Mob Rule.
Who are we to judge? Really? When a subjective video spins some not so pretty riding behavior one way, and thousands of viewers create an angry uproar, does it make the rider any more guilty, or just plain unlucky? The FEI has got to be pondering this and other questions after once again finding themselves in the hotseat for allowing questionable riding to occur right under their nose.
This time, it’s one of the United States’ most well known reiners that has come under major fire, due to a video by Epona tv (they’re the same guys who kicked off the rollkur blue tongue debacle last year) that has steadily gained a landslide of angry comments since it was posted on YouTube last Thursday.
The video in question is of Craig Schmersal, schooling in the warm up at the FEI World Reining Final in Malmo, Sweden on May 21:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en_90D5TOKA
He went on to win second place with Lil Miss Addy Tude, and like him or not, he is unquestionably one of the most successful reiners in the world.
It doesn’t take a stretch of the imagination to see that sharply jerking a seemingly obedient horse in the mouth with a shanked bit is not so nice. Most horsemen human beings believe that’s no way to treat a horse.
But if you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know that while On the Line appreciates disciplines like reining, I don’t for one second pretend that my knowledge of reining takes up more space than a flea on an elephant’s back. So who am I to judge the training techniques of a reiner? Who is anyone else, really, except those who are justifiable experts within that discipline?
One would think that the FEI would share the same sentiment. They are, after all, the experts. The practice session shown above was monitored and timed by FEI stewards. . . . .who seemed to be either napping or reading their phones when the camera panned to them.
Therein lies the crux of the situation. The riding seen in the video is accepted in reining. I know this not because I know reining, but because no steward at this international Final stepped in to give Mr. Schmersal a visible warning or to eliminate him for abusive riding. With their non-action, the FEI condoned the warmup methods shown.
The FEI was created to enforce the rules and maintain ethical standards in the disciplines it governs. But with the blue tongue mess, the whipping mess at the WEG trials last year, and if you want to count it, Sapphire’s World Cup elimination mess last April, they continue to miss the mark.
I’m not one to support angry mobs, especially because I don’t believe that it should take one to get a governing body to react. But viral videos and furious, inflammatory comments are becoming today’s version of an angry mob and the rote catalyst to kick off an official investigation. And that’s just not right. So instead of supporting the tar and feathering of Mr. Schmersal, On the Line supports a review of stewardship by the FEI (By the way, FEI reaction to this incident so far has been. . . wait for it. . .rather rote).
Call me an optimist, but here’s hoping that the FEI stewards become more proactive in the best interests of the horse. Because if one thing is certain, it’s that there will always be a need for the FEI. But it’s up to them to create a world with no need for a thing like Epona tv.
These are the archived posts of former Sidelines web editor Erin Gilmore's On the Line blog. This blog is no longer active.
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I disagree with part of what you posted. It does not take a top reining rider to recognize abuse of a reining horse. I have done reining, but I don’t believe you have to in order to have an opinion about what is going on in this or any other sport. I don’t have children, but I can could see a parent hit a child – don’t need to be a participant to see someone kick of dog, rear end another car on purpose, cut off an old lady in a parking lot. You do not have to be an expert to see loutish, bullying behavior.
That video showed behavior toward an animal that should not go unremarked by anyone. It is not ok to be abusive if you win. It is not ok to be abusive if nobody sees.
If I run my horse into a jump and beat the crap out of him for not jumping – it does not take a jump rider to tell that something is wrong with this picture.
You are right about the rules. I wrote to the FEI regarding this video and was told that verbal warnings were given but it didn’t go any farther because the rules did not allow it to go farther. At an international competition a steward cannot decide on their own to discipline a rider and the CURRENT reining rules allow this behavior. The FEI is looking into the rules and any changes should be out in September. If they put some teeth in the rules, THEN the stewards can take action.
Since I am on a roll here – the real problem is with the judges who reward this unnatural movement and carriage as some pinnacle of clever training. Change the judges’ behavior and even the very worst rider will change.
Thanks for the comment, Barbara, I don’t disagree with you, and you make a good point about the judging. Good on you for writing the FEI – it sounds like their own rules are hindering any action, which is similar to what happened during last year’s show jumping World Cup. Here’s hoping the FEI changes their rules – for the better.
I often shudder to think that the kinds of abuses which are seen in public must be 100% worse in the privacy of the training stable. That covers all disciplines. The unnatural movement and carriage in reining is accomplished how? The general public would be horrified to know. The reiners and cutting horse cowboys always seem to be the heaviest men on the smallest of quarter horses. I read once that the horse is the most abused domestic animal on the planet. That the FEI does little to protect our equine athletes, is criminal.
I agree with so much here. Especially that it doesn’t take an expert in reining to recognize abuse. This has inspired me to write a series of articles, the first one can be read on my website http://bit.ly/k2qXpJ
No one should be so quick to judge and sentence any one over a video that if we are honest is NOT abusive. So many of us have horses as a hobby, it is not a profession. These men and women dedicate so much to this sport and the horses they ride. I really think we should all close our mouth and open our eyes and ears to learn from all the great horsemen. Instead of imposing our own feel better beliefs on them. When honestly few of us will ever work hard enough to even be mediocre.
Did anyone see the Epona video after this one? Now there is a bit different story. Check it out.
@ TanyaR – if that is what it takes to become a horse professional and a ‘great horseman’ then I only want to be mediocre. Putting your own ego (and money) ahead of the horse is unforgivable and does not make a ‘great horseman’ – quite the contrary – it makes not only a bad horseperson but a bad person.
The picture I see is of a horse whose spirit is broken and who is showing learned helplessness.
@Tanya I’m no ooey goeey lovey dovey horse nut but I do respect my horses. I have worked hard to be better than mediocre; winning the largest shows in the US and a European World Cup Championship.
If I put a big bit in your mouth, tied it shut, cranked your chin down to your chest, stabbed you in the ribs with sharp metal spurs, and then made you run as fast as you could and do some fancy moves, would you feel like you were respected and understood?
We must open our mouths and speak for the ones who can’t.
I used to do this crap too and didn’t think it was abuse. Now I know better. Hope you can open your eyes and ears enough to read my article addressing some of what is seen in the Epona TV video. http://bit.ly/k2qXpJ