Lets take this blog to the next level

If you have a photo of crappy show riding, know of a jerkwad trainer or judge, or someone in the show world that is an abusive piece of shit then send the info to me. This blog is not anti-showing, it's anti-abuse. So there is no truth to the claims from the TWH, ASB, western pleasure and dressage zombies that I'm trying to shut showing down. Instead I'm trying to make showing more honest and to get abusive practices out of the showring! Email me at shameinthehorseshowring@gmail.com



I have a request for my readers: If you have successfully rehabbed a show horse, or gotten a rescue and taken it on to a show career then let me know, I'd love to feature you here!






Sunday, November 30, 2008

The State of the Horse Industry (updated)

My sister and I spent the afternoon in front of the TV, with the laptops on, watching hot guy movies and discussing the state of the horse industry, and why we hate what it has become. We also ragged each other about updating our blogs so here’s my contribution.

Reading the Fugly Horse of the Day blog http://fuglyhorseoftheday.blogspot.com/ yesterday got me to thinking about some stuff. There is no doubt the Fugly blog has a lot of readers, and has helped educate a lot of the unwilling public as to what horse abuse looks like, at all levels, from BYB to stakes winning racer. I still see people bitching about it on other forums, and most of the bitching is about the language, the fact photos are “borrowed” and the fact that idiotic horse-abusing morons are being “outed” by their own stupidity. Fugly doesn’t go to anyone’s house to get these photos. She’s not “hacking” someone’s accounts to get their rambling posts and pathetic ads. She’s reposting what some idiot has put out for public view, and is now pissed about having it dissected by outraged people that see the abuse, neglect and stupidity.
I think Fugly is great. She’s funny, snarky and doesn’t hold back. The people she outs should be jailed for being stupid, as well as abusive. Some of the parents should be brought up on charges of both animal and child abuse. I think the blog has made a difference, even if it is a small one at this point. It’s hard to educate the entire world about horses, when so much of the ignorance belongs to people that aren’t willing to learn.

This brings us to my blog. The Shame in the Show Ring blog came about because I got tired of reading the bitching about the show ring on the various horse forums, yahoo lists and in private emails. One thing I realized is that people love to show, but they hate all the politics and crookedness that goes along with showing. There is not a single discipline or breed that doesn’t have its bad apples. There is also not a single discipline or organization that doesn’t have its enablers. The enablers are people that know the abuse is going on, but ignore or justify it because “that is the way things are done”. I don’t care if “that is the way things are done”; some of the crap happening to horses needs to stop now! The breed organizations and open discipline associations need to get their shit together and create a better atmosphere for the horses and stop caving in to the crooks.

Let’s look at a few things that just make me furious with the horse industry:

1) Breeding a specific body type that limits the horse’s usability. I’m not talking about breeding minis either. I’m talking about breeding downhill Wp horses that can’t use their rear ends. Or overly bulky halter horses can’t perform under saddle. I’m tired of seeing Tbs with legs like sticks and Arabs that are so flat crouped they can’t get their rear ends under themselves. Why on earth are we breeding the “function” out of our horses? I don’t care if judges want flat top lines. It’s stupid to breed a horse that cannot drive from behind, cannot collect from the shoulder and cannot pick its knees up high enough to keep from tripping. The fact that judges want a flat top line tells me how fricking stupid they are. Flat means “not round”. It means “no impulsion”. It means “no maneuverability”. Why don’t the judges just put signs on their foreheads that say “ I know nothing about horse anatomy or morphology!” I personally think all judges should have to pass a test on biomechanics before they can judge. They should also have to ride each of the types of horses they judge and then write a dissertation on movement. If they would quit placing shit movers, then the breeders would quit producing shit movers.

2) Breed/discipline organizations that turn a blind eye, and even promote abuse. Let’s face it, a lot of the abuse happens because of the drug rules. People can go way past a horse’s limitations and still show because they can now use drugs that were unheard of 20 years ago. Lameness isn’t even an issue since the judges will ignore bad movement. I’ve posted the videos here of the AQHA Congress halter classes. Most of those horses had no business being in the show ring. They certainly weren’t the “ideal” of the breed. WP is riddled with drug abuse. I know the little WP bunnies will scream that I’m generalizing, but it’s true. The drug cocktails created to win WP championships would make a crack whore squeal with delight. Every single breed organization needs to clean up their allowed drug lists and start taking into account the health of the horse. Why isn’t the stock horse industry testing for anabolic steroids like racing has? Why don’t the NRHA and NCHA test for drugs? They already use up and throw away young horses at an astonishing rate, yet they make no effort to curb the worst abusers. I used to think FEI was on top of the abuse issue because of their hard stand on drugs, but they are now ignoring abusive training techniques in the warm up pen. Youtube has endless videos of people using Rolkur and draw reins to create artificial frames. Some of the top Dressage riders out there should be ashamed of themselves for the things they do to their horses.

3) Organizations that are run by the very people they are supposed to police. When judges/trainers are directors of organizations then the criminals are running the prisons. How on earth can anyone be objective about what a breed organization needs when their vote can affect their own business? They can’t. They also can’t be objective when they are judging their judge/trainer peers. It’s not a case of whining because the best fitted horse wins. It’s a case of judge/trainer/directors voting in rule changes that affect the entire industry, but suit their personal agendas.

If this wasn’t the case then why do we still have HYPP, as well as the drugs used to treat it being approved? Why do all stock horse organizations have huge approved drug lists, especially allowing drug maskers? Give me one fricking valid reason why any stock horse organizations needs to allow lasix? There is no reason on earth to let a known drug masker and diuretic on the approved drug list, unless you are condoning cheating. Why do they allow two year old under saddle futurities? Why do they not promote, and help fund, retirement homes for the show horses that get tossed out of the system? Why has it come to the point that judges can abuse youth exhibitors (ApHC and AQHA) and not get official charges filed on them, as well as public ass-chewings?

What on earth possesses a breed organization to hire a person from the cow industry to run it? And allow this person to let his judge/trainer/director buddies to get away with murder? I know of at least 25 complaints filed against ApHC judges in the past year and not a single one has resulted in someone losing their card. Child abuse is the least of it; try having alcohol at a show, heckling exhibitors (over a loud speaker no less), judging horses that were bred/sold by the judge, whacking another judge in the face with a stick, the list goes on and on. I have personally seen some of these complaints, and I’ve seen that nothing has been done about them. So when a breed organization is run by corrupt officers and directors then why is it a surprise that the show industry is tanking? Here's a tip off for you bloated good old boys: It doesn't matter how much money you put in futurity classes and incentive sales, if people can't afford to show they won't show up!

4) Enablers just piss me off. These are the people that try to excuse their actions, their friends’ actions and the industry as a whole, just because they like the way the slacker generation of horse trainers get away with crap. I’m tired of going to shows and seeing young riders being taught to abuse horses by trainers that are the dregs of the equine society. And the little darlings’ parents stand by the rail and let their spawn learn that constant jerking, spurring and riding with your ass poked out like a duck’s butt are all okay. There is nothing okay about a child learning that abusive riding is accepted in the show ring. I cringe every single time I see a gaited horse youth class. I can’t stand the warm up pen for youth WP. Even worse than the riding is the knowledge that half of the great youth trainers in the industry have been busted for drug or abuse violations. What fricking parent lets their kid ride with a known drug abuser? We've got three trainers that I know of in the ApHC that are multiple drug offenders, and they still have multiple youth clients! WTF is wrong with the parents?
And forget about watching pony hunters, it’s enough to make you puke watching pseudo-trainers browbeat children over fences they have no business going over. If the youth are the future of the horse industry then why is it churning out such a bunch of losers and cheaters? The good kids get pushed to the side by the spoiled kids with trainers, clueless but wealthy parents, and an industry that doesn’t care about longevity. How many of the kids you rode with as a youth exhibitor are still showing today? How many of the kids you see in the ring now will still be showing in ten, fifteen or twenty years? How many good kids will be driven out of the industry because of bad judges, cheating trainers and high expenses.

5) Fads and fashions that make the show ring cost prohibitive for most people. Let’s face it, if the show industry would go to a “uniform” system like a lot of schools have the world would be a better place. I’m not really hip on the whole “foundation” horse section of the industry, but I do agree with their attitude that it’s the horse that needs to be shown, not the saddle or exhibitor’s shirt.

Here’s my attitude: If Mr. Hotshit trainer is any good, then he’s still just as good in a plain saddle, plain shirt and not having his sponsors names printed all over his equipment. If some little darling can truly sit a horse then they can do it without $7,000.00 of silver dripping off their saddle. And if Thunder is a good show horse at home without his fake tail, show grease and hoof sparklies then he should be just as good a show horse without that crap in the ring. I understand the need for a clean, prepped and fitted horse, but the shit going on today is ridiculous. The bling and crap look like something out of a Vegas side show. And like a Vegas sideshow it's all glitz and no substance. It's an illusion of talent being sold to the judges as ability covered up in sequins.
Which brings us back to the judges.

WTF happened so that a judge cannot properly place a horse that has an active working tail? I’m not talking about moody switching, I’m talking about a horse moving his tail while being ridden at a lope. I’m talking about a reining horse using his tail to help balance, and a dressage horse swishing his tail in tandem to lead changes. If a judge cannot tell the difference between anger and casual swishing then they need to hand in their card now!
The fake tail fad is one of the dumbest I’ve ever seen. For one thing there is no reason for a working horse to have a tail that drags the ground. That is the height of human vanity. I love to look at fit and well turned out horses, but making a judging decision based on how long a horse’s tail is shows how ignorant the judge is. And not being able to judge a horse with a moving tail shows what piss poor judgment most stock horse judges have. Ditch the fake tails.

I’ve become a bit jaded with the stock horse show ring in regards to their attire, mainly because is looks like a Sunset Boulevard hooker would wear it. I figure that when someone comes in wearing all the glitz they are trying to distract the judge from the fact that their horse moves like shit; anything to take the eyes off of those poorly moving legs, the bouncing seat, the poor equitation and the spur stops. It’s not a case of envy; I can more than afford the silver. I just choose not to deck myself out like a Christmas tree. I don’t need sequins blinding a judge in order to place.

If a standard of attire was enforced then plain, clean clothing would be on every exhibitor. Plain clean and functional tack would be acceptable. Forget about fake manes and tails and show us what the horse can do. If you can’t stand out on your own merit then you don’t need to be in the ring. This is one place where H/J and Dressage have an edge on the stock horse ring. I see a little bling, but not the blinding levels seen in WP.


Now back to the blog. I have my detractors, most of them enablers or the crooks. I really could not care less. If you don’t like the blog then don’t read it. People bitch about my posting style, don’t like the language and don’t like it that I use photos to showcase the crappy riding going on in the industry. Screw them. I don’t go to people’s houses and scan their private photos. I find what is on the web, posted by someone that thinks their example of shitty riding or training is just fine for public viewing. I don’t make people behave badly, like the judges that abused the children. I simply show case them and let others post their opinions. For every person bitching that I am mean there are 20 more people sending me websites and examples of poor training to put on this blog.

I also don’t diss the horses for being the products of poor handling and breeding. The horses are not at fault. It’s the shitty breeders, trainers and judges that create the problems. Every single problem in the show ring is man made and human approved. Want stacked up hoofs? Ask a human how they look. Want huge, useless muscle, ask a human how functional they are? Want genetic defects passed on in perpetuity? It takes a human to do it. I have asked several times why the show industry promotes the things it does and never get a straight answer. “Just because” is not valid excuse. Until the show industry cleans up how the trainers/judges/directors run things then it will continue to lose exhibitors and public interest. it might not be a bad thing if it crashes and burns and has to be rebuilt by the honest people that actually love horses.

39 comments:

GoLightly said...

(Rubbing hands together)
I knew a good one was coming.
You never disappoint.
Right on, TJM. Right ON!
Take THAT, you AssHats!
Thanks TJM.
You were so worth the wait.
Hope you are doing ok.

To changes that HELP the horses.
Let's breed 'em sound, 'k?

cowgirlek7 said...

Here, Here, I love showing AQHA, but not the cost, I am 23 and hopefully will be showing in a year or 2, and have started to collect my show outfits and I have to say i stay away from the bling. I think it just looks bad in the amateur ring, and that most amateur dress like their still 16 and there clearly not.

Amanda Nicole said...

Ha I knew this was coming after the postings on HGS... some people just can't handle the truth!! Well said TJM!

mxmom said...

Excellent blog TJM!

OldMorgans said...

Right on to all of it!
Glad you are back & in fine form.

sagebeasties.blogspot.com

cattypex said...

YAY TJM.

All the stuff I bitch about, and MORE!!!!

Ha ha... one of the prettiest show blazers I ever saw was worn by an old Photoshop student of mine at a big open show.

She'd gotten it at Goodwill for $8.

Really, the Dolly Parton on the Porter Waggoner Show look has gone TOO far.

Hey, cowgirlek7, I remember when a stock horse's tail was supposed to end RIGHT BELOW HIS HOCKS. If it grew too long, you pulled it.

There were no rubber bands in anyone's manes, either.

Chaps were optional except at big big shows.

DIG IT: http://www.cronequarterhorses.com/ManOStyle.html

OK, I LOL'ed at that girl's boots, but note the casual dress of the rider... the horse's tail... tasteful amount of silver...

And the head and neck on that stallion! OMG.

And for educational purposes for the young'uns:
http://images2.fotki.com/v19/photos/3/34994/72893/Roca_Girl-vi.jpg

I know I've posted that before, but there's so much awesomeness there.... from the buckskin lacing on the saddle to the scrunchy hat to the whale graphic.....

Can you tell I'm a graphic designer with weird taste?

Anyway, what's HGS?

I wish there was a circuit/organization somewhere between AQHA and the Foundation folks. Shows where you dress up nicely, but no one's over the top, and really nice horses are struttin' their stuff.

LatigoLiz said...

Bravo!

Walk On said...

I LOVE your blog!

I quit showing a year after I started, and have zero desire to go back into any ring in any class under any judge or with any breed. Ever.

Any future competing will be in long distance riding -- I feel it's much harder for politics to play there, and all that rhinestone and fake hair crap won't do a bit to help.

GoLightly said...

This was written to me, on my blog, by Andalusians of Grandeur.
She has given permission for me to copy/paste it here. I think it needs reading.
"Oh, yes! I had those days and nights when I groomed for a saddlebred and morgan barn. I slept in freezing weather wrapped in wool coolers in the tack stall. I ate sweetfeed mixed with hot water at one show, because I didn't get paid till it was over. The most humiliating part was that I never realized that the new groom I was working with, who never really clipped the problem horses or took apart the harness or anything demanding, was getting tipped. I never received any tips from the rich owners, because the barn owner told them that i would keep quiet since blind people were greatful for any job they could get. Well, I quit the next week after I found out. They acted crushed to see me go, and promptly got busted for excessive drugging at a show because none of them could clip 3 of the horses. I remember the trainer had a whole separate set of tack that the students weren't allowed to see. This included sharply spiked cavesons, bits made from sections of chainsaw chain, baling wire curb straps, and stirrup irons with a small sharp spike soldered to the side nearest to the horse's side. One of my jobs used to be getting all horses groomed and strapped into bitting rigs as early as possible so no one would see them braced and suffering for the minimum 3 hours they were confined. These rigs all consisted of a regular roller and crupper. The bridle was either a single twisted wire snaffle or a double with a curb boasting straight, 5-inch shanks. The curbchain was to be adjusted so that it was tight against the horses chin even when the reins were slack. These horses were forced into a very exagerated frame with their heads far behind the verticle. They were stuck in the stall with nowhere to go and left. Needless to say, all had very well developed muscles under their necks and traveled like upsidedown bananas.
Yikes!! This is getting too long, and I must work on a research project about "fair trade" coffee."

(shudders) The High-Stepping World is psychotic.
I am so glad I was in the Hunter/Jumper World. Abuse happens there, but not like this SHIT. Gah.

Thanks to Andalusians for letting me put it here.

cattypex said...

Wow. Just... wow.

It's interesting how the saddleseat disciplines - and attendant weirdness and yukkiness - are so far removed from the other spheres of equestrian culture.

I mean, a lot of H/J people know at least SOMEthing about dressage and vice versa, and WP people know SOMEthing about reining, and there's cross-pollination between these worlds, even if they bitch and complain about each other.

But all the saddleseat stuff seems to happen in a vaccuum except for the rare horse who can be truly versatile. Arabs and Morgans have more perceived crosstraining potential.

But the poor Saddlebreds and TWH's !!!! Someone should make an undercover general-interest documentary about what goes on at these shows. All that tail setting, bitting rig, pain.... and of course in all disciplines it absolutely FLOORS me how so many people are willing to threaten other people AND their horses for pointing out that they're beyond asshats.

Dang. Maybe I WILL get an endurance horse when I get back into it.

GoLightly said...

No shit, Catty.
Unbelievable.
I knew a guy who killed a horse for the insurance money. I think that's BETTER than what AofG "saw".
Amazing woman, isn't she??
I'm so honoured she's reading me.

Of course, you honour me, too.
Hugs back, my dear. You are such a calm voice of reason, in this psycho world.
Keep ranting!
I wanna donkey, first:)

mulerider said...

Right on, as usual. I hate to be a pessimist, but this kind of crap has been going on at least since the '60's when I started showing and I don't think most of it will ever change.

One of my lottery winning fantasies is to run a farm where I give riding lessons and sponsor local schooling shows where I and like-minded individuals run things like they ought to be run and preach loudly to one and all against practices like those you blog about. In fact, I'm willing to go so far as banning trainers that don't get with my program.

One of my more realistic ideas is to volunteer to be a 4-H leader where I might actually be able to instill some sense of right and wrong in young horsemen. I'm almost at a point in my life where I will actually have time to do that.

Trainer X said...

That was right on!!!

www.ihateyourhorse.blogspot.com

cattypex said...

Mulerider, can I come work at your dream farm?

Anonymous said...

BEAUTIFUL. Well said.

Concerning Saddlebreds and TWHs, AofG is absolutely right. For ASBs and TWHs in the NHSC show rings, training is based solely in mechanics. These animals are not trained--they are manipulated into doing what the judge wants to see. I have seen ASBs with such swayed backs you wouldn't believe it, and they would only be 10 or 11 years old. It all comes from being in full body braces most of their lives. And the TWHs...well, the stories I've heard and what I've seen would make your blood curdle.

I have been around gaited horses for a long time, and ASBs and TWHs get the worst of it. I think what bothers me the most isn't even the soring--it's the fact that humans believe they must manipulate the horse with mechanical means to get what they want. It's like suping up a old car--there's nothing original left after a while. Plus, the stuff behind the scenes is horrible. People get dazzled by the glitz and glamour, but they don't realize what happened to get the horse there.

Everyone, if you want to see TWHs treated well, support your local FOSH (www.fosh.info) and NWHA (www.nwha.com) shows. These are sound horse venues and the animals are judged exactly as they should be. We have very few politics and crooked people in this business, and those kinds of people are not tolerated and are dully ignored. Competition can be fierce, but the drive is to make it positive and friendly.


For the Tennessee Walking Horse


When the Rain Horse Comes


The Murder of the English Language

Anonymous said...

mulerider,

WELL SAID about the 4-H riders. I am shocked at how horrible they treat their "project" horses and how they don't take horsemanship serious. And this is how we're educating our youth....PEACHY.


For the Tennessee Walking Horse


When the Rain Horse Comes


The Murder of the English Language

ShameintheHorseShowRing said...

Andrea,

> These animals are not trained--they are manipulated into doing what the judge wants to see.

That is a great quote!
Most show horses are not trained. They are manipulated and brow beaten into artificial frames and movememt.

You are so right about ASBs and TWH being manipulated. It is disgraceful how both of these wonderful, animated and highly intelligent breeds are made to suffer such abuse.

TJM

Cut-N-Jump said...

Sorry, I have to disagree about the Arabs and the flat croups as to them not being able to get up under themselves and move with impulsion off their rear ends. A flat croup is part of the breed standard.

The filly/mare we recently sold had been shown halter, did well enough winning her classes and started properly- never had a problem moving with impulsion off her rear end. She does so all the time. Her new owners are uber impressed with her every day for things that are 'the norm' around our house and expected behavior from our horses.

The problem lies with all of the second class shit, half assed, no talent hacks who call themselves "Trainers" in the arab industry who wouldn't know implusion even if it launched their ass out of the saddle to land on the moon.

One of their king dickheads Tommy Garland was shown 'explaining away' a good number of his riding and training flaws the other day on his program on RFD. It was glaringly apparent to anyone who knows better, yet he still took Champion at US Nationals on a grey stallion who lacked impulsion. Tommy stated "See, he isn't stepping under himself..." like they aren't supposed to do that.

As far as the horses being bred not to perform past halter- this goes hand in hand with the breeders, owners, trainers, vets and farriers who breed the posty legged crap in the ring, the halter only trainers who won't climb on a horse because they ride like a tub of shit and th efarriers who trim & shoe to the owner & trainers tastes because they need the money and don't care about the horses. Add in the judges who keep placing these poor horses and it just perpetuates the cycle.

They are greedy fucks who could care less if the horse can ever be ridden. They take their titles in halter and off to the breeding shed to make more.

It's all about the money!
Who has it, who wants it and how they are going to get it.

ShameintheHorseShowRing said...

CNJ,
>Sorry, I have to disagree about the Arabs and the flat croups as to them not being able to get up under themselves and move with impulsion off their rear ends. A flat croup is part of the breed standard.

I'm talking about the flat croups the run downhill into the middle of the horse's back. Those exagerated croups that look like shit unless the horse is stretched out to the max.

Anonymous said...

Okay, I have a thought here, maybe someone can answer it.

Quote from the post:

"When judges/trainers are directors of organizations then the criminals are running the prisons. How on earth can anyone be objective about what a breed organization needs when their vote can affect their own business? They can't."

Okay, I totally agree, and believe me, I think the worst offender of this is the TWH industry. But my thought is this: who runs it otherwise? I mean, most organizations wouldn't exist if it weren't for people who are high up in the show industry and make a lot of money footing the bill and doing the legwork. For example, I know that most trail riders that are members of gaited horse assocs have no interest in showing and won't even volunteer at a show, much less run one. They also usually aren't interested in serving on a board or in a committee. Freaky people like me who do both are few and far between. Plus we all know that most orgs wouldn't make any money if it weren't for shows. You can't have a trail rider incentive program without money, and it's hard to get trail riders to do any kind of fundraising. So if we eliminate people who support shows from running the orgs, where is the money for the org going to come from? Does that make sense?

Now, I can see definitely not allowing judges on the BOD or to be officers in a breed assoc. They can always petition a BOD member or committee to make a change if they see something going on in the show ring that needs change. If they stop being a judge, then they can run for BOD or a committee. To me that's an easy call. But as far as trainers, big-barn owners, etc....to me that's a hard call. They are what make up the show industry--without them there would be none.

So, anyone have any thoughts?

ShameintheHorseShowRing said...

Andrea,
>But my thought is this: who runs it otherwise? I mean, most organizations wouldn't exist if it weren't for people who are high up in the show industry and make a lot of money footing the bill and doing the legwork.

The same people that ran it in the past: diversified members that are willing to work for the betterment of the entire breed, not just one section.

>Now, I can see definitely not allowing judges on the BOD or to be officers in a breed assoc. They can always petition a BOD member or committee to make a change if they see something going on in the show ring that needs change. If they stop being a judge, then they can run for BOD or a committee.

I agree with you, but let's examine one example:

The ApHC has a 19 member board. Of those 19 members 8 are carded ApHC judges and 1 is married to an ApHC carded judge. The judges committee, which cards new judges is made up of current judges that decide who qualifies and who doesn't. In other words, if they don't want competition for judging jobs they can prevent anyone knew from getting a card, and they have.
They also handle all complaints regarding judges. As I said in the blog I know of at least 25 complaints against judges, just from the past year. Since they are reviewed by other judges/trainers/directors that the accused show/train/judge with then nothing gets done. I don't know of a single ApHC judge getting their card pulled for bad behavior, because no behavior, including abuse of a youth, is deemed bad enough to merit losing a card.
Even if you file a complaint, with witnesses, photos and actual tape recording of the judge behaving in an unprofessional manner the ApHC will not pull their card.


TJM

Anonymous said...

TJM,

Okay, that definitely makes sense.

So I guess the goal would be to petition the members of any assoc and ask them to start doing write-ins for BODs and committees of people who will change things. Although that was tried with the TWHBEA and it didn't work, and I believe it's because the majority of the members are trail riders, ameteurs (SP), etc. who only wanted to register their horse and won't renew when the membership is over. So they just don't care. (Side note: TWHBEA's ploy is to pay $100 to register a horse, and that includes the membership fee. Although I just write a letter when I register a horse under my name and ask not to be included on the membership roster.) The sore horse people are still in charge since that's probably the majority of the membership itself, not the actual owners of TWHs.

*SIGH* The madness goes on....

ShameintheHorseShowRing said...

Andrea,

>So I guess the goal would be to petition the members of any assoc and ask them to start doing write-ins for BODs and committees of people who will change things.

Write-ins won't work. The good old boys will break every rule possible to keep their friends in office. The ApHC CEO actually allowed someone that had been suspended four times to run as a director. According to the rules he should have been permanently suspended. Instead he gets to run as a director. Does this sound like good leadership?


TJM

Anonymous said...

TJM,

"Write-ins won't work."

Exactly. Even having sound horse people on the ballot this last election with TWHBEA didn't work. Mostly I think it was because the trail riders/amateur owners truly dont' care and didn't vote, but I also think it's because of shady means to keep the bad guys in control.

"The good old boys will break every rule possible to keep their friends in office. The ApHC CEO actually allowed someone that had been suspended four times to run as a director. According to the rules he should have been permanently suspended. Instead he gets to run as a director. Does this sound like good leadership?"

NOPE. You're exactly right. The same is in TWHBEA--most of the BOD and other bigwigs have received tickets and suspensions for violating the HPA.

We call them GOBs in our circles.... :)

cattypex said...

I guess with the TWH assholes, we can just hope that enough bad publicity saps their member base.

Then the only people left doing shows will be the big lick trainers/judges, and when they're not getting any new business... maybe they'll go into another line of work.

I can dream.....!

Hey, we all just have to keep being vocal. Like Fugly posted this week, just because WE know all about something, don't assume that it isn't TOTALLY new to someone else!!

Hell I had NO idea how bad some of this stuff actually was until I started reading Fugly and TJM, and I've been an avid horse-stuff reader since... oh... I could read!!

Seriously, you just have to keep educating the uninitiated and hope they never set foot into the nasty shit.

Cut-N-Jump said...

TJM-

I agree on the horses who are so downhill they don't 'flatten out' ntil they are over stretched, but as per the rules, (the last time I bothered to look anyways) the halter horses were NOT to be 'overstretched'. But then we all know how far that holds water or caries any weight, depending on who is at the end of the lead...

Those type of horses I find are rarely promoted past their halter career, because, well, we all know how the Boggs' boys ride. Or don't.

As for the BOD, trainers/judges mess, a way that may better handle it is to break it all down to a smaller scale. Regions within our own state, then statewide, then national. If there is more than one level on which to file a complaint, there may be more room for something to actually get done about it.

Just a thought. But then in a perfect world...

Cut-N-Jump said...

As far as the fads and fashions of the WP whores go- I agree 1000%!

That is one reason I show hunter/jumper/dressage. Not much wiggle room for fashion or fad there. The proper, clean lines and tidy look, never do go out of style.

As for hubby showing cutters- well, beyond a nice shirt, a hat and a pair of batwing chaps there isn't a lot of fashion statements to be found there.

Fake tails? I can say I LOVE the Arab industry for NOT jumping on board with that one and allowing them. I also find it funny as hell that the cutters and reiners I have seen, (QH) often have long, thick tails- Naturally! Many times they are tied up to keep them out of the way while the horse works. Some folks even go as far as shortening and thinning the tail to keep it from getting stepped on and pulled while the horse works. I know hubby's favorite mare has the thickest tail I have ever had to deal with. It is a real PITA to brush out and keep nice. For a lot us, we would opt for a thinner shorter tail, truth be told.

cattypex said...

Ha, my mare had a really bushy full tail ... chestnut with almost purple highlights on the inside... that made the Arab people jealous!

She also had a ridiculous tailbone, so if you braided it [correctly[ to the end of the bone, you ended up with a broom....

cattypex said...

(Aussie brand detangler conditioner is AWESOME stuff, but I'd go through almost a whole bottle every time I got ready for a show.)

Cut-N-Jump said...

CP- Show-Off Time brand Know Knot detangler & conditioner is our friend!

cattypex said...

My daughter has an extremely tender head... I did too as a child... so for now I'm using Johnson & Johnson's spray on her.

It doesn't work great on horses....

I did spend many hours pulling manes and picking apart tails with my fingers until my fingers hurt too much to go any further. Horsehair is like piano wire.

Anyway... Tail sets are HORRIBLE. Fake tails are silly, but not harmful. Gingering... is it still done?

Tail blocking is RIGHT OUT.

Cut-N-Jump said...

CP- I find a clean tail with plenty of conditioner is easy to pick and doesn't harm the fingers. Also lose less hair that way.

I have done that for years on arabs, QH, and ponies.

Cowboy magic detangler works too, but seems goopy to me, as does Main 'N Tail conditioner when left in.

One arab farm I worked at actually had us use lotion, yes, plain old hand lotion, picked up in supersized bottles, on the horses manes and tails to keep the skin soft so the hair would grow. Slather it on if they are rubbing out their mane as it must be dry, itchy skin causing it...

cattypex said...

heh... I used Listerine to deter tail rubbing - it seemed to kill whatever caused the itch.

How 'bout the mayonnaise ALL over the horse??

Or Baby Oil.

I remember when Laser Sheen first came out... much mre economical than Show Sheen, esp. since it came with that awesome pump spray bottle.

I like Grand Champion Pepi, if it still exists, for a deeper shine.

Never apply show sheen before a bareback class.

Arab hair is ever so much finer than QH hair!!

The Amish I know cut the forelocks off of their horses. WTF?

Pai said...

It's sad... I thought nothing could piss me off and depress me more than the shit that goes on in the purebred dog show world, and then I get to find out all the shit that happens in the horse show world... why can't anything people do that involves animals NOT be up to it's eyeballs in shallowness and commonplace cruelty?! =(

kross said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shadowed Storm said...

THANK YOU! it's gotten insane, the glitter, the fake tails, the absurdly expensive show gear used only a few times (A girl at a friend's barn bought a $500 pair of boots and wore them twice.), the horses bred so specially that they can't move right.
This is supposed to be about the HORSES. Get a good saddle, find a good trainer and make it about the horse, not how many rhinestonse and how much glitter you can wear.
It's one thing to have a few silver threads in the pattern of the shirt. It's something completely different to be a blinding ball of glare.

To those who will say they breed to get what the judges want, I say this- Your horses may win ribbons, but the ones I ride can move.

bhm said...

I'm curious. One of your videos showed saddlebreds or walkers trotting in a circle. It doesn't look like any of them had bad shoeing. Could please explain to me what is the problem with the horses.

bhm said...

The video I'm referring to is called the Shelbyville Horse Show.

getrdone said...

If you can't baffle emwith bullshit and shiny things ! Then amaze themwithtruetalent and perseverance!