Confused all the time

Rejoined tumblr to post more about horses. My horses are Dill a 23 year old mustang and Alera, a 7 year old morganXTB.

[theclassicalhorse]

PSL Stallion Champan “Misha” © Anna Volodicheva (x)

[equikage]

The Kentucky Derby’s Forgotten Jockeys

African American jockeys once dominated the track. But by 1921, they had disappeared from the Kentucky Derby

African American jockeys’ dominance in the world of racing is a history nearly forgotten today. Their participation dates back to colonial times, when the British brought their love of horseracing to the New World. Founding Fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson frequented the track, and when President Andrew Jackson moved into the White House in 1829, he brought along his best Thoroughbreds and his black jockeys. Because racing was tremendously popular in the South, it is not surprising that the first black jockeys were slaves. They cleaned the stables and handled the grooming and training of some of the country’s most valuable horseflesh. From such responsibility, slaves developed the abilities needed to calm and connect with Thoroughbreds, skills demanded of successful jockeys.

The rising scourge of segregation began seeping into horse racing in the late 1890s. Fanned by the Supreme Court’s 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling that upheld the “separate but equal” doctrine, Jim Crow injustice pervaded every social arena, says Butler. “White genteel class, remnants from that world, didn’t want to share the bleachers with African American spectators, though blacks continued to work as groomers and trainers,“ she says.

After his 1903 run in the Kentucky Derby, black Americans practically disappeared from Goodwin’s official list of jockeys. In 1911 Jess Conley came in third in the derby and in 1921, Henry King placed tenth. Seventy-nine years would pass before another African American would ride in the Derby. Marlon St. Julien took seventh place in 2000.

Longtime equestrian and Newark, New Jersey, schoolteacher Miles Dean would agree that not enough is known about the nation’s great black jockeys. "As an urban educator I see every day the disconnect students have with their past. By acknowledging the contributions of African American jockeys, I hope to heighten children’s awareness of their history. It’s a history of great achievement, not just a history of enslavement.”

[alex-jay-blog1]

@spanishequestrian was it you who started the butt balancing thing a while ago?

[equikage]

Y'all know how martial artists will cause microfractures in their hands to gradually strengthen the bone over time? Has anyone ever looked into anything similar for horses?

[thequeerblackequestrian]

@sdequus can probably weigh in. If I’m not mistaken, this is what they do with young racehorses. When done properly, moderate strenuous work can help a developing horse create stronger bone/tendon structure for when they are in heavy work as an adult.

[sdequus2]

Yes! Bone modelling is a real thing. There’s a fair amount of studies done on it. One of the ones specific to racehorses was done on 2y/os and it showed that speed work can actually be beneficial for strengthening bones and improving longevity. The issue is that a lot of people exceed the threshold of work that is needed to improve bone density and the stress caused doesn’t have time to appropriately he’s and then break downs happen.

I’m on my phone so don’t have links but yeah, by slowly introducing the type of work you will ask of a horse as they age, you can actually make them hold up better to that type of work. The thing about bone modelling is that it can only be done with younger horses though, it won’t have the same result on older horses.

With that said, you can do a lot of these types of exercises that are beneficial to riding horses without actually riding them so if people try and use this excuse for extreme cases where they’re pushing young horses hard (like excusing riding a 2y/o like a 7y/o) it’s kinda silly because you can improve bone without sitting on a baby back

[blitzkriegloveshock]

It would be interesting to know how being pastured can influence this positively. Or could even substitute for training at such a young age. I don’t mean flat pasture with a little slope, but on an actual mountainside where they actually have to climb over different terrain. Thoroughlbreds are raised great where live, but afaik most breeders are located in flat areas of the country and there’s still the problem with them getting into training too early.

I hope, that when I see her again, I remember to ask the TB breeder who kind of has such pastures, if she had some experience with her foals. 🤔

[spanishequestrian]

That’s so interesting. Since most PREs around here are raised in herds in the mountains I would love to see how that can positively impact their joints and bones vs PREs raised in flatter areas like Seville.

[alex-jay-blog1]

There is some literature out there somewhere about how the ancient greeks kept their horses feet and legs tough by having them in paddocks with rock and gravel so they can be war ready at a moments notice. Also I have heard about people hand walking babies every day across all types of terrain to give them a better chance at having stronger bones and feet if they were born with a more delicate frame and people have had success with that.

[equikage]

Y'all what horse things do and don’t scare you?

I’m not scared of falling off but I’m scared of a horse bolting on a trail

I prob ride too much on slow horses in arenas

Hb y'all??

[armored--wings-deactivated20200]

My horse used to bolt on the trail so much that it became boring and predictable after a while. “Oh he’s trotting fast and there’s a tree branch I have to duck under. He’s gonna bolt once I lean down. I got this.”

I do not like horses suddenly spinning around quickly for whatever reason. My horse did that once because my dad rode his horse past mine, and Irish wanted to catch up. Scary. Another horse I rode did it to run away from cattle, but he had to swing his whole front end out cause he’s not as flexible as my noodle horse is

[equikage]

See that’s what I need, to just ride a bolting horse until it becomes super boring. Anybody have a bolting horse and a body protector I can borrow??

[milessperhourr]

I used to be afraid of rearing until I got Zuli now horses rear and I’m like “that all you got????” (Rearing is not encouraged I always address why they reared, can’t sell a rearer)

I am afraid of horses falling on me or falling down while I’m on them

[jumpsandbumps]

I’m afraid of the “blind panic” bolt - not of falling off, really, but the horse going through a fence, falling in a hole, etc. It’s usually accompanied by a spin. 

I also am not a fan of rearers but for me that’s the “I’m going to flip over backwards on you” sort. Nope. 

Also, getting kicked when leading a fresh pony because it has happened to me a lot though of course, it was an accident. 

[theruby-redmare]

- horses that threaten to rear in cross ties

- horses that act hot when turning out. I got a bad rope burn on my hand and had to chase a running horse with a dangling lead rope between his legs for 20 minutes, because he wasn’t patient enough to let me undo his halter/just bolted as soon as I opened the gate.

- trying to jump “substantial” fences (maybe like 2′6″ or 2′9″+) on a horse that requires constant leg AND sucks back before fences. I hate that feeling where the horse isn’t taking you to fence at all and you are trying to see a distance and pumping/kicking like crazy to get there; it makes me feel so insecure in the saddle. I will pick something speedy and sensitive any day over something with 0 respect for leg aids. 

[itshomolology]

Unexpected bolting, bucking, rearing, getting scraped off undersaddle. Rearing on the lead freaks me out too. When you’re riding and the horse is not going where you’re telling it to go suddenly. I’m not a fan of being crowded by loose horses either–always feel like I’m gonna get kicked, bit, or run over if somebody gets mad. Also horses who cow kick when you’re going to pick out their hind feet, I’m always worried I’ll get kicked in the head.

[theclassicalhorse]

Unexpected bucking lol. Even Bub’s weak ass bucks can unseat me, so any other horses bucks would be a hell no for me.

[missing-merlin]

My mare does this thing when she’s tied where she’ll hang her head very low (as low as it gets with the rope or cross ties) and then proceed to pawing and sometimes manages to put her leg over the rope. When she’s particularly anxious, she’ll push forward, head low, pawing and you don’t need much imagination to conjur what a horse doing a wheelbarrow and snapping its neck would look like. I use cheap halters and break away ropes just because of this. It gives me nightmares.

I used to fear falling with the horse, but since this happened to me a couple of times already (more so than actually just falling off a horse), I kind of got over it. I once went on a hunt with this horse who absolutely did not know how to judge a distance and didn’t give a flying fuck that I was trying to hold him back for TWO more strides. Needless to say, he jumped for it in full gallop and crashed into the jump. Stumbled. His head was already eating dirt, but as I threw myself off he managed to regain his balance and speed off after the rest. I went crashing instead of both of us , but since I usually wear a body protector it was like meh. I don’t ride without a body protector if I even slightly doubt the horse or its abilities or am unsure how they’ll react. It helped me conquer most of my fears in the saddle by keeping me safe.

[alex-jay-blog1]

After getting kicked in the spine im pretty afraid to accidentally instigate kicking and its kept me from working at liberty with my younger horse because she loves to run around and kick, its also kept me from teaching her how to lunge better because she just B lines toward me randomly and turns away and kicks. Not too afraid of falling off my own horses because they are under 16hh but I am afraid of getting dragged cause those legs. If I ride a tall draft horse 18hh and above I get nauseous because falling off that means there is more air time.

[foxy-filly]

Tesoro Destacado

Silver dapple Andalusian/Morgan cross, born May 2016. Promise Farm Andalusians

<3 <3 <3

[alex-jay-blog1]

wait a minute, someone is breeding morgans and andalusians!!?? Thats so nice!

[alex-jay-blog1]

Look at her! This was when I helped my gma the first week she came home and expected her daily walks. She’s such a doll!

[alex-jay-blog1]

This is the bloop in question of coming over to visit before we had her she was seldom trained by a Clinton Anderson student so she has... escape quirks but she's so curious and has a sweet face and I want her to come over so bad. I forgot how old she is but she's gotta be in her mid teens now and I'm just ready to clicker train her and see where it goes

[alex-jay-blog1]

My mom talked about moving my gmas mare up here for me to work with and this mare is only halter broke and a nightmare for vets and ferriers and now that I’m more comfortable clicker training I’m just like YESS BRING HER TO MEEEE

[alex-jay-blog1]

Pretty Uma

[alex-jay-blog1]

Clicker training day 2 success

[all-the-horses]

Z Blanco Norsk

Zero Gravity x Les Los Satin In April

Friesian Sport Horse, Gelding 

15.2hh

Born 2002

[all-the-horses]

Isabella

Roi Des Blues x Mystic

Friesian x Appaloosa x Morgan, Mare

17hh

Born 2002

[all-the-horses]

Padré

Mustang, Stallion

15.1hh

Born 2000

[all-the-horses]

W.C. He’s a Playboy

Mule, Gelding

Born 1992

[all-the-horses]

J.B. Andrew

Mustang, Gelding

Born 1985

[theclassicalhorse]

So many mixed feelings about ST, Academic riding, “classical” dressage, and completion focused riding, and all the crap in the horse industry purely based on tradition. Like, all I want to do is train my horse in an ethical manner to use his body in a healthy, longevity promoting way. Is it really that hard😫

[alex-jay-blog1]

Sounds like your gonna have to develop your own program lol.