Don’t Mistake Entertainment for Education
Recently, an e-mail hit my inbox promoting yet another show/contest where horse trainers will
compete with each other over a matter of a few days to see who is the “greatest” when it comes
to working with horses. This show is a perfect example of the type of industry-related issues that
start me grinding my teeth (which is not a good thing in humans or horses).
It’s not so much that I mind the commercialization of the training of horses with events like the
one this e-mail was promoting, but with entertainment-focused events which dress themselves
as education, come potentially serious pitfalls, both for the avid student/amateur learner in the
audience and the horse in the “center ring” of this brand of three ring circus.
I anticipated and accepted the incursion of this type of event into the “educational” part of the
world of horses as inevitable many years ago. I know such events have the potential for making
positive contributions, which I’ll explain later, and I appreciate good entertainment. That said,
it’s good to remember that the entertainment “industry” has its own set of rules and its primary
focus is making money. So consider the following text a “warning label.”
First, and foremost, if you attend these events—and I’m in no way suggesting that you shouldn’t,
you need to have a solid screening devise (think of it as a sort of bullshit meter) in place and
turned up to an ultra-sensitive level. Part of the meter’s job is to remind you, that when a trainer
is standing on the back of a horse cracking a whip or swinging a roaring chain saw around, that
what you are witnessing, in absolutely no way signifies that the horse who is standing underneath
the trainer has been trained in a superior manner or to an advanced level!
Now I can understand how, at first, this statement might be confusing. If a horse who starts out
as wild or unbroken can tolerate that type of nonsense in a matter of days, why wouldn’t you
assume the animal was well trained? To answer that question—and, believe me, it’s to your
definite advantage to know the answer to that particular question—you’ve got to spend some
time deciphering the true meaning of the term “well-trained.” In particular, how the term applies
to horses in general, and most particularly as it may apply to a horse you want to entrust with
your own life.
Excessive, continuous stimulus can put both humans and horses in a state of glassy-eyed,
submissive shock for a period of time. A frightened or over stimulated horse would generally
express their fear by spooking, bucking, rearing or attempting to run away (bolt). But both
humans and horses become more compliant when their nervous system has been repeatedly and
aggressively pushed so close to the point of exhaustion that it simply can’t respond in its normal
fashion. After this over-stimulation, if the horse is given a few days of rest, he’s highly-likely to
regress, especially if the training does not continue in a consistent way on a daily basis. In my
book, that means the horse does not qualify for the category of “trained horse.”
Is it possible for a trainer to win one of these events without the flashy, showmanship type
tricks that seem to have become the standard of these types of events today? Maybe. But as you
consider that question, keep in mind the following. Shows such as those described here typically
have to mandate that the horses being worked with have scheduled rest periods. Unfortunately,
the system fails the horse when the only enforcement of a violation of this mandatory rest period
is a simple penalty score. What I want to know is: where is the horse advocate who walks into
the pen and walks out, taking the over-stimulated horse with him or her?
On the positive side, shows featuring trainers working with mustangs help bring the attention
of the audience to an under-appreciated “breed” that deserves much better than its current
situation, (a life spent in stock pens controlled by non-horse government officials). The show
also offers horse lovers a chance to see first-hand how mustangs can potentially be a valuable
asset, especially as working horses, and, that it is possible for a human to bond with an equine
little-corrupted by the artifice of captivity. Undoubtedly, there are many mustang owners who
can tell you that the loyalty, trust, and connection they have experienced with their formerly-wild
horses is without peer. But just as important are the owners who’ve experienced disappointment
and shattered, albeit unrealistic, dreams. While this might be considered a “no injury, no foul”
part of the experiment, we need to remember it is the mustang who loses the most when the story
ends badly.
There are definitely positive things one can take away from shows that feature trainers working
with colts. The audience has a chance to learn about the variety of tools and techniques that
the different trainers use, and also to see first-hand what sequence of training (what things are
done in what order) they use over the course of the show. It is important for everyone to realize
that there is a general “rule of thumb” when it comes to colt-starting, but no exact formula for
success which is written in concrete. This is perhaps the most important lesson which can be
learned when watching two or more trainers apply the skills of their trade at the same time, in the
same place and that lesson alone is worth the price of admission.
Just remember, there is likely to be a fair amount of “snake oil” in any formula that claims
to “cure” (train) a horse in three days time, so Caveat Emptor!
Recently an e-mail hit my inbox promoting a new “show/contest” called “The Greatest
American Horseman.” It’s a perfect example of industry related issues that make me start
grinding my teeth (not a good thing in humans or horses). It’s not so much that I mind the
commercialization of the training of horses with events like “Road To The Horse” and “The
Extreme Mustang Makeover;” given that entertainment has been king since at least the advent of
the TV (I’d present star’s salaries as evidence), I accepted this type of incursion into the
educational part of the world of horses as inevitable, many years ago. I also know that such
events can make a positive contribution. But with entertainment focused events disguising
themselves as education, come more than a few pitfalls for the avid student/amateur learner
sitting in the audience. First, and foremost, if you attend these events (and I’m in no way
suggesting that you shouldn’t) you need to have a SOLID screening devise (bullshit meter) in
place and turned up to high (sensitive). Part of the meter’s job is to remind you that when
the “horseman” is standing up on his/her saddle and swinging a roaring chain saw around in the
air (or cracking a whip, etc.), that in NO WAY signifies that the horse who is standing under
them is trained in a superior manner or to an advanced level! Now I can understand how, at first,
this statement might be confusing to some. If a horse who starts out as “wild” (unbroken) can
tolerate that type of nonsense in 3 (?) days time, why wouldn’t you assume it was well trained?
To answer that question, (and believe me it’s to your definite advantage to know the answer to
that particular question), you’ve got to spend some time deciphering the REAL meaning of the
term “well trained” as it applies to horses and most particularly as it may apply to the horse you
want to entrust with your life. Excessive, continuous stimulus can put both humans and horses in
a state of glassy-eyed, submissive shock for a period of time (if you doubt me, check with the
C.I.A. or attend a “rave”). Both humans and horses become more compliant when the nervous
system has been pushed so close to the point of exhaustion that it simply can’t respond in its
normal fashion (spook, run, buck, resist, escape, etc.). After a few days rest, the likelihood the
over stimulated horse will “regress,” especially if the training does not continue in a consistent
way on a continuous basis. Is it possible to win one of these events without the flashy,
showmanship type “trick?” Maybe. But as you consider this question, keep in mind that
organizing committees have discovered they have to MANDATE rest periods (for the horses)
being worked with. But the system fails the horse when the only enforcement of a violation of
this mandatory rest period is a penalty score. What I want to know is where is the horse advocate
who walks into the pen and walks out taking the horse with him/her at such times?
On the positive side, in events such as the Mustang Makeover, an under appreciated “breed”
deserving of much better than its current lot (primarily controlled by non-horsey government
officials), is brought to the attention of horse lovers, as a potentially valuable asset (working
horse) and a potentially unsurpassed experience of the chance to bond with an equine that has
been little corrupted by the interference of artificial circumstance. There are undoubtedly owners
numbering in the hundreds by now who can tell you that the loyalty, trust and connection they
have experienced with a (formerly) “wild” horse is without peer. There have also been more than
a few disappointments and shattered, unrealistic dreams with the mustang being the one who
suffered the most in the end. Other venues provide a look at a variety of trainer tools and how the
sequence of application (in the case of starting a young horse) can vary from trainer to trainer;
yes, there IS a general “rule of thumb,” no there is NO exact formula written in concrete. That
lesson alone is worth the admission. Just remember there is likely to be a fair amount of “snake
oil” in any formula that claims to “cure” (train) a horse in three days time; caveat emptor.
Donna Snyder-Smith has been a national sports coach and clinician for 45 years, as well
as an AHSA judge, the editor of Trail Blazer magazine, and a widely-published industry
journalist. Her books include “The All Around Horse & Rider,” “The Classic Western Rider,”
and “The Complete Guide to Endurance Riding & Competition.”
Sincerely,
The Horse Advocate - Donna Snyder-Smith |