South Okanagan Performance Horses

I think where horsemanship is going wrong these days is at the junction where it becomes about putting on a reality show, and not simply a demonstration of excellent timing and training of a flight animal. There is no empathy in show business. No understanding. The popularity is found using shock and awe tactics. Standing on the backs of young horses who are simply striving to stay with their handler, while the boot heels of a fully grown man dig into their backs. Or shouting words like "pu***es" at the competition to whip the crowd into raising the roof.

People want this crap these days. It's like the Romans and their coliseum battles of old. Thumbs up or thumbs down deciding who lives and who dies. Real live click bait setting the tone for the next generation of c**t starters;

"Go ahead! Try to beat that!"

Go ahead. Indulge your ego at the expense of good c**ts who deserve timing over entertainment.

Folks will excuse it all as just good fun, but it really isn't, is it? There is a dirty, green edge to it all. Or maybe that's just me imagining things. I simply never thought I'd actually see the day where c**t starting was treated like a blood sport. I remember when it took time, and was done back at the barn, instead of on a public stage and miraculously accomplished in three days.

My oh my, have times changed.

Have a good day folks. 😊

P.S I feel the need to add a postscript to this as I don't think I made myself clear. I do not believe the problem with the direction that c**t starting appears to be headed in, lies with the ability or talent of the competing trainers (they are pretty impressive) but more with the constant need of excitement found in the audience...just like in the days of Rome.

Sneak peak👀
♦️STUNNING Holsteiner Mare Hunter/Jumper Prospect♦️
AVAILABLE 🔥 for s a l e @
South Okanagan Performance Horses
📸 by the incredibly talented Hannah Katerina

A little thought from the trainer’s side of the arena. ❤️

Horse trainers are human too.

We have feelings. We hear the words that are said to us. Some things roll off our backs, and some things stay with us far longer than people realize.

Most of us became trainers because we love horses. We have loved them from the very beginning, and that love is what keeps us doing what we do. The horses come first. Their wellbeing, their safety, their confidence, and making sure they feel understood and cared for will always be at the heart of what we do.

And then there are the riders.

Our job isn’t to always make you feel comfortable. Our job is to help you grow.

Sometimes that means telling you that something isn’t right. Sometimes it means correcting the same thing for the tenth lesson in a row. Sometimes it means having the difficult conversation, even when it’s not what you wanted to hear.

If your trainer keeps repeating themselves, it’s probably not because they enjoy hearing themselves talk. It’s because the problem is still there.

We aren’t here to tell you that everything is amazing when it isn’t. We aren’t here to make you feel good at the expense of your progress—or at the expense of the horse.

A good trainer will celebrate your victories, encourage you when you’re struggling, and tell you the truth when you need to hear it.

And yes, sometimes you might leave a lesson frustrated. You might feel like your trainer was hard on you. You might even be a little upset.

But please remember: the correction isn’t a reflection of how we feel about you. It’s an investment in you.

We repeat ourselves because we want you to improve. We push because we know you’re capable of more. We speak up because ultimately, the horse depends on us to do what’s right for them.

We don’t expect every lesson to be perfect. We don’t expect every correction to feel good.

But we hope that, over time, you understand that behind every correction is someone who cares deeply about your progress and even more deeply about the horse standing underneath you.

We’re not correcting you because we don’t believe in you. We’re correcting you because we do.

At the end of the day, we’re all working toward the same thing: a better rider, a happier horse, and a stronger partnership. ❤️🐴

Two beauties
Chenoa McMullen-Hunt and her 4 yo AQHA mare WYO Blue Dawn 💙 going home after 3 months training - looking forward to having her back in the winter for some fine tuning