William Funnell shares his thought on how to make sure the game – and lifestyle – we love stays socially acceptable
It’s been a tricky yr for these of us concerned in equestrian sport with incidents together with the footage of Charlotte Dujardin and up to date fatalities at Cheltenham that means we’re being scrutinised greater than ever. Social licence raises the query of whether or not it’s socially acceptable even to journey horses, however why ought to we apologise for one thing so pure?
If any good got here out of the dressage furore, maybe it was a wake-up name to take a tough take a look at our strategies and guarantee appropriate horsemanship is paramount. Good coaching produces completely happy horses who carry out effectively and, with digital camera telephones in every single place these days, the game nearly governs itself – do one thing improper and also you’ll be uncovered.
Horses, when educated accurately – and that’s the important thing factor right here – get pleasure from what they do. Nevertheless it worries me that far fewer individuals are studying correct horsemanship and tips on how to prepare a horse. A cheerful horse isn’t a spoiled horse – coaching needs to be truthful and constant. If you happen to stick to the essential guidelines, you by no means must be powerful on them.
I grew to become a horseman from function fashions akin to John Whitaker, who I watched being mushy and proper together with his horses, relatively than combating them. The place are these function fashions for our younger showjumpers when our Olympians solely compete within the UK a couple of occasions a yr?
After all, some practices that had been as soon as acceptable not are and we have now to respect that. A spur is an help and if a horse is effectively educated off the leg, you’re solely utilizing it as a reminder, as is carrying a stick. Few folks use a stick to inform a horse off within the ring these days, so maybe particular person sports activities want to take a look at its use and the way greatest to manipulate it transferring forwards.
The deaths at Cheltenham had been unlucky and tragic for all connections; they may have hit exhausting with anybody who loves horses. However, as equestrians, the message all of us must get throughout is simply how a lot horses love what they’re doing.
Cheltenham’s racecourse vet was interviewed on ITV Racing quickly after the fatalities occurred and clearly defined what had occurred as greatest he might with no autopsy – that transparency was glorious because it’s a topic we have a tendency to cover away from in our sport.
However I don’t see why we really feel we have now to justify our lifestyle – like we’ve additionally seen farmers do on their march to London final week. As a substitute of apologising, it’s important we get the message throughout – why can we compete, journey or watch horses compete? As a result of we love them.
A welfare concern
I labored out that to compete in Spain with a few of our horses this autumn, it could value me a whopping £700 per spherical. However having spoken to a few folks from British Equestrian just lately, there’s hope that the true welfare subject of transporting horses throughout the Channel is perhaps eased.
Matthew Sampson rang me from Calais just lately to say he’d been ready 4 hours for a vet examine that his horses had already handed earlier than leaving England. It’s not OK for horses to be caught on lorries for that lengthy due to French paperwork.
I’m positive there was unhealthy feeling between the Conservatives and France within the wake of Brexit however there are indications that Labour could possibly renegotiate a greater deal – a typical vet examine that’s legitimate on each side of the crossing can be an amazing begin. However we have to maintain lobbying and pushing for it.
I can reassure Matthew Sampson I’m doing my greatest!
Christmas countdown
Pleasure is constructing in direction of the London Worldwide. With the present operating in such shut proximity to Christmas Day this yr, the format has been adjusted so the grand prix runs on Friday, with the present concluding on Sunday afternoon with the World Cup.
It means a time off for the highest horses on Saturday, which I believe will enhance the standard of each the function lessons, and all of the overseas riders can get residence afterwards – I want they’d run it this manner yearly!
After the success of final yr’s Brilliance public sale, Shane Breen and I are going larger and higher this yr, having sourced 14 top-quality horses from the UK to go beneath the hammer at ExCeL on Saturday.
The extra we do that, the extra it can grow to be a store window for our greatest younger horses and we’re very excited in regards to the route it’s going.
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