I spent yesterday at the Royal with my mom Patti Randazzo Beckett. Its been a tradition since I was a kid to go for my birthday. I still love the shopping, but the experience is changing as I see through different and less clouded eyes. When I was younger, we loved to watch the big horse hitches, the road carts, the dressage and the jumpers. Seeing the cows and sheep and poultry when you live in the City was so much fun. But as you learn more, your view begins to shift. It started years ago with the jumpers. I started to watch more closely and would see how the jumpers would haul back on their horses mouths to prepare them for the next jump. I would see the horses eyes wild in fear, their mouths open in pain. I stopped enjoying the jumping piece because once you see, you cant unsee. These were the Worlds best jumpers, and yet they were relying on brute force to work with their horse. Then one year Greg went with us. He asked why the draft horses heads were tied up and how that made them feel. I had never thought to ask that question, but when I really thought about it, I knew that it made it harder for them to pull and was uncomfortable, if not painful. The blinders made it so they couldnt observe their world clearly. It became another event that I couldnt enjoy anymore. This year is the first time I have gone since really accepting the idea that horses are intelligent, sentient animals that have an opinion on what is happening to them and most importantly, that should also have a say in it. I watched as the draft horse handlers of one team wanted their horses to straighten up. Keep in mind that the horses have blinders on, so can see behind themselves. The man walked up and booted the big horse, I guess thinking that since he is so big, he needs to be handled roughly. Despite not being able to see the hit coming, the gentle giant just shook his head, and moved into line. All the wagon horses had their mouths open around the bit, unless their mouth was tied shut - then they pushed their tongue out trying to escape the pain. We watched the dressage class, a class that I always loved because it was the ultimate in horse/human partnership, or so I thought. But looking with new eyes, I watched horses that were spurred nearly every step to motivate them into the energy required to perform these beautiful movements normally done in play. I watched one rider do a hard, jerking check with the rein when she thought the judge couldnt see it. But it was clear to us in the audience. A few seconds later, that horse had a major spook - coincidence, or a reaction to his treatment? In the warm-up ring, it was a little different. We were watching the horse handlers lead the horses in a walk, around and around. These people did not have a vested interest in the horse winning. They are hired as grooms and caretakers so that the riders can prepare for the classes. Here, there was a mix. The man handling Ian Millars horse, clocked the pour boy on the nose. They had been walking in circles for about 15 minutes. The horse was slowly warming up to his handler, thinking maybe they could be friends. He gently reached out from behind (the man was walking in front) and tenderly lipped the back of his neck. It wasnt rude, or aggressive. It was the kind of gesture horses make to their friends. Now, I understand that some people dont like this, and push the horse away, establishing their boundary. But without warning or talking to the horse, the man turned around and hit the gelding on the tip of his nose hard. The horse tried to pull back, away from the pain and the man pulled his head down with the reins. The light went out of the horses eyes and he continued to follow the man with his head down and a disconnected look about him. Compare this to another young man leading a large dark brown horse. He was connected to the horse, and the horse followed him with interested eyes. At one point, the horse stopped and gently nuzzled him. He reached up and stroked the horses neck. It was a partnership - sometimes the handler would choose when to walk and stop and other times, the horse would. There was no ego. And the horse looked calm and focussed heading into the pen. Which horse would you rather be? There was another grey mare that was handled by her groom in the same way, gentle and understanding. When we headed home, she had just finished her course and was now in first place. I guess something can be said for helping a course feel calm and happy before they have to work. Of course, the ultimate in horse/human bond happened during the Liberte show. It started out a little bumpy, but ended with the liberty piece - eight horses and one woman working together without equipment. The horses were engaged, watching her. Depending on how the horses responded, she would modify the act, allowing the horses natural and unforced beauty shine through. She was lead mare, defending one horse when another started trying to bully him. This act made both horses focus on her that much closer. In the large ring, they could have run away. But they circle her and dance, each wanting to get closer to her, to be the one that she acknowledges. Will I keep going to the Royal? Definitely. Its a tradition that I love to do with my mom, we get a lot of the Christmas shopping done and we get cool things for the farm. I love walking the hallways of the Horse Palace, doing heart connections with the horses in the stalls and feeling how despite what they are experiencing while performing they still want to open their hearts to people and connect. That once the painful equipment is removed, they are still the lovely, unbroken and forgiving animal waiting for their owner to see clearly and not as a dumb beast that needs to be mastered. There is hope and there is a new consciousness rising. More and more people are questioning what we do to our horses. Some are ready to step into partnership. Some are just starting to explore it. Some dont see a problem with what we are currently doing, while others have leapt so far in, they look at what I do as cruel because I still ride. Having the Liberte act at the Royal was a wonderful step. How many people watched that and thought - Can I have that relationship with my horses? Where do I begin? - It is the act of questioning what you are currently doing that will allow you to learn and grow. Ask, question, explore and experiment - see where it takes you. See what can be different. See what feels right. It will look different for everyone, but if you cant be vulnerable and question yourself, you will never evolve into more.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 12:28:28 +0000
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