Why Modern Horse Welfare is Destroying Traditional Riding

We live in perilous times. While hordes of „woke riders“ and „horse whisperers“ on social media try to convince us that a horse is a „sentient being,“ the very essence of what once defined the sport is fading: uncompromising toughness.

The newly formed „Foundation for the Preservation of Historical Training Methods“ (FPHTM) has sounded the alarm. Their latest publication, Why Modern ‚Classical Riding‘ is Dangerous for Tradition, is a long-overdue reckoning with a generation that apparently loves its horses more than it loves winning.

„Cuddle Pedagogy“ in the Arena

„In the old days,“ the Foundation states in its introduction, „you had to earn a horse’s respect - through obedience, sweat, and a healthy dose of drill.“

Today, however, one sees only riders who „care about the horse’s facial expressions“ or „give the horse a break when it’s breathing hard.“

What the modern scene calls „animal-friendly,“ the FPHTM calls by its proper name: „The infantilization of high-performance sport.“

The Foundation’s 3 Pillars for Saving Tradition:

The „Partner“ Fallacy: The Foundation warns against viewing the horse as a „partner on equal footing.“

„A partner negotiates. A piece of sports equipment performs,“ declares the FPHTM chairman. "Anyone waiting for „relaxation“ is actually just waiting for the horse to take over the world."

The Iron Rod as a Moral Compass: The Foundation defends the drills of past times. „It was an honest time. You didn’t ‚ask‘ the horse if it felt like jumping today. You taught it that it had to jump.“ The FPHTM demands a return to „Iron Rod Pedagogy“: A firm hand and spurs hacking into the horses side are not violence, but „direct communication.“

„Woke“ Riding Destroys Results: The Foundation observes with concern how „welfare gurus“ are undermining the sport. Their argument: Anyone worried about a horse breathing has no time to worry about the perfect angle in the horses neck. „Well-being makes you soft,“ the chapter Why Correction-Beatings Strengthen the Soul argues.

The Danger of „Gentleness“

The Foundation is particularly critical of „modern, gentle training.“ In their eyes, it is a complete waste of time. „Why wait three years for a horse to develop over the back when you can press it into the correct shape in three months?“ They argue that „hard drill“ is the only way to „break“ - pardon, „form“ - the true character of a horse.

„People today are afraid of conflict,“ the summary concludes. „They want a cuddle sessions with their horses. But if we keep going like this, riding will soon become a sport for people who want to do yoga with their horses instead of dominating the course.“