HOME | DD
SerenataPhotography β Distress
#animal #competition #dark #distress #equine #hurt #norway #oslo #pain #portrait #sadeyes #sport #stallion #unhappy #welfare #equipage #kandar #miscomfort #dressage #horse
Published: 2014-11-16 16:36:47 +0000 UTC; Views: 4258; Favourites: 211; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
Not a fan of the kandar...Related content
Comments: 55
This is a lovely photo, although I do not think the horse is really in that much distress. The bits may look tight and painful, and the horse may look irritated, but unless you took the picture, you can't be sure that it isn't just an open mouth moment. Foam is common at the mouth and ears back can mean many things, I find the ears back when the horse is listening, although some say you want on ear forward, one back? The bits look fine to me, not like they are causing any trouble, as they are designed to fit and move with the horses mouth, the reins in this photo are drawn back, or slackless, so the bits have moved to give the proper aid and retrieve the proper result. The horse actually appears to be leaning on the forehand a bit, but it impossible to tell what is happening in this indirect a photo, so I cannot say, but unless his neck is moving in a movement and is 'down' then I believe he is on the forehand, which I also could be mistaking for as a warm up of lowering the head and neck into a relaxed and reaching form. The neck certainly look relaxed, so I am betting the horse is just reaching into the contact and is being given an aid, maybe even to lift the head carriage, which has moved the bit and cause the mouth to open. I love the quality of the photo, but do not think the horse is being mistreated, hurt or improperly ridden in any way (again, though, without a full scale it is impossible to tell - I am just assuming in a positive air, which I think people should do more often!)
π: 0 β©: 1
OK, that may have come off a little off target from what I meant, the kurb does look quite tight, so if this picture is legit, the rider should loosen up and ride more on the snaffle, which clearly is the reason for the mouth opening and the ears flattening. I wouldn't hack on the bit so much though, I would maybe question what was happening in the shot and what the rider was doing. Sorry for any confusion and the long postΒ Β
π: 0 β©: 0
First off, this is a great photo, although the kandar really doesn't look comfortable
I've had a few classes/courses about bits, quite enlightening. However I don't remember if the kandar was covered much more than it being two bits which usually takes up too much place in the horses mouth.
The pelham however we did learn quite a lot about. The pelham seems like a decent tool to use as long as the rider knows how, and don't hurt or confuse the horse since it has potencial for being a strong bit. Also some seem to choose the divided(?) mouthpiece which the pelham wasn't designed for at first.
Not that I'm a fan of any of these bits, but if I ever had to, I would have chosen the Pelham over a bunch other bits.Β
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you for your thoughts 
π: 0 β©: 1
The pelham is basically the kandar in one bit instead of two. Look up an image an you'll see what I mean
But yea, it's always the hands that makes the difference ^^
π: 0 β©: 0
I'm afraid this kind of abuse will never stop until there is no longer money/pride/glory on offer for the rider. Competition has a very powerful influence over people. It gives you an adrenaline rush, and having a lot of people watching you or money at stake makes it even more intense - that desire to do well, to win.Β In any other competition, it is only yourself that you can push. That competitive rush is a good thing because it makes you push yourself to your limits. If you are doing sprints or high jump or what have you, yes, you push yourself to the limit when you are competitive. You can know your own limits and you are in control so there is nothing wrong with pushing yourself as hard as you can.
But when you get an animal involved, that competitive rush is only detrimental. A horse has no competitive desire (except perhaps for mates, food, or territory) and so pushing a horse hard for competitive reasons is only selfish and cruel.Β We give ourselves a physical advantage over the horse with bits and whips and by sitting on top of them, and all this means that we can hurt the horse very easily.
This is why I am against competitive horse sport. It just motivates people to bully horses to compete at high levels - hurting the horse for something that they have no desire for.Β
π: 1 β©: 1
I agree with you. There are those who compete without the harsh use of bits and whips, but rarely on a professional level..
I saw a clinic with Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin in October which was really great. She used a double jointed snaffle bit with a Aachen noseband.
Valegro was calm, had a healthy amount of saliva and didn't fight the bit one time. I was there as a photographer, so I was able to zoom in on the photos afterwards and closely inspect how Valegro behaved during the clinic. So there are those few who actually ride dressage on the horses premises aswell
π: 0 β©: 0
I just want to take that bridle off and hug him. That riders hands are too heavy and the poor baby really isn't happy.
π: 0 β©: 0
Dressage done correctly is beautiful but this bit is just ugly
π: 0 β©: 1
Agreed.
π: 0 β©: 0
Great picture and finally someone who doesn't look away. Working with Horses should be ART an communication, not sport and submission. And even those people who don't compete and consider themselves "horse friendly" and "natural" often have no idea about psychology and biomechanics of horses. I will never understand why so many riders never read good books or visit lessons of those who really understand and do research.
Bits like that are absolutely unnecessary but as long as people who use them are considered "professionals", nothing will change.Β
THANK YOU for your picture, because art can make people think and open their eyes!Β Β
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you so much for your comment
π: 0 β©: 0
No, it is only incorrect dressage that is harmful like this. Proper dressage is very comfortable and beneficial for the horse.
π: 0 β©: 1
I've seen too much ugliness in the dressage sport. But I guess, as you say, that some are worse than others.
π: 0 β©: 1
As have I, although more in the international levels than locally. But it is not just dressage in which you see this; I see people train like this in every discipline (with the exception, perhaps, of mounted games).
π: 0 β©: 1
Yeah, and I guess horse racing (with obstacles) is the worst sport ever. So many horses get injured and die every year. It should be banned.
π: 0 β©: 1
I know this reply is way late, but I just wanted to share my thoughts on the subject.
I believe that racing young horses that are not physically mature is unacceptable, and I believe that is the cause of a majority of the injuries and deaths. However, if rules were put in place to prevent physically immature horses from racing, then I think we could reduce the problems and make the sport safer for everyone involved.
Compare it to college track meets: if that many human athletes were harmed, new rules would be deemed necessary to make the sport safer. It wouldn't necessarily be banned, but changes would be made to protect the athletes. The same should be done for equine sports.
π: 0 β©: 0
Beautiful photo, but so sad. I think that having to use so much artifical help that puts the horse in distress is a sign of a rider that needs more education about how to train and ride a horse. It's all about the comunication from your hands, legs and seat and refining those and find a bond with the horse. If you need to put all these straps, extra reins and harsh britles you're not ready. I saw a good video about Β horsetraining and behaviour and they talk some about the form of the horse at the very end, so sad. The whole video is very good to if anyone has the time to see it
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp0QYf⦠by Andrew McLean. Sorry for a long post!
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you so much for your comment. I completely agree with you! I had to take the time to watch the video clip you linked me, therefore the delayed answer
π: 0 β©: 1
I'm glad you enjoyed it, I wish I'd seen it so many years ago when I still was an active rider at the ridingschool, even if I even at that age wondered why my teacher put the extra straps on some of the horses... I hope your friends will enjoy it too, tack!
π: 0 β©: 0
Great picture, because even idiots should be able to see that this canΒ΄t be good for a horse.
He / she looks so sad! I really donΒ΄t understand how anyone can do this to his / her partner...
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you so much^^
π: 0 β©: 1
YouΒ΄re very welcome! Such pictures deserve to be seen! (As your other picuters as well, of course)
π: 0 β©: 0
I compete dressage, but it is things like this that make going to competitions something to be dreaded. I see so many horses behind the vertical, not working properly from behind, and riders who use only their hands, rather than using their seat and legs. This is a very accurate photo of what goes on at a lot of dressage competitions. It seems that 90% of dressage riders I watch ride their horses behind the vertical and with a too-heavy hand. Even in the Pony Club (!) you see things like this! I watched some of the rides at several Pony Club dressage events this past year, and I saw numerous riders with heavy hands and horses behind the vertical - one with the head all the way to the chest. It is ridiculous, the point that such training has progressed to.
Some salivation is good (some people refer to it as "happy foam"), but it is when you reach a point like this that it becomes a sign of distress rather than good work.
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you for your comment. I have seen the same with junior pony riders. But the problem lies not with them, but with their trainers - adult people. And that's a shame, cause they should know better
π: 0 β©: 1
It's the judges too. The one with the head all the way to the chest qualified for Pony Club championships! I do agree though, the trainers play a large part in the problems. I haven't spent as much time watching the Young Riders/other juniors, but I know that they have similar issues.
π: 0 β©: 0
Ugh... they deserve so much more respect. 
Great capture, really well done. 
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you so much for your comment and fav^^
π: 0 β©: 0
Heartbreaking. If you can't, as a rider, get on your horse bareback with a halter and get him to round up and work off the hind, you shouldn't be riding. I don't compete and mastered this basic communication early on. This is just bullying and forcing form through pain and fear. Good for you, hon, for posting this (your photography is amazing!)
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you for your comment^^
I absolutely agree with you. Dressage should be something the horse wants to do with you, not forced to do for you.
π: 0 β©: 1
Yes! It's supposed to be about communication. Bonding. In that sense, it's amazing. But competition has taken it in a really bad direction. It's sad, because when it's done well, there is really not much more amazing to see.
π: 0 β©: 0
that expression... the horse is in serious pain.
π: 0 β©: 0
This photo just breaks my heart. Not only is the bit horrid, but the horse's head is behind the vertical.Β You can even see how hard the rider is pulling at the horse's mouth. 
Thank you so much for submitting this and for bringing this issue up. I believe more people need to be aware of the ugly direction sports like dressage are taking, at the cost of the horses' health, and that something needs to be done.
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you for your comment. I absolutely agree with you. The important part is first of all the hands holding the reins, but at the same time I think it should be possible to compete with a bitless bridle.
The Netherlands opened up for that April this year. I hope Norway follows..
π: 0 β©: 1
No problem, and sorry about the long rant. I feel very strongly about this and just had to put in my two cents.
Indeed, hard hands aren't in accordance with the philosophy of dressage in the first place. I'm all for bitless bridles, and I'm glad to hear the Netherlands now permits them in competitions. Keeping my fingers crossed that Norway as well as other countries will follow suit! : )
π: 0 β©: 0
Very nice shot.
But as you said the kandar is one of the most cruel things you can do to your horse. 
My opinion is: every rider who use this, isnΒ΄t a good enough rider because he isnΒ΄t trained to ride horses without such things.
All they want is glory at the cost of the horse. And they donΒ΄t want to spend to much time to train with their horses in a more friendly way because it takes to much time for them. -.-
π: 0 β©: 1
I agree with you
π: 0 β©: 0
The horses mostly look so sad in those competitions :c
makes you happier again to see the rest of your galery with all the happy animals / pets <3
π: 0 β©: 0
A great shot of a beautiful horse with a moron in the saddle
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you. It's a shame that kandar is mandatory in Norwegian competitions. Just stupid
π: 0 β©: 1
Yes that is a shame, I think it makes lazy riders.
π: 0 β©: 0
| Next =>