Etiquette

1. conventional requirements as to social behavior; proprieties of conduct as established in any class or community or for any occasion.
2. a prescribed or accepted code of usage in matters of ceremony, as at a court or in official or other formal observances.
3. the code of ethical behavior regarding professional practice or action among the members of a profession in their dealings with each other

Calling Ourselves to Task

In this world that I love – spending our days with our horses, earning our living with our horses and amidst all that goes with them – I feel like this world, always a dream world to me, is becoming more of a mirror to the real world than I would like to admit.

I don’t know why I thought the equestrian community would be removed from the demise of common etiquette.  I guess because, for the most part, our traditions are steeped in privilege, royalty and richness, and let’s not forget, the military.  And while many of us are not rich and we don’t ride our mounts into battle, the tradition laid down for us is something I think we need to honor.

Perhaps it is time – as horse owners, riders, competitors, trainers, judges, journalists, bloggers, and business owners – that we take a moment and call ourselves to task.  To look at our industry, our hobby, our lives, and see how we can improve.

It’s a Journey

First, I always try to remember, it is a journey.  Anyone out there riding, whether for fun or competition, has probably put a lot of time and effort into it.  No one wants to do it wrong.

Biggest pet peeve? Walking past the rail at an event and listening to the armchair experts pick apart everyone who is competing.  Ok, I get it. We all have opinions, right? I will spare you the, “Ask 10 horse trainers how to change a light bulb” joke. And I do realize that part of going to watch events is for your own learning curve and to socialize with your friends. But thinking before we speak is something we all need to remember to do.

You may want to remember the old, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” line I know all of your mothers have given you.  Or if you can’t abide that, please at least do it quietly.  Not everyone around you is impressed that you can pick out all the things going wrong.

I read a quote from a very illustrious trainer once who said that anyone can pick apart the negatives of a horse; it takes a horseman to recognize the qualities. What trumps all of this? Of course abuse, losing your temper on your horse, losing your temper at your groom, your mom, your friend. Do this, and I hope someone does call you out. You breach this kind of etiquette, you suffer the consequences.

Just Because You Can

This brings me to my next point.  In our Twittering, tweeting, Facebook, blogging frenzy where suddenly everyone has an opinion worth meriting a thousand views (I am not immune to the irony of writing about this on a blog!) it seems that calling people out for everything from fashion faux pas to using illegal tack to criticizing a rider’s style to highlighting outright abuse is everywhere.  Word of caution here. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

For example, at a recent show I was competing at there was a photographer. Not a hired show photographer, just someone shooting pictures of the riders. One of these photos ended up on their blog, a well respected equestrian blog that is meant for support and education of a particular discipline. However, this photo was of a junior rider showing a snapshot moment in time of an aid being given in a, debatable, incorrect way.  Not abusive, mind you.  It was posted and meant for discussion, but this junior rider’s face was shown, the venue was recognizable, and the horse’s number was clear.

The rider’s parents, when they got news of this, were horrified, not to mention the junior.  We all know kids have access to social media and are probably more savvy that most adults.  I, for one, have to be taught constantly about my smartphone by some of my junior riders. When the poster was approached the response was public domain. Basically, “I have the right to photograph who and what I please, and use where and how I want.” Really? Does this sit well with you?  If not then maybe you get to skip out on the etiquette lessons.

Is anyone else just really, really tired of photos that show a moment in time being blown way out of proportion by social media?  Watching an entire video to get the full picture is one thing, but taking a clip of a moment in time as a total representation of what is going on with a horse and rider seems to be a whole new sport in and of itself.  And I am not referring to the photos people send into the magazines and get a critique on – totally different. They asked for it.  And by the way, that junior? Overall high point of the show.

Public and Private Trails

And let us just graze the topic of riding on public lands, trails and private properties, because that could be an entire article of its own.  The area I live in is filled with wide open spaces and beautiful ranches and countryside.  But too bad.  You can’t ride anywhere.  Perhaps 15 years ago you could, but now that so many “city folk” have moved here, most of the big ranches and private properties have fenced off access and that is that.

So it would be nice to sit back and say, oh those rich city folks, they don’t know how it works out here in the country. But, truthfully, yes, yes they do.  This is how it works.  People ask to ride through your property and you agree.  You ask that if they find a gate closed, close it.  If it is open, leave it open.  They even put a sign up for you to remember.  But one day you are out riding, on someone else’s property, gossiping with your friends, taking your pictures and posting them to Facebook and you forget to shut the gate all the way.  Or you don’t shut it at all.  And the yearlings from the pasture come through about an hour later and get up against the fence with the ranch’s breeding stallion and all heck breaks loose.  Or perhaps the herd of mama cows and their calves get out onto the road.  Or, or, or.

Every single ranch owner I have spoken to in my area has a really good reason they have had to ban people from riding on their properties.  Typically, it’s a complete lack of respect or common sense.  Hmm, I am hearing that word again, etiquette?

The public trails dilemma can be even worse.  Non-horse people and horses sharing the same trails can be really dangerous.  With ATVs, motorbikes, bicycles, baby strollers, off leash dogs coming around the bend or down a hill at a horse and rider can make for some pretty interesting eight-second imitations.  (If you remember to start timing yourself, usually I am trying to hold the expletives in check, because, you know, etiquette.)

In this situation, it is important to remember that you are an ambassador for your horse and for equestrians everywhere and that these people usually just have no idea about horses. So, if you can, after you have dusted yourself off, be polite and try to nicely explain how that umbrella attached to the off-road baby jogging contraption is a really cool idea, and while it seems odd that a 1,200-pound animal would be afraid of it, ha ha, they really do think they are going to be eaten by it, so, umm, yeah, please, next time you are running up to a horse and see the horse doing it’s best imitation of “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” please slow down. Of course, you can’t get anywhere with the off-road motorcycles, because, dang, they were going so fast they thought you were a hallucination.

Man’s Best Friend

And now we tackle the subject of man’s best friend.  I dare you to go anywhere there are horses and not find dogs.  In fact, this is a subject so near and dear to me it is actually going to be its own blog.  But for the purpose of this discussion, let us just leave at this. Horses are prey animals, and dogs are predators.  Be aware of how your dog’s behavior affects the people and horses around you.  Be considerate.  Be watchful. Be careful.

You never want to be the one that is being called over the loud speaker at the horse show asking to please claim your delinquent dog.  Worse, you don’t want to get the show premium in the mail that says “NO DOGS ALLOWED,” or be called into to the barn manager’s office with a list of boarder complaints against your dog. Remember, any trouble your dog get’s into is completely, 100% your responsibility.  No matter what.

Be Kind. Be the Change.

My last parting comment about equestrian etiquette: be kind.  An encouraging word, a smile, or a hello can go a long way. This is especially true when you are competing, but just as much when you’re happening along on someone riding the trail.  I cannot tell you what it means to have a really influential trainer, someone you may have spent years reading about or watching, just say “Hello,” or, “Have a nice ride.” Or even, “What a pretty tail!” (Which we all know that is code for what you say when you can say nothing else at all, but hey, I will take it!)

And not even from a trainer, from a fellow competitor, from a show volunteer, from a show mom.  I have to say, that in all of the years that I have been riding, and lucky enough to be making my living in this incredible world of horses, the inspirational stories, the nice people, the good examples far outweigh the bad.  But I guess that is why I feel so protective of this culture and why I hope we remember to hold it in the highest esteem. It seems so easy – Do Unto Others, and all.

Act accordingly.  Be the change.

The other option is Charm School.

Guest article from Dani Sussman.

Oftentimes, we as professionals with extreme type A personalities, get caught up in perfecting every component in our horses’ training. We want our horses to look, feel, and perform their best every day. Now with any professional sport, this is of course unrealistic. There will always be little aches and pains, bruising and swelling, of which, most of the time don’t affect our horses’ performance, but are still present.

There are many medications and herbal remedies to address this mild soreness, and to enable our equine athletes to keep training and competing. However, over the years, I have found something more important to help the recovery of our amazing partners. Now, on paper this will sound like a no-brainer, but in reality for us type A people, is one of the hardest training techniques to incorporate into a program.

REST. Sounds simple, right? It should be, but we are always wanting and striving to be better and to make our horses perform better. Over-training can create many veterinary issues that could have been avoided simply by giving your horse a day off. Think about a bodybuilder; they train to extremes, paying attention to their diet and every muscle group. They incorporate rest and recovery as part of their training because if they didn’t, they wouldn’t get stronger, their muscles would be in a constant state of stress and breakdown. It is on those recovery days that their muscles rebuild, their sore joints become less painful, and progress happens. It is the same thing with our horses. They need time to recover, to rebuild, and to gain muscle.

Most people in a regimented training program, give their horses one day off a week. This is the norm, and I would say most of the time is enough. However, sometimes when training and preparing for a big event, your horse may need another day of recovery. Don’t be afraid to give it to him. That hour of training may or may not be the difference between the blue ribbon and the red one, but it won’t matter if your horse is sore and doesn’t feel his best. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to do nothing.

Photo by Gina Pearson Photography

We are very proud to have Dani Sussman as a long-time customer and VIP Sponsored Trainer on our Team!

“Since starting Grand Meadows Grand Premium Plus, my horses look and feel amazing. They have less joint pain so I can train and keep them competing regularly, and their coats look so glossy that people are constantly asking what products I use. My farrier is always happy with their feet and the consistent quality of new hoof growth. For overall health and results that you can count on, Grand Meadows has you covered.”

-Dani Sussman

Dani Sussman has more than fifteen years of experience in Eventing, Dressage, and Hunter/Jumpers. Her main focus is on training competitive equestrians and young horses to be top-tier Eventing competitors. Dani’s professional equestrian career began in Northern California, where she first started working as a trainer and coach and where she became a respected rider and instructor.

As a Pony Club “A” graduate and because of her love for Pony Club, she was very active with many clubs in her area and did ratings through the C2 level. Dani then moved to Washington State, where she trained with two-time Olympian, Amy Tryon. For four years, Dani traveled with Amy across the U.S. and England, riding and grooming for the top event rider.

In 2013, Dani relocated to Larkspur, Colorado, and purchased the stunning 37-acre property where she now runs her own riding and training business, Aspire Eventing.

Guest Post from Jenni Haas, Charity Lee Kishineff, and two others

Last week we were included in a dry run at AT&T park to practice  delivering the three World Series Trophies and the trays of World Series rings to the Ring Ceremony. After three practice laps around the warning track, they decided the carriage wheels were too narrow and left impressions that they would not be able to fix before the game later that day.

My boys have had very little street work but have done Combined Driving Events which are just hold overs from the old days of driving in town and dealing with tight situations. Three points for a cone is nothing now compared to cement trucks and Porsches. Not to mention the metal grate bridge to and from the parking.

I am super proud of my Hackneys, Ricky and Nelson!

We have used Grand Meadows supplements since they were babies. Thank you, Grand Meadows, for healthy horses who can go anywhere.