# Horse people-how well does roy moore ride? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 13, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404 "2017-12-13T16:19:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/21 "2017-12-13T20:46:55Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > So, Moore could not possibly have forseen that there might be media waiting at the polling station? Why the hell couldn’t he just drive to the polling station like anyone else? For that matter, how do we know his people didn’t announce his little stunt to the media in advance? Sew, according to several news media outlets, the Moore’s’ have been riding horses to their polling location for years. Some news media-types even said it was a tradition. :eek: I assume the Moore family, under normal conditions, know how to handle their own horses. OTOH, it appeared that many of the photographers may have been city-folk who wouldn’t know an ass from a pinto. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/22 "2017-12-13T21:06:16Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Sew, according to several news media outlets, the Moore’s’ have been riding horses to their polling location for years. Some news media-types even said it was a tradition. :eek: And, he had to have known that, this year, his visit to his polling location was going to be a media circus. Whether or not he’s a skillful rider, it appears to me that his desire to present his cowboy image to the media, by riding in on horseback, was stronger than a responsible decision to not put his horse into a stressful situation, surrounded by dozens of press members who, no, may well not know how to behave around horses. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/23 "2017-12-13T21:20:16Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Sew, according to several news media outlets, the Moore’s’ … SEW? Should that be “so”? But “Moore’s’”?? What kind of abomination is that? Two incorrect apostrophes in a single world? A simple plural takes an “s” with no apostrophe. Every time you use an apostrophe to create a plural, a puppy dies, you know. \ This would have been correct: “according to several news media outlets, the \*\*Moores \*\*have been riding horses…” blahblahblah. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/24 "2017-12-13T21:25:03Z")
Moore sits slumped in the saddle like a sack of potatoes. His weight is leaning backwards out of the saddle, which puts him right over the middle of Sassy’s spine, rather than forward towards her shoulders. His feet and stirrups are thrust way forward, meaning he’s not using them properly to balance his weight. He should be able to stand up in the stirrups, or even shift his weight over to the side with his weight on one foot (picture a calf roper). Moore is just using the stirrups as foot rests. It’s obvious why he’s riding a small horse. He’s trying to muscle his horse around by her head while not getting bounced out of his saddle. A bigger horse would have been too strong for him. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/25 "2017-12-13T21:27:36Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I assume the Moore family, under normal conditions, know how to handle their own horses. OTOH, it appeared that many of the photographers may have been city-folk who wouldn’t know an ass from a pinto. How pathetic a horseman you postulate Moore to be, unable as he is to control his horse in a crowd. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/26 "2017-12-13T21:28:14Z")
I am no horse person and I was feeling sorry for the horse . It looks like moore had no control of the poor horse, she was throwing het head all over the place . I thought the jackass was going to run right into the crowd of people standing there . ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/27 "2017-12-13T21:33:55Z")
He rides like crap. That little mare is probably a spotted saddle horse, a gaited breed bred from Tennessee Walking Horses (who have been horribly abused in the ring for their distinctive “big lick” gait) and paint horse breeds. They are generally very sweet and patient. As for his riding, he’s all over the place in the saddle. He seems to have no sense of balance, and is trying to right himself by tugging on the reins. That sawing back and forth is something no horseman would do. [Here’s a photo taken at a different time, which also shows him cranking back on the bit.](http://cdn.washingtonexaminer.biz/cache/1060x600-288c79b15a329eb8dc9c7af1b6ea6efe.jpg) The mare was clearly much less tense when away from the photogs, and his riding did improve when she wasn’t so nervous. I would’ve liked to see him dumped on his ass. StG ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/28 "2017-12-13T21:38:02Z")
Yep, he rides like crap. Yanking on the horse’s mouth, unbalanced seat. I pity the horse. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/29 "2017-12-13T22:06:33Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Sew, according to several news media outlets, the Moore’s’ have been riding horses to their polling location for years. Some news media-types even said it was a tradition. :eek: > > I assume the Moore family, under normal conditions, know how to handle their own horses. OTOH, it appeared that many of the photographers may have been city-folk who wouldn’t know an ass from a pinto. But they know that Roy Moore is no pinto… ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/30 "2017-12-13T22:09:02Z")
There are videos out there of him riding when he’s not around a crowd of photographers, and his seat and reining is exactly the same. He sits on a horse like one sits on a recliner, and his rein use is downright abusive. With his legs straight out like that, there’s no other way for him to control himself or the horse _other_ than yanking in a panic on the reins. His stirrup length is way off (his knees should be bent) as is his foot placement in the stirrup and against the horse. I wish she’d bucked him a mile for handling her like that. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/31 "2017-12-13T22:11:15Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > "… in a single world? " Gaudere, right? 😃 I used to ride a little bit as a kid, and occasionally as an adult I’ve been a beach riding tourist–so with all my copious experience: I can’t imagine anyone riding so clumsily unless they were trying to. I mean, it’s good to know a little bit about reins and stirrups, but stuff like simply managing your own center of balance seems to be a completely foreign concept to old Roy. I don’t know what truth there is to riding to the polls being a tradition, unless this is the ONLY time the Moores ride. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/32 "2017-12-13T22:15:59Z")
Horrible rider. Heavy handed on the reins causing the mare to toss her head and gape her mouth. He was bouncing all over her back like a sack of potatoes. I felt so bad for that pretty little mare. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/33 "2017-12-13T22:39:20Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Sew, according to several news media outlets, the Moore’s’ have been riding horses to their polling location for years. Some news media-types even said it was a tradition. Yes, exactly–a tradition of cheap political theatrics, just like his little-boy cowboy costume. It’s a dog-and-pony show in every sense. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/34 "2017-12-13T22:54:39Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > In the linked video, the horse appears nervous with all of the asshole press photographers crowding around and snapping pictures. Might have been a new experience for the horse? Yesterday, several news media outlets showed videos taken earlier where people were repeatedly warning the ignorant press people to back away from the horse. I half expected at least one photog to receive a kick to their body, or head. > > I wonder how a horse person would compare Moore’s horse handling when he was arriving at the polling station with a calm horse, vs Moore’s horse handling when he was trying to ride a nervous horse thru the clicking, crowding, media-types? I’ve ridden nervous horses, I’ve ridden frightened horses, and I’ve even managed/ridden a horse freaked out over gunfire. None of those situations require hauling on the reins in the manner that Moore did. To a large degree, the horse will take his/her cue off the rider. If the rider is relaxed and confident it will go a long way towards calming a nervous horse. If a horse rears or bucks (I have experience with both) you manage it with your weight and legs, NOT yanking on the reins. The man doesn’t know what the frack he’s doing, it’s that simple. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/35 "2017-12-13T23:00:54Z")
I grew up with horses on the farm but they were more my sister’s thing. I could ride if I so desired but I preferred my YT-250 Enduro. But yeah, I saw most of the errors others have spotted. Wild yanking on the reins, sitting back in the saddle. Let’s just say, he’s no William Shatner: [William Shatner Demonstrates His Western Reining Skills Ba - YouTube](https://youtu.be/sVNrtp-zsOg) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/36 "2017-12-13T23:02:42Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > I grew up with horses on the farm but they were more my sister’s thing. I could ride if I so desired but I preferred my YT-250 Enduro. But yeah, I saw most of the errors others have spotted. Wild yanking on the reins, sitting back in the saddle. > > Let’s just say, he’s no William Shatner: [https://youtu.be/sVNrtp-zsOg](https://youtu.be/sVNrtp-zsOg) Hell, I know _nothing_ about riding a horse and it still looked wrong to me. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/37 "2017-12-13T23:16:27Z")
> [@Buttercup\_Smith](#): > > [https://www.politico.com/video/2017/12/12/roy-moore-rides-a-horse-after-voting-064575](https://www.politico.com/video/2017/12/12/roy-moore-rides-a-horse-after-voting-064575) Couldn’t help but noticing that the end of the video is of the horse riding away from the videographer. IOW, a view of a horse’s ass. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/38 "2017-12-13T23:22:29Z")
The Shatner video is a great example of Western style riding - note that his hand movements are minimal and he keeps them mostly near the neck of the horse. He sits in a completely different way than Moore did, and Shatner’s butt seems glued to the saddle. Shatner moves _with_ the horse, not against it. Shatner is in control and the animal is calm, obedient, and shows no signs of stress. Not in the least because the animal is getting clear direction from the rider instead of that confused mess Moore generates. Now go back and look at how Moore “rides”. ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/39 "2017-12-13T23:27:12Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Hell, I know _nothing_ about riding a horse and it still looked wrong to me. That video was a thing of beauty. I noticed he never pulled back on the reins. Was the horse taking verbal cues? Amazing. I so admire all you Horse people. The link posted by **Spidey**. ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404/40 "2017-12-13T23:50:21Z")
Sorry **Standingwave**. The link of Shatner posted by you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horse-people-how-well-does-roy-moore-ride/804404.md?page=3)