Visited a Quarter Horse show here in Tassie. A full day of halter and pleasure divided up into different sub classes, some under English gear. No reigning or speed events. When asked if those classes were ever held, the answer was 'we don't do that'. So apparently no one rides at speed or with directional change at speed. The gaits are slow and ponderous and artificial. Head carriage is artificially low, looks uncomfortable for the horse, and creates a lack of balance inconsistent with a collected halt, spin, or turn. Nothing calls for weight on the haunches, which is the key element of a rollback. These are not working horses and are not prepared to put into work when trained for this. Very few horses in Tasmania neck rein properly, probably as few people have learned to ride this way. Disheartening.
I hate what is happening to the QH in the USA which is filtering through to Australia. Why would you want to have a lope that is slower than a walk? You might as well just walk! The head is so low the horses are heavy on their forehand which can't be good. And the halter horses look like the gym guys on steroids. Both muscle bound with non-functional muscle. I blame the judges. The buyers and breeders then think this is the standard they have to work toward. But the Breed organisations should also be doing something about it. It's no different to the dog breeds that chop off tails and trim ears because humans like it. I can't even look at some of the arabs any more. They are breeding breathing problems into their 'dish' faces.
Visited a Quarter Horse show here in Tassie. A full day of halter and pleasure divided up into different sub classes, some under English gear. No reigning or speed events. When asked if those classes were ever held, the answer was 'we don't do that'. So apparently no one rides at speed or with directional change at speed. The gaits are slow and ponderous and artificial. Head carriage is artificially low, looks uncomfortable for the horse, and creates a lack of balance inconsistent with a collected halt, spin, or turn. Nothing calls for weight on the haunches, which is the key element of a rollback. These are not working horses and are not prepared to put into work when trained for this. Very few horses in Tasmania neck rein properly, probably as few people have learned to ride this way. Disheartening.
It's disastrous
I hate what is happening to the QH in the USA which is filtering through to Australia. Why would you want to have a lope that is slower than a walk? You might as well just walk! The head is so low the horses are heavy on their forehand which can't be good. And the halter horses look like the gym guys on steroids. Both muscle bound with non-functional muscle. I blame the judges. The buyers and breeders then think this is the standard they have to work toward. But the Breed organisations should also be doing something about it. It's no different to the dog breeds that chop off tails and trim ears because humans like it. I can't even look at some of the arabs any more. They are breeding breathing problems into their 'dish' faces.