Re: FEI Stuff

[Sue Brown <sbrown@wamedes.com>]

>And for all you people who the last time this topic was raised (when I

>said the "spurs are prohibited" rule was moronic as spurs are an

>important piece of safety equipment) said that you didn't need spurs

>because a sharp tap with a crop when your horse was inattentive to your

>leg was adequate for you...well, you won't get to use that either.

>

I carry a riding crop every time I go out.  Sometimes I do nothing but carry it the whole distance and wave it occasionally at spider webs or push blackberry vines away...sometimes, when the need arises and the horse needs a quick, non-abusive call to attention or obedience, I will use it.  I find that I can halt a growing problem very quickly with one sharp smack and, consequently, avoid a much worse situation.  Without the crop, correcting or stopping a misbehavior oftentimes results in losing your balanced position and having to use some other method to get their attention.  I've seen a lot more abuse with bits, other devices, and hard hands on an overly enthusiastic horse than I've seen abuse with a whip or crop.

I'm not opposed to correct use of spurs either...altho I've seen more abuse (even in higher level dressage) with spurs than I've seen with a crop.  I agree with Kat's comments and I have one point on spurs to add that should be considered.  If you are riding a horse with a big barrel (well sprung ribs), your legs will go out a ways before the go down.  To sit in a balanced position (and not torture your knees or ankles by trying to point your toes straight forward), your feet should go out at the same angle as your upper leg.  If you do not have extremely quiet feet and lower legs (heels down, no swinging or pumping), with your toes out and your heels pointed more towards the horse, you can inadvertently spur the horse repeatedly.  While it may not be hard enough to elicit a strong response from the horse, it can gradually numb the horse's sides to your cues (they can ignore it as it were nagging) and, if strong enough, can create scar tissue and dull the horse's sides.

I'm also curious as to what made the FEI change the rules when similar items are used in other disciplines.  Abuse can occur in many ways, including harsh treatment with a bit -- while they wouldn't outlaw bits for safety reasons, they shouldn't outlaw prudent use of other aids.  I feel they should discipline the abuse, not outlaw the aids.  Perhaps they felt they can't observe the horse's treatment at all times because of the distance situation so they relinquished that responsibility totally by outlawing a couple of things that could potentially be used abusively.

Sue  

sbrown@wamedes.com
Tyee Farm
Marysville, Wa.