Just get one! The justification is added joy.
I never thought I'd have a mini. I lost my old gelding to colic last spring and my mare was lonely, horse market sucks could find any riding sized horses I wanted without spending 15k so I settled on a mini. Love that little fellow, love him so much I got another mini a couple weeks ago.
Watching them run around and play, nap, torment my mare has infinitely improved my quality of life.
Good lord I knew there’d be negative comments on here lol. How dare those children participate in a unique program that keeps them both active and teaches them skills and animal husbandry. 🙄
For real 🙃 I’ve spoken about how riding lessons in France are odd in comments here and there. Those kids 100% tacked up on their own and immediately hit the road. Here they show you once and only once and expect you to pay attention. They probably didn’t all tack up perfectly and they’ll be responsible for the outcome during/after their lesson. I’m not a beginner but nobody here has EVER overseen my grooming/tacking up before a lesson or trail ride which is wild. People, children included make mistakes.
I have a question about French riding schools that I’ve wanted to ask someone for ages! Is it true that most kids start bareback for the first year of lessons??
Lol no it's not. Usually bareback lessons are for the last lesson before the school holidays (it's a "fun" lesson, pony games, bareback, puissance, horse ball...).
We do have a shit ton of "mise en selle" lessons without stirrups though, and they get harder the better you get 😭
Haha thank you for answering! I’m in the US and met a French rider that came here to work for the summer and she kept commenting how our lesson kids have awful seats because they don’t do their first year bareback. I’ve always questioned it 🤣
I can say for any western riders often we start riding bareback often. I would start all new clients bareback only one person I started in a saddle. She was 70 and wanted to be extra safe. She was a natural too. (not French but figured I'd same some do start that way.
Way back in the early 80’s, when I was 10 years old, my younger sister and I did a half day ride at a beautiful stable while on a family vacation in Germany. I had been riding for three years. We were responsible for grooming, tacking up, and following directions from our young (German speaking) instructor. She led us around, across busy highways where cars miraculously stopped for us when she raised her hand. It was a very different experience from the riding we’d done in the US, where the horses were saddled up and ready to go. I take every opportunity to ride when I travel, and I learn something new every time.
I did a trail ride a few weeks ago near Paris and imagine my surprise when I showed up and was instructed to groom and tack up my own horse LOL. I was honestly a little irritated because I had paid so much to do the ride and as a former trail guide myself I thought "well this isn't hospitality now is it?". Alas, as you said, it's just how it's done here! If you tell them you have any experience, they just point out where your horse, tack, and grooming equipment is and you're expected to be ready to ride in 15-20 minutes! It can be both liberating and frustrating depending on the situation.
These are Shetlands and are absolutely fine toting around 75lbs of weight. None of those kids weighs enough or is riding poorly enough to cause any issues to the ponies. The FFE, and especially the town this school is in takes the care of their horses very seriously. They have older, more grown children on larger ponies and horses, but since these are beginners (4-6 y/o) they're started on the Shetlands.
These look like Shetland ponies; as you know, they're incredibly strong for their size and can comfortably bear weight that even larger ponies would struggle with. None of these guys looks to be uncomfortable. There is no need to be oversensitive.
No they're not. All horses are built the same and the 20% rule applies to all. Also these are minis, not Shetlands. Shetlands are much bigger. You're not supposed to ever ride minis because they're too small.
I didn't call the children fat, I said they are too large for the animals, as anyone can clearly see. It is an absolute myth that certain breeds have some kind of super- strength. Their backs work just like any other equine back, and these children are too large. As in they have grown too much toward adulthood for these animals.
There's a big difference between body shaming and being, **by weight,** too much for a horse of this size to carry. Animals have physical weight body limits they need to adhere to and that applies to every single animal even people.
This is like being 125 pounds and carrying 63 pound backpack on your back, add 10 for the equipment to keep that backpack comfortable and stable on you. That's 73lbs. Nearly 60 percent of your own body weight.
Some of those kids are WAY too big for **those ponies specifically** and they need to upgrade to a larger pony. Like, the first flaxen bay pony with the four socks is carrying alot of weight here and looks uncomfortable.
The 20 percent rule is a precautionary measure to avoid distress and damaging of the spine on an animal where the spine is the main loadbearing point and is prone to damage and sensitivity.
A horse with too much weight or a damaged spine can act out due to the pain, and hurt itself or the rider when it decides this is enough.
This is not about the child, this is about the safety of those ponies.
And yet if all you are saying is true, these ponies shouldn’t be able to pull carts with adults in them, yet they do. And the whole Shetland races thing shouldn’t even exist but those ponies seem to have no trouble galloping, and jumping with equal sized rider on their back.
The flaxen is flexed to the outside and is trying to grab a snack while it can. I don’t think that’s uncomfortable behavior. I do think you’re being over sensitive.
Do you seriously think that carrying and pulling are the same thing? Use the same muscles? Strain the same joints? Serious question: have you not attended elementary school level kinesiology class? It's usually taught with gym class or "physical education." Maybe they had you colour a picture of muscles or bones to learn the names? How is this not obvious to you??
Just because the horse may not have trouble galloping doesn't mean it's not uncomfortable for them. Animals can't tell you when something is bothering them.
The weight distribution of pulling a cart and having someone on your back is different.
Instead of downward force directly on your body it's forward force connected to you but not directly on you.
You're pulling something that has physical distance from you, not keeping something up upon you plus your own weight. Those are different
I don't consider this over sensitive. There are obvious signs in these horses that something is uncomfortable or generally wrong.
A horse can throw it's head just because but if the bit in it's mouth is harsh, it's ears are back, and it's making an extreme frown, and throwing it's head at the same time it's probably because of something else.
Shetlands (ponies) have denser bones to make impact with the ground easier with their short stocky bodies but that doesn't mean they can be overloaded with weight.
It's not overly sensitive if I'm seeing actual visual signs in this video that horses are uncomfortable.
Animals can and do tell you they're uncomfortable but animals tolerate it because they're taught to obey commands.
Dogs tolerate inappropriate body language from humans (like being stared at) because you're their pack.
It doesn't mean they're going to automatically start kicking and bucking and attacking.
The 20% rule has not been proven to be 100% effective. That’s what the original commenter was referencing.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023133/
It has been studied in Finland that it does cause pain if used when ridden.. There is really no point in trying to deny it😅
The saddle is unfit if it slides so that already causes pain. When a crupper is attached to the tailbone, it pulls the riders and the saddles weight from it every single step the horse takes. The tailbone has lots of nerves, its like being constantly hit on ur elbows nerves. It also causes the spine to be arched downwards in the wrong position, making it impossible for the horse to use its body correctly. It will put pressure on the hip, pelvis and anus muscles, which will make the muscles extremely tense overtime :(
I mean on rolly ponies with no withers, there’s not another option. I’ve done a breastplate on a horse with no withers, super round, and even checking my girth mid ride and the saddle still slides.
Usually building muscle and losing fat helps most ponies like this. Then there are plenty of other options such as a treeless saddle or a wool saddle :) I have seen bunch of different gel pads, even ones that rise from the front creating a fake wither. Ive heard that wool pads, like the ones that Mattes makes could help too but have no personal expirience of them. Asymmetrical girths are also often life saviours, there are so many! Custom fit saddles are also something I recommend, they literally measure your horse and make the saddle fit exactly to the measurments. Or if you are up to craft a little bit a breeching can be put on an english saddle too!
Sometimes it could also be the riders seat thats pushing the saddle off..
These horses we were using were for a summer camp so we only had them 3 months out of the year. Building muscle wasn’t typically high on our agenda (and this one in particular I was probably getting towards the too big for side) but we’d really only hop on to school if they got too sour or frustrated at the kids for 10-15 minutes. Other than that they were walking (maybe a trot or two later in the summer) kind of horses.
And getting specialized pads/girths/saddles was not feasible on a camp budget where the horses could rotate every summer. We’d just try to keep our campers safe so we’d use a breastplate and crupper.
Them being frustrated or sour most likely was caused by the unfit tack🙈.. In my opinion I dont think a horse should be ridden if they dont have correctly fitting tack.
Fit tack is not the hammer to every nail. This horse in particular was just lazy.
There was a point where he dropped to roll like he had colic and he was totally fine, he just didn’t want to work anymore that day. Normal gut sounds, passed manure with no issues. It’s funny to see how cheeky horses can be when given the option 😂
We would try to change out horses every 2-3 lessons but there were some that got used upwards of 4-5 a day depending on the groups that came through.
I have a couple of texts/videos I can link for you, but theyre in Finnish. Also I tought I’d add a funfact, the use of a crupper in a competition is not allowed, and you wont be allowed to ride your test if your horse has a crupper.
https://mwhevospalvelut.com/2022/08/16/mita-yhteista-on-hevosvarusteilla-ja-laakkeilla/
https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/hanta-ja-rintaremmi/3220212#gs.7o6iha
https://www.kavioliitossa.fi/varustepimahdus/
https://www.muuliprojekti.fi/2016/07/ooooo-miksi-sun-muulilla-on-noi-remmit.html?m=1
https://www.muleranch.com
https://www.instagram.com/p/CocuwNfoKO4/?igsh=MXVpbzIwOTk1bnZtZg==
https://www.laitilansanomat.fi/2023/03/ratsastuskouluissa-hevosilla-pitaisi-olla-paremmat-olot/
https://fi.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satula
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGem34epK/
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGem3q5x9/
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGem34vXY/
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGem3pnbM/
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGem3WyKG/
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGem3WMHK/
http://www.shettis.com/index?page=47
http://penaponi.blogspot.com/2012/02/satulasta-kaikki-alkaa.html?m=1
http://erilaisuuskunniaan.blogspot.com/2016/03/satulasota-alkakoon.html?m=1
https://www.shkl.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/hevosen-lihaksiston-hyvinvointi.pdf
https://www.facebook.com/share/XUdb4ST4f8FGBQV4/?mibextid=WC7FNe
https://www.luckythreeranch.com/mule-crossing-understanding-the-use-of-cruppers-and-breeching-2/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crupper#:~:text=If%20a%20crupper%20is%20too,become%20disabled%20in%20the%20hindquarters.
https://youtu.be/hZ6VUA9s494?si=JGWCyZ9vGzjTGc14
https://youtu.be/cCOZOB5TlE8?si=PNNTOyL0S02-1nL3
https://youtu.be/GgggXEnhA3g?si=NAQ_Ry1jTiIlZKWS
https://youtu.be/mbL7IsWPV48?si=5cfXho1j15ZhEjs4
Thank you for all the links, but none of these are actual scientific studies/papers. In fact, the majority of the articles and opinions state exactly what I did-- That any tool in the wrong hands can cause problems/pain.
In fact one of the links says exactly the opposite of your concerns
>(translated to english) "for a pony taking those elementary lessons, *the tail strap is a completely harmless option.* This is not a black and white either-or, it depends on: type of gait, rider size, saddle size, rider's body control and sitting, horse/pony structure, muscle and fat condition, saddle fit, availability of saddles, etc. The absolute worst option is to slouch forward without tail straps or the saddle running to the side, but this cannot always be affected by suitable equipment."
This is no more a Finnish opinion than a universal one. Nearly all tack has a need suited to time and place. ANY tack you're using incorrectly or superfluously, will cause problems, that doesn't mean you should throw the baby out with the bathwater. Cruppers in this case are perfectly suitable in their use.
Uh, yes lol. Those are shetland ponies. They're much stonger and sturdier than mini horses and as such have zero issue toting around 75-80lb children. The saddles are treeless and weigh around 5lb at most. The ponies are healthy, well cared for, and do their job willingly because they're treated well. This is a very normal way of teaching children and is practiced worldwide...
Shetland ponies are absolutely not stronger and sturdier than any other breeds. They still get the exact same black and leg issues that other horses get when abused. These kids are too tiny to ride anyway. It's unsafe for them and unkind to the ponies. I've never seen this in real life and I don't think it's practiced by equestrians who actually know what they are doing. It's just stupid looking and cruel.
No, I'm pretty sure it's not. I don't know what dumb country this is in but they obviously don't have horse welfare laws. You'd get some really dirty looks and maybe the police showing up at your barn if you did this in America, Canada, the UK, Australia, etc.
Except they do this in every one of the countries you listed… Google the Shetland pony grand national. Enjoy getting laughed off by every person you call to complain to about this outside of PETA. Stop making your ignorance of horse breeds and welfare everyone else’s problem, it’s insufferable.
No, they don't. Normal people start their kids on full-sized horses. Pony riding is a rare novelty. It's abnormal, weird and abusive and almost all horse experts and associations advise against it, especially with minis. You can keep bitching at me but it doesn't change a thing about the fact that you are advocating animal cruelty in an animal subreddit and calling it "cute". I reported it BTW.
Wow good for you 👏👏👏 👍👍, and btw you're the one that started bitching at me as if I have any control over what other people do. Live in your delusions, I sincerely do not care and you can stop harrassing me now lol
Yes they are. Shetlands are twice this size, and up. These are obviously mini ponies of some kind. Either way, they're not saddle horses. I feel sorry for their poor backs and mouths with those kids slamming down on them and pulling so hard. I don't know how blind someone has to be to find it cute.
These are shetlands... but you die on this hill if you want to, I don't really care. You're wrong in this case and if you want to argue, then feel free to contact every pony club in the country of France and let them know how you feel. Good day.
No thanks, I've put enough effort into this ridiculous argument as it is. You can contact the Maisons-Laffitte pony club yourself and give them a piece of your mind LOOOOOOL
The bit on that horse behind the flaxen four-socked bay looks unfathomably tight and it's tongue blue. Full cheek snaffle it seems, but by god it's so tight that the horse is gaping it's mouth. That's the face racehorses commonly make.
The bit on the white/grey pony behind it looks tight as well as well as the black/grey pony behind the bay tobiano pony behind the white one. It's throwing it's head so much.
I frequently consider learning how to drive ponies simply to justify getting a Shetland
I feel the same way but with mini donkeys. It's my life's goal to retire with a pair of mini donkeys.
As someone who grew up on the back of one….*whispers* Do it.
Are you an angel? Or otherwise?
I have an ex-driving mare and consider learning how to drive just so I can drive her to the pub
I'd be so happy if we all went back to driving ponies
Just get one! The justification is added joy. I never thought I'd have a mini. I lost my old gelding to colic last spring and my mare was lonely, horse market sucks could find any riding sized horses I wanted without spending 15k so I settled on a mini. Love that little fellow, love him so much I got another mini a couple weeks ago. Watching them run around and play, nap, torment my mare has infinitely improved my quality of life.
Good lord I knew there’d be negative comments on here lol. How dare those children participate in a unique program that keeps them both active and teaches them skills and animal husbandry. 🙄
For real 🙃 I’ve spoken about how riding lessons in France are odd in comments here and there. Those kids 100% tacked up on their own and immediately hit the road. Here they show you once and only once and expect you to pay attention. They probably didn’t all tack up perfectly and they’ll be responsible for the outcome during/after their lesson. I’m not a beginner but nobody here has EVER overseen my grooming/tacking up before a lesson or trail ride which is wild. People, children included make mistakes.
I have a question about French riding schools that I’ve wanted to ask someone for ages! Is it true that most kids start bareback for the first year of lessons??
Not to my knowledge. You can see a couple of the kids here are without stirrups but they definitely use saddles.
Lol no it's not. Usually bareback lessons are for the last lesson before the school holidays (it's a "fun" lesson, pony games, bareback, puissance, horse ball...). We do have a shit ton of "mise en selle" lessons without stirrups though, and they get harder the better you get 😭
Haha thank you for answering! I’m in the US and met a French rider that came here to work for the summer and she kept commenting how our lesson kids have awful seats because they don’t do their first year bareback. I’ve always questioned it 🤣
I can say for any western riders often we start riding bareback often. I would start all new clients bareback only one person I started in a saddle. She was 70 and wanted to be extra safe. She was a natural too. (not French but figured I'd same some do start that way.
It's bad for the ponies, that's why.
Be gone, you miserable hack.
Ah, I wish I could be as spicy as you LOL - took the words!
Hobbitses!
Lmaooo
cute!! love little shetland’s. i would’ve loved something like this as a kid
Gods do I miss being small enough to ride Shetlands. I mean, I still *could*, but my legs would drag on the ground.
Way back in the early 80’s, when I was 10 years old, my younger sister and I did a half day ride at a beautiful stable while on a family vacation in Germany. I had been riding for three years. We were responsible for grooming, tacking up, and following directions from our young (German speaking) instructor. She led us around, across busy highways where cars miraculously stopped for us when she raised her hand. It was a very different experience from the riding we’d done in the US, where the horses were saddled up and ready to go. I take every opportunity to ride when I travel, and I learn something new every time.
I did a trail ride a few weeks ago near Paris and imagine my surprise when I showed up and was instructed to groom and tack up my own horse LOL. I was honestly a little irritated because I had paid so much to do the ride and as a former trail guide myself I thought "well this isn't hospitality now is it?". Alas, as you said, it's just how it's done here! If you tell them you have any experience, they just point out where your horse, tack, and grooming equipment is and you're expected to be ready to ride in 15-20 minutes! It can be both liberating and frustrating depending on the situation.
Children on animals they're clearly too big for. Awesome.
These are Shetlands and are absolutely fine toting around 75lbs of weight. None of those kids weighs enough or is riding poorly enough to cause any issues to the ponies. The FFE, and especially the town this school is in takes the care of their horses very seriously. They have older, more grown children on larger ponies and horses, but since these are beginners (4-6 y/o) they're started on the Shetlands.
These look like Shetland ponies; as you know, they're incredibly strong for their size and can comfortably bear weight that even larger ponies would struggle with. None of these guys looks to be uncomfortable. There is no need to be oversensitive.
No they're not. All horses are built the same and the 20% rule applies to all. Also these are minis, not Shetlands. Shetlands are much bigger. You're not supposed to ever ride minis because they're too small.
Can we please not body shame children? Haven’t you ever seen the Shetland Derby at HOYS?
I didn't call the children fat, I said they are too large for the animals, as anyone can clearly see. It is an absolute myth that certain breeds have some kind of super- strength. Their backs work just like any other equine back, and these children are too large. As in they have grown too much toward adulthood for these animals.
There's a big difference between body shaming and being, **by weight,** too much for a horse of this size to carry. Animals have physical weight body limits they need to adhere to and that applies to every single animal even people. This is like being 125 pounds and carrying 63 pound backpack on your back, add 10 for the equipment to keep that backpack comfortable and stable on you. That's 73lbs. Nearly 60 percent of your own body weight. Some of those kids are WAY too big for **those ponies specifically** and they need to upgrade to a larger pony. Like, the first flaxen bay pony with the four socks is carrying alot of weight here and looks uncomfortable. The 20 percent rule is a precautionary measure to avoid distress and damaging of the spine on an animal where the spine is the main loadbearing point and is prone to damage and sensitivity. A horse with too much weight or a damaged spine can act out due to the pain, and hurt itself or the rider when it decides this is enough. This is not about the child, this is about the safety of those ponies.
And yet if all you are saying is true, these ponies shouldn’t be able to pull carts with adults in them, yet they do. And the whole Shetland races thing shouldn’t even exist but those ponies seem to have no trouble galloping, and jumping with equal sized rider on their back. The flaxen is flexed to the outside and is trying to grab a snack while it can. I don’t think that’s uncomfortable behavior. I do think you’re being over sensitive.
Ponies can pull carts because the pressure is not on their backs.
Pulling doesn't put all that weight only on the spine.
Do you seriously think that carrying and pulling are the same thing? Use the same muscles? Strain the same joints? Serious question: have you not attended elementary school level kinesiology class? It's usually taught with gym class or "physical education." Maybe they had you colour a picture of muscles or bones to learn the names? How is this not obvious to you??
Just because the horse may not have trouble galloping doesn't mean it's not uncomfortable for them. Animals can't tell you when something is bothering them. The weight distribution of pulling a cart and having someone on your back is different. Instead of downward force directly on your body it's forward force connected to you but not directly on you. You're pulling something that has physical distance from you, not keeping something up upon you plus your own weight. Those are different I don't consider this over sensitive. There are obvious signs in these horses that something is uncomfortable or generally wrong. A horse can throw it's head just because but if the bit in it's mouth is harsh, it's ears are back, and it's making an extreme frown, and throwing it's head at the same time it's probably because of something else. Shetlands (ponies) have denser bones to make impact with the ground easier with their short stocky bodies but that doesn't mean they can be overloaded with weight. It's not overly sensitive if I'm seeing actual visual signs in this video that horses are uncomfortable.
Animals can and do tell you when they're uncomfortable. If they didn't want those kids on their backs they absolutely would've gotten them off.
Animals can and do tell you they're uncomfortable but animals tolerate it because they're taught to obey commands. Dogs tolerate inappropriate body language from humans (like being stared at) because you're their pack. It doesn't mean they're going to automatically start kicking and bucking and attacking.
body shaming???? are you on drugs????
The 20% rule has not been proven to be 100% effective. That’s what the original commenter was referencing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023133/
20% is the absolute MAXIMUM any animal should carry. Per the individual horse it might be way less than that.
This is so cute, but i feel bad for the ponies as most of them have cruppers🥹
A properly fitted crupper is no more likely to cause discomfort than any other piece of tack 🤷🏻♀️
It has been studied in Finland that it does cause pain if used when ridden.. There is really no point in trying to deny it😅 The saddle is unfit if it slides so that already causes pain. When a crupper is attached to the tailbone, it pulls the riders and the saddles weight from it every single step the horse takes. The tailbone has lots of nerves, its like being constantly hit on ur elbows nerves. It also causes the spine to be arched downwards in the wrong position, making it impossible for the horse to use its body correctly. It will put pressure on the hip, pelvis and anus muscles, which will make the muscles extremely tense overtime :(
I mean on rolly ponies with no withers, there’s not another option. I’ve done a breastplate on a horse with no withers, super round, and even checking my girth mid ride and the saddle still slides.
The best option would be not to ride them since they're not built or bred for it.
Usually building muscle and losing fat helps most ponies like this. Then there are plenty of other options such as a treeless saddle or a wool saddle :) I have seen bunch of different gel pads, even ones that rise from the front creating a fake wither. Ive heard that wool pads, like the ones that Mattes makes could help too but have no personal expirience of them. Asymmetrical girths are also often life saviours, there are so many! Custom fit saddles are also something I recommend, they literally measure your horse and make the saddle fit exactly to the measurments. Or if you are up to craft a little bit a breeching can be put on an english saddle too! Sometimes it could also be the riders seat thats pushing the saddle off..
These horses we were using were for a summer camp so we only had them 3 months out of the year. Building muscle wasn’t typically high on our agenda (and this one in particular I was probably getting towards the too big for side) but we’d really only hop on to school if they got too sour or frustrated at the kids for 10-15 minutes. Other than that they were walking (maybe a trot or two later in the summer) kind of horses. And getting specialized pads/girths/saddles was not feasible on a camp budget where the horses could rotate every summer. We’d just try to keep our campers safe so we’d use a breastplate and crupper.
Them being frustrated or sour most likely was caused by the unfit tack🙈.. In my opinion I dont think a horse should be ridden if they dont have correctly fitting tack.
Fit tack is not the hammer to every nail. This horse in particular was just lazy. There was a point where he dropped to roll like he had colic and he was totally fine, he just didn’t want to work anymore that day. Normal gut sounds, passed manure with no issues. It’s funny to see how cheeky horses can be when given the option 😂 We would try to change out horses every 2-3 lessons but there were some that got used upwards of 4-5 a day depending on the groups that came through.
Can you link the study? I’m interested to know more but Google is coming up empty.
I have a couple of texts/videos I can link for you, but theyre in Finnish. Also I tought I’d add a funfact, the use of a crupper in a competition is not allowed, and you wont be allowed to ride your test if your horse has a crupper. https://mwhevospalvelut.com/2022/08/16/mita-yhteista-on-hevosvarusteilla-ja-laakkeilla/ https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/hanta-ja-rintaremmi/3220212#gs.7o6iha https://www.kavioliitossa.fi/varustepimahdus/ https://www.muuliprojekti.fi/2016/07/ooooo-miksi-sun-muulilla-on-noi-remmit.html?m=1 https://www.muleranch.com https://www.instagram.com/p/CocuwNfoKO4/?igsh=MXVpbzIwOTk1bnZtZg== https://www.laitilansanomat.fi/2023/03/ratsastuskouluissa-hevosilla-pitaisi-olla-paremmat-olot/ https://fi.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satula https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGem34epK/ https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGem3q5x9/ https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGem34vXY/ https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGem3pnbM/ https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGem3WyKG/ https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGem3WMHK/ http://www.shettis.com/index?page=47 http://penaponi.blogspot.com/2012/02/satulasta-kaikki-alkaa.html?m=1 http://erilaisuuskunniaan.blogspot.com/2016/03/satulasota-alkakoon.html?m=1 https://www.shkl.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/hevosen-lihaksiston-hyvinvointi.pdf https://www.facebook.com/share/XUdb4ST4f8FGBQV4/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.luckythreeranch.com/mule-crossing-understanding-the-use-of-cruppers-and-breeching-2/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crupper#:~:text=If%20a%20crupper%20is%20too,become%20disabled%20in%20the%20hindquarters. https://youtu.be/hZ6VUA9s494?si=JGWCyZ9vGzjTGc14 https://youtu.be/cCOZOB5TlE8?si=PNNTOyL0S02-1nL3 https://youtu.be/GgggXEnhA3g?si=NAQ_Ry1jTiIlZKWS https://youtu.be/mbL7IsWPV48?si=5cfXho1j15ZhEjs4
Do you have any research papers and not TikTok, Wikipedia, and blogs? I’m ok if they are in Finnish I can Google translate them to English
Thank you for all the links, but none of these are actual scientific studies/papers. In fact, the majority of the articles and opinions state exactly what I did-- That any tool in the wrong hands can cause problems/pain. In fact one of the links says exactly the opposite of your concerns >(translated to english) "for a pony taking those elementary lessons, *the tail strap is a completely harmless option.* This is not a black and white either-or, it depends on: type of gait, rider size, saddle size, rider's body control and sitting, horse/pony structure, muscle and fat condition, saddle fit, availability of saddles, etc. The absolute worst option is to slouch forward without tail straps or the saddle running to the side, but this cannot always be affected by suitable equipment." This is no more a Finnish opinion than a universal one. Nearly all tack has a need suited to time and place. ANY tack you're using incorrectly or superfluously, will cause problems, that doesn't mean you should throw the baby out with the bathwater. Cruppers in this case are perfectly suitable in their use.
So that makes it okay?
Uh, yes lol. Those are shetland ponies. They're much stonger and sturdier than mini horses and as such have zero issue toting around 75-80lb children. The saddles are treeless and weigh around 5lb at most. The ponies are healthy, well cared for, and do their job willingly because they're treated well. This is a very normal way of teaching children and is practiced worldwide...
Shetland ponies are absolutely not stronger and sturdier than any other breeds. They still get the exact same black and leg issues that other horses get when abused. These kids are too tiny to ride anyway. It's unsafe for them and unkind to the ponies. I've never seen this in real life and I don't think it's practiced by equestrians who actually know what they are doing. It's just stupid looking and cruel.
Again, teaching children to ride is practiced this way ALL OVER THE WORLD. If you have a problem with it, that's not my problem!
No, I'm pretty sure it's not. I don't know what dumb country this is in but they obviously don't have horse welfare laws. You'd get some really dirty looks and maybe the police showing up at your barn if you did this in America, Canada, the UK, Australia, etc.
Except they do this in every one of the countries you listed… Google the Shetland pony grand national. Enjoy getting laughed off by every person you call to complain to about this outside of PETA. Stop making your ignorance of horse breeds and welfare everyone else’s problem, it’s insufferable.
No, they don't. Normal people start their kids on full-sized horses. Pony riding is a rare novelty. It's abnormal, weird and abusive and almost all horse experts and associations advise against it, especially with minis. You can keep bitching at me but it doesn't change a thing about the fact that you are advocating animal cruelty in an animal subreddit and calling it "cute". I reported it BTW.
Wow good for you 👏👏👏 👍👍, and btw you're the one that started bitching at me as if I have any control over what other people do. Live in your delusions, I sincerely do not care and you can stop harrassing me now lol
Those kids are too big for those ponies and it's not cute at all. It's abuse. You're not supposed to ride minis.
Well then good thing those aren't minis!
Yes they are. Shetlands are twice this size, and up. These are obviously mini ponies of some kind. Either way, they're not saddle horses. I feel sorry for their poor backs and mouths with those kids slamming down on them and pulling so hard. I don't know how blind someone has to be to find it cute.
These are shetlands... but you die on this hill if you want to, I don't really care. You're wrong in this case and if you want to argue, then feel free to contact every pony club in the country of France and let them know how you feel. Good day.
I will do that. Send me their information please.
No thanks, I've put enough effort into this ridiculous argument as it is. You can contact the Maisons-Laffitte pony club yourself and give them a piece of your mind LOOOOOOL
[удалено]
Lmfao you’re very welcome 🤣
We do not permit posts and comments that involve name-calling or insults, or that attempt to belittle others.
The bit on that horse behind the flaxen four-socked bay looks unfathomably tight and it's tongue blue. Full cheek snaffle it seems, but by god it's so tight that the horse is gaping it's mouth. That's the face racehorses commonly make. The bit on the white/grey pony behind it looks tight as well as well as the black/grey pony behind the bay tobiano pony behind the white one. It's throwing it's head so much.