Morgan Grand National Open Park Saddle Championship Class

[@kristinetwenty9374]

Lets be real here: the natural movement of a Morgan Park horse is one that is cadenced, moves about level with the knee and has clean snappy and/or fluid hock movement. They correctly engage the rear end, thus lifting the front higher and placing them correctly on the bit. The higher movement is from training with streches, running W's, and chains. The worst of which is the running W's. Add to that- the Morgan show people bred in Hackny and Saddlebred blood to make a taller, neckier, higher trotting ' show horse" and you get what you see above. Sour ears, bad expression and at most times very off and weird movement, which is rewarded!! Thats why it keeps happening!! Now regarding the bits, a if you uneducated people think that these horses are ride with " severe mule bits" and all that nonsense went out with the late 80s. Trainers learned that correctly bitting, longlining with correct bit work and using the horses body set the horse in the bridle correctly and softly. Most trainers use a slight twisted or a fat twist bradoon, smooth snaffle. The curb is low port with a roller, a broken snaffle or in some cases just a straight copper slide. I trained Morgans and showed at the National, for over 25 years- I quit when they ruined the integrity of the breed by infusing the bloodline with nonsense. When you cannot tell a Morgan from a Saddlebred/Morab or whatever other breed- thats not a Morgan, thats a mess.

[@SilverFlame819]

I had to double-check the name of the video! I was like, "These look and move like Saddlebreds, what is happening here?"

[@lottelustig4896]

Thank you for explaining, please what are they doing with the mouth/ nose of the horse when they are in the middle in posture?

[@ScottThacker-w1c]

Twin elm dark defiance

[@guestuser1671]

This unnatural movement and posture can't be healthy for the horse! It looks painful and forced. Poor horses!

[@maddiesmith1902]

If you actually do your research you will see it isn't abuse. The horses are bred for it. If you look up saddlebred foals you will see they step high and move the same. Do your research before commenting please :)

[@sheaking4316]

I'm not even gonna argue, because you can't argue with stupid, can you?

[@desertrose2085]

@@maddiesmith1902 sure, the horses are bred for natural action. But then they have the weighted shoes, the elastic shackles, and crank their head up with the back hollowed out, the double bits with the shanked curb. Then there are the tail sets, the nicking... As Park goes on over the years, what seems to be rewarded is laboring rather than an elastic, smooth, natural action. These horses look like they’d drop if they had to go a few more times around the arena. This is not the kind of riding I admire. It’s not real collection. At least it’s not the TWH Big Lick or a Western Pleasure class of zombie peanut rollers. Most equestrians have their favorite kinds of riding. Park has always looked like they’re hollow backed and yanking their feet out of mud. It’s too extreme and comes across as strained or forced. Riders and rail birds have our strong opinions on what disciplines and style of riding we prefer.

[@starry1668]

@@desertrose2085 THANK YOU

[@CowsforGalsOffical]

@@desertrose2085 The weights are for big lick the nicking double bits and cranked heads and hollow back I agree of

[@bellasteppedonmahtoez932]

Poor animals, the gait, the bits, and some of the riders are just bad

[@fukc26]

The gait is how they move... the bits are no different from dressage...

[@starry1668]

@@fukc26 they are very different from dressage. dressage bits are normally not as severe as twisted wires & mule bits aren't allowed. as well as the curb isnt as long EVER. the horses are hollow, the training that goes on at home is probably painful to watch. not to mention doubt any of these dudes got at least 8 hours outside a day.

[@fukc26]

@@starry1668 I know some of the farms in this video, horses 24/7 unless there’s a storm.. head up does not automatically mean hollow back. you’re only educated in one discipline obviously, that’s okay but your opinions aren’t facts

[@starry1668]

@@fukc26 quite funny because i literally ride saddleseat..... the majority of the saddleseat world doesn't turnout horses. i never said head up means hollow back, but unfortunately a shit ton of horses in the saddleseat world have hollow backs and i've only seen a few saddleseat horses that are actually engaged through the back.

[@kristinetwenty9374]

@@starry1668 and sweetie....Dressage horses these days at Grand Prix/Olympic level move with weighted shoes, long feet and super over lengthed stride. They are doing the same thing gaited breeds are and I cant tell you how many Dressage horses Ive seen with figure 8 nosebands, tied tonges and bloody mouths. So keep it real or shut up about it.