See Update Below.
I’m absolutely stunned. I wasn’t expecting to see what I did in this video from Gerry Cox. I’m not 100% sure what I was expecting because so much horsemanship is a blatant demonstration of putting the horse last and the rider first. It wasn’t that long ago that we saw Jørgen Olsen yanking on his horses’ mouths too, and he continued to do so despite being slapped with a fine!
In the video, Gerry talks about using a rein snatch to “prepare” the horse for the time when the rider needs to do so for a real reason, to prevent the horse from blowing up when you yank on their mouth.
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Sorry [not sorry], but this is ridiculous. You prepare for having control of your horse in a tough situation by building trust and communication, not by sneaking up and surprising the horse with a yank on their sensitive mouth.
You teach the horse to soften, bend, yield. Not by yanking or snatching the rein. He isn’t in an emergency situation, he’s doing this just for the hell of it.
He goes to all the effort of attaching the reins to the nosepiece of the bridle saying he does this to protect the horse’s mouth. This is evidence that he knows the horse’s mouth is tender and can be easily spoiled. Then, as any good hypocrite does, he proceeds to assault the horse’s mouth for the sake of practice.
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I know this is petty, but I’m also bothered [yes I have OCD] that he starts off calling this mare a colt.
Why is Gerry Cox’s rein snatch such a big deal?
Okay, so I recognize that not everyone will immediately see what is wrong with this video.
Here’s the deal, the horse’s mouth is sensitive and tender. It should be respected and protected. The use of the reins and the bit should be done with the horse’s well-being in mind, as much as possible.
Yes, there are times when the unexpected happens and you need to regain control of the horse, and that might not always be in a beautiful, calm, soft way. But you don’t plan for that if moment by abusing the horse’s mouth in practice. You plan for it through proper training and communication.
Gerry Cox is actively ruining this horse’s mouth, and selling a bad excuse to equestrians who don’t know any better in the process. He’s taken a cue from too many clinicians and is going the route of salesmanship over horsemanship [hello Pat Parelli].
Updated [01/22/18]: What can I do?
Great question! Please, go to the original video and leave a comment telling Gerry Cox your opinion on this “technique”. Looks like Gerry pulled the original video, blaming me for embarrassing him.
Me: [link to the article, in response to his first message, see the next section below] There, I’ve fixed it. 👍
Gerry: I’m not sure what that means that you fixed anything, but again, your public smear campaign could sure have a negative impact on my business and reputation… and it is my opinion, you being a professional writer may want to interview the person int he film before presenting anything as fact.
Gerry: You have caused me great embarrassment so you have accomplished your goal. All I ask is that you take that post down to prevent and further impact on my reputation and possible damage to my business. I have taken the original video off of YouTube. Mission accomplished.
Sorry, Gerry, you embarrassed yourself all on your own. I didn’t force you to record the “rein snatch technique” and post it on YouTube. I only pointed out what was wrong with it to the public.
You can still share this article, and the video posted in here, with your fellow equestrians. From what Gerry has shared with me, he isn’t the only trainer advocating this type of abuse. Put some sunshine on the problem and let’s see it eradicated.
We’re only going to fix these deep-rooted problems in the horse world if we take the time to speak up and say enough is enough.
Kudos to Terri Reuser who brought this video to my attention.
Updated [01/21/18]: I’ve finally figured out Gerry Cox’s angle
… and it isn’t pretty.
Shortly after posting this, Gerry Cox reached out to me with a message.
I’m not 100% sure I appreciate you doing a negative write up on your web page regarding a video I put on YouTube. You mischaracterized the event, the mechanics of the event, the purpose and function and the horse itself. If you wish to have a rational conversation regarding what you saw in that video and what you THINK you saw, I am always glad to have that conversation. I appreciate that you have been riding horses since you were 9. I also appreciate you may have done some greta research and have some ideas of your own. I have done a little research myself and have had the great honor to have ridden with over 17 world champion horsemen and many other great talented horse people. The exercise you saw was demonstrated to a very large group of us by one of the worlds greatest and multi world champion horsemen… it is NOT something just AnyOne should do to just AnyHorse and especially without special equipment and a thourough knowledge of the drill. Just like teaching a horse to hobble… not for the back yard horseman or inexperienced… I’ve taught hundreds of horses to hobble and also taught dozens of horses to understand this little drill… Again… a rational conversation to me is far better than you making an effort to voice your uninformed opinion without the facts or details… THINKING you see a horse being abused or having it’s Mouth jerked on is far different than what is happening…
509-685-1977
Wow, Gerry, I’m impressed at your ability to so thoroughly demonstrate to us all what Gaslighting is, all in a single [albeit very long] paragraph.
If you’ve never heard of it before, Gaslighting is a method of manipulation used to cause someone to doubt themselves, question their own memory, perception, and sanity.
Gerry tries to do this by telling me that what I “THINK” I saw is actually false, trying to cause me to question my own perception of the situation. Telling me that where I think I’m seeing a horse having its mouth jerked on is not what is actually happening in a video where he demonstrates how to jerk on the horse’s mouth with the rein snatch technique.
As a side note, Gaslighting is most commonly used by sociopaths and narcissists, so just FYI. No doubt the level of abuse Gerry uses in training horses runs deeper than just the rein snatch.
I also have deep sympathies for anyone who has a close relationship with this person. He’s clearly perfected the technique.
For anyone who wishes to continue, what Gerry might deem to be, a “rational” conversation, feel free to give him a ring. Sounds like he’s dying to convince more people that their perception is far from the reality he so clearly is demonstrating.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Terri says
Well-done, Erica! It’s time to get beyond worshipping these people as heroes. When we are “worshipping” we are believing whatever they are saying as fact. And that is why I think they use this: “Shucks ma’am; I don’t know anything. I’m just your humble horse-trainer” façade. It helps perpetuate this myth. Who could possibly say ANYTHING to a guy who is so humble? And further, who would dare say anything to someone who knows so much more than I”. What has been going on for years reminds me of the Story of the Emperor’s New Clothes or “think the music”.
Erica Franz says
Thank you, Terri. 🙂
Yes, we are all adults. This is supposedly a grown-ass man who is acting like a child, saying what is clearly happening isn’t at all what is happening.
I don’t care what big-name-trainer someone has trained under. I don’t follow people. I follow training methods and ideas that are safe, sane, respectful, kind, and put the horse first. We aren’t in the middle ages, we have so much real knowledge available that there is simply no excuse for this level of ignorance in a supposed “professional” trainer.
Sonia says
So glad someone els busted his chops this time. I have all too much seen some of his not so handy work. Fixed many of his clients horses and yes they still are seeing us on a regular basis to further their education and training. Its funny how so many think they see a person on a magazine cover they must be awesome, when all in all they pay for those magazine articles. Yep the magazine comes to you asks you to do a article and for the fee of$_____ it will be published. We have been asked by many and refused all as we believe our time and money is better spent on our clients and furthering our own education. Then of course there is the statement Ive been ridding with world class, well hey so have alot of others who paid to go to the clinics and learn from them at the same time.
Erica Franz says
So true, Sonia!
Pay for play is really common in marketing. That’s all magazines are anymore, marketing opportunities in print. They are rarely educational.
I just laugh when they start name-dropping and roll my eyes. Who cares who they trained with, because obviously they didn’t learn anything valuable or ethical.
Terri says
Well said and very interesting personal details. And, I couldn’t agree more! Just watching some of the vids of his gave me anxiety; the horses just had so much to say about what is going on. He called me mentally unstable for disagreeing with this “snatching” thing as he was flinging “names” around. Hated to break it to Gerry, that I didn’t and don’t like the approach any of them have, particularly when it comes to riding. He was shocked and responded with: “I have never, never, never heard anyone talk like that about the best horsemen in the world”. Ya, ya, ya…well Gerry, there is a first time for everything. There are a few other “big names” that need to be exposed as well. I’ve seen people getting more and more aggressive with horses. There is a reason that is happening. The problem is “followers” of this cult need to be deprogrammed.
Kristie Cotton says
This is so upsetting, the poor horse has now learned that humans are unpredictable. This horse was clearly relaxed and putting up with the b/s this guy was already doing to ” soften ” Who is this guy anyway? PLEASE do not do a thing this guy is saying unless you would like to present yourself as killing any horses spirit.
Erica Franz says
It is really very sad to know that a perfectly unspoiled horse was purposely injured for this video. 🙁
Irene Apane says
I was always taught yanking on a horses mouth was the worst sin. Shame on Cox. Horrifying to see this in public. What does he do in private?
Kris says
I used this trainer twice. And he ruined my cow mare. I had a rearing problem after i went to him. She was fearfull of men. She anticipates every single move. He has an understanding of horsemanship but doesnt fully understand it. Since then i have found an amazing trainer and wont use anybody else ever again gerry cox is a horrible trainer i my opinion
Cody says
I screamed when I saw it. I did. “NO!!” I was standing outside, and startled my own horses. There is no justifiable reason to EVER do this. Horses read your intention, more than anything else, I believe. I have accidentally poked my horse in eye. Very little reaction from him (I was very bothered by it), he immediately forgave and forgot about it. No further avoidance behaviour, no suspicious looks or distrust. Had I poked him in the eye intentionally…I guarantee, I would still be in the paddock trying to catch him, two months later. This was a horrific thing to do to a animal. She hadn’t even had her first ride. It breaks my heart