I saw the Walking Horse Championship every year from age 4 til I went to college. Visited the farms. The "Big Licks" are deformed--and the stands are empty.
He mentions the bit. Yes. Pay great attention to the bits in all of these films, especially the one at the end of this film, at 4:09 to 4:13. The shanks on the 1st one, when he mentions it, are not overly long, compared to now, but all shanked bits are cruel and unnecessary! See how Mr Walker is yanking on that bit to try to keep his balance? It's because he's leaning back and has feet out front, like all of these people do, so he's off balance, and flops onto the horse's back with WHAM at every stride. And he (and all of them) tries to regain it at every step by leaning on his reins. With every time he pulls on those reins, the shanks magnify the pressure, which is then transferred to the curb strap or chain under the chin. It's usually a chain in these films and with all the Walking Horses, in the show ring and outside of it. It also pulls down on the strap at the poll, or top of their head, and if there's a nose band it gets tightened, but the curb chain is the most painful part. And it's completely unnecessary! There is no good reason at all for shanked bits, or Pelhams. Look it up at Wikipedia. Why on earth do people use objects of torture to make up for their own shortcomings? If a horse is unruly or misbehaves, or if their head carriage isn't quite right, it's up to us to give them the training they need. That's all it is, 100% of the time, just a hole in their training. Those beautiful, powerful, gentle, but fearful animals will do ANYTHING for us if we just treat them kindly, and show them gently how to do what we want. But to cut corners by forcing them, with bizarre and uncomfortable equipment, is cruelty of the very worst kind. But it's typical of spoiled rich people who are into horses for all of the wrong reasons. If it's not purely for the love of horses, you don't belong anywhere near them. If you only want to show off, get a fancy car, or a dirt bike. Don't torture horses just to show off, or to win ribbons for your own ego. Examine your own priorities! And again at the very last few seconds of the film, at 4:09 to 4:13, just look at those extremely long shanks! The S curve is only a decoration. It's the length from the mouthpeice, at corner of the mouth, in a straight line to the end of the shank, where the reins begin. The S makes it seem even longer, but even without the S, those shanks are extreme, and they put EXTREME presure on all of the pressure points on the horses head, most especially on the curb chain under the chin. Shanks of that length will cause EXTREME pain, magnifying the force from the reins by many times, including directly on the mouth .
Gotta disagree with you on that bit. I’ve got a couple with Mullen type mouthpieces and the same S shank, and every horse we’ve ever used them on who went in a curb in seems to like them. I always have a couple in the tack room.
@snowcrash4286 a good trainer can train horses to go from canter to a halt without a bridle, let alone a bit. You can do anything bitless & bridleless.
I don't know how TW owners get away with the cruelty and pain that they push onto innocent animals like horses. You'd have to be a really stupid person to ever want to torture animals that way. I can tell you one thing - those people cannot ride. I'd like to see them going cross country on a big English Thoroughbred, jumping over hedges, fences, and streams, up and down hills all day, in all weather, following hounds to foxes. That is riding. In Alberta people raise TW's with no crippling abominations inflicted on their bodies, they're used happily for trail horses and for eventing. The US should be sanctioned by the EU for allowing such cruelty. That's the South for you.
It's a tail brace. There is a padded piece under the tail that attached to the saddle with a leather strap. They still use them on saddlebreds and hackneys I believe
I had friends who had a grandson of Midnight Sun. He was a pleasure to ride and always carried his tail high like that. Such a beautiful animal. It breaks my heart what they do to walking horses nowadays.
Cool video, thanks for posting! I recently bought his great grandson, Beam’s Midnight Threat. He’s a sweet, sweet big boy. Also black with “J” on his head. I say that’s his Jesus mark 🤗 I had no idea he was out of Midnight Sun until I looked closer at his paperwork. We start classes in April. For me, not him 😅 His favorite thing to do is eat 🍎🥕😊
This is the kind of action that is a JOY to watch! What a decline into abuse and cruelty the big lick has devolved into.
Big lick has been around since the same years this horse was ridden. Stacks became a thing thing big lick. Hell soring has been illegal sine 1970
This is FAR better than the big lick, and the horse gets to be a horse instead of living on "high heels" like today's Walker.
Absolutely agreed!
Go kick rocks.
Now that's a beautiful horse!;
I saw the Walking Horse Championship every year from age 4 til I went to college. Visited the farms. The "Big Licks" are deformed--and the stands are empty.
This horse was the grandfather of my first THW. Mine, Doc's Midnight Playboy, was a racker tho. He could go up to about 19 mph.
Love this history. Thank you for posting.
What a vast difference in rides.the man is sitting comfortabke and the horse is moving great even the gallop was much better this is a big difference.
Thank you. It's a shame that this natural gait has been replaced by something far less appealing with the stain of cruelty.
Now that is a gorgeous horse, except for the broken tail, moving naturally.
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful video.
Majestic
He mentions the bit. Yes. Pay great attention to the bits in all of these films, especially the one at the end of this film, at 4:09 to 4:13.
The shanks on the 1st one, when he mentions it, are not overly long, compared to now, but all shanked bits are cruel and unnecessary!
See how Mr Walker is yanking on that bit to try to keep his balance? It's because he's leaning back and has feet out front, like all of these people do, so he's off balance, and flops onto the horse's back with WHAM at every stride. And he (and all of them) tries to regain it at every step by leaning on his reins.
With every time he pulls on those reins, the shanks magnify the pressure, which is then transferred to the curb strap or chain under the chin. It's usually a chain in these films and with all the Walking Horses, in the show ring and outside of it. It also pulls down on the strap at the poll, or top of their head, and if there's a nose band it gets tightened, but the curb chain is the most painful part. And it's completely unnecessary! There is no good reason at all for shanked bits, or Pelhams. Look it up at Wikipedia.
Why on earth do people use objects of torture to make up for their own shortcomings? If a horse is unruly or misbehaves, or if their head carriage isn't quite right, it's up to us to give them the training they need. That's all it is, 100% of the time, just a hole in their training.
Those beautiful, powerful, gentle, but fearful animals will do ANYTHING for us if we just treat them kindly, and show them gently how to do what we want. But to cut corners by forcing them, with bizarre and uncomfortable equipment, is cruelty of the very worst kind.
But it's typical of spoiled rich people who are into horses for all of the wrong reasons. If it's not purely for the love of horses, you don't belong anywhere near them. If you only want to show off, get a fancy car, or a dirt bike. Don't torture horses just to show off, or to win ribbons for your own ego. Examine your own priorities!
And again at the very last few seconds of the film, at 4:09 to 4:13, just look at those extremely long shanks!
The S curve is only a decoration. It's the length from the mouthpeice, at corner of the mouth, in a straight line to the end of the shank, where the reins begin. The S makes it seem even longer, but even without the S, those shanks are extreme, and they put EXTREME presure on all of the pressure points on the horses head, most especially on the curb chain under the chin. Shanks of that length will cause EXTREME pain, magnifying the force from the reins by many times, including directly on the mouth .
Gotta disagree with you on that bit. I’ve got a couple with Mullen type mouthpieces and the same S shank, and every horse we’ve ever used them on who went in a curb in seems to like them. I always have a couple in the tack room.
Also don’t see Mr. Walker leaning back that much…at least not compared to some of the walking/racking horse exhibitors today
@snowcrash4286 a good trainer can train horses to go from canter to a halt without a bridle, let alone a bit. You can do anything bitless & bridleless.
I don't know how TW owners get away with the cruelty and pain that they push onto innocent animals like horses. You'd have to be a really stupid person to ever want to torture animals that way. I can tell you one thing - those people cannot ride. I'd like to see them going cross country on a big English Thoroughbred, jumping over hedges, fences, and streams, up and down hills all day, in all weather, following hounds to foxes. That is riding.
In Alberta people raise TW's with no crippling abominations inflicted on their bodies, they're used happily for trail horses and for eventing.
The US should be sanctioned by the EU for allowing such cruelty.
That's the South for you.
This is how Walking horses should travel. But that tail!!!! Poor horse. Looks like they rammed a pole through his dock!
It's a tail brace. There is a padded piece under the tail that attached to the saddle with a leather strap. They still use them on saddlebreds and hackneys I believe
I had friends who had a grandson of Midnight Sun. He was a pleasure to ride and always carried his tail high like that. Such a beautiful animal. It breaks my heart what they do to walking horses nowadays.
No big lick
I agree with the OP. It's cruel and looks ridiculous.
They cut the tendons in the tail, and set it in a frame in the stable.
What did they brace the tail with back then
A tail set was worn by the horse . It had a stiff crupper.
Straps, surgery, ginger...his tail is broken ("surgically altered")
Cool video, thanks for posting! I recently bought his great grandson, Beam’s Midnight Threat. He’s a sweet, sweet big boy. Also black with “J” on his head. I say that’s his Jesus mark 🤗 I had no idea he was out of Midnight Sun until I looked closer at his paperwork. We start classes in April. For me, not him 😅 His favorite thing to do is eat 🍎🥕😊