Whips and spurs...an outsider's perspective

["Tracey" <tracey@tbt.co.za>]

> Indeed. And this, from the "purists" who condone 
>     gingering, soring of feet, 
> 'bumping' jumpers to encourage them to lift 
>     their feet higher over fences, 
> liquid cocaine in the eyes to make them 
>     glossy and 'wide'; whipping halter 
> horses being the show barns until 
>     they drop to their knees in submission; 
> rhythmic spurring of dressage 
>     horses; savage bits in many disciplines; the 
> list goes on of things we 
>     have SEEN in the show ring. All of this pales next 
> to the base reason 
>     for abuse of any kind - a complete absence of true 
> horsemanship and a 
>     lack of understanding of the very nature of the horse. 
> You're 
>     preaching to the choir, Sandy.  One of the things which has attracted 
>     me to the sport of endurance is the refreshing attitude I see on Ridecamp : 
>     of riders committed to enjoying the sport with their 
> horses.
> Unfortunately, I think mine is a lone voice in the 
>     wilderness, however.
> Still, that's never made me shut up, before, has 
>     it? <grin>
> Tracey
>