ❤❤
I definitely agree! I do a little bit of show jumping as I only jump up to 80cm and love do grid work, pole work, flatwork and switching it up all the time!
Is there any way you can do a video checking out Sadie Miller? She is a barrel racer and she is pretty good at it
I do endurence on my barrel/pole horse lolllll that’s so funny to me 😂 he’s actually good at it we get good scores in both events!
I would love to hear your thoughts on working equitation!
I as well
So sorry for your loss, RIP Rain🙏🏻 I am a barrel racer and wear a helmet, but I also totally agree with you. Some things of these people just don’t get it if the horse don’t like it then don’t run it! I could go on and on! 😊
Im not at all hating, but I barrel race and my barrel horse does not just barrel race he's a ranch horse, sometimes I do team roping, and we go for trail rides all the time. I did 4-H when I was 12 and I have perfectly fitted tack spent a good dollar on it. But I will look into bit less tack and I've never worn Spurs
And thats wonderful, but not all barrel racers does that
90% of barrel racers dont do that. Do you whip, kick, spur your horse or have harsh bits with heavy hands?
@@mrswoodbrooke No, thats just wrong. I understand that not everyone is like that and it's sad but the world can be a terrible place
@@Winnie_toots 90% of barrel racers do. Sad but true
Following you since your leg/ankle injury, good job and carry on
Love your stuff Raleigh, but speaking as an artist, its a bummer to see you using AI generated images 😢
Why ? It doesn't hurt anyone I use them to get free pictures of my horses❤
@@Randomcrap-zx5ksI'm going to say something controversial yet brave- it's lazy and has many ethical issues esp from someone who clocks others
@@beccaandgoodman I personally don't see thee issue but a lot of people do so I don't know
Also came here to say the same thing. It’s harmful in so many ways.
@@Randomcrap-zx5ksSo inform yourself..? There's probably a reason we're mad about literal stolen art and lack of originality.. Doing nothing also still contributes to the problem because you're not actively trying to change or stop. You can either push back, and change will slow down or stop. If you do nothing it doesn't stop the problem coming, therefore contributing to it.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I still miss my first dog that I had as a child. She was a character, for sure! As for your 3 worst and 3 best horse sports…spot on! Keep the videos coming! ❤
I’m so sorry about your dog❤ rip 🕊️ thank you so much for this video. I love your videos and so happy that you’re posting more❤ I do jumping but I don’t jump any higher than 2ft. I lease my horse and I’m not aloud to go bitless. And yes I do use a crop but never really hit my horse. I might give my horse a little tap if he won’t go. But I love my horse to death and he goes to fur out after ever ride and always gets a treat. I also only jump 2 times a week.
WOW girl you must have gotten some random early access to this video! It doesn't come out until tomorrow LMAO. Thank you for your kind words about Rain.
@@RaleighLink haha thank you ♥️
im so sorry that happened.. if it makes you better, after i wached your videos you really helped me to bond with the horses i ride at the lessons i go to and be a better rider, i love you gurl!
I'm so sorry about Rain. May he rest in peace.
So sorry for your loss of Rain. I do ride dressage but low level. Higher levels are getting out of control with abuse.
I agree with everything but I am curious about pleasure
Sorry to hear about the dog; while I agree there is work to do across all horse sport I found most of what you said to be very subjective and biased. And I nearly choked on my toast when endurance popped up as one of the top three! 😂
Saw a video of a THREE year old strapped down to a saddle as it went around barrels 1. That shows that all the barrel racers who preach about their discipline being super hard that it aint cos that kid rode it better than like 95% of western riders l have seen , 2 it shows how irresponsible alot of western/barrel racing parents are (its not the only video l have seen of young kids racing) 3. It shows how much else this horse does, like there was no one leading that horse it was just cantering around those barrels with just the kid. In general l don't like Western at all l just don't see any good videos of safe or ethical western riding, and l just also hate how alot of the riders love showing how responsible they are by not wearing helmets or safe clothing and how much they care for their horses mental and physical health by over using whips, using spurs wrongly, star fishing, ill fitted tack, just racing them around barrels, beating them and just alot more which is really sad, and unfortunate especially when these horses are such lovely darlings who just went to the wrong home.
(Also l am so sorry about Rain, l know she is smiling down from the clouds and she loved her life so so much and loved being in a family with you Raleigh
Hey, I just wanted to say THANK YOU!! My horse was living in a stall pretty much 24/7 and after watching your video about stalling horses I knew I had to do something….a year later he is living outside 24/7 with a bunch of friends! Since then he has been so much happier.🫶 not only has it benefited his mind it has benefited his body, his coat, his hoofs, etc. so ya I just wanted to give you a BIG THANK YOU for making me realize that his previous living situation was not ok. Also he is soon moving on to a 5 acre track system with a couple of his friends which is so exciting!! Not to mention he is also is a 4 year old so I’m so happy I got him out of that stall ASAP!!! please never stop bringing awareness to the equestrian community!! And once again THANK YOU!!❤❤❤
I'm just a recreational rider with little to no ambition to compete, but if I ever were to try any, endurance is on top of my list! Along with working equitation and some lower jumping. 😄
So sorry about Rain. I know how painful it is to lose an animal. May she rest in peace ❤🤘🏻
Okay, now, I am a barrel racer. And honestly, I agree. A lot of barrel racers SUCK!!! Some riders do improve which is good. But still, I do agree that barrel racing sucks at times. Thank you for sharing your opinion.
Ok first of all, that intro was amazing. I think it's important to make sure a loved one is remembered fondly and with all the happy moments in mind. The moments you shared with us are literally pure happiness and will do a great job at this.
To me, cross country is worse than jumping. The potential for fatal injuries is just horrific.
(just saw you included xc in jumping, so nevermind)
XC involves jumping-
I do showjumping and hunter jumping but mainly bareback and each lesson horse at my barn is only ridden 3-4 times a week and before we ever start jumping we have to have a nice not bouncy canter and before cantering we have to have a nice sitting trot so we can make sure to not slam onto the back ❤ and we use soft bits and only hold crops and not use them unless the horse just needs to wake up and even if we use them we only do a slight tap not a full hit like normally a small one before a jump if a horse is hesitant toward it❤
I hate people i want horse and dog abuse to stop im just starting to hate the world /im really sorry about rain i hope shes liven a good live in heaven ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Yes yes yes to vaulting! I did it when I was younger and the only times our trainer got angry wasn't about the horse but about us not being careful enough. Every movement you make is about being soft on the horses back. And I loved that the horses were free in the warm up, they were allowed to buck around and play on lunge. And then from one moment to another they were completely focused when having us on its back. Just sad that it was a shitty indoor stall and our horses were going in lessons as well.
As a barrel racer I agree with you, I mean there is no reason to push your horse like that it's terrible, but always remember that there are good people out there that love their horses and treat them right even barrel racers, my horse is happy barrel racing and some are not... GUYS STOP HORSE ABUSE!!
Whoops! For the Endurance riding you posted Vaulting horse check info. My husband is multiple times world champion, world equestrian games winner too for Voltige, so its so cool to see it featured❤❤❤
My best friend is a barrel racer her horse is probably the best taken care of I’ve ever seen, she is very ethical she does bit less, no spurs whips or tied downs. She takes him out to do other things and lots of trail rides, she has great balance and her horse is never abused and loves his job .
Cool, over 90% percent of barrel racers suck and are very abusive.
@@mrswoodbrooke do you even ride horse?
@@Makaylaandreno Do I even ride HORSES? Yes I do, and I have three. Two TB/APH mixes and one Belgian draft. I take lessons and have been riding since I was five. Riding WESTERN mind you.
@@mrswoodbrooke ok have you ever barrel raced genuine question
@@mrswoodbrooke I’ve been riding since I was 8 months old , gaming since 8 years old, my mom taught me she was riding since she was 3 years old , I have owned 10 horses who have all been a holes except one ,I’ve ridden western my whole life and I have never met a abusive barrel racer from where I’m from and I’ve met tons
I love how you gave alternative ways for people to continue doing these sports without being abusive. I recently adopted a young horse to be an all around horse and run some gymkhana events however that is not going to be his “job” because I do not want a horse that is not enjoying his life.
i LOVE how you dont let the hate get the ebst of you, Raleigh ❤
What a beautiful and poignant intro! I'm so sorry for your loss. RIP Rain. And yes, we will all reunite with our loved ones some day.
BIG HUGS! Glad you’re remembering all the wonderful memories with Rain. ❤❤
Lots of love!
Jumpers are English barrel racers 😂 I actually agree with this video.
Sorry about your baby! I just lost my 19 year old cat. Heartbreaking ❤️🩹