The Ethics of Riding

This post is going to sound rambley.... because it is. I don't really have any answers to these questions, but all of these issues have been weighing heavy on me and I need to write it out. I'm launching into some abstract topics that I've been thinking about recently and just need to put them on paper.

It seems like much of the controversy with horse people revolves around the ethics of riding horses. Some people fall into the camp of bitless, some don't use spurs, shoe their horses, others don't use certain bits, or jump, or race, etc. etc. We get divided over these issues and what should constitute abuse. Are spurs abusive? chain bits? bits in general? We all draw the line somewhere in the sand, usually in very different places.


My point is, everyone defines what is moral in riding horses in a different way. Some people want a partnership as natural as possible (i.e. natural horsemanship) while others use horses to win prestige/money (e.g. racing). Nothing about riding a horse is natural though--horses simply *let* us ride them. So at what point do we cross the line between partnership to abuse? So if you use a harsh bit, but only gently touch it with the slightest of effort, versus someone who uses a snaffle but yanks the crap out of it, which is better? I had someone ask me why I don't use a hackamore and honestly, I said it's because there's a chain under the chin and I don't see how that's more kind than a soft rubber in the mouth. If I don't use spurs, but I have to kick hard to get my horse to listen, then is that really any better?




I read an article on pulling manes and *spoiler alert* -- it's painful for the horses. Anyone who has pulled a mane could have guessed this. I used to do this with h/j horses and while they always looked uncomfortable, some protested more than others, I just figured it was mildly uncomfortable. So, now I don't do it-- nor do I shave whiskers anymore because I do think they serve a unique and beneficial purpose, but I used to shave them all the time on my h/j horses because well, everyone else did it.  I learn new things and will change my behavior as I'm always striving to do what's best for the horse.

mane pulling

I would love for Calvin to listen to my every command without a bridle, spurs, etc, but to me this is a fairy tale.  So I train a horse in dressage, but this isn't what the horse really wants to be doing. Calvin honestly would rather be in his herd 24/7 in the wild. It's a relationship I guess: the human feeds, grooms, provides a home and the horse "earns" it by working and therefore it's morally justifyable? I don't know, I struggle with this. Sure, I could ride him without a bridle or bit in an arena, but the minute I get on the trail I want the security of an emergency brake that the bit provides.

Horse people have all kinds of opinions on every topic and really-- I think it comes down to using the form of least resistance that works the best for your specific horse. So we do the best we can with where we draw the line in the sand and instead of being so quick to judge others and where their line is... we should be educating ourselves and being curious as to why others believe what they believe. Then we might actually learn something instead of being stuck in the "this is how we've always done it" frame of mind.

I think we're fooling ourselves though if we think that riding horses is in any way natural for the horse and we'd be better off accepting that it's selfish -- we enjoy it -- and some of us just want to make it the most enjoyable for all parties involved so we justify it in whatever way we can whether that's soft bits, no spurs, etc.