From: fks@vax.ftp.com  (Frances K. Selkirk)
Subject: Re: Pulling contests
Nntp-Software: PC/TCP NNTP
Reply-To: fks@ftp.com
Organization: FTP Software, Inc., Wakefield, MA
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 1992 16:24:36

In article <1992Oct5.211349.3368@u.washington.edu> jespah@carson.u.washington.edu (Kathleen Hunt) writes:
> woit@qucis.queensu.ca (Denise Woit) writes:
> >They are percheron horses. They were used, as apparently most percherons are
> >in Newfoundland, to compete in pulling contests. Some believe these contests
> >are cruel, because the horse is hitched to heavier and heavier weights, and
> >whipped until they're so exhausted that they can't pull anymore. They win 
> >based on weight pulled per pound of horse; thus, it is supposed to be a 
> >common practice for people to try to starve weight off a horse before a 
> >competition (I know this sounds stupid, but that's what they said.) 
> >
>  I was very interested to see this description of pulling as a cruel sporti,
> as literally a fate worse than death.  I've seen a lot of pulling contests
> in small county fairs in Maine, and for the most part the horses seemed
> to be treated well -- though they did work hard (but I don't think hard
> work per se is cruel).  Have any of you seen cruelty at pulling contests,
> and is it maybe more common in some areas or at some levels of the sport
> than in others?  I'll describe what I saw in Maine:
  	
	<long description deleted>   

In Massachusetts, it is different yet, and not what I would consider
cruel.  Standard elimination drag distance is six feet, so the weights
do get very high, but the strain is short. Each team gets three pulls
per round, and they have five minutes in which to make them. If a team
makes six feet, distance does not matter, so they will not do the extra
pulls. On the last round or two, if it looks like no one will make the
six feet, distance does matter, and teams do multiple pulls. Usually
the second will be right after the first, and then the driver will rest
the horses as long as possible before the third pull.

I saw a contest of this sort last week. There were ~15 teams, and none of 
the drivers had a whip. I did see one team where the driver smacked the horses
with the ends of the reins at the beginning of each pull, but that seemed to
be the only hitting. Most drivers had trouble holding the horses back!
(Oh yeah - they also do the pushing the horse thing, here. It is amusing!)
The teams are grouped into broad classes, rather than being individually 
weighed, and all seemed sleek and healthy (not to mention spirited - those
high-stepping trots are impressive, especially done as a team!). Judging 
from appearance and grooming, I expect to see a few of the same teams in 
the dress wagon class next week. In both contests, it is important to have 
enthusiastic horses that move in concert.

Like most sports, some people will make it harsher than others. Two of the 
drivers took all three of their turns when they probably should have 
withdrawn, for example. That's the telling point, I think, in the owner's 
consideration for the horse.
    
> Sometimes the pin didn't connect, and the horses would launch themselves
> practically out of the arena in one jump, dragging all their men 
> behind them.  Some horses seemed to be too hyper to be able to coordinate

And the driver would be digging his feet in trying to stop them! Like, look
man, that team just pulled 6,800 pounds a bit over two yards. What do you 
weigh, huh? Enough for them to notice you? Of course he's hanging off the 
mouth, rather than the chest... Definitely, though, the winning teams were 
the coordinated ones that pulled as a unit.
    
Pulling will never match the driving class in my mind, but it doesn't seem 
like a horror for the horses, either - at least not as done here.

--

Frances Kirk Selkirk		 fks@ftp.com	           (508) 685-400
FTP Software, Inc.		 Two High Street, North Andover, MA  01845

Newsgroups: rec.equestrian