Harold Poil on Stake Nite

There is a perception that some of the management practices used by Saddle Horse trainers are harsh and even cruel. In order to get a first-hand perspective, SA Horseman approached three well-known professional trainers about their views on some of these practices.

The participants in the discussion are Enid Norton of Le Cheval Stables in Port ­Elizabeth, Koekie de Villiers of Studcor Stables in ­Mortimer in the Eastern Cape and Harold Poil of Harold Poil Stables in Hekpoort, North West.

SAH: What is your opinion of the bad press that Saddler trainers receive regarding the use of tail sets, keeping horses in dark stables and saddler shoeing methods?

Enid: It is unfortunate that trainers are spoken of as a whole! There are approximately 35 ­approved professional Saddle Horse trainers in the country and I am of the opinion that the bad press is a result of uneducated “trainers” working on old historic methods.

The Professional Trainer’s Association (PTA) has strict rules and regulations with regard to the horse’s health and well-being. They strive to protect the horses and to maintain optimum health and comfort at all times, the PTA does not tolerate any person stepping out of line, such persons will be reprimanded, fined or ­expelled according to the offence.

I am further of the opinion that most ­negative press is a result of a lack of ­knowledge with regard to the breed, the breed’s conformation, the breed’s natural abilities and the breed’s function. Saddle Horse conformation is very different to the conformation of a Warmblood or Thoroughbred. Consequently the Saddle Horse is able to naturally perform the gaits ­required by the breed.

For the record, my horses do not stand in dark stables, they do not wear tail sets and the average hoof length in our yard is 11 cm. Our stables are 4x4 m in size and each stable has a peeping window leading to the next stable allowing horses to play with each other. The horses go out to play and when they are in their boxes their top doors are open from 7 am to 6 pm daily.

Koekie: I honestly think it is a lack of ­know-ledge! I must say, I have never ­experienced ­Saddler people being negative towards other ­fraternities. I honestly and truly love horses and I believe that anybody who is willing to spend their entire day with horses has something in common with me.

Harold: My opinion is, before making negative statements towards any breed, you should go to the trouble to educate yourself as to what is really taking place to enable you to make an informed opinion.

SAH: Why do some trainers use tail sets, keep horses in dark stables and shoe long and heavy?

Enid: As for tail-setting (I do not use tail-sets), some trainers use tail-sets to enhance and maintain the naturally high tail carriage of the Saddle Horse for showing purposes. Tail setting originated from the European carriage horse. It is supposed to free the horse’s ­muscles in their hind-quarters.

Tail-setting in the Saddle Horse industry serves a similar purpose – it frees the tail from the hind quarter, enabling the horses to express freedom of motion. A horse should drive/push from the hind-quarter, once the horse ­expresses free motion behind, the front should “follow”.

Young foals of any breed turned loose, ­express their motion best when their tails are up high over their backs. Saddle Horse ­trainers have thus utilised the natural ­phenomena (keep in mind that the tail also aids in the horse’s balance).

Tail-sets are similar to a light padded ­harness used to hold the crupper in position. It is ­designed not to place any pressure on the horse. The crupper lies under the horse’s tail, perpendicular out from his hind­quarter. The crupper is padded with cotton wool, ­disposable nappies and baby powder. The set is removed and fitted daily.

The tail-set harness may look complicated at first, yet it becomes as regular for the horse to wear as his rug or day sheet. If the horse is at all uncomfortable wearing the set, he is able to throw it off.

Dark stables: I see no purpose for trainers wanting to keep horses permanently in dark stables. I am under the impression that indoor facilities would appear to be in the dark as no natural sunlight can enter through the walls. In these instances there will be sufficient lighting and ventilation. Most Saddle Horse yards have been built in the same style as the American yards/barns. These are mostly indoor facilities, which accommodate training throughout the year, regardless of the weather.

I am sure that a horse kept permanently in a dark stable would not be a happy horse and, of course, it would not be athletic if it was ­permanently boxed and never worked. A horse’s eyes take approximately 20 seconds to adjust from the dark to the light or vice versa. To keep a horse permanently in a dark stable to “enjoy” 20 seconds worth of wild eyes and pricked ears makes no sense. I am of the ­opinion that this is one of the myths branded with the Saddle Horse name.

Shoeing long and heavy: Each horse has its own natural ability. Trainers may enhance their movement by adjusting their shoeing. Adjusting the shoeing style can be done by adding length or weight to aid the horse.

Shoeing may enhance natural conformation or be used to change a stride length, to change a tendency of forging, to change a tendency of pointing, to roll a foot over quicker at the point of break-over, to make the horse more ­athletic, to provide enough support, or to provide a ­better ground bearing surface, all ­depending on the individual needs of the horse.

Trainers can adjust a horse's way of moving by adjusting hoof angles, adding wedges or by growing natural foot. However, no trainer can make a horse have motion if it is not born with an athletic ability to step up high! The ­Saddle Horse can only do what its ­conformation ­allows for.

I believe that a horse needs to be balanced and comfortable to ensure minimum stress on each leg. A horse can be taught to use his legs to the highest form of athletic agility, but no horse can be forced to perform a gait not natural to him. I am of the opinion that a long heavy foot tends to make a horse clumsy and heavy on your hand, rather than athletic.

Long foot or not, the Saddle Horse ­generally shows to a very mature age (20-25 years). If the Saddle Horse shoeing methods were not of sound practise, the horses would certainly not be able to deliver such long service to their owners without the use of an anti-inflammatory.

To lightly explain the shoeing differences, a common practise for the Saddle Horse is to grow heel rather than cutting them back. A pad is placed between the hoof and the shoe to protect them from concussion from the speed and elevation achieved. The ­combination of the heel length and the pad height gives the hoof a longer look.

Correct Saddle Horse shoeing can be ­compared to a running shoe. A running shoe wedges outward to give the runner a larger ground-bearing surface, the show shoe does the same. It follows the natural hoof wall, which grows slightly outward closer to the ground. The shoe becomes an extension of the natural balanced foot.

Running shoes are supported with rubber or gel cushions, while the farrier will pack the sole area with treatments and silicone, ­forming a soft cushion. Leather pads are added to ­alleviate shock to the hoof and joints, acting as cushion or a shock absorber.

Each horse, unlike people, has a ­custom-made pair of shoes made uniquely for him. These shoes provide an optimal shock ­absorbing system with ultimate comfort ­allowing athletic performance. The hoof is balanced according to the horse’s conformation and each horse is provided with enough support to sustain maximum flexibility.

Koekie: Tail-sets? If that is cruel then ­bridles and saddles are also cruel. A tail-set is ­supposed to be comfortable and is not worn all day, ­every week. Some horses only wear it the week ­before a show. Girls wear bra's – is that cruel and uncomfortable?

I personally have not seen all the dark ­stables that are so regularly referred to. I don't like dark stables. What people must also ­realise is that very few trainers have their own stables and often rent stables which they ­obviously had no say in when they were built! Dark stables are not necessary and surely no aid in the training.

Shoeing long and heavy – once again not everybody does that and not all horses need that! But here again – I have very seldom heard of other breeds of the age of 22 and still competing and still very sound with heavy shoeing and all. Trainers make use of highly qualified farriers that makes a difference. I personally showed two horses of the age of 14 that still won the South Africa grand champion five-gaited class, neither of them showing any signs of lameness or discomfort. If it was bad for them, one would see more lame horses.

Harold: Tail-sets are used to help maintain the tail on a Saddler. It is about the same as a woman wearing a sports bra. Tail-sets do require your personal attention and time, and if you are not prepared to give that, then you should not put one on.

As for stables, as long as it has good ­ventilation and a horse can see company around him and is happy in his stable, I see no problem. Plus, it helps keep your fly problems down.

Shoeing, I personally try to keep my horse as close to nature as I can. If I need a little longer foot I always make sure that I give a longer shoe and maybe a wedge between the shoe to give support and ground surface for the foot. I've known and had many ­horses that have shown until their late teens and into their twenties, and have never had a leg ­problem ­because they were shoed in the ­correct ­manner.

I've seen many other disciplines with strained tendons, bowed tendons, et cetera. This is basically caused by incorrect angles and shoeing a horse too short.

SAH: Would a Saddle Horse trainer be able to compete successfully without employing these practices?

Enid: Keeping horses in dark stables is not a standard practice in all Saddle Horse yards. So, yes, trainers could be successful without employing this practice.

In my opinion, there are very few ­trainers who shoe exceptionally long and heavy. Most trainers shoe in the horse's best ­interest with regard to aiding strides, supporting ­ligaments and providing optimal balance for the horse. I believe it is not necessary to shoe ­exceptionally long and heavy as a horse's ­motion is ­developed firstly from his conformation, secondly by his ability and thirdly through his mouth.

I personally do not make use of tail-sets in my yard. Yet we are still competitive in the show arenas locally, provincially, nationally and internationally without a problem!

Koekie: Yes definitely, because as said before not everyone uses the methods spoken about.

Harold: Yes, you would be able to ­compete, but your horse and ­presentation would look a lot different. If you look at what the horses looked like in the 1930s in America and what they look like ­today, there is no comparison. The reason for this is the training ­methods. Scientific and technical methods we have developed over the past 75 years or more, have made the Saddle Horse into the horse you see today.