NRHA says Respect the Horse: What About This Distressed Reining Horse
The horse walks into the show pen visibly distressed, and suffering and not a sole at this NRHA event did anything to help him, even though they spread marketing everywhere about Respect the Horse.
Expected to show as a top athlete in a physically demanding performance, his distress is obvious at the event and recorded on video.
Not the gate marshal, the show manager, the stewards, the judges, the scribes, the owner, the trainer/rider, other competitors, or a single person in the crowd. They just watched as he suffered and then screamed in elation at him, being made to spin fast whilst pissing himself.
Adding to his suffering, the rider jab spurred the horse multiple times every stride to force it to keep walking. As a result, over 100 spurs hits are counted before he got to the center.
It truly is a Reining Trainers Enigma. Watch the video below of the distressed reining horse.
For years the spotlight has been on the animal welfare of show horses, and reining has recorded some of the worst treatment consistently since first busted back in the early 2010s at the FEI shows.
In an attempt to demonstrate welfare issues are being addressed, the NRHA made minor changes to their rules. Still, the content of the descriptions was vague, and repeated offences of abuse and drugging continued. It’s a culture in the sport that the horses are run on medications, and it’s the dark underbelly of the sport. There is no real penalty for those who cheat and harm the horses.
The NRHA can put out all the marketing in the world, with glossy advertisements, slogans and photoshoots made to look like being kind to horses, but it is all a farce when they let down the animals time after time, year after year. It’s not just a leadership issue – it’s a membership issue.
With the new focus on million-dollar events and horses competing in a Hollywood circus-like environment, the pressure to make these horses perform to win has escalated to the highest level in history. The association was unable to regulate welfare just five years ago, and now they are so far out of their depth that it is showing signs of being irresponsible to the one ingredient of their circus, the horse.
If the NRHA were serious about welfare these incidents would be used to demonstrate their management of potential animal abuse, instead of spending their time finding ways to get out of making judgments.
Reining was kicked to the curb by the FEI for the pressure they put on young horses, the drugging, and the general disdain audiences had for their horse management outside the show ring. So, of course, the NRHA polished the separation story to what would put them in good light to the membership and allowed them to be protected from action in their bubble. NRHA has even made it into the explosive book “I Can’t Watch Anymore”, reporting people had tears running down their faces watching what reining trainers put the horses through. The video of the abuse was watched over 150,000 times in the first months of its release.
Judges should not look for reasons in the rule book why they did not have to take action, but rather should apply commonsense and stand up for the horses when they enter the pen, clearly distressed, drugged, or so tired they can hardly walk. They should not be shy in blowing the whistle and getting horses immediately vet checked. Point penalties are just feel-good Band-Aids in flawed animal welfare rules. Large financial fines and barring competitors-trainers is the only method of control of horse abuse.
Finally, an equine vet from within the circus bubble has stood up for the horses calling for change after watching this distressed horse. A formal letter to the NRHA Board and Executive Committee dated February 10th 2022, documents what changes to the rules are required and the intervention of veterinarians. At the time of writing this article, our understanding is that the NRHA is yet to respond to the letter or raise it.
The public is more astute and the people outside the bubble no longer accept the canned responses and defences delivered by the NRHA membership. Inside the bubble, seems to be an acceptance that is just how it is, and as this young rider demonstrates, it’s generational now. It is time that this circus is brought into line with what the world now accepts in horses’ fair and kind treatment.
Without change from within, the trainers, competitors, judges and show management are risking the final closure of horse sports and showing. They are the custodians of the future and appear negligent in their stewardship of the sport as abuse continues.
You can disagree, but the evidence is growing. Circuses are gone. The pentathlon is cancelled from the Olympics following the outrageous abuse of Saint Boy. They are calling for equine sports to be removed from the Olympics and bring a strong case to the table, with reining used as evidence. Dressage is heavily under the spotlight too.
To the rider of the horse in the video, in our opinion, you are despicable for a clear lack of sensitivity and care for the animal you use to earn a living or own. If, at minimum, the horse wanted to pee as he entered the ring, you would have given him the minute he needed to be comfortable instead of demanding he shows in a high-performance class as a distressed reining horse.
Could it be a drug problem that NRHA Members and Enthusiasts openly talk about?
Read their conversations on drugging here.
© 2022 Reining Trainers Enigma. All Rights Reserved.
I thought you were dreaming till I looked closer. That is just disgusting – any person worth there salt would know to stop. Would not be surprised that horse is not a space cadet on drugs.
Those reiners live their lives drugged cause that is the only way they can beat them up so bad. Shocking.
DIsbelief in what I am seeing. I have never seen a horse try to piss and walk and I have been around horses all my life. If this was racing he would be stopped in his tracks and demanded to dismount. Vets all over the horse.
What I see is another generation of abuse coming through. Yes I call it out – its abuse. That horse is drugged for sure as it shows no expression on its face. Who is that little punk sitting on it???
I need to pee – dig dig dig – I need to pee – dig dig dig – I really need to pee – dig dig dig. My message to you little rider man – PIG PIG PIG
The apple did not fall far from the tree.
Finally, a vet is standing up for these horses because the people just don’t seem to care. But will anything come from it or more just swept under the rug???
No. They love it. They never have and never will change. They see nothing wrong with beating up horses – they teach it in their clinics.
So much for Caroll Rose propaganda hitting my page – if this is RESPECT I think they need to check themselves fast. I cannot find anything about this kid being reported or disciplined.
If you want to have a really big laugh – the one of Schmershal saying love the horse first – he has a nerve. Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words.
He was probably given a buckle and applauded 🙂
This infuriates my friends & I as members of reining. We DO LOVE and RESPECT our horses but there is the minority like this person that continually just keeps dragging sport backwards. The higher they are on the prize money list – the more they will not change. The sport needs to take a stance and stop covering for each other. The board need to be a true board and have enforceable rules. The public is not stupid and we are seeing here in Europe events being cancelled for life. It’s time the membership demand more of the board and the rules and so pleased to read a vet is stepping up to question and make changes. Hopefully, we can all support him/her.
My wife just showed me the video. I don’t normally comment but as a rancher I am disgusted. These spoilt little pen riders are a disgrace to real cowboys and do so much damage to ranching in USA. We are under fire and fools like this are igniting problems. Whoever is in charge needs a good whopping too for letting this happen or not penalising it with expulsion.
This is absolutely sickening. That poor horse and all the others that asshat tortures. What a disgrace! The horse was urinating at the walk and into the spin. Nothing is ever done, and nothing ever changes. I just watched a western pleasure show live. Now that was disgusting too.
50 year of training jumping horses and I am speechless.
I saw a couple of show horses like this years ago, they were jabbed with drugs for skitsophrenia (however you spell it). Its used off-label to reduce anxiety and long-acting sedative effects. I would be betting that horse is a space cadet so the little rooster can sit on his pony. Surely their drug tests pick this stuff up?
Who is that riding the poor horse? Someone should make him work hard when he has to pee! Poor horse! Zero excuse!
This is appalling!!!!! When are people to going to stand up and say enough??? Why not show this jerks face and publish his name?? So the whole world can see what a horrible human being he is. He should never be allowed within 50 miles of a horse!!
Absolutely tragic and heartbreaking.
How in the world does this go on?
Right up there with Tenn.Walking Horse abuse.
Come on “ horse lovers!”
This is horrible.