I have a problem with Western Pleasure. It's a pet peeve of mine. Let me explain. I love horses and everything about them. But every time I see pictures or go to shows and see what judges requirements have done to the beautiful quarter horse, I am appalled. They look broken when they trot or lope, it that is what you call it.
Why in the world would you change the natural gait of a horse? It is pitiful looking.
I was looking back in some of my old issues of Horse and Rider and found a picture in May 2010. thre is a rider on a chestnut quarter horse, and they caption says "rider demonstrating an excellent Western pleasure walk."
What I see, is a stiff, rigid, leaning back arms fixed, jaw clinched rider that is the opposite of what a natural rider should be. the horse is hanging his head half way down to the ground and looks worn out. His ears are forward so that is something. But everything about this picture is wrong....but that is just my opinion.
If you take a quarter horse out for a ride in the arena or trail, they do not naturally travel like this, or watch them in the paddock. The only time they hang their heads is if they half asleep.
Any thoughts out there to change my mind?
Lorraine
Tucson
