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Saturday, 07 March 2009

So You Want to Block Your Horse's Tail? Allow Me To Show You What it Will Feel Like!

Today we are going to talk about something that really, really pisses me off. I know this is a topic that many have covered before; but too bad. Now it's my turn to bitch about it. I forewarn you right now, my language in this post is going to get very "colorful" for lack of a better word; but this is a topic that warrants such language for the dumbass that thinks it's OK to block a tail.

I also want to add this. I understand that many people that own horses that have had their tails done did not know the procedure got done. Some people were fooled by people they trusted into thinking it was legit and "the only way to go". I know judges like to see nice tail sets. I know they deduct points for excessive use of the tail. But please people, now that the info is out there about tail blocking... do some research. Hell, ask your vet about the effects! You can't change the past, but you can change the future. I understand that when this started many people didn't know the effects. Now we know what can happen. I am not angry with the people that have had it done in the past and now understand it's not the kosher thing to do. I am angry with the people that know the effects and still do it, thinking a botched job will never happen to them.

First let me explain something to you. I have been showing for a very long time. I have NEVER, EVER, had to or felt the need to block a horse's tail. And guess what, ALL my horse's USE their tails. It's a fucking horse! That's how GOD created it. And here man is, holier than thou, thinking it's cool to just deaden a horse's tail. I don't give a rat's ass if that horse jogs or lopes around the pen with it's tail straight up like you stuck a firecracker up its ass. You are NOT GOD. I don't give a shit if you "Own" the horse. I don't give a shit if it's your right as an OWNER to block a tail. You are a vain son of a bitch if you can stand there and watch someone inject a tail with alcohol so you can go win a class. You are a bigger asshole if you are the one doing it. And you are a coward if you don't watch yet give permission for someone to do it. I don't care if "everybody" else is doing it. I don't care if you are a World Champion trainer with 800 titles and a wealthy set of clients. I don't care if you are a judge. I don't care if you are an amateur or novice amateur. And to the parents that inject your child's youth horse's tail, GET A GRIP. I don't care if the judges don't place a horse that uses it's tail. If that's the case, quit showing to them and report them to the association. Get some new judges that can actually fucking comprehend that a horse uses its tail for balance. It's not natural for a horse to have it's tail packed into its ass cheeks.

I'm going to say it right now. If you come here and try to justify this saying "well the way we do it the horse still has some movement" or "the way we do it; it wears off and the horse is fine"; I promise you I will find out who you are and I will report your ass. You can tell me till you're blue in the face that a horse that packs its tail will place better than a horse that uses its tail. I call BULLSHIT. If that were the case that mare at the top of this blog would not be placing. Grow a set of balls. Stand up to your trainers that allow this; take a stand against the judges that place this shit. A horse that is a 10+ mover is going to move a lot more fluidly and prettier if his/her tail wasn't sucked into his/her ass so far that is was wrapped around his sheath or stuck to her teats. And honestly... do you know how ugly it is to see a pleasure stallion jog into the pen all sweaty, balls slappin, with his tail stuck to his balls?

For those of you who try to justify blocking a tail. I wish I could personally take you to the vet clinic. I would love to watch you wipe the shit caked onto the horse's ass. I would love to watch you care for the abscesses. I would love to watch you care for the horse who's skin sloughs off from bad tail jobs. Then, I would love to give you the same courtesy. I will gladly inject your tailbone with alcohol, put you in a diaper with some tail hair (for added comfort of course) and let you stand around; only eating, pissing, and shitting for a few weeks. And no, the diaper is not allowed to come off. Then I would love to take you out of your room, take your diaper off, rub your ass raw with some Nolvasan and water, put you in a pair of skin tight wranglers with no skivvies and make your ass line dance all night. And you know what? If you don't dance pretty enough I'd love to do it all over again.

I actually just read a thread where someone asked where to go to get a good tail job done. Are you fucking kidding me? Kudos to this person who has decided to go with a weighted tail instead. And MAJOR kudos to all the folks that told this person EXACTLY how wrong it is to "do" a tail.

I have no problem with fake tails. Hell, I show in one. However, mine does not bear metal weights. This is another thing that I simply don't care to do to my horse. My fake tail is merely to enhance my mare's tail. It's thin, sparse, very fine and she has a big ass. Her fake tail is only to accentuate the overall picture. It doesn't keep her from using her tail in any way. If she wants to put her tail over the top of her back... yup, she still can. While I don't like the idea of metal weights, I think they are much more humane than blocking a tail. At least the weights can be removed. Of course you always have one or two (or more) assholes that are going to go overboard and try sticking 5lbs or more of weight onto the tail which sucks, but hey... at least they can be REMOVED. As it stands, APHA only allows 3 lbs of metal weight, which I think is a little excessive. AQHA allows NO metal weights. Good for AQHA!

At any rate, if you block your horse's tail, now you know what I think of you. I think you are a sick son of a bitch that only has winning on the brain. If I were judging the class, you'd win a freaking piece of coal to put in your stocking at Christmas and a trip to court for abuse. There... I said it... yup, tail blocking is abuse. Why? Because you are injecting a foreign substance into a creature that has NO say so, you cannot guarantee the outcome, and you are deadening an area that is vital to a horse. Last time I checked we still had flies in this country. Last time I checked a horse still lifts it's tail UP to shit (saying well the horse can lift to the side is no excuse). Last time I checked a horse still uses its tail to balance. Now, I know not all tail jobs go bad, but A TON of them do. If you allowed your horse's tail to be injected or you injected the horse yourself, you should be charged with animal cruelty. When and ONLY when you can show me a legitimate MEDICAL NECESSITY for injecting a tail will I think about changing my mind. But wait... there are NONE!

For some reason I just can't fathom a vet ever coming to a barn and saying "Hey Larry, let's inject this horse's tail with some alcohol so it can shit better. You know... I hear it's great lubrication for the butt cheeks". "Gee Bob, I'm glad you mentioned it. I've been looking for a way to keep my horse's ass lubed naturally".

Point blank. Blocking a tail is not natural. It's not a breed standard, and it's just not right... or safe. I don't want to hear stories about how you were "peer pressured" into getting your horse's tail done. Peer pressure is a bitch but if you give in to something that ridiculous you may want to think about going back to school and taking a critical thinking class because you obviously cannot think very well for yourself, or the animals that are in your care.

Folks, I am really sorry for the language in this post but it's shit like this that made me decide to stop training for the public. As a matter of fact, I actually lost a customer once because I would not show their horse if they got it's tail done. But hey, I'm all about the legit way... not the shit way.

33 comments:

Evergrey said...

Go you! I wish more people would take a stand.

"It's the only way to win" is right up there with "that's just the way we do things," "It's traidition," and "it's my culture" for bullshit excuses for cruel and abusive behavior. Usually it is accompanied with "you don't know nothin' about my breed" or "I been workin' with horses for 30 years so I can't be wrong and no one can question me." Blargh. Things like this make me never want to go to a horse show. :/

success in the pen said...

I agree evergrey. However, I don't think that "Not Showing" is the way to change the practices. I think the people that do show the "correct" way need to flood these bastards out of the pen.

rosesr4evr said...

Someone I know bought a 4yo gelding that had it's tail blocked badly/too many times. She was told the horse "broke" it's tail as a foal. Yeah right, my a**. Anyway, this lady boarded him and some other horses with me.

At first I couldn't understand why this horse had started to look good, put weight on, blooming and then he starts going downhill. Turns out he was driven nuts by flies and couldn't swish them away. So he was using all his energy to twitch his skin and then he would constantly roll. Well, it's summer and that amounts to a lot of rolling, getting up and down, too busy with flies to eat. His hocks were suffering as a result and they weren't in good shape to begin with.

She had sent this horse to a local trainer and she was told that she couldn't show said horse with them b/c of his tail.

This horse was a complete mess. When it came time to have vet work done, the vet commented that the horse had seen a lot of needles (reared up and jerked head and neck away when vet felt for vein)

I told owner that she needed to get a fly sheet for the horse and to keep him in during the daytime and let him out at night. That went on for a little while, then fell by the way side.

The horse had a host of other problems that were the result of square peg/round hole, all in the name of winning in the show pen.

Sad!

Amber DBTD said...

Great post, HNH... People should be ashamed of the crap they do to their horses for the sake of winning.

GoLightly said...

(cowering)
Thank goodness for this post! As an english person, I was completely shocked when I heard about this. Very glad to hear that there are folks that "get" how wrong it is.

Great Post!
(I just closed my eyes at the swear wordz)
:)
Use an accent, it makes the word less ugly.
Shite.
Isn't that purdy?

LOL, verify word is
cutch

Like a crutch, it is!

roanhorse said...

Your language may be colorful and overly wraught concerning blocked tails. When I initially read your comments you make it seem that the breed organizations are doing "nothing" regarding the welfare of their show horses which is BS.

Everyone, from the show committe, to judges, to stewards, right on down the line is well aware of the individuals out there who believe they'll try to pass one over on us. The individuals who do this are also those same people who over medicate or try to win a class on a drugged horse. As you know from your own breed shows, DQP's (designated, qualified people) and veterinarians are on the show grounds at all times and are ready to drug test and check for other illegalities (tail blocking, hanging, bleeding, starving, etc).

There are those undesireables out there who will continue to do this; it's only thru due diligence on the part of exhibitors, trainers and owners that this practice can be stopped. Can we catch every one of them? I doubt it.

But we can keep the numbers to a minimum and keep prospective owners and exhibitors aware of the problems when they're horse shopping.

Anonymous said...

roanhorse; The breed organizations do not do enough, about a lot of the show ring abuses. It is a sad fact and it is true that horses continue to pin who clearly have been put through the mill with regard to horrible training tactics and suffered horrible training "accidents". "Trainers" consistantly use abusive tactics and continue to be rewarded in the show pen, not to mention any names but there was just a BIG to-do in the QH world and in my opinion not near enough was done. I know of another AQHA trainer that broke the neck of a youth amatuer owner's horse IN FRONT of the child and on the show grounds of a class A show and after a slap on the wrist continues to be accepted in the class A world....I think this post was not overly colorful at all, it is the truth and it is also the truth that the breed organizations don't do enough....western pleasure horses look like anything BUT a pleasure to ride, they have been transformed into horrific painful creatures to watch...the breed standard just in that one event alone is SO skewed and horrible it is not even funny...these days there is not a breed or discipline left that is not completely twisted and destroyed...even dressage has been twisted into something it was never intended. I am not a kid, I have been in this business for over 35 years and the changes that have occured in the last 25 have been sickening. The breed organizations are in it for the money, not the promotion, protection, or improvment of the breed standard as originally written and it is a crying shame.

Anonymous said...

roanhorse said:
Everyone, from the show committe, to judges, to stewards, right on down the line is well aware of the individuals out there who believe they'll try to pass one over on us. The individuals who do this are also those same people who over medicate or try to win a class on a drugged horse. As you know from your own breed shows, DQP's (designated, qualified people) and veterinarians are on the show grounds at all times and are ready to drug test and check for other illegalities (tail blocking, hanging, bleeding, starving, etc).

Yes that is the SADDEST PART! They are TOTALLY aware of these things and still they continue pinning those animals and look the other way if it is a trainer who is currently "popular"; how do you think these things become so fashionable and popular???!!? They do because folks are getting rewarded over and over by winning again and again, after they have used these tactics and it is happening everywhere, all disciplines have their evils and the evils continue to be rewarded....PUL-EEZE,do not imply that anything is done to these people because anyone who has shown knows otherwise. Some of the WORST abusers are some of the most winning trainers, everyone knows it, everyone looks the other way, and those of us with morals and values quit training outside horses and lots of us also quit showing out of disgust for the abuse that goes on. It is time for you to take off those rose color glasses and take a clear look around you at your next show.

Liz Cronin said...

I could not agree more!
After we bought my horse, we realized that something was wrong with his tail. We later found out that it was "improperly" blocked. His tail is now almost completely paralyzed and so crooked that it is question-mark shaped.
I am absolutely sickened that people place winning a stupid ribbon above the welfare of a living creature.

SFTS said...

HnH, I know we had our go rounds regarding a certain someone a month or so ago, however from time to time when I've had the chance I have checked out your blog. This entry finally turned my head enough to post.

My "main breed" is the Arabian, which I love with all my heart. I do take in a variety of breeds, though, including Paints and Quarter Horses. About four years ago, a client that had several stock breed horses in training with me had a particularly nice grey overo APHA gelding that the daughter was showing all around on both the local open circuit and a couple of the smaller Paint circuits. They wanted to head into the big time, so I suggested they find a trainer who frequented that circuit, because I simply did not have time with the other show commitments we already had.

About a month after they sent "Jaspur" to a well known So Cal Paint trainer, I received a call from his owner, from whom I still had several other horses (a younger Paint gelding, a young QH gelding and a STB mare), who had to ask me an "urgent training and showing question". Now, this horse was known for his "active tail" in the show ring so they had already, six months or so earlier, gone to a weighted tail. [Remember, I'm an 'Arabian person', we don't allow broomtails ~ we grow them thick and long naturally ;)] He got on well with the "new" tail, and was virtually quiet.

Anyhow, this was the gist: Their new (Nationally recognized, APHA World Champion) trainer wanted to have a block done on Jaspur's tail. Her question was, what would *I* do in this situation? For me it was a 100% no brainer ~ I told her in no uncertain terms that it was against the rules as well as being highly cruel to the horse. At what cost did she want her daughter to win? For me it was no question, and told her if I was in her shoes, I would tell the trainer she either did not block my horse or I'd pull that horse and take him home.

Well, the horse stayed with the trainer and by the following APHA World Show he had an unusually quiet tail. Hmmm. By that time, because all the money was poured into Jaspur's career, they had no way to pay for additional training, so we'd parted ways. I still see them occasionally around town, we're still friends, I've even had clients of mine buy saddles, tack and show clothes they no longer use from them, but I did lose some respect for them because they didn't stand up for their horse's well-being.

That trainer? Karen Qualls of Chino Hills, California.

roanhorse said...

Anonymous....Short of shooting these people on sight, what do you propose the AQHA with them? Quit your dam whining, be part of a show committee, be in charge of the DQP'S, and demonstrate a willingness to be pro active rather than a reactive whiner and making ludicrous accusations.

"Take of my rose colored glasses"..such unmitigated bullshit...just because I'm not a writhing piece of meat, lying on the floor, screaming "abuse" and pointing fingers doesn't mean I'm not aware and not doing something about it. I've stood out in the center of the pen for more hours than you could ever imagine doing my job and searching for violations of AQHA protocols. No we DON'T "look the other way"...if you're so dam convinced that we do, then prove it. Take your concerns to the Show Committe, Judges Committee of the AQHA. Or present your concerns at the annual convention of the AQHA. That is what that convention is for.

And while you're at it take your skinny ass to the pen and/or show grounds and put some time in gratis' looking for violaters or would that be just beyond you???? No doubt it would. Hell of a lot easier to run your mouth, and accuse me of "rose colored glasses" and fabricate stories than to actually do something about it.

SFTS...You risk liabel and slander just to "out" a trainer and you believe that you are untouchable and cannot be tracked on the 'net. Well, good luck with your ignorance.

You're only spreading "gossip" and/or pure speculation at this point, re: the horse, Jasper, which in a court of law, is simply heresay. Better to keep quiet than to spread this along with the rest of the speculators as at some point someone will call on you to "prove it".

SFTS said...

roanhorse wrote:
SFTS...You risk liabel and slander just to "out" a trainer and you believe that you are untouchable and cannot be tracked on the 'net. Well, good luck with your ignorance.

You're only spreading "gossip" and/or pure speculation at this point, re: the horse, Jasper, which in a court of law, is simply heresay. Better to keep quiet than to spread this along with the rest of the speculators as at some point someone will call on you to "prove it".


Well, "roanhorse", keep up the good work being an apologist for the abusers. Turning a blind eye never helped a horse.

Ignorance? Oh no, quite the contrary. The fact is, anyone can sue anyone else for anything at any time. Which, of course, does not mean they have a viable prosecutable (and winnable) case. Btw, it's "libel". Have you ever done research into this field of law?

Hearsay? Again, no. I have sworn statements backed up with recorded comments in this matter ~ so please don't shed any crocodile tears for me. However I sincerely doubt Karen is in any way concerned about what folks think or say, either. I am very well versed in this world.

I also would welcome any action which may further help horses no longer suffer vile abuse from those contracted to train them for cubic dollars. I stand up for what I believe in, I say what I mean and I mean what I say.

My guess would be that you're a friend, client or supporter of Cleve Wells, too? *headdesk*

roanhorse said...

SFTS...if you're as "well versed" as you say you are then for dam sure you'd understand libel and slander..which you apparently do not. Keep trying to convince me that you do and that you're bullet proof,i.e., keep running that big "gob" of yours.

Frivolous lawsuits are just that, frivolous;...Judges throw them out of their Courtroom everyday. Smart attorneys usually know a garbage lawsuit when they see one. You have the arrogance to believe that they don't. What you're promulgating is pure ignorance on your part. If you in fact have "sworn statements" or "recorded statements" which I sincerely doubt you possess, then quit the bullshit and file a lawsuit...and in the process, don't forget that lawsuits are reciprocal. Until you take that step forward, you're as full of excretement as the next person. Jimgle your "balls" somewhere else.

Libel...that you've done..published a written accusation, by placing it on the internet, and your intent is to injure another person's reputation....namely the aforementioned trainer ...and until you put your money where you mouth is and prove it..you're just another piece of cheap, emotional crap looking to make a name for yourself through gossip, intimidation and name calling.

You're trying to convince the rest of us that you're the "second coming as a witness" or God almighty himself, when all you have is heresay. If you do possess sworn or recorded "statements" then obviously they're in the wrong hands. If these "recorded statements" had any validity they would have been turned over to an attorney long ago. You're long on brag and short on "do". Obviously you'd rather run your mouth.

Most trainers I personally know are too dam busy to be on this blog typing their inconsequential bullshit for the rest of the world to interpret.

You've yet to convince me that you're anything more than just another gas bag stirring the pot and causing trouble. Take a long walk off a short pier, nimrod.

Anonymous said...

roanhorse said...
Anonymous....Short of shooting these people on sight, what do you propose the AQHA with them? Quit your dam whining, be part of a show committee, be in charge of the DQP'S, and demonstrate a willingness to be pro active rather than a reactive whiner and making ludicrous accusations.

"Take of my rose colored glasses"..such unmitigated bullshit...just because I'm not a writhing piece of meat, lying on the floor, screaming "abuse" and pointing fingers doesn't mean I'm not aware and not doing something about it. I've stood out in the center of the pen for more hours than you could ever imagine doing my job and searching for violations of AQHA protocols. No we DON'T "look the other way"...if you're so dam convinced that we do, then prove it. Take your concerns to the Show Committe, Judges Committee of the AQHA. Or present your concerns at the annual convention of the AQHA. That is what that convention is for.

And while you're at it take your skinny ass to the pen and/or show grounds and put some time in gratis' looking for violaters or would that be just beyond you???? No doubt it would. Hell of a lot easier to run your mouth, and accuse me of "rose colored glasses" and fabricate stories than to actually do something about it.
Well Roanhorse; You sure are getting yourself in a big bunch here. Let me clarify some things for you, I have done my time in the center of the ring, on committees, at conventions, I also did a ten year stint in law enforcement investigating animal abuse specializing in equines, I have trained and done lessons. You see I have been in this business for many, many years. What can the breed organizations do? You will note that I did NOT single out the AQHA....What they can do is STOP PINNING THESE HORSES, STOP REWARDING BAD< BAD< BAD behavior. Stop allowing trainers to build reputations by hurting animals. You can stop coming onto blogs and stop making excuses for this behavior. Stop saying that everything that can be done is being done because that is complete and total BS, you know it, I know it and anyone who has had a show career knows it. You made a number of assumptions about me and they were all incorrect, I am no spring chicken and I have done my time and yes I have put enormous effort into stopping the abuse until I got too damn burned out to do it anymore. Yes my friend, I stand by everything I said including that you need to take off those glasses and look at things with a clear eye. My story was NOT fabricated, kindly do not call me a liar, the breed club divided and became two clubs over that "accident" because half the club refused to look the other way over it and called for permanant action to be taken. It wasn't. I am betting you are very young and I am absolutely certain that those rose color glasses are firmly planted on your nose.

SFTS said...

I wouldn't worry about old roanhorse, Anonymous. Sometimes everyone, even those who are clueless or have their heads stuck in the sand, needs to vent.

By the way, roanhorse? Libel is only actionable is the statement is not true.

I'd suggest you remove your head from whatever BNT ass you've got it shoved up into and educate yourself.

roanhorse said...

SFTS..We're waiting on you to schedule your surgery for removing a FB(your head) from your rectum since you currently are an obvious victim of rectum inverticus. No doubt that contributes to your holier than thou attitude. The odor has given you false impressions of your own importance. You still believe you're God almighty, don't you?

And where is your J. D. degree? You don't have one??? I'm just shocked. There have to be quotable statutes somewhere to support your claim. Good luck finding them.

Anonymous: Well now, are you the overworked, underloved, "nobody will listen to me" put upon, older than dirt malcontent accusing everyone of having less experience than you??? And now you're "burned out"....No doubt there's a pity party for you somewhere...maybe PETA will help you with your feeling of "being unloved". Your expectations of curing the ills of the show pen in short order are highly unrealistic. And god help anyone who doesn't agree with you because then they're ignorant, near sighted, wear "rose colored lenses", etc. ...typical of a short sighted purveyor of an incomplete thought process.

You may take your "ignorant" glasses off your head, no doubt they're amber in color for all the piss you're spreading around. Just because many of us are not reacting hysterically and are working steadily to improve the situation for show horses does NOT mean the situation has been/is being ignored. We have NO control over how you choose to react. I have LITTLE patience with an attention seeking martyr.

Tail blocking, drugging, hanging, bleeding and starving horses has gone on for years as have those individuals who are looking for every conceivable advantage to beat their rivals in the pen. The law doesn't allow us to "Shoot'em when we catch'em"...they're entitled to a hearing and are innocent until proven otherwise...apparently you're of the school of thought that they're "guilty until proven innocent". Please remember that you'd receive the same "innocent until proven guilty" rights as anyone else in the pen.

I've also stood in the center of the pen for years, am an exhibitor, asked to serve on multiple show committees, both AQHA and Open, been a local director, given lessons, and have been directly involved with law enforcement for more than 20 years. Animal abuse cases are just part of the process and we've covered more than our share of them.

I also stand behind every one of my comments...I call it as I see it and what I see are two individuals, one who will fabricate, name call, gossip, and attempt to intimidate anyone dumb enough to believe ridiculous statements made without concrete proof, (forward some court documents, numbskull) and the other, an overworked (apparently, according to you)martyr who sincerely believes that NO ONE else has dealt with abused animals and devious trainers or has the background that you do in the show world which is unmitigated crap.

(By the way, you "bet" incorrectly).

I'll stand behind every "assumption" I've made, just as you have.

You're gotten "YOURSELF" in a big bunch here too, toots.

At this time, the "discussion" is rendered pointless. Those of us who are working as show horse advocates will continue to do so. Whether or not you believe that, or believe our efforts are useless, or are ineffective is immaterial. If you dislike what you see than get off your dam dead butts, with the exception of the martyr, who is apparently fried, and do something constructive for the welfare of the horses in the pen. Until then, you're merely a whiner. As is said, 10 percent of the people do 90 percent of the work within any organization. What percentage are the two of you? Bet I can tell you.

Anonymous said...

roanhorse, you certainly are a combative soul. Bottom line, as long as judges and breed organizations reward trainers at the expense of the horses they ride, there will be no reason to stop abuses. There was a time when unsound and doctored (i.e. injected,tail blocked etc) horses were excused from the ring and not allowed to even compete, that is what needs to happen today. Instead these horses are pinned and the trainers are rewarded, there is no excuse for that. Who decided that a horse should not use it's tail? What possible man made stupid idea made that the standard for a horse? And who promotes and rewards such a thing? What jack-ass decided that a horse traveling with it's head between it's knees out of balance and uncomfortable was a "pleasure" to watch or ride, and why are the judges and breed organizations allowing that to be the "standard". At what point did it become okay for a clearly lame and doctored horse to win a reining class? At what point did it become okay for horses to be injected, broken down and lame permanently by the time they are seven years old? What pos decided that to stop Arabs from mouthing the bit they would be fitted with a 2 x 4 board in their mouth for days before the show so that they could not mouth the bit on show day? Lets not even get into the atrocities that happen in the gaited world. It ALL goes back to the show pen and people being rewarded for those things. Quite frankly, I would euthanize my horse before I would allow her to be sold to a show person or a show barn. You keep yapping about your committee's blah blah blah...well specifically, WHAT are you actually DOING about these things other then acknowledge that they exist. I do not consider myself a martyr, nor am I seeking attention. I am simply stating my opinion and the fact that it is an educated opinion. You can justify this crap all you want to, but the bottom line is you ARE justifying it and you should be ashamed of yourself. You try to make it sound like it is the minority doing these things and unfortunately it is NOT. Just because these things have become the norm does NOT make them okay. This topic and the author are right on, and I hope more people become aware and speak up.

SFTS said...

Anonymous wrote:
roanhorse, you certainly are a combative soul.

Indeed. An ego-maniacal blowhard as well. This person has rendered this discussion "pointless", because no one is buying their bullshit. Thank goodness. I find those who apologize for abhorrent BNT and show horse owner behavior, frankly, sickening.

...and as I said, the "fake tails"/"tail blocking" world isn't even MY world. We don't allow that nonsense here. Over and out.

Anonymous said...

You know roanhorse; It just occurred to me...your responses are so angry I have to wonder at what nerve we hit? I mean, no one singled you out or attacked you personally? I am guessing perhaps your show horses have blocked tails, injected hocks and Lord knows what all else for the purpose of chasing those ribbons and points?? Just wondering.....

roanhorse said...

SFTS...."Over and Out" Oh promise the rest of us you'll take your big mouth and disappear. Go attempt to ruin another trainer's reputation while your at it. You really get your jollies off on that don't you? Just a sickening individual...trailer trash.

Speaking of "anger" on your part, no matter how displaced it is. No doubt the tide will turn and your lies and embellishments and libelous statements will place your butt in the fire...couldn't happen soon enough to a nicer person. You're really a fine pillar of the community.

The both of you are such blowhards....I'm not buying your bullshit, your fabrications and boy that does annoy the hell out of the both of you losers. Angry? Hardly, I deal with fools every day...just two more reject hummers for the pile.

Anonymous it's time for you to begin to stress, scream, cry foul and rub your hands together. We don't want you losing your martyr status. All you lack is an audience and you truly believe you'll find it here. Wrong number. You claim an "educated" opinion? Hardly, emotional more clearly defines whatever you think you have to say. There's hardly any logic to be had.

God I love it...ashamed of myself...LOL best laugh I've had all day. For someone who "isn't angry" you've spread your share of venom and puke to last you the day.
On and on and on....saying nothing new, nothing of further interest and a total waste of oxygen. If you can't convince me, you'll bore me to death.....and no doubt quite a few other people by crying foul...Yup, for sure your "Sky is falling".

Now, I'm to list what my respective committe is doing regarding abuses in the pen. The AQHA has, on it's website, the issues that are being addressed nationally and LOCALLY. If you cannot or won't accept their statements and their list of the responsibilites that they've assumed and placed on each state organization then I would suggest you take your beef to them directly as their directives govern what we do. If that doesn't meet your satifaction, it is YOUR problem. The AQHA Executive Committee and HQ is in Amarillo, Texas. If they won't listen to you then they sense what I do....your presentation is weak and has little merit. Too much emotion and too little documentation. You don't have a case.

Why hasn't any other organization accepted what you have to say???? Good Question.....hmmmmm.

Why don't you go euthanize a few of your horses while you're at it so the "bad" people can't get their hands on the camels you loosely refer to as horses. LMAO. Nuts.....

I thought you were a "mental", bi-polar, now, there's no doubt in my mind. Just a whack job. Get your ass over to the Fugly Horse of the Day blog .. both of you are a pair to draw to...and you'll both feel right at home....a group of losers.


Adios.

SFTS said...

Anonymous wrote:
You know roanhorse; It just occurred to me...your responses are so angry I have to wonder at what nerve we hit? I mean, no one singled you out or attacked you personally? I am guessing perhaps your show horses have blocked tails, injected hocks and Lord knows what all else for the purpose of chasing those ribbons and points?? Just wondering.....

I admit it...I LOL'd. ;)

Verrry interrresting indeed. You know, I was thinking the same thing.

Angry responses. Defensiveness. Long dissertations full of bullshit, hot air and venom ~ then no Blogger profile available. Methinks someone (who preaches about slamming anonymously on the internet) prefers to be, yep, you guessed it, ANONYMOUS!

Oh, the things that make you go "Hmmm".

Carry on!

roanhorse said...

Angry responses. Defensiveness. Long dissertations full of bullshit, hot air and venom ~ then no Blogger profile available. Methinks someone (who preaches about slamming anonymously on the internet) prefers to be, yep, you guessed it, ANONYMOUS!

Oh, the things that make you go "Hmmm".


"SFTS"....California??? God no wonder!!!! LMAO!!!! JAFO....!!

TA TA.

Anonymous said...

roanhorse; In your previous post you suggested that I go over to Fugly Horse of the Day....interesting. As it happens I regularly read Fugly, I also read this blog, Fugly Wench of the Day, Mugwomp and I Hate Your Horse along with a couple of others...Do I agree with all of them all of the time? No. Do I leave my computer delighted every day? YES! Why you ask? Because FINALLY people are having conversations about these things, FINALLY people are really THINKING about these things. That is a WONDERFUL thing! Perhaps if that keeps happening and people keep refusing to accept the things that are discussed then perhaps things can change. I applaud this author for going out to show and refusing to cave to the crap. Some days I learn, some days I have things to think about that open my mind. I highly suggest that you put your anger aside and try to take some positive away from these blogs because there is a lot of positive stuff going on. Incidently, You bet your butt I will protect my horse and all my other animals from the "bad people" you see, I have been in animal related fields all these years because I love animals, not ribbons, not prizes, I love the animals and I take seriously my responsibility to them. Given your anger on this blog I seriously wonder just what kind of owner you likely are.

Pipkin said...

roanhorse, truth is a complete defense to libel. Just because SFTS said it, doesn't mean it isn't true.

In fact, SFTS is stating that she has evidence of that actually being true, in case this trainer chooses to sue for libel.

So I'm not sure; why is it a frivolous lawsuit by SFTS when she'd be defending against one?

SFTS said...

Pipkin wrot:
roanhorse, truth is a complete defense to libel. Just because SFTS said it, doesn't mean it isn't true.

In fact, SFTS is stating that she has evidence of that actually being true, in case this trainer chooses to sue for libel.

So I'm not sure; why is it a frivolous lawsuit by SFTS when she'd be defending against one?


Good question! Which is what I mentioned earlier. Sigh. My guess is "roanhorse" happens to have a guilty conscience about what they do to their horses or allow done to them in the name of the mighty blue ribbon. Enough said.

Anonymous said...

I completley agree with you. My mare had a tail job done around age two just so the guy could win some $$ on her in the futurities. I hate it, but have found a way to manage. When we bought her the trainer was braiding her tail and then tying it to a side ring on her blanket with some baling twine. This would cause the urine to run down her legs, and became a method we didn't use. Due to the urine often sitting on her legs, when we got her she actually had "pee burns" like what a gelding gets due to urinating. A great trainer and an old owner both told us to use OB gloves. We braid a small section of her tail up on her tail bone and just below, and then tie in 2 gloves with the middle finger missing so that we can insert the tail. I have to clean the underside of her tail daily, and halfway down the tail bone it crooks to one side and then goes back to being straight. It is miserable to watch her defecate/urinate, however she has a high quality of life now (atleast higher than earlier)now that we are using this method and keeping everything completley clean. I did not do this to her, and would never choose to if I had any other choice. I have heard of acupuncture to help cure it, however we are scared of injuring her tail more. Someone also used a weighted tail (no clue why) that was a cap style, and it ripped all the hair out of the last inch of her tail bone. I am not a fan of the weighted tails when they are sued incorrectly, however I think there needs to be an alternative out there for those obsessed with winning.

Anonymous said...

*******Here is the video of Big yellow caddi being shown, just a little preview. The loping so much on the forehand makes me CRINGE but I am a dressage trainer so maybe this is ok in AQHA?

http://www.jc-video.com/pop/index_flv.cfm?video_id=2332

**************8

Anonymous said...

glad someone is as disgusted as I am at even the thought of tail blocking. It is hideous. I have a quarter horse who was a western pleasure horse at a young age, who now at age 20 can't swish his tail very well. So someone blocked his tail, then sent him on to other homes ( trail riding, lesson horse) without much of his primary defense against flies left, for the REST OF HIS LIFE, apparently!

Anonymous said...

You are so freaking awesome!!

Alisa Koken said...

I have been a vet tech at an equine only hospital in North Alabama for over 5 years and an additional 3 years spent in the small animal vet bus. I have been riding and competing horses for over 13 years. I have ALWAYS had my horses hocks injected when my vet (and boss) suggested it - when there is a lack of fluid in the joints it can make even daily movement difficult for the horse. We do hock injections so often and I see so many horses who almost know its coming stand there like angels because they know it helps. The needles we use are tiny. I wouldn't go so far as to say hock injections (or any joint injections for that matter) are an issue.

Now, tail blocking on the other hand, is another story. We DO NOT do tail blocking at our hospital. In fact, I have a very great story about it...a horse that had his tail blocked that is now owned by me thanks to it:

A western show barn that we do some work for took this gorgeous paint horse to have his tail blocked (by a non-licensed "practitioner") and guess what? 4 days later they realized the horse hadn't relieved himself since!

They brought the horse to him and my Dr. told them it was a result of the block - that he may stay that way forever, that he may get better to an extent - no one knew. So for 2 months he stayed at the hospital and I evacuated his colon and passed a urinary catheter 4 times a day. I was appalled when I asked them what his name was and they said "I don't know...paint horse?". I instantly responded - OK...how about Ghost (he has a beautiful bald face)? And Ghost he has been since. They took him home after 2 months claiming they couldn't pay to have him here and said if they didn't euthanize him for testing at a university they would probably try to auction him off to someone who lacked the sense to know what was wrong with him after they got what they could out of the show ring with him.

I would ask about Ghost now and then and even got to see him a few times. Well about a year and 3 months later they approached me about taking him. They said "oh he only has to be cleaned out twice a week now". So I took him - and again, was appalled. His feet had not been done in probably 14 weeks, his back was covered in rain rot, he had not been cleaned out in 4 days (and let's just say twice a week was NOT enough) and he had a raging bladder infection from the previous owners not keeping a sterile environment when draining his bladder. This horse had reached his limit. He stood in the corner completely depressed. He had never seen a treat, didn't know how to pick his feet up and had never known the love of a single individual.

For the past 3 and a half weeks now Ghost has undergone a full round of antibiotics, daily groomings, weekly baths, LOTS of carrots and apples, a farrier visit, and multiple sterile bladder flushings and now gets cleaned out every OTHER day. He is in the process of becoming a polocrosse horse and is completely absorbing his training!

It all sums up to about 4 nights ago I was cleaning up after our flushing procedure, the barn was dark and I could hear him munching on his dinner. I propped my arms up on his stall door and watched him eat. I had been wondering to myself if he knew who I was, knew how much I cared about him and wanted him to feel better. A few minutes later he came over to the door and rested his chin on my arms and let out a gigantic sigh. That said it all for me.

Ever day for the past 2 weeks when I whistle he nickers and trots to the gate - the person that sticks her arm up his rear and passes a tube up his manhood is the person he is the happiest to see. I have had a hard time getting the previous owner to sign anything stating he is mine (some crap about if he gets better they are afraid I will try to sell him for lots of money...can you believe that load!!!!!) but I will tell you this - if he ever tries to come back for him I will fight him tooth and nail - NO ONE is taking this baby from me. No one.

Alisa Koken said...


We are currently researching treatment options but in all honesty his future is cloudy in terms of his condition. But nothing for me will change - his is my furry child (along with 2 other horses :)) and he will forever be taken care of.

We need to quit arguing over these issues and come together for the horses sakes. I don't care if you are an official, a competitor, a trainer, or a backyard tail blocker - this HAS to stop! Right along with the arguing! This is such a hard fight as it is - it is hopeless if we can't come together. Maybe I don't completely agree with the way this post was written - but in my research I stumbled upon it and was very upset at the bickering (honestly I didn't read all of the original post b/c I believe the anger, language and context makes you come across as ignorant and not respectable - I am just trying to be honest so you can make improvements in the future).

Let's come together people - not for each other - for the horses.

Anonymous said...

The people I lease my trail riding horse from did a tail block on their performance horse & it got infected. Then the horse kept rubbing its butt against the stall so they "fixed" that with an electric fence. Now I guess they are tired of paying vet bills because my buddy coliced & they canceled the vet, which I could have paid for myself had I known... I was out walking him, waiting for the vet, who never came. When I called the vet to find out what the hold up was, they said the owners called to cancel & said they'd "let me know," but never did. Guess they figured to save some money by having me walk him all day waiting for a vet. How is that fair? There's money for this tail block BS, but none for my buddy when he needs a vet? I'm just the dumbass they conned into a lease, because the owners are so smart & rich they have to shave a nickel off everywhere & take advantage of people. As a lease I have no rights and can't prove anything. Just my word against theirs. They've got em all fooled. Selling horses with all sorts of problems to parents whose kids want to ride. I know what they're doing, but can't prove it & nobody would believe me anyhow against these pillars of the community. Gonna post this anonymous case they see it and want to block my tail next.

Anonymous said...

Your choice of language blatantly shows your level of education. You would win more points without profanity. Don't interject profanity while trying to sound educated and believable. You had me until piss and son of a bitch, and yes I'm quoting you. Shakes head and walks away......