For sale ads where the handler stands on the horse's back?

[tidy rabbit]

What is the point of this and does it really work?

Who are the people out there who say "Now there's a horse for me!" when they see that picture?

I've been looking at equine.com a lot lately the front page almost always shows a spotlight ad with someone standing on their horse.

[vacation1]

That is a mystery. My current explanation is that it's a handy way for the photographer to get the aimless 19-year-old manchild who seems to always be the standee in these cases out of her hair long enough to take a picture. Considering the universal weaseling going on wrt height, you'd think some of them would notice that it always makes the horse look shorter, but no.

[Rescue_Rider9]

My Parents would assume its a great horse because they dont know much about horses, but I wouldnt because I have stood on top of some real idiots! hahaha

[SleepyFox]

What is the point of this and does it really work?

Who are the people out there who say "Now there's a horse for me!" when they see that picture?

I've been looking at equine.com a lot lately the front page almost always shows a spotlight ad with someone standing on their horse.

There is a definite segment of the horse buying/owning population that thinks standing on a horse's back is the true sign of a broke horse. I probably shouldn't admit this, but awhile ago I was taking photos for an ad and the guy I had riding insisted we do one with him standing on the horse. I humored him and just b/c he was so adamant that buyers wanted to see that, I used it in the ad (not as the main photo). Horse sold quickly, too. :lol: So, yeah, I'd say buyers like to see that, for some reason.

[mypaintwattie]

When I inquired about videos on my current horse, I was sent a two- one of her being ridden around w/t/c and backed, and the other with her owner tacking her up while ground tied in the arena, walking under her, mounting and dismounting on the off side and sliding down her butt, around the world, and standing on her back. It was to show how calm she was- and I bought it hook line and sinker and have never looked back! She is so quiet and just what I wanted. I may have passed on her since in the riding dept. she was still a bit green, but because of that video I ended up buying her. Best decision I ever made.

[katarine]

There's a very cute McCurdy out west I looked at online. Seller has several youtubes up of him, and yes, what the heck, Norman, climb up there. Horse stood like a rock in the middle of a big pen, and never batted an eye. You do pause and think well, he's sensible enough, I guess.

I'm just glad for a decent pic at all, so many are just plain awful.

[Huntertwo]

I saw a 2 year old POA for sale on Horsetopia a few weeks back. Besides being "totally broke" "trail pony" etc... they also had a picture with a gal standing on it's back! :mad: A 2 yr old. :no:

Besides emailing and chastising them for being so stupid, I also asked if this pony was broke at 2 yrs, when the hell did they back it? grrrr

Never heard back from them, and the ad is also gone.

[Crosswinds Rescue]

We were at the Extreme Mustang Makeover 2 years ago in Wisconsin. VERY older rider (think 65+) finishes his 2 minute free style, exits the judging area -- he is no longer being judged in any manner -- into the main end of the arena, rides onto the bridge, and stands on his horse's saddle. Mind you, this is a wild mustang 100 days out of the wild which he previously bragged had never been away from his home farm. he then raises his hands to encourage the crowd to cheer, barely holding the buckle of his reins. :eek:

the crowd obliges, the horse panics, the aged cowboy lands flat on his back on the wood bridge with the wind completely knocked out of him. they helped him out of the arena, and he did walk back in later under his own power. people cheered for him. at least a few of us just shook our heads, sadly....the stunt would've been bad enough if he was using it to try to win the contest, but he did it "just because"...could've crippled himself, not to mention the trauma to that poor mustang who had given his very best that day. :no:

AMC
Crosswinds Equine Rescue, Inc.
www.cwer.org

[lily04]

I would rather buy the horse that will lope quietly around the crowded arena carrying a 4' X 5' flag flapping in the wind.

[equineartworks]

I've never understood that...it turns me off more than anything. It makes me wonder what other "tricks" they have taught the horse. :rolleyes:

[Montanas_Girl]

I had a project pony a few years ago that I could do that on. We took a picture of it on a whim, and it turned out so well that we *did* use that photo in his sales ad (along with the normal under saddle, in hand, and over fences photos). He sold in less than a week for ten times what I had paid for him three months earlier, so I must have done something right.

[Alagirl]

What is the point of this and does it really work?

Who are the people out there who say "Now there's a horse for me!" when they see that picture?

I've been looking at equine.com a lot lately the front page almost always shows a spotlight ad with someone standing on their horse.

Not for sale adds, but I have seen many pictures of stallions from the bigger German registries who had to endure it as part of their temperament test.

[catknsn]

My Parents would assume its a great horse because they dont know much about horses, but I wouldnt because I have stood on top of some real idiots! hahaha

Exactly! I'm sorry, but I can think of a LOT of UNSAFE horses I could pull that stunt on. After all, it only takes a second to snap a picture.

To me that picture screams "natural horsemanship" and "not a real trainer," both things that would instantly create disinterest on my part.

[kewpalace]

We were at the Extreme Mustang Makeover 2 years ago in Wisconsin. VERY older rider (think 65+) finishes his 2 minute free style, exits the judging area -- he is no longer being judged in any manner -- into the main end of the arena, rides onto the bridge, and stands on his horse's saddle. Mind you, this is a wild mustang 100 days out of the wild which he previously bragged had never been away from his home farm. he then raises his hands to encourage the crowd to cheer, barely holding the buckle of his reins. :eek:A number of the finalist at the 2008 Western States Mustang Challenge (part of the EMM) stood on their horses' back in the arena at the end of the finals demonstration with the crows whopping and hollering - those who did had very quiet horses by nature and the horses did not react at all the all the noise and excitement. Of course there were some horses who were definitely bothered by the whole ordeal - their riders did not attempt to stand on their backs.

[Kate66]

Although I would never do it, having someone get on and stand on their back while they stand absolutely still I think is actually quite impressive as far as calmness goes. Sure it wouldn't be the only reason I would buy a horse, but I don't think it's a completely dumb selling tactic.

[Melelio]

Just go to any auction where the Strain Family has a bunch of horses at offering. They'll do it for ya for sure, even if the horse is an OTTB. I stupidly bought one years ago after this display, and the horse was a nutcake, really. But he was perfectly fine with Strain's son standing on his bare back in cowboy boots at that sale....go figgah....

[Lady Counselor]

It just flat out annoys me the number of people who do the gimmicky stuff like standing on them, wrapping them in up in a tarp, or standing them with all 4 feet on a tree stump.
To me, it makes the seller look like they are probably uneducated about training and turned to a couple of tricks they learned off the internet to sell old Dobbin.
I'm with the posters who stated that I am more impressed if your sale horse is presented cleanly and correctly, (bathed, equipment fitted correctly, on a surface that actually shows all 4 feet) with accompanying photos or video of them doing tasks appropriate for their age and training. A picture of a horse standing all crookedly with a person standing on them tells me nothing of value. I also would run from any young horse (like a 2-year old) that had someone standing on their back.
In this horse glutted market, I am amazed at the number of ads out there that are just flat bad. I'm sorry, but at 13 years of age, a horse does NOT have "amazing potential to be trained in any discipline you want" (an actual CL ad I saw this morning) :no: They're about ten years too late....

[Woodland]

I just think it's rather silly and dangerous. It makes me cringe rather than impressed. I guess I do not get it. :no:

[cutemudhorse]

The sellers probably saw too many ads for colt starting competitions. :lol::yes:

[Chall]

My very first barn, in an hunter/jumper N.Y. had mostly western/cowboy riders. The barn BM team penned every weekend and convinced me to stand on his horses back (after watching him do it). Eh, I was younger and dumber, but the horse was rock solid so I tried it for 60 seconds. That was a true cowhorse in a suburban world, really laid back. One day we had (illegal) motorcycles on our trail. Horses were freaking out. He took this kick-along, half closed eyed horse and said "get that cow" and that horse's eyes opened up and got shiney and he took after the motorcycle to run it down. It was impressive.
I think standing on a horse's back is the cowboy equivalent of a photo of a horse free jumping 5 feet - it looks impressive and shows one particular ability at one moment in time.
In both cases the potential buyer fills in the rest of the picture with assumptions. For the western rider they assume the horse is calm in all situations and for the freejump buyer they assume the horse will jump that high consistently and under saddle. Both are assuming things that aren't there.

[ReSomething]

I've read dozens of these threads and have finally run smack into all this interesting stuff in real life. I had always thought that if you asked the question correctly you would get a comprehendable answer but evidently not. Or you have to spell it out to the letter. Picture of horse? A head shot. Asked question regarding whether the horse was up to date on shots, Coggins/health certificate and worming. Got answer - "Coggins will be up to date when horse ships". Well that's grand, now what about the rest of the question?

Anyway I think the stand on the horse thing is just a gimmick for the trail riding set - look at how bomb-proof he is! Where in point of fact it doesn't prove a thing about the horse's temperament on the trail. I think Chall's observation is right on track.

[HenryisBlaisin']

Exactly! I'm sorry, but I can think of a LOT of UNSAFE horses I could pull that stunt on. After all, it only takes a second to snap a picture.

To me that picture screams "natural horsemanship" and "not a real trainer," both things that would instantly create disinterest on my part.

I agree...BUT, it does say one thing-the horse is willing to put up with utter stupidity. It doesn't make the horse safe-fo all you know looking at the ad, the horse could stand perfectly but bolt off, bucking, the minute you ask for the trot, or something. But at least it says "horse suffers fools."

And while it might not be "real training," it does suggest some level of trainability in the animal. The person, I'm not so sure.

[WendellsGirl]

There's a gorgeous paint pony on CL that I just love. BUT, her youtube videos have her little rider, among other things, standing on her back. It is so uncomfortable to watch. Little pony, little boy....standing on her back.

[Mtn trails]

I think the number of sale photos of people standing on a horse's back stems from when C. Anderson won that colt starting challenge a few years back and culminated his exhibition with him standing on the just broke colt's back and cracking his bullwhip. People think it's the hallmark of a well broke horse and heck, if Clinton can do it, so can they.

[asb_own_me]

I've never understood that...it turns me off more than anything. It makes me wonder what other "tricks" they have taught the horse. :rolleyes:

Yeah....like "wouldn't it be AWESOME if we taught Pony to rear on command, like the Black Stallion?"

:eek::eek::eek:

No thanks.

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

I've read dozens of these threads and have finally run smack into all this interesting stuff in real life. I had always thought that if you asked the question correctly you would get a comprehendable answer but evidently not. Or you have to spell it out to the letter. Picture of horse? A head shot. Asked question regarding whether the horse was up to date on shots, Coggins/health certificate and worming. Got answer - "Coggins will be up to date when horse ships". Well that's grand, now what about the rest of the question?

Sometimes even if you say, "May I please see full-body pictures of the horse stood square, on a flat, hard surface, from both sides, front and back" - you get two pictures of the left side of the horse standing slantwise on rough soft ground, and - two head shots. :sigh:

Standing on the horse's back? No, I pass on those. Don't want to deal with people who think that's a selling point.:lol:

[Alagirl]

Yeah....like "wouldn't it be AWESOME if we taught Pony to rear on command, like the Black Stallion?"

:eek::eek::eek:

No thanks.



HAHAHAHAHA, a lifetime ago a pretty good trainer (dressage if that matters) and a student taught said student's horse to rear...everytime they had to have a little clearer aid it was concluded by the prayer 'please don't rear, please don't rear' :lol: (and yes, the guy was on his way to become a BNT pro trainer)


But like I said, standing on a horse was (or still is) a long standing part of the stallion training and evaluation in big outfits, like the Landgestuet Celle, home to about 100 (or more) well thought after Hannovarian stallions. Can't be that bad of a deal to teach a horse that.

[suzyq]

Yeah, I remember at the stallion show at Warendorf, the trainers had to do a headstand (well, more like a shoulderstand) on their young stallions as part of the exhibition.

[Sandy M]

My friends and I call those "Darwin Award Candidates." Even the quietest horse can react adversely to SOMETHING unexpected. Or people can be just plain klutzy. FWIW, they always seem to be bareback or with a western saddle. Don't think I've EVER seen one of those ads with a horse saddled with a forward-seat saddle or a dressage saddle.

[caradino]

i occasionally browse around for a good solid trail-horse type for the BF (inexperienced western rider), and have been attracted to a few with "gimmicky" pictures in the ads. one in particular that i remember had the ridiculous standing-on-horse photo, plus the horse-wrapped-in-tarp photo, but also included a video of the horse performing at a higher level with an experienced adult rider (great horsemanship patterns, collected, etc.) and also being led and ridden by a 5y/o, during which time the horse was quiet and obedient. it also had decent conformation and was an adequate mover. i wouldn't hesitate to go look at a horse like that if i were seriously in the market for a steady western trail/pleasure horse.

and i agree with whatever poster said the 'gimmick' photos say that the horse will, at least for a moment, put up with utter nonsense.