Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Competitions, Best 0 The Best, Apples against Apples

It has been suggest in the past that nobody goes to horse shows. Raffaele imagine a competition with 35 of the Best 0 The Best competing against one another, to the same exact standard with 8 thousand people in the seats, who know exactly what that standard is, and how you are supposed to do it, with judges announcing your score, no music, the same costume to decide who is Gold. Until next year, when the same thing will be decided.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od8lj_FOkh8

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wade, this is far from my area of expertise, but I thought it was very good. Is this a palomino?
Mary Ann

Anonymous said...

Its true, its true. I recently went to my first horse show (paints). There must have been over 100 entries. Rigs parked (Winona,Mn.) from states near and far. In the stands watching with me, about 50. My expertise on horses? Only what I learned from this blog. I wished I knew what the hell I was watching. Amen.
Dion

Anonymous said...

Wade Have you seen this hind leg walk in Thailand?
If I thought it was very good because of the length and circular route, would I be correct?
I have been to the SriRacha Tiger Zoo many times in Thailand but never saw this particular behavior in person.
The video can be found on YouTube under paymybillz -Tiger show Thailand. Dion

Wade G. Burck said...

Mary Ann,
Yes that is a Palomino.
Wade

Wade G. Burck said...

Dion,
Play along with the Awards festival that is developing and see if you can be a judge in a Circus Festival.
Wade

Anonymous said...

awesome run especially for a 3 year old.

Wade G. Burck said...

Dion,
I will comment on the tiger trick after the Best 0 The Best Competition.
Wade

Wade G. Burck said...

Jody,
Yes, it sure was. As the will levels of animal training it has elevated greatly. I remember the day's of open mouth, stiff legged hopping slides.
Wild animal training sorrily has regressed. As it was perceived as cruel, they quit teaching them tricks as they knew of knew of no other way to do it with out making it look cruel. The good ones died and there was nothing to replace them with.
Wade

Anonymous said...

Wade,
You make it sound that ALL horse people have reformed...there are still many out there that think if you spur and jerk one hard enough they will have a good turn-around. I was told from one "trainer" to take a hot shot to their neck for speed.
Hot shots also used for halter horses..now you know why I was never fond of halter classes..Left a bad taste after seeing that...Am I against Hot Shots? No, I found them very handy when loading cattle but only if they need it...In my mind making a halter horse stand up didn't justify a hot shot...
Regarding "Wild Animal Training", I think again we go back to the discussion on most trainers are not allowed the time needed. 60 days verses one year....Don't you think there would be better trained animal acts if they'd just be able to spend more time?

Wade G. Burck said...

Jody,
Hand to God, I have never seen a hot shot any where near a horse barn. I grew up on a farm and never saw one until I joined the circus years ago. I suggested to a young friend of mine, it depends on the people you choose to have in your life or choose to be around.
I saw ginger used many times, and may have tried it, until I saw it put in with a toothbrush because the anus wall had become so desensitized. It is a banned substance today. I laid a fire extinguisher bell under a stallion a number of times back in the 80's even crawled at them with a carpet covering myself, before there were released to "show the look of eagle." Until a gorgeous black colt bolted into an half open door to get a way from the CO2, and split his forehead which required 22 stitches and a scar he carried for the rest of his life. That has been banned, if you choose to do it in your barn that is up to you as a human being. Let somebody see you or report you, you are up on charges and suspension if found necessary.
Wade

Wade G. Burck said...

Jody,
Horse trainer I have been lucky to be around, tell a client 30 days, 60 day, 90 day's etc. what is need for what the client wants trained. If the client says no, I can't afford it they thank them for stopping by, and stop by again if they change their mind. On trainer and I Chip Patanode used to go to the house look at the horse, tell them what could be done and how much time. They didn't need to haul to us.
The wild animal training business is very different Jody. It is not a business it is a job. I am still criticized by unqualified individual today because I took too years to train the last act with the corbett, and triple hind leg walks, and they could have done it in half the time. They don't know I had to breed for 7 of the tigers wait until they grew up to make the act 14. But that is none of their business, and if you haven't been around the circus long enough to say prove it, you are missing out on a lot. Last client I trained a horse for asked how long will it take, I said it it up to her, 3 months later said, is she done, I said no she doesnt want to hurry. I finished and left, a month later I was told by the new person working with him, He is a sweet heart, I wish I could have started him, I would have been done in a month. That was a year ago. They called last week, and wanted to know if I could come fix him. I told them no, neither he nor I have the time.
Training animals is the air in my lungs Jody, but I will not compromise for any reason what I think is beneficial for the animal. To many other ways to earn a living.
Wade

Anonymous said...

Wade,
I wasn't talking about the horse industry needing more time..just like you said, the good ones don't give a time frame...
I was talking about the wild animals..and when you say "it's not a business it's a job" for you yes but for the people that hire you it's a business...Why can't they figure it out if they spend more money taking the time to train the animals correctly they will make up the difference on the other side when they have animals that will work longer than one or two seasons....

Wade G. Burck said...

Jody,
No it is not. It has has a history of getting what you can today, tomorrow will take care of it's self. Go in in the middle of the night set up do two shows move out in the middle of the night. That was the history. The problems now being faced are a thousand of different things. To not address the history.
Wade

Anonymous said...

And as you said the history of the reining horse used to be "open mouth and stiff legged stops". There also was something called outhouses before indoor plumbing came about...
So, why can't circus change? It's not doing well as is...
Do the old-timers figure they made it now let the young-uns fend for themselves? BTW: I'm not considering you as an old-timer...
If educating the public is needed why aren't they doing it? Why doesn't someone start with the kids and go to their schools. Isn't that what policemen and firemen do? Why not go to their schools and introduce them to circus on a more personal level.

There is every show imagineable on TV. Why isn't circus (with animals) on TV?
There are always new movies on dogs and horses. Why aren't there movies on Elephants or Tigers? Look what the movie Racing Stripes did for zebras...
Just like someone going for a National Championship..You don't just show up and win..You advertise, you promote, you make people want to see that horse. How do we make people want to see circus?
I'm not saying I have the answers I just get upset at what is happening...
I'm all for history but we also need to appreciate what is was and move forward...You know, without "forward" you have nothing...
As you know, I'm not or ever have been with the circus but I see what's happening to my circus friends. It's no surprise to hear one getting out or selling their animals because of the expenses verses their salaries.
I hear so much negative on Ringling but where would circus be tomorrow if Ringling shut down today?

So I am now asking your opinion. Don't tell me the problems, tell me some solutions...What can be done?

Wade G. Burck said...

Jody,
Good thoughts. I'll let others go first. Ringling does have a school program, but I can't speak to it's success. Why the negativity directed at Ringling? I assume because they are the biggest. Who was the bad football team, the one who had won 3 superbowls. Those damn Lacroix's for all their faults were the biggest. It is the nature of being the big dog.
Wade