Hey everyone! Spring Break is over and so I am back to writing, and thought I'd jump right back in with a subject that is bound to make some people uncomfortable: rider weight. In the US, and the world over, people are getting larger, and while there is a lot of pressure in the media to be thin, the truth is that the average person is not only taller, but bigger in overall size and carries more fat than an average person 50 years ago. Dealing with our weight in an honest way can be difficult; no one likes to talk about their faults, and we also don't want to seem rude in talking about someone else's either. But when we are talking about the weight of a rider on horseback, my feeling is that we MUST talk about it, because the horse cannot.
A friend recently posted an interesting article out of the UK that proposed that only 1 in 20 riders is the optimal weight for their horse, and that a horse should only carry 10% of their body weight. This differs from other articles I have read on the subject in that many say that horses can comfortably carry 20% of their body weight, but it did get me thinking....how often do people actually weigh their horses, and then weight themselves with all of their tack? I would suppose that this rarely happens, especially in barns where riders ride western exclusively. Only in extreme cases, when someone is either obese or extremely tall, is the rider's size mentioned, or sometimes, in the case of a horse being very small or old is a rider not allowed to ride it if it is a lesson horse. Many owners and trainers don't want to say, "You are too big for that horse," and risk hurting someone's feelings.
What do we risk for this political correctness? Our horses well-being, both physical and mental! Horses carrying riders that are too heavy are often plagued by lameness issues, such as suspensory injuries, dropped pasterns and joint soreness, as well as sore backs. They may try to evade the discomfort by displaying behavior problems, such as bucking, head tossing, rearing, stopping with refusal to go forward, and by pinning their ears when asked to perform. The horses who have the unfortunate combination of a too-heavy rider and a saddle that doesn't fit well will end up with nerve damage (sometimes characterized by white spots on the back and withers), will have trouble with their leads, and may even develop the habit of 'pulling back' when they are being saddled. All of these problems are fairly common, but are usually blamed on something else - conformation, equipment, bad attitude - but have you ever heard someone say, "this horse bowed his tendon because the rider was too large?"
It should be said that the ability to carry a heavy rider is greatly affected by the fitness level of a horse, as well as breed. Horses who are out of shape should not be asked to carry a heavy rider; if they do, they will often display discomfort much more quickly than a horses that is well legged-up. Breed and conformation play a part in that animals that are long in the back will have a harder time with a heavy rider, as well as horses that are fine boned, or have less-than-ideal angles in their legs. Experience of the rider can be a factor too; a new rider may be unbalanced in the saddle, leaning in such a way to put excess stress on the horse. An experienced rider can easily "sit light" on a horse by staying balanced over the horse's center of gravity.
Here's something else to think about.....young horses are the most vulnerable to injury due to the fact that their bones, tendons and ligaments are still developing, their front and back halves grow at different rates, and also because they are still learning to carry a rider and may be awkward and clumsy. Yet, quite often young horses are sent to colt-starters that are quite large men! This is very apparent to me in the reining industry. Many of the top trainers (and plenty down the ranks) are very big guys, and reiners are not supposed to be big horses - they have to be in the 14.2 - 15.1 hand range in order to be quick enough to turn and short enough lengthwise to stop well. If they mature bigger than that, being a reiner becomes a lot harder on their bodies, even if it does mean that they can carry their 5'11", 250 lb trainer a lot easier.
What I have noticed is that many reining trainers compensate by bulking their horses up to the point of being fat so that they can look as if they are bigger. Many people think that a big tank of a Quarter Horse is well-suited to carrying a large person, but I'd say this is a misnomer. Consider that in that situation, not only is the horse carrying the rider's excess weight, the large, heavy western saddle required for the performance, but also their own excess weight. This is extremely stressful on a horse's joints, and here we are, asking them to spin as fast as they can, and run fast only to drop into a sliding stop. Is it any wonder that many reining horses get used up and go lame so early in their lives? Some Quarter Horses may have thicker leg bones than say, the average Hackney pony, but many do not (especially those that have Thoroughbred blood, halter horse bloodlines or are from certain reining lines), and even if they do, I think that it gives people a false sense of security. They are still a large animal on fairly spindly legs, compared to its total body weight. When you look at other animal's ratio of leg to body weight, most animals who have long, thin legs are lighter in body weight, such as a deer, or have thicker legs to support their weight, such as an elephant. Many Quarter Horses have been bred to be large, muscular animals on top of legs barely bigger that a table leg, and then are asked to maneuver at speed.
A couple of years ago, I took a very knowledgeable horsey friend who had never been to a reining event with me to the NRHA Futurity, and after spending several hours watching patterns, she commented several times about the size of some of the trainers, and that she could hardly believe that the horses we were watching were 3 yr olds - not only because of what they were able to do as a 3 yr old, but also because all of the horses looked really bulked up. She said, "none of them look like babies." My gut reaction was that when the horse is carrying a large man or woman, the "reiner way" is to make the horse look like it is capable of carrying that weight, even if doing so means that the horse won't be sound beyond the age of five. Very few reining horses continue to compete and stay sound beyond the age of 7 or 8. This isn't only because of rider weight, but I would like to pose that it should be part of the discussion. One article I came across gives a mathematical equation on figuring out if a rider is an appropriate size based on the thickness of the horse's cannon bone. While it was applying that equation to gaited horses, I do think that way of thinking would be applicable to other breeds and uses, including reining.
Now, what should we do with this information? First, if you are planning on sending a young horse (or any horse) into training, consider the rider's size in relation to the horse's. Don't be afraid to ask how much someone weighs - your horse's health and success are dependent on it. If you are confronted with a situation where a large person wants to get on your small horse, find a tactful way to dissuade them, or substitute a larger, more appropriate, horse. And let's also take a look at ourselves. We are, as a society, getting bigger, year after year. This isn't healthy for us - studies have shown that the children of today will be the first generation whose life spans will be shorter than their parents, mostly due to the obesity epidemic and the weight-related diseases that accompany obesity. Getting fit, not for the sake of being thin, but just for the sake of our hearts, our joints and our longevity, makes sense. And as riders, it could make a huge difference for the health and longevity of our mounts. They are worth it, right?
Showing posts with label National Reining Horse Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Reining Horse Association. Show all posts
Monday, March 25, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Rumor Has It....
So, let's say you are someone in the reining industry who breeds some mares every year, and who pays attention to the stallions available for breeding, both the stallions with well-established reputations and those that are up and coming. You are approached by someone with a juicy piece of gossip - that a very well-known stallion & show horse who is getting a lot of buzz and attracting mares is, in fact, deaf. The person telling you this is someone who owns a different well-known stallion, and they tell you this information under the guise of secrecy, as if they are letting you in on something that an 'insider' should know, flattering you by sharing the secret with you. They prop up the information with supposed medical and genetic 'facts,' and tell you that it is very complicated for most people to understand, thus dazzling you with their apparent command of jargon and convoluted reasoning. They tell you that they are just trying to save you from ending up with a foal that is afflicted, making you trust them because they care so much for you and your program.
All this seems so enlightening because you think that you are seeing behind the curtain of the industry, and it feels like you had a near miss with certain tragedy. It all seems so well and good, except for one thing.....it isn't true. The stallion in question isn't deaf at all. Turns out, the person spreading the rumor feels threatened by the success of the supposed deaf horse, feels that they are taking mares away from their own horse, and must find a way to cast doubt in the minds of mare owners. It is transparent jealousy, albeit with the face of someone who purports to be wealthy and powerful and knows more than you do in a very small clique-ish industry. This person knows that, for some, even a shadow of doubt is enough to take their business elsewhere, so with an arm around your shoulder, and a whisper in your ear, they plant the seed of doubt, followed by a great slathering of BS about how much they care about the industry to make that seed grow.
Last year, I received a threat from someone who was angry that I wasn't interested in mandatory genetic testing that they would tell everyone they knew that a horse of mine has a genetic disease (the horse has no genetic problems) and that I was spreading this genetic problem without disclosing it to buyers. This rumor about me came from the same exact neighborhood as the rumor about the deaf stallion that recently has been circulating. At the time I was threatened by this person, I was very hurt, worried and angry - it was a very stressful time. I imagine that the owners/managers of the alleged deaf stallion are going through the same emotions, and having to take the time to correct people's assumptions is time they could be spending doing much more important things. It is my feeling that the person spreading the rumors doesn't care at all about being accurate; what is important is being disruptive, and then finding a way to present themselves as benevolent, righteous, and well-intentioned in order to seem like the hero.
But they are standing on very unsteady ground. A pattern of lies will become evident to any observant person, and those who actually are operating in the industry aren't interested in participating in it. No amount of bashing other people's horses is going to bring mares to that person's stallion. And why should it? Surely breeders, even smaller ones, are capable of thinking critically, and if necessary, picking up the phone and asking questions directly to the manager of the horse in question, right? A breeder who listens to rumor and makes breeding decisions based on it isn't much of a breeder, or should I say, person. Unless you are witness to it FIRSTHAND, it is merely gossip, and you should know better than to give it any credence.
"Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you." ~Spanish Proverb
All this seems so enlightening because you think that you are seeing behind the curtain of the industry, and it feels like you had a near miss with certain tragedy. It all seems so well and good, except for one thing.....it isn't true. The stallion in question isn't deaf at all. Turns out, the person spreading the rumor feels threatened by the success of the supposed deaf horse, feels that they are taking mares away from their own horse, and must find a way to cast doubt in the minds of mare owners. It is transparent jealousy, albeit with the face of someone who purports to be wealthy and powerful and knows more than you do in a very small clique-ish industry. This person knows that, for some, even a shadow of doubt is enough to take their business elsewhere, so with an arm around your shoulder, and a whisper in your ear, they plant the seed of doubt, followed by a great slathering of BS about how much they care about the industry to make that seed grow.
Last year, I received a threat from someone who was angry that I wasn't interested in mandatory genetic testing that they would tell everyone they knew that a horse of mine has a genetic disease (the horse has no genetic problems) and that I was spreading this genetic problem without disclosing it to buyers. This rumor about me came from the same exact neighborhood as the rumor about the deaf stallion that recently has been circulating. At the time I was threatened by this person, I was very hurt, worried and angry - it was a very stressful time. I imagine that the owners/managers of the alleged deaf stallion are going through the same emotions, and having to take the time to correct people's assumptions is time they could be spending doing much more important things. It is my feeling that the person spreading the rumors doesn't care at all about being accurate; what is important is being disruptive, and then finding a way to present themselves as benevolent, righteous, and well-intentioned in order to seem like the hero.
But they are standing on very unsteady ground. A pattern of lies will become evident to any observant person, and those who actually are operating in the industry aren't interested in participating in it. No amount of bashing other people's horses is going to bring mares to that person's stallion. And why should it? Surely breeders, even smaller ones, are capable of thinking critically, and if necessary, picking up the phone and asking questions directly to the manager of the horse in question, right? A breeder who listens to rumor and makes breeding decisions based on it isn't much of a breeder, or should I say, person. Unless you are witness to it FIRSTHAND, it is merely gossip, and you should know better than to give it any credence.
"Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you." ~Spanish Proverb
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Touching Greatness
I found out today that Commanders Nic has passed from complications from colic, and I am deeply saddened by the news. Commanders Nic (Boomernic x Miss Bam Bam Command) was the seventh highest all time money earner in NRHA history, winning $258,815 in NRHA competition, most notably, taking fourth in the 2002 NRHA Futurity Open Finals, winning reserve at the 2003 NRHA Derby, and coming back to win the Derby in 2004. All these titles were achieved long after I sold him as a foal, but even watching his success from afar was exciting. He was gorgeous, talented and powerful, in a small but elegant package, and his success created a new path for me and my mare, Bam Bam, for which I am grateful.
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| I've always thought that this shot really captured how much he looked like his momma! |
Most breeders are in the business to sell horses, so they may not get to share much in what the horse does after it leaves their possession. But we hope and dream and worry over them, long after they are gone, and at every mention of their name, we remember them as youngsters, marveling at how they changed and grew. In celebration of his life, I thought I would share some pictures of him as a foal. He was Bammie's first baby, and his arrival was so very exciting. As I look back at these pictures, I remember the hopefulness I felt, as we do with every new foal, along with the wonder of "where will you go, and what will you do?" This one went far.
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My condolences to all the members of the Commanders Nic Partnership; thank you for everything you did for him and I wish you luck with his foals in the future.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Pride Before the Fall
The word "pride' can take on a couple of different meanings depending on it's context. We can have pride in our city, state, and country, we can have school pride, and we can be proud of our children's accomplishments. But pride is also one of the seven deadly sins. Proverbs 16:18 tells us "Pride comes before the fall." Being prideful is considered a flaw of temperament; associated with someone who stubbornly believes themselves to be above others, above scrutiny, above fault. And certainly, if you set yourself up to be above fault, you are setting yourself up for a major fall.
And so now we are told by the NRHA that deposed president Allen Mitchels is filing suit against the association following the judge tampering scandal that began in January. We discussed the situation in "A Tale of Corruption and High Stakes..." and then again in "The First Female President." In a statement on the NRHA website: "On February 2, 2012, Allen Mitchels filed suit against the National Reining Horse Association due to actions taken by its Board of Directors on January 21, 2012. By advice of legal counsel, NRHA will not comment on the specifics of the lawsuit as long as the matter is in litigation." Because no details of the investigation have been made public, there is no way of knowing what evidence the Board of Directors used to make its decision, but it would seem a foregone conclusion that the NRHA made that decision based on legal counsel, lengthy discussion of the rules and bylaws, as well as the good common sense that got them appointed to the BOD in the first place.
They must have found some pretty damning evidence, because they didn't just remove him from office; they removed him from the Teaching Panel and the Judges Committee, took away his judge's card, and gave him a lifetime ban from holding a position of authority in the NRHA. In handing out this harsh sentence, they are making a statement that the NRHA is committed to fair dealings at its competitions, and that the rules will be followed, regardless of position or influence. In administering this decisive removal of Mitchels, and removing him from any involvement in the association, they are also making an attempt to move forward without the hindrances involved in having someone on board who might taint the image of NRHA. Wouldn't it be great if that really was the end of it?
Mr. Mitchels surely thinks he has a case, and probably has a lawyer telling him that he does. But perhaps his pride is motivating him to go after an association that he previously claimed allegiance to. No doubt he is embarrassed, angry, and feels a sense of entitlement to the position that he previously held. But his pride serves no one. If he goes after the association and he loses, he will have incurred a huge legal bill, wasted everyone's time, and he will still be that guy who got thrown out of office. If he manages to win, he will be the guy that wasted association funds on a legal battle, he will potentially decimate an association that doesn't need to lose members and money, and he will STILL have a tarnished reputation. Whatever they found that he did was enough to make them throw the book at him - what can he say that will make his reputation shiny and clean again? Many people that I have talked to have said that Mr. Mitchels was known for this type of behavior, so I have to say, the cat's out of the bag now. Suing the NRHA isn't going to get him judging jobs, it isn't going to put him back in good standing with the membership, and it isn't going to get him his old job back.
Being prideful can drive a person to seek revenge, because they would rather exact vengeance on others than face the fact that they are, in fact, flawed or have made a mistake. It takes courage in accepting your own faults, along with humility and service to others, to overcome pride-fullness. If Mr. Mitchels really wants to clean up his reputation, he should consider taking a humbler course, withdrawing his suit, and accepting responsibility for his actions. That would be the course that would best serve the membership, rather than one that is rooted in proud denial, and threatens the association that just 45 days ago he pledged loyalty to. No one wins when the attitude is, "I'm not going down without a fight...."
And so now we are told by the NRHA that deposed president Allen Mitchels is filing suit against the association following the judge tampering scandal that began in January. We discussed the situation in "A Tale of Corruption and High Stakes..." and then again in "The First Female President." In a statement on the NRHA website: "On February 2, 2012, Allen Mitchels filed suit against the National Reining Horse Association due to actions taken by its Board of Directors on January 21, 2012. By advice of legal counsel, NRHA will not comment on the specifics of the lawsuit as long as the matter is in litigation." Because no details of the investigation have been made public, there is no way of knowing what evidence the Board of Directors used to make its decision, but it would seem a foregone conclusion that the NRHA made that decision based on legal counsel, lengthy discussion of the rules and bylaws, as well as the good common sense that got them appointed to the BOD in the first place.
They must have found some pretty damning evidence, because they didn't just remove him from office; they removed him from the Teaching Panel and the Judges Committee, took away his judge's card, and gave him a lifetime ban from holding a position of authority in the NRHA. In handing out this harsh sentence, they are making a statement that the NRHA is committed to fair dealings at its competitions, and that the rules will be followed, regardless of position or influence. In administering this decisive removal of Mitchels, and removing him from any involvement in the association, they are also making an attempt to move forward without the hindrances involved in having someone on board who might taint the image of NRHA. Wouldn't it be great if that really was the end of it?
Mr. Mitchels surely thinks he has a case, and probably has a lawyer telling him that he does. But perhaps his pride is motivating him to go after an association that he previously claimed allegiance to. No doubt he is embarrassed, angry, and feels a sense of entitlement to the position that he previously held. But his pride serves no one. If he goes after the association and he loses, he will have incurred a huge legal bill, wasted everyone's time, and he will still be that guy who got thrown out of office. If he manages to win, he will be the guy that wasted association funds on a legal battle, he will potentially decimate an association that doesn't need to lose members and money, and he will STILL have a tarnished reputation. Whatever they found that he did was enough to make them throw the book at him - what can he say that will make his reputation shiny and clean again? Many people that I have talked to have said that Mr. Mitchels was known for this type of behavior, so I have to say, the cat's out of the bag now. Suing the NRHA isn't going to get him judging jobs, it isn't going to put him back in good standing with the membership, and it isn't going to get him his old job back.
Being prideful can drive a person to seek revenge, because they would rather exact vengeance on others than face the fact that they are, in fact, flawed or have made a mistake. It takes courage in accepting your own faults, along with humility and service to others, to overcome pride-fullness. If Mr. Mitchels really wants to clean up his reputation, he should consider taking a humbler course, withdrawing his suit, and accepting responsibility for his actions. That would be the course that would best serve the membership, rather than one that is rooted in proud denial, and threatens the association that just 45 days ago he pledged loyalty to. No one wins when the attitude is, "I'm not going down without a fight...."
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Cyber-Bullying in the Horse Industry
Something sad happened recently on Facebook. A very nice woman that I know closed her FB page, saying that she was just sick and tired of all the rumors and mean-spirited comments that get passed around on the social media network. It made me feel bad, as she is a very sweet and kind person, and I enjoyed seeing her updates. I can't be certain, but it could be related to a falling out she recently had over the genetic testing debate. While she would never stoop to point fingers or retaliate with insults, it is clear that she was made to feel bad because of someone's unkind words. There seems to be a lot of that on FB lately. While I personally get a lot out of FB - it is a great way to keep up with my widely scattered friends and family - I have seen that many use it as a way to push an agenda or spread rumors, half-truths and outright lies. There is a certain amount of anonymity to social sites too. People say things on FB that they would never, ever have the guts to say to someone's face, and the fact that they are separated from their audience emboldens many to be truly horrible to their fellow human beings. Even if a person isn't commenting anonymously, the fact that they are typing their comment, rather than speaking it face to face, makes it easier for some to unleash insults, disparage someone, or embarrass them.
According to Wikipedia, cyber-bullying is the use of the internet and related technologies to harm other people, in a deliberate, repeated, and hostile manner. I have seen this in action many times in discussion forums or posted directly to someone's page, whether the subject was abusive training techniques, how well the NRHA is handling the judge tampering scandal, or what should be done about genetic disease. In fact, I began this blog as a response to being bullied. That experience made me realize that there are people out there who don't understand that their words have an affect on others, that they have to power to hurt, to smear, and to vilify. To be sure, some even relish in doing that to others, as if they are lacking any kind of power in their 'real' lives, so they behave like some kind of tyrant on social media sites, just prowling to look for someone to fight with. Many of them would hide when confronted in person; the person who bullied me has never owned up to it, even though I have seen her face to face several times since then.
The more contentious the issue, the more prevalent the bullying. The latest hot topic, genetic testing, is no exception. I have observed cliques of people dog piling someone who asked an innocent or rhetorical question. I have experienced my own words being misconstrued, and have seen others get the same. I have heard the complaints of many people wondering why a certain forum was so hostile. And I have read people's posts that were full of speculation over an 'irresponsible breeder' or a horse that supposedly passed on a deadly gene, even though there was no actual evidence of that. Hearsay hurts more people than just the subject of the hostility; it creates an atmosphere that doesn't allow dissension or discussion. It divides rather than unites. And it can truly hurt people in the horse industry, an industry where a nasty rumor can decimate a stallion's breeding career, cause a trainer to lose customers, instigate lawsuits, keep exhibitors away from competitions and cause hysteria over topics that may not have real bearing in the life of the reader. Cyber-bullying can create real financial loss for the person targeted, as well as the loss of business relationships, friendships or even intimate relationships. It is not to be taken lightly.
How does one deal with cyber-bullies?* First, realize that sometimes there is no point to arguing with someone. If a person puts their CAPS LOCK ON, and begins to use multiple exclamation points to scream their point at you, they probably aren't in their right mind. There is no use screaming back at a crazy person. Second, use only facts to support your argument, rather than throwing back put-downs. While you may be completely correct in your assessment that you are communicating with a narrow-minded, pontificating jerk, in pointing it out to them, you are just fueling their mean-spirited-ness. Don't worry, everyone can see them for what they are by their own words. Let them look that way, and don't stoop to their level. Say less versus more, and if all else fails, just leave the conversation. No one will think you are 'chicken,' they will think you are smart for maintaining control. And if you find that a group you are in is constantly embroiled in arguments, leave the group and seek out a group that fits you better (or start your own). There are page admins out there who don't bother regulating group member's comments, or actually encourage fighting, because they like the notoriety of being 'controversial.' If someone continues to harass you on FB, you can block them, so they no longer have access to you, your page, or your comments. And with a click of the mouse, they can be gone from your cyber life - or at least, you won't be able to see each other anymore.
It may be that someone has harassed you to the point of causing a real loss in your life. You may need to hire an attorney, and document the instances of bullying. Learn how to do a "screen shot" with which you can take a picture of what is on your computer screen, containing comments within a thread that are directed at you. On my computer, the screen shot button is on the top right of the keyboard. Having evidence of bullying incidents is crucial for any prosecution to occur.
Moreover, remember that you have a right to your opinion and a right to ask questions. While some people seem to have a know-it-all air about them, remember that no one is omnipotent, no one is always right, and no one can foretell the future. Part of a bully's strategy is to get you to believe that you are less than them, and that they are some type of authority, when reality is that everyone has something to contribute to the conversation, no matter what the subject.
*If you are a minor, and are being bullied online for any reason, tell an adult, and keep telling adults, until someone listens and helps you deal with it. Please don't despair, and don't take it personally. As you grow into an adult, you will see that some people just like to dump on others because it takes the focus off themselves. It has nothing to do with who you are, or your value as a person, and everything to do with what kind of person they are. I wish you well! :)
According to Wikipedia, cyber-bullying is the use of the internet and related technologies to harm other people, in a deliberate, repeated, and hostile manner. I have seen this in action many times in discussion forums or posted directly to someone's page, whether the subject was abusive training techniques, how well the NRHA is handling the judge tampering scandal, or what should be done about genetic disease. In fact, I began this blog as a response to being bullied. That experience made me realize that there are people out there who don't understand that their words have an affect on others, that they have to power to hurt, to smear, and to vilify. To be sure, some even relish in doing that to others, as if they are lacking any kind of power in their 'real' lives, so they behave like some kind of tyrant on social media sites, just prowling to look for someone to fight with. Many of them would hide when confronted in person; the person who bullied me has never owned up to it, even though I have seen her face to face several times since then.
The more contentious the issue, the more prevalent the bullying. The latest hot topic, genetic testing, is no exception. I have observed cliques of people dog piling someone who asked an innocent or rhetorical question. I have experienced my own words being misconstrued, and have seen others get the same. I have heard the complaints of many people wondering why a certain forum was so hostile. And I have read people's posts that were full of speculation over an 'irresponsible breeder' or a horse that supposedly passed on a deadly gene, even though there was no actual evidence of that. Hearsay hurts more people than just the subject of the hostility; it creates an atmosphere that doesn't allow dissension or discussion. It divides rather than unites. And it can truly hurt people in the horse industry, an industry where a nasty rumor can decimate a stallion's breeding career, cause a trainer to lose customers, instigate lawsuits, keep exhibitors away from competitions and cause hysteria over topics that may not have real bearing in the life of the reader. Cyber-bullying can create real financial loss for the person targeted, as well as the loss of business relationships, friendships or even intimate relationships. It is not to be taken lightly.
How does one deal with cyber-bullies?* First, realize that sometimes there is no point to arguing with someone. If a person puts their CAPS LOCK ON, and begins to use multiple exclamation points to scream their point at you, they probably aren't in their right mind. There is no use screaming back at a crazy person. Second, use only facts to support your argument, rather than throwing back put-downs. While you may be completely correct in your assessment that you are communicating with a narrow-minded, pontificating jerk, in pointing it out to them, you are just fueling their mean-spirited-ness. Don't worry, everyone can see them for what they are by their own words. Let them look that way, and don't stoop to their level. Say less versus more, and if all else fails, just leave the conversation. No one will think you are 'chicken,' they will think you are smart for maintaining control. And if you find that a group you are in is constantly embroiled in arguments, leave the group and seek out a group that fits you better (or start your own). There are page admins out there who don't bother regulating group member's comments, or actually encourage fighting, because they like the notoriety of being 'controversial.' If someone continues to harass you on FB, you can block them, so they no longer have access to you, your page, or your comments. And with a click of the mouse, they can be gone from your cyber life - or at least, you won't be able to see each other anymore.
It may be that someone has harassed you to the point of causing a real loss in your life. You may need to hire an attorney, and document the instances of bullying. Learn how to do a "screen shot" with which you can take a picture of what is on your computer screen, containing comments within a thread that are directed at you. On my computer, the screen shot button is on the top right of the keyboard. Having evidence of bullying incidents is crucial for any prosecution to occur.
Moreover, remember that you have a right to your opinion and a right to ask questions. While some people seem to have a know-it-all air about them, remember that no one is omnipotent, no one is always right, and no one can foretell the future. Part of a bully's strategy is to get you to believe that you are less than them, and that they are some type of authority, when reality is that everyone has something to contribute to the conversation, no matter what the subject.
*If you are a minor, and are being bullied online for any reason, tell an adult, and keep telling adults, until someone listens and helps you deal with it. Please don't despair, and don't take it personally. As you grow into an adult, you will see that some people just like to dump on others because it takes the focus off themselves. It has nothing to do with who you are, or your value as a person, and everything to do with what kind of person they are. I wish you well! :)
Monday, January 30, 2012
The First Female President
The past three weeks have been a tumultuous time for members of the National Reining Horse Association; when I last blogged about the judge tampering scandal, in "A Tale Of Corruption and High Stakes...," the membership had been informed of the allegations, and a flurry of comments on the social media outlets ensued. Some defended the accused, some demanded their heads, and many worried about where the association was headed. While the letters both from the anonymous accusers and the reply from the NRHA board have been published on the NRHA website, the actual hearings were held behind closed doors, as NRHA policy requires, so I do not have any ground-breaking revelations to share as to what went down. But the end result - the deposing of sitting president Allen Mitchells -IS ground-breaking. I cannot recall hearing of any other sitting president of any horse association being thrown out of office due to an ethics violation. This is certainly a black mark on our history, but since I am a perennial optimist, I also see it as a positive. By reacting swiftly, with (relative) transparency, and by handing down a very strong judgement, the NRHA is saying that they stand for what is right. They are enforcing their rules, listening to their membership and seeking out unfairness on every level. I applaud them. I hope this begins a new era of honesty and fairness, which brings me to my next point...
I am so excited that we now have our first female president of the National Reining Horse Association! Congratulations to Beth Himes for making history. No doubt she would rather have gotten the post without all the attached controversy, but it is still fantastic. While women have slowly gained more equality in all areas of life, the top positions in business still elude us. Even in the horse industry, where there are more little girls that ride than little boys, more female non-pros that show, and many excellent breeders who are women, most 'big time' trainers are men, most judges are men, and all association presidents are men. The glass ceiling has been present in the horse industry with the same prevalence that it exists in the rest of our culture. Until now. We can all revel in this moment, because it shows that times are changing, and for the better. It is one less barrier that hasn't been breached, and perhaps will encourage more little girls to participate and dream big.
Bravo, Beth, and good luck. It is often when things fall apart that we begin to grow, and I am confident that out of all this upheaval, we will emerge as a much healthier association. How exciting that a woman will be steering the ship!
I am so excited that we now have our first female president of the National Reining Horse Association! Congratulations to Beth Himes for making history. No doubt she would rather have gotten the post without all the attached controversy, but it is still fantastic. While women have slowly gained more equality in all areas of life, the top positions in business still elude us. Even in the horse industry, where there are more little girls that ride than little boys, more female non-pros that show, and many excellent breeders who are women, most 'big time' trainers are men, most judges are men, and all association presidents are men. The glass ceiling has been present in the horse industry with the same prevalence that it exists in the rest of our culture. Until now. We can all revel in this moment, because it shows that times are changing, and for the better. It is one less barrier that hasn't been breached, and perhaps will encourage more little girls to participate and dream big.
Bravo, Beth, and good luck. It is often when things fall apart that we begin to grow, and I am confident that out of all this upheaval, we will emerge as a much healthier association. How exciting that a woman will be steering the ship!
Monday, January 9, 2012
What Have We Learned Here?
The World Reining League debuted last fall with lots of flash and bang; press releases, articles, a TV commercial, an extensive website, and several youtube videos of 'trash talking' between the competitors (insert eye roll). But barely a whimper was heard when the WRL cancelled their first event, which was to be held January 21 in Oklahoma City. Only 284 tickets were sold for the event, and according to Michael Miola's statement, several leaders in the reining industry
Thursday, January 5, 2012
A Tale of Corruption and High Stakes....
One of the first pieces of news out of the National Reining Horse Assoc. in the new year was a press release regarding an anonymous complaint of corruption and possible judge tampering at the 2011 NRHA Futurity. I read about it through Pat Feuerstein's blog at the Quarter Horse News; the segment has a complete repost of the anonymous letter and the NRHA's response to the allegations, and you can read it here.
First of all, bravo to those who came together to make this complaint. It is an uncomfortable place to be in, to be the one to address the nastier side of horse competitions. It has been shown to me over and over again that the person who stands up often has to do so alone. It is unfortunate that those who put forth the complaint felt that it was necessary to remain anonymous; on one hand, it takes away from the whole 'standing up' thing when you don't add your name and face to the cause. Being willing to put yourself on the line for the right thing lends legitimacy to it's importance. But on the other hand, it is certainly a commentary on how scary and dangerous it is to be perceived as someone who rocks the boat in the reining industry.
In a time when the national and global economies have been on the ropes, and spending on luxury goods, such as expensive show horses, is down overall, the reining industry has prospered, especially for those at the top levels. And it all has happened very recently. The past ten years have seen huge growth for the NRHA, with more prize money, higher sales prices, and a firm emphasis on earnings - how often do the catch words "million dollar status" cross our radar these days? Those of us who have been around for a while have a saying..."That horse made $150,000 back when it was hard to make $150,000!" We have grown and changed tremendously. The amount of money at stake these days at any NRHA promoted/owned event is cause for great excitement - but also indicative of the great responsibility that NRHA officials, judges, and elected board members carry to uphold the highest standards of fairness and integrity.
Which brings me to my next point....I am skeptical that even an independent investigation is going to be able to turn up much 'evidence' of the corruption, nepotism and judge tampering that allegedly occured. Why? Because those who would be witness to it are most likely complicit in enabling it. In an atmosphere in which it is already known that you may be blacklisted if you speak up, why would you incriminate yourself by saying that, "Yes, Mr. Mitchells was present in the judges room, and yes, I feel that he influenced me to score his horse higher than deserved?" Because while it truly is each individual's responsibility to uphold the rules, if there is no direct proof, such as a secretly recorded audio/video tape, or evidence of bribe money changing hands, it is a lot easier to just hold your chin high, and say, "No, he had no influence over me." The other allegations, that Mr. Mitchells and Mr. Lopp were allowed to take pay for work done at NRHA owned events, are more concrete, and certainly support the hypothesis that the NRHA elected officials in power take care of their own.
What is the cost for turning a blind eye to those doing wrong and lining their pockets inappropriately? Trust. The members of the NRHA already know that politics in the show ring affect scores. They have seen it over and over again in every level and category. But they want to trust that their association is against those practices and working to create a level playing field. The truth WILL come out, and then it may be time to clean house at the NRHA offices. Until that time, I hope that more people are willing to stand up, tell the truth and do the right thing, and maybe, if those of us interested in creating a better NRHA lend a supportive gesture, they will be willing to give their names.
First of all, bravo to those who came together to make this complaint. It is an uncomfortable place to be in, to be the one to address the nastier side of horse competitions. It has been shown to me over and over again that the person who stands up often has to do so alone. It is unfortunate that those who put forth the complaint felt that it was necessary to remain anonymous; on one hand, it takes away from the whole 'standing up' thing when you don't add your name and face to the cause. Being willing to put yourself on the line for the right thing lends legitimacy to it's importance. But on the other hand, it is certainly a commentary on how scary and dangerous it is to be perceived as someone who rocks the boat in the reining industry.
In a time when the national and global economies have been on the ropes, and spending on luxury goods, such as expensive show horses, is down overall, the reining industry has prospered, especially for those at the top levels. And it all has happened very recently. The past ten years have seen huge growth for the NRHA, with more prize money, higher sales prices, and a firm emphasis on earnings - how often do the catch words "million dollar status" cross our radar these days? Those of us who have been around for a while have a saying..."That horse made $150,000 back when it was hard to make $150,000!" We have grown and changed tremendously. The amount of money at stake these days at any NRHA promoted/owned event is cause for great excitement - but also indicative of the great responsibility that NRHA officials, judges, and elected board members carry to uphold the highest standards of fairness and integrity.
Which brings me to my next point....I am skeptical that even an independent investigation is going to be able to turn up much 'evidence' of the corruption, nepotism and judge tampering that allegedly occured. Why? Because those who would be witness to it are most likely complicit in enabling it. In an atmosphere in which it is already known that you may be blacklisted if you speak up, why would you incriminate yourself by saying that, "Yes, Mr. Mitchells was present in the judges room, and yes, I feel that he influenced me to score his horse higher than deserved?" Because while it truly is each individual's responsibility to uphold the rules, if there is no direct proof, such as a secretly recorded audio/video tape, or evidence of bribe money changing hands, it is a lot easier to just hold your chin high, and say, "No, he had no influence over me." The other allegations, that Mr. Mitchells and Mr. Lopp were allowed to take pay for work done at NRHA owned events, are more concrete, and certainly support the hypothesis that the NRHA elected officials in power take care of their own.
What is the cost for turning a blind eye to those doing wrong and lining their pockets inappropriately? Trust. The members of the NRHA already know that politics in the show ring affect scores. They have seen it over and over again in every level and category. But they want to trust that their association is against those practices and working to create a level playing field. The truth WILL come out, and then it may be time to clean house at the NRHA offices. Until that time, I hope that more people are willing to stand up, tell the truth and do the right thing, and maybe, if those of us interested in creating a better NRHA lend a supportive gesture, they will be willing to give their names.
Monday, December 5, 2011
The Colt
Have you had a moment in your life when everything changed?
This past weekend, I migrated, along with the rest of the reining world, to Oklahoma City, to attend the NRHA Futurity. Those who can't attend still turn their eyes toward reining's figurative capital city, and with webcasts capturing every moment of the action, reiners on all corners of the globe can keep up with what is happening. They are watching to see their idols, the horses they all want to own, to see who is emerging in the sport, and what bloodlines are doing well, which might affect their breeding and buying decisions. For trainers, owners and breeders, it is a week of making deals and networking, and of course, checking out all the beautiful horses for sale and at stud.
I was there specifically because a two year old stud colt that I bred was going to be in the Futurity Prospect Sale, and all indications were that he was going to make a really big impression on buyers who would be attending. The horse's name is Commanders Lil Step (a name I chose :) and he is by Wimpys Little Step and out of my mare, Miss Bam Bam Command. He is owned by my friend Vaughn Zimmerman, who purchased him from me as an embryo and who had been telling me that this was going to be a great horse since he was a foal. When Vaughn and I talked about this horse, it has always been "The colt is doing great, the colt is this, the colt is that..." and when I got to Oklahoma City, I said to him, "Ok, I want to know what this horse's barn name is. I can't just keep calling him the colt!" Vaughn's reply, "Well, I don't know why not. That's what everyone else is calling him!" Indeed. The Colt's reputation was preceding him with force. Everywhere I went, people were talking about him. Some of the very best trainers in the biz tried him and raved. Total strangers came up to me to say that he was the best two year old around. He was making an impression all right.
I was so excited to see him for the first time and put my hands on him. The Colt is a gorgeous dark sorrel - his coat actually looks maroon - with four white socks and a star, strip and snip. He is pretty-headed and smooth bodied like his momma, but you can see Wimpy's power coming out everywhere. He is incredibly well-developed for a two year old, and all the credit belongs to Bobby Avila Jr. for the amazing job he did preparing him. Which brings me to another facet of The Colt's appeal - a mastery over the maneuvers that Bobby has imparted on him. His stops are incredible. His turns are incredible. His lead changes are incredible. And he is a beautiful mover with a quiet, trainable mind. He is a great example of what Bobby can do with a horse, and I would be proud to have him throw a leg over any of my babies.
The night before the sale, after coming back to the show grounds after dinner, my friends and I decided to go see The Colt before heading to bed, to 'wish him luck.' Silly, I know, but that's me - - I love my animals unabashedly, and while I didn't own him, Vaughn always has referred to him as "ours," so I guess I kind of wanted to say good bye too. After all, I knew that in the morning, he probably wouldn't be Vaughn's anymore, so therefore, he wouldn't really be mine either. So I went to his stall to say goodnight and goodbye. I am so glad I did.
The Colt's stall was on the far side of the sale barn, on a quiet aisle facing the far wall; a quiet corner with very little traffic where he could rest. It was about 10 o'clock at night, so there was no one around as we made our way to see him. As my friends and I stood there, cooing to The Colt and admiring him through the bars of the stall, I realized that two people were now standing behind us, watching us watching The Colt. It turned out to be Javier Mendez and Thiago Boechat, who work with Lorenzo Vargas, owner of Xtra Quarter Horses and Wimpy himself. As we made introductions, I explained my relationship to The Colt, and I was graciously ushered over to Lorenzo to be introduced. While the interaction was brief, he seemed to be a very friendly man, and the people around him also were warm and friendly. They immediately asked if I wanted to meet Wimpy, as he was at the showgrounds that evening for a party at the Xtra Quarter Horses' stalls. Well, heck yeah, I wanted to meet him!!
To meet a legend is a very special thing. Wimpys Little Step is twelve years old now, and looks to be the picture of health and vigor. And he was so sweet! He is personable and gentle, and I think just really wants to be scratched on his sweet spot near his withers. Everyone around him was so gracious - thank you to the Xtra staff for sharing him with us.
The next morning, we arrived to join the crowd amassing in the sale arena before the Futurity Prospect Sale. The sale arena at the State Fair Arena is a relatively small area, and during the sale, it gets just packed with people - every trainer and owner of merit is there, faces you most often see in the industry magazines. People are speaking different languages, some are doing some last minute promoting, some are trying to arrive at their reserve price and everyone is people watching. The atmosphere is electric. So much money is at stake, and everyone is angling to play the game. I was very nervous - how could you not be? - so it was probably a fortuitous twist of fate that The Colt was hip #3 and so early in the sale. Better to get in there and get it over with!
When it was The Colt's turn, we stepped inside to watch the bidding. The auctioneer's voice called out bigger and bigger numbers - I honestly felt faint! When it was over, The Colt was sold for $200,000 to Lorenzo Vargas, Wimpy's owner and the kind man that I had met the night before. As I stood in the arena with Vaughn, his son Justin, Lorenzo and the Xtra team for a picture, it honestly felt surreal. A colt I bred was the High Seller at the Prospect Sale! It was the moment that everything changed. I wanted to cry, I wanted to jump up and shout. For my mare, this was a game-changer. That is what this is all about for me; having the rest of the world recognize what I have known for a long time: that my mare Bam Bam is really special. And any worry I might of had about The Colt changing hands was erased by having serendipitously met Lorenzo and his fine staff the night before. The Colt is in excellent hands.
What happens now? Well, The Colt is on his way toward a stellar career and I ask everyone to say a little prayer for his continued good health and soundness. Anything can happen in the next year, but I have a feeling that The Colt is going to be a contender next year.
As for Bam Bam, she has a hot date with a gorgeous palomino stud....
This past weekend, I migrated, along with the rest of the reining world, to Oklahoma City, to attend the NRHA Futurity. Those who can't attend still turn their eyes toward reining's figurative capital city, and with webcasts capturing every moment of the action, reiners on all corners of the globe can keep up with what is happening. They are watching to see their idols, the horses they all want to own, to see who is emerging in the sport, and what bloodlines are doing well, which might affect their breeding and buying decisions. For trainers, owners and breeders, it is a week of making deals and networking, and of course, checking out all the beautiful horses for sale and at stud.
I was there specifically because a two year old stud colt that I bred was going to be in the Futurity Prospect Sale, and all indications were that he was going to make a really big impression on buyers who would be attending. The horse's name is Commanders Lil Step (a name I chose :) and he is by Wimpys Little Step and out of my mare, Miss Bam Bam Command. He is owned by my friend Vaughn Zimmerman, who purchased him from me as an embryo and who had been telling me that this was going to be a great horse since he was a foal. When Vaughn and I talked about this horse, it has always been "The colt is doing great, the colt is this, the colt is that..." and when I got to Oklahoma City, I said to him, "Ok, I want to know what this horse's barn name is. I can't just keep calling him the colt!" Vaughn's reply, "Well, I don't know why not. That's what everyone else is calling him!" Indeed. The Colt's reputation was preceding him with force. Everywhere I went, people were talking about him. Some of the very best trainers in the biz tried him and raved. Total strangers came up to me to say that he was the best two year old around. He was making an impression all right.
I was so excited to see him for the first time and put my hands on him. The Colt is a gorgeous dark sorrel - his coat actually looks maroon - with four white socks and a star, strip and snip. He is pretty-headed and smooth bodied like his momma, but you can see Wimpy's power coming out everywhere. He is incredibly well-developed for a two year old, and all the credit belongs to Bobby Avila Jr. for the amazing job he did preparing him. Which brings me to another facet of The Colt's appeal - a mastery over the maneuvers that Bobby has imparted on him. His stops are incredible. His turns are incredible. His lead changes are incredible. And he is a beautiful mover with a quiet, trainable mind. He is a great example of what Bobby can do with a horse, and I would be proud to have him throw a leg over any of my babies.
The night before the sale, after coming back to the show grounds after dinner, my friends and I decided to go see The Colt before heading to bed, to 'wish him luck.' Silly, I know, but that's me - - I love my animals unabashedly, and while I didn't own him, Vaughn always has referred to him as "ours," so I guess I kind of wanted to say good bye too. After all, I knew that in the morning, he probably wouldn't be Vaughn's anymore, so therefore, he wouldn't really be mine either. So I went to his stall to say goodnight and goodbye. I am so glad I did.
The Colt's stall was on the far side of the sale barn, on a quiet aisle facing the far wall; a quiet corner with very little traffic where he could rest. It was about 10 o'clock at night, so there was no one around as we made our way to see him. As my friends and I stood there, cooing to The Colt and admiring him through the bars of the stall, I realized that two people were now standing behind us, watching us watching The Colt. It turned out to be Javier Mendez and Thiago Boechat, who work with Lorenzo Vargas, owner of Xtra Quarter Horses and Wimpy himself. As we made introductions, I explained my relationship to The Colt, and I was graciously ushered over to Lorenzo to be introduced. While the interaction was brief, he seemed to be a very friendly man, and the people around him also were warm and friendly. They immediately asked if I wanted to meet Wimpy, as he was at the showgrounds that evening for a party at the Xtra Quarter Horses' stalls. Well, heck yeah, I wanted to meet him!!
To meet a legend is a very special thing. Wimpys Little Step is twelve years old now, and looks to be the picture of health and vigor. And he was so sweet! He is personable and gentle, and I think just really wants to be scratched on his sweet spot near his withers. Everyone around him was so gracious - thank you to the Xtra staff for sharing him with us.
The next morning, we arrived to join the crowd amassing in the sale arena before the Futurity Prospect Sale. The sale arena at the State Fair Arena is a relatively small area, and during the sale, it gets just packed with people - every trainer and owner of merit is there, faces you most often see in the industry magazines. People are speaking different languages, some are doing some last minute promoting, some are trying to arrive at their reserve price and everyone is people watching. The atmosphere is electric. So much money is at stake, and everyone is angling to play the game. I was very nervous - how could you not be? - so it was probably a fortuitous twist of fate that The Colt was hip #3 and so early in the sale. Better to get in there and get it over with!
When it was The Colt's turn, we stepped inside to watch the bidding. The auctioneer's voice called out bigger and bigger numbers - I honestly felt faint! When it was over, The Colt was sold for $200,000 to Lorenzo Vargas, Wimpy's owner and the kind man that I had met the night before. As I stood in the arena with Vaughn, his son Justin, Lorenzo and the Xtra team for a picture, it honestly felt surreal. A colt I bred was the High Seller at the Prospect Sale! It was the moment that everything changed. I wanted to cry, I wanted to jump up and shout. For my mare, this was a game-changer. That is what this is all about for me; having the rest of the world recognize what I have known for a long time: that my mare Bam Bam is really special. And any worry I might of had about The Colt changing hands was erased by having serendipitously met Lorenzo and his fine staff the night before. The Colt is in excellent hands.
What happens now? Well, The Colt is on his way toward a stellar career and I ask everyone to say a little prayer for his continued good health and soundness. Anything can happen in the next year, but I have a feeling that The Colt is going to be a contender next year.
As for Bam Bam, she has a hot date with a gorgeous palomino stud....
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Extending a Warm Welcome
How diversified is your barn? Do you own horses from several breeds, or are they all of the same breed? I am wondering this because I myself love all breeds of horses, but have seen that not everyone is as accepting of breeds outside of their chosen one. And I often wonder why there aren't more horses from 'other' breeds competing within associations that aren't breed specific, like in the NRHA.
I believe part of being open and accepting, not to mention knowledgeable, of other breeds is about where a person is raised. I was raised in Southwestern Michigan, and when I was growing up, there were many breed associations that thrived there, and a person might see literally any breed being shown at the local fairs and horse shows. Through 4-H and showing at open shows, I had friends who showed Morgans, Saddlebreds, Quarter Horses, Hackneys, Drafts, warmbloods, and everything in between, and because sportsmanship was something we were raised on in 4-H, we didn't treat someone differently because they rode a different breed or style. We were all horse lovers, and held a common thread. And if there was a reining class offered, people would give it a shot, whether they rode a Quarter Horse or a mule.
Another truth is that I was raised on the conviction that a good Arabian could do anything - I believe that it was even the Registry's slogan in the 80's...."The Versatile Breed." My horses all rode English, western, sidesaddle, did halter, trail, jumping, and the list went on. At around the age of 12, I fell in love with riding western, and set out to make my purebred gelding into a western pleasure horse, which he happened to love. From there, I met a trainer who introduced me to reining, and I was blown away. It became my obsession, but it was obvious that my hard-working little gelding was not cut out for it. It was difficult for me to take, and stands out now as the moment when the budding trainer inside me realized that in order to do really well at any given equine sport, you have to specialize, in both your breeding intentions and in your training regime. You can do a lot of different things decently, even well, but if you really want excellence, you have to focus your energy.
It was around this time, in my early teenage years, that I rode my first QH reiner, and it was apparent to me right away that the horse fit his job perfectly. For me, it was akin to the feeling that a race car driver might feel when they first experience a superior vehicle on the track; I instantly knew that I had to have one to continue to experience that rush. Even though I showed my Arab for several more years, and loved him very much, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted more. Eventually, I sold my Arab reiner (to a great home) and bought my first Quarter Horse. I learned quickly, though, that I shouldn't tell people that I came from Arabs, because a lot of the QH people I met looked down on them. And they treated "Arab people" differently. I knew the bloodlines, the maneuvers, the trainers and the training techniques so I was able to "pass" as a Quarter Horse person, and eventually, it became that I was a Quarter Horse person.
That was 20 years ago. I have never regretted going in that direction; I love and admire Quarter Horses, especially reiners, and my life has been an interesting journey because of them. I have met wonderful people, made great friends, and enjoyed watching reining become a world phenomenon. I am proud of every reiner that I have bred, and hope that the NRHA, and the horse industry as a whole, remains viable and relevant. But I have kept up with other breeds too, and I have to speak up and say, why aren't we seeing more participation in reining events by breeds other than Quarter Horses? Arabians and Morgans have come a really long way in breeding for better reiners. They have learned, as I did, that in order to obtain excellence, you must focus your energy, and they have been breeding horses with bigger, rounder rear ends, more angulation in the hind legs and thicker stifles/gaskins, all of which enhance the horse's stop. It is in the stop where you see the most discrepancy between a lighter breed and a Quarter Horse - they simply are heavier behind and can plant their butts easier. A light breed can spin, circle and change leads as well as a Quarter Horse can, given their natural agility, so it is the stopping power that breeders have focused on. And trainers can now access and share training methods so easily, so the playing field is getting more and more even.
Yet, rarely do you see other breeds show at NRHA events. The NRHA is, after all, a performance association, and should want to attract anyone into their competitions. To me, attracting people from other breeds is an easier endeavor than attracting people who have never owned a horse before, which is what many activities seemed aimed toward, like the WRL. And by "attracting," I don't mean trying to get them to abandon their previous breed and just buy Quarter Horses; if they choose to buy a QH, great, but that doesn't need to be the goal.
What I mean is, finding a way to celebrate and reward participation in NRHA events by other breeds. I am not a show manager, nor have I sat on any show committees, so I am not going to try to lay out exactly how that would be accomplished. Counting points earned in NRHA events toward a year end participation award might give people from other breeds an incentive. NRHA should understand, they now cut a pretty big, important profile in the global horse industry. It is one of the biggest, most powerful horse associations in the world; the sport of reining has taken the world by storm, and is one of the only associations that hasn't lost money and numbers in recent years. There is a lot of prestige associated with earning money with the NRHA association, and other breeds see that and want a piece of it. Surely we can find ways of embracing what they can do and how far they have come. The first step, I think, is just being nice, and making people want to be there. Then, give them a way to participate.
I mentioned all this in a chat room not too long ago, and while a couple people said that they knew a person that showed an "other" breed at NRHA events, not all the feedback was positive. One person said, "The Arab people have their own shows, why would they want to come to ours?" and another said, "Oh, those poor little Arabs aren't even allowed to show against the Quarabs!' Wait a minute....Isn't the goal to show reining as something that is fun to do? An event that emphasizes control of the horse through maneuvers? Something that has been described as Western dressage? In dressage, huge-strided Warmbloods dominate the Olympics, but do you think that a local dressage trainer turns away a new customer because they don't ride one, or worse, tells them that their horse isn't good enough, and that they need to buy a Warmblood? No, or at least, I hope not.
And think about it...the dressage people are doing it pretty well. There are far more dressage instructors in this world, far more people who ride dressage than reining - even though there is less money in showing it! The reason is that dressage is seen as something any horse can do - maybe not all are able to do it equally well, but they are rewarded for what they CAN do. Progressing and besting your own score is valued. This is absolutely the driving force in my participation in the Western Rider Development Programme - an organization that celebrates and rewards individuals as they progress in training their horses to do western/reining maneuvers. I think this is part of a grassroots movement to make reining more accessible. Check it out!
Do you have any ideas on how to open up reining to other breeds and associations? I'd love to hear them.
I believe part of being open and accepting, not to mention knowledgeable, of other breeds is about where a person is raised. I was raised in Southwestern Michigan, and when I was growing up, there were many breed associations that thrived there, and a person might see literally any breed being shown at the local fairs and horse shows. Through 4-H and showing at open shows, I had friends who showed Morgans, Saddlebreds, Quarter Horses, Hackneys, Drafts, warmbloods, and everything in between, and because sportsmanship was something we were raised on in 4-H, we didn't treat someone differently because they rode a different breed or style. We were all horse lovers, and held a common thread. And if there was a reining class offered, people would give it a shot, whether they rode a Quarter Horse or a mule.
Another truth is that I was raised on the conviction that a good Arabian could do anything - I believe that it was even the Registry's slogan in the 80's...."The Versatile Breed." My horses all rode English, western, sidesaddle, did halter, trail, jumping, and the list went on. At around the age of 12, I fell in love with riding western, and set out to make my purebred gelding into a western pleasure horse, which he happened to love. From there, I met a trainer who introduced me to reining, and I was blown away. It became my obsession, but it was obvious that my hard-working little gelding was not cut out for it. It was difficult for me to take, and stands out now as the moment when the budding trainer inside me realized that in order to do really well at any given equine sport, you have to specialize, in both your breeding intentions and in your training regime. You can do a lot of different things decently, even well, but if you really want excellence, you have to focus your energy.
It was around this time, in my early teenage years, that I rode my first QH reiner, and it was apparent to me right away that the horse fit his job perfectly. For me, it was akin to the feeling that a race car driver might feel when they first experience a superior vehicle on the track; I instantly knew that I had to have one to continue to experience that rush. Even though I showed my Arab for several more years, and loved him very much, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted more. Eventually, I sold my Arab reiner (to a great home) and bought my first Quarter Horse. I learned quickly, though, that I shouldn't tell people that I came from Arabs, because a lot of the QH people I met looked down on them. And they treated "Arab people" differently. I knew the bloodlines, the maneuvers, the trainers and the training techniques so I was able to "pass" as a Quarter Horse person, and eventually, it became that I was a Quarter Horse person.
That was 20 years ago. I have never regretted going in that direction; I love and admire Quarter Horses, especially reiners, and my life has been an interesting journey because of them. I have met wonderful people, made great friends, and enjoyed watching reining become a world phenomenon. I am proud of every reiner that I have bred, and hope that the NRHA, and the horse industry as a whole, remains viable and relevant. But I have kept up with other breeds too, and I have to speak up and say, why aren't we seeing more participation in reining events by breeds other than Quarter Horses? Arabians and Morgans have come a really long way in breeding for better reiners. They have learned, as I did, that in order to obtain excellence, you must focus your energy, and they have been breeding horses with bigger, rounder rear ends, more angulation in the hind legs and thicker stifles/gaskins, all of which enhance the horse's stop. It is in the stop where you see the most discrepancy between a lighter breed and a Quarter Horse - they simply are heavier behind and can plant their butts easier. A light breed can spin, circle and change leads as well as a Quarter Horse can, given their natural agility, so it is the stopping power that breeders have focused on. And trainers can now access and share training methods so easily, so the playing field is getting more and more even.
Yet, rarely do you see other breeds show at NRHA events. The NRHA is, after all, a performance association, and should want to attract anyone into their competitions. To me, attracting people from other breeds is an easier endeavor than attracting people who have never owned a horse before, which is what many activities seemed aimed toward, like the WRL. And by "attracting," I don't mean trying to get them to abandon their previous breed and just buy Quarter Horses; if they choose to buy a QH, great, but that doesn't need to be the goal.
What I mean is, finding a way to celebrate and reward participation in NRHA events by other breeds. I am not a show manager, nor have I sat on any show committees, so I am not going to try to lay out exactly how that would be accomplished. Counting points earned in NRHA events toward a year end participation award might give people from other breeds an incentive. NRHA should understand, they now cut a pretty big, important profile in the global horse industry. It is one of the biggest, most powerful horse associations in the world; the sport of reining has taken the world by storm, and is one of the only associations that hasn't lost money and numbers in recent years. There is a lot of prestige associated with earning money with the NRHA association, and other breeds see that and want a piece of it. Surely we can find ways of embracing what they can do and how far they have come. The first step, I think, is just being nice, and making people want to be there. Then, give them a way to participate.
I mentioned all this in a chat room not too long ago, and while a couple people said that they knew a person that showed an "other" breed at NRHA events, not all the feedback was positive. One person said, "The Arab people have their own shows, why would they want to come to ours?" and another said, "Oh, those poor little Arabs aren't even allowed to show against the Quarabs!' Wait a minute....Isn't the goal to show reining as something that is fun to do? An event that emphasizes control of the horse through maneuvers? Something that has been described as Western dressage? In dressage, huge-strided Warmbloods dominate the Olympics, but do you think that a local dressage trainer turns away a new customer because they don't ride one, or worse, tells them that their horse isn't good enough, and that they need to buy a Warmblood? No, or at least, I hope not.
And think about it...the dressage people are doing it pretty well. There are far more dressage instructors in this world, far more people who ride dressage than reining - even though there is less money in showing it! The reason is that dressage is seen as something any horse can do - maybe not all are able to do it equally well, but they are rewarded for what they CAN do. Progressing and besting your own score is valued. This is absolutely the driving force in my participation in the Western Rider Development Programme - an organization that celebrates and rewards individuals as they progress in training their horses to do western/reining maneuvers. I think this is part of a grassroots movement to make reining more accessible. Check it out!
Do you have any ideas on how to open up reining to other breeds and associations? I'd love to hear them.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
World Reining League Pt. 2
You may recall that last week I covered a new competitive equine organization being launched, the World Reining League. I have in my hand a copy of the application to become a rider for the WRL, along with the invitation letter that accompanied it. I am finding it very, VERY interesting.....
Not only is the WRL going to have professional cheerleaders, laser lights, a flying stage, be a completely choreographed and scripted entertainment event, finish with an award winning country and western music star, and let's not forget betting, it will:
- Introduce reining to a multitude of people that never even heard of reining before. (That is exactly as it was typed.)
- Make reining a spectator sport. (Isn't it already?)
- Bring reining to TV. (Again, isn't it already? How much of a market is there for reining TV shows?)
There's more big talk....”Each exhibition will be in different cities across the United States. Concurrently we will be initiating the same exhibition program in Europe,” as well as the intention to sell team franchises and engage in actual league competition. In an era in which the percentage of the general population that can own a horse is shrinking, when the number of shows held and the number of entries has gone down, when fan attendance is down across all major sports, I am finding it hard to believe that this level of grandiosity is possible, much less profitable.
You might be wondering how the WRL expects to pull in enough of an audience to keep this show on the road; it will be the showmen, elevated to the status of stars. It is abundantly clear on the application that this event is meant for the most elite show persons only; not only must you list your own *LTE, but also the LTEs of two horses that you intend to ride for the WRL exhibition. They ask for the AQHA and NRHA numbers for those horses too – I am wondering if the specificity of asking for an AQHA number precludes other breeds from participating.
Also on the application are two questions meant to gain release of the trainer's image for advertising purposes on their website, literature, DVDs and - this is important – any and all merchandise that the WRL may produce. In other words, they own your image, and they can put it on anything they wish.
But it is the last three questions on the application that really got my attention:
- Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
- Are you currently a defendant in any pending or ongoing criminal charge?
- Are you currently a defendant in any pending or ongoing civil litigation?
What?? What is the purpose of those three questions? I am wondering how many $50,000+ LTE NRHA trainers there are out there that have a felony conviction or an ongoing criminal charge. And I am wondering who exactly they had in mind when they put this provision in their application.
The invitation letter also contained some interesting bits; such as, “Non-pros can ride for the WRL without affecting their NRHA Non-Pro Status.” Hmm, that sort of tells me that the WRL isn't really “in complete association with the NRHA”, doesn't it?
Another line in the letter states, “Once your application has been received you will be supplied with a complete set of Rules and Show Conditions.” Wouldn't you want to know these things before you signed off on it? Why the secrecy?
There is a lot of money at stake. The letter states that each rider selected to compete in a WRL exhibition will receive a $20,000 appearance fee, and each member of the winning team will receive a percentage of the gate plus merchandising sales with a guaranteed minimum of an additional $20,000 per rider. That will surely be tempting for some riders to give up a week of their time. But the whole thing is sounding like the WWF and the NRHA had a lovechild, who strangely resembles Dancing With the Stars. Is this going to be a big distraction from the traditional events that so many in the NRHA work so hard to put on and raise money for?
I called the NRHA to get their comments on the WRL, and was told that the WRL is not approved yet, as no conditions have been released by them yet. The NRHA is trying to determine if the WRL is going to follow NRHA guidelines, and that, I was told, should be finalized within a week or so. The NRHA is not sponsoring the WRL event in January, and it will only be promoted as a 'regular' event. It is not going to be included on the NRHA website, though the WRL would be able to purchase advertising as any other entity would. When I asked if the winnings would be counted toward a rider's LTE, I was told that it may be affected, but they are trying to figure out if WRL earnings would be counted toward the Top 20 Rider Standings.
I do not feel that this type of production is by any means a “regular event,” do you? This sort of sounds like a dance along the fence line. Either the WRL is a regular show, subject to the same terms, qualifications and conditions as the NRHA, or it's not. I understand that Silver Spurs has been a huge contributor to the NRHA in the past couple of years, but the NRHA going along for the WRL ride is something that we should all seriously consider this implications of. Once we buy the bed, we are going to have to lie in it.
*LTE – Lifetime Earnings
Friday, September 2, 2011
Let's Make a Bet....On Our Future
A new form of reining competition has come across my desk this week. It is called the "World Reining League." It a project started by Michael Miola/Silver Spurs Equine & an astronaut by the name of Charlie Dry (while his bio on the WRL website is extensive, there is no mention of prior experience in the horse world), and is touted as, "Transforming the equine sport of reining into an electrifying spectator sport complete with adrenaline-charged professional competition and world class entertainment." Their vision for the WRL is that it "will employ professional cheerleaders, laser lights, a flying stage, etc. – a real entertainment production – completely scripted and choreographed." Competition will be limited to 8 professionals who will have to have won at least $50,000, and who will be divided up into teams - the WRL hopes to eventually sell team franchises. There will be quite a lot of money at stake to win as each event will have a minimum payout of $240,000 with $40,000 to paid each member of the winning team and $20,000 to each member of the second place team. And there will be betting - in fact, they already have a bookie in Las Vegas ready to take it on.
I am scratching my head over all this. Is this where we are headed in promoting horse sport? I think we all want to grow the horse industry, and many of us in the reining world would love to see more TV coverage and more fan attendance to events. But lasers & flying stages? It says on their website that , "a WRL event will actually be a reining competition wrapped around a rock concert." And add drinking and professional cheerleaders, and you've got yourself a pretty rowdy atmosphere. Anyone wonder what their drug policy will be for the horses involved? Will these events be monitored for humane treatment and by whom? (Yeah, I said it. Whenever there is a prize at stake, we have to make sure the horses aren't misused in pursuit of that prize.)
Ya gotta wonder too, what the ticket prices will look like; if they are truly going to limit these exhibitions to arenas with no less than 10,000 seats, and you have all these extra people to pay, including putting on a concert (which, let's face it, for an artist that I'd actually want to see, the tickets aren't less than $65, and that is just for a concert), tickets to these events won't be inexpensive.
I am not a gambler. I have never gambled at a casino, nor at a racetrack. I have on occasion played Powerball, but only when the jackpots are huge, and my bets are never more than $5. I just can't do it! I see gambling as throwing money away, and, perhaps too, I don't want to fall into the trap of gambling addiction. I realize that gambling is legal in many places, I understand that many people enjoy it, but it isn't for me. So it isn't much of a jump to understand that I don't like the idea of betting on reining horses. Betting hasn't done anything good for racehorses. Yes, it has made many people very rich, but it has caused many horses' suffering (think tampering, think rampant drug use, think win at all costs), and aided many people in losing everything. This wouldn't be like betting once a year on the Superbowl; the creators of the WRL see this as competing with NASCAR and other major league sports. So betting on reining horses would become a weekly event?
I'd like to also point out that we already have "franchised teams" in a sense. Owners of reining horses already put a lot of money into trainer's barns to go after NRHA sponsored titles. If an owner wants to purchase WRL franchised team, won't that be spreading owner dollars thinner, and possibly take money away from our traditional reining events?
Don't even get me started on the whole professional cheerleaders thing....I mean, really? Do we need to make reining horses sexy? T & A with your Pattern #8? As Joni Mitchell sings, "Sex sells everything..."
I'd love to hear what everyone's opinions are on this topic. When I see something like this going on, I have to question, "Where do we want our sport to go?" And I begin to wonder what visions of the future other people in the horse industry have. While I have spoken on this blog about Michael Miola before, this isn't a personal attack. I see it as perfectly logical that we should discuss this proposed competition, and if it has a place in the future of reining horses, and horse competition as a whole. So....anyone wanna weigh in?
I am scratching my head over all this. Is this where we are headed in promoting horse sport? I think we all want to grow the horse industry, and many of us in the reining world would love to see more TV coverage and more fan attendance to events. But lasers & flying stages? It says on their website that , "a WRL event will actually be a reining competition wrapped around a rock concert." And add drinking and professional cheerleaders, and you've got yourself a pretty rowdy atmosphere. Anyone wonder what their drug policy will be for the horses involved? Will these events be monitored for humane treatment and by whom? (Yeah, I said it. Whenever there is a prize at stake, we have to make sure the horses aren't misused in pursuit of that prize.)
Ya gotta wonder too, what the ticket prices will look like; if they are truly going to limit these exhibitions to arenas with no less than 10,000 seats, and you have all these extra people to pay, including putting on a concert (which, let's face it, for an artist that I'd actually want to see, the tickets aren't less than $65, and that is just for a concert), tickets to these events won't be inexpensive.
I am not a gambler. I have never gambled at a casino, nor at a racetrack. I have on occasion played Powerball, but only when the jackpots are huge, and my bets are never more than $5. I just can't do it! I see gambling as throwing money away, and, perhaps too, I don't want to fall into the trap of gambling addiction. I realize that gambling is legal in many places, I understand that many people enjoy it, but it isn't for me. So it isn't much of a jump to understand that I don't like the idea of betting on reining horses. Betting hasn't done anything good for racehorses. Yes, it has made many people very rich, but it has caused many horses' suffering (think tampering, think rampant drug use, think win at all costs), and aided many people in losing everything. This wouldn't be like betting once a year on the Superbowl; the creators of the WRL see this as competing with NASCAR and other major league sports. So betting on reining horses would become a weekly event?
I'd like to also point out that we already have "franchised teams" in a sense. Owners of reining horses already put a lot of money into trainer's barns to go after NRHA sponsored titles. If an owner wants to purchase WRL franchised team, won't that be spreading owner dollars thinner, and possibly take money away from our traditional reining events?
Don't even get me started on the whole professional cheerleaders thing....I mean, really? Do we need to make reining horses sexy? T & A with your Pattern #8? As Joni Mitchell sings, "Sex sells everything..."
I'd love to hear what everyone's opinions are on this topic. When I see something like this going on, I have to question, "Where do we want our sport to go?" And I begin to wonder what visions of the future other people in the horse industry have. While I have spoken on this blog about Michael Miola before, this isn't a personal attack. I see it as perfectly logical that we should discuss this proposed competition, and if it has a place in the future of reining horses, and horse competition as a whole. So....anyone wanna weigh in?
Friday, August 5, 2011
"New" Rules for the FEI?
For those of us that follow international equine competition, we have seen a storm brewing around the FEI for some time. The FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale), which is the governing body for Olympics, the World Equestrian Games, and various World Championships, has seen several scandals in the past few years; There was the myriad of doping allegations during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which included several top riders; there was the incident in 2009 where the president of FEI's husband and brother were caught doping their horses for an endurance race. The FEI president, Princess Haya, also saw her husband embroiled in a scandal over his involvement in a much-maligned Mongolian endurance ride . In 2010, we had the 'Blue Tongue' incident at the World Cup, in which the FEI turned a blind eye to horribly coercive riding. And most recently, at the 2011 World Championships in Malmo, Sweden, several reining trainers were caught on tape riding their horses in a manner that goes directly against the FEI's rules, while the stewards present were occupied with their phones, lunch or chatting during the warm ups.
The compounding of these events has created an atmosphere of distrust of the organization, and many have been openly questioning whether the FEI truly has the best interest of horses at heart. Repeatedly, they seem to turn a blind eye toward abuse and refuse to acknowledge rule violations - is this their way of maintaining a clean image?
Within the flurry of attention given to the most recent reining scandal, the FEI demanded that the online news organization Epona TV, whose reporters were the ones to catch the poor riding during the Malmo warm ups, hand over all their footage recorded at those warm ups, in order to "review" it for rules violations. Epona has refused, explaining their position in a well-written editorial. Basically, they never expected the FEI to sanction any of the riders participating in the World Championships, nor do they believe that the FEI would after seeing the 'extra' hours of tape. Epona's purpose was to further expose the FEI, in their unwillingness to enforce compliance with their rules, as well as the willful ineptness of the stewards employed by the FEI.
This week, the FEI released a statement outlining a supposed 'new' rule structure that will cover training and warm ups. In this statement, the FEI blames Epona (without using their name) for not supplying adequate evidence of violations, so therefore, no further action will be taken toward the individuals caught on tape riding their horses roughly. While their inaction is disappointing, it is certainly not surprising. From the very beginning, when these videos went viral, the FEI made it clear that they would try to minimize this incident and distract from its steward's ineptitude by blaming Epona. There was much hand-wringing and placations toward the concerned public, but it seemed quite obvious that nothing could retroactively be done about the riding at Malmo. After all, what a mess it would create for the FEI! Both the first and second place winners were among those caught on tape! By sanctioning those riders after the fact, who were not given warnings (that we know of) or inhibited in any way from riding roughly in the warm ups, wouldn't they be admitting their own ineptitude?
However, there are some positives to come out of this recent statement about the new rules structure. It seems to me that they are admitting that they need to do better in monitoring reining activities, as well as educating the stewards in what is acceptable, and what violates the rules. This is a victory for those concerned with the horse's welfare at FEI competitions. In making a really big, international, fuss, the FEI could see that people are watching and we are serious about keeping coercive, rough riding OUT of our top level competitions. Ian Williams, FEI Director of Non-Olympic Sports, said, "We absolutely understand the importance of learning from this alleged incident." Does this mean that more rule violations will be issued at future events? That we will see an end to ugly, coercive riding at FEI events due to intense scrutiny - not just from the public, but from the stewards employed by FEI? Hard to say, but to be sure, we will be paying attention. Actions speak louder than press releases.
If you would like to contribute to keeping the pressure on the FEI to enforce it rules, please sign this petition. We all have a responsibility to speak up for horses. Thank you!
The compounding of these events has created an atmosphere of distrust of the organization, and many have been openly questioning whether the FEI truly has the best interest of horses at heart. Repeatedly, they seem to turn a blind eye toward abuse and refuse to acknowledge rule violations - is this their way of maintaining a clean image?
Within the flurry of attention given to the most recent reining scandal, the FEI demanded that the online news organization Epona TV, whose reporters were the ones to catch the poor riding during the Malmo warm ups, hand over all their footage recorded at those warm ups, in order to "review" it for rules violations. Epona has refused, explaining their position in a well-written editorial. Basically, they never expected the FEI to sanction any of the riders participating in the World Championships, nor do they believe that the FEI would after seeing the 'extra' hours of tape. Epona's purpose was to further expose the FEI, in their unwillingness to enforce compliance with their rules, as well as the willful ineptness of the stewards employed by the FEI.
This week, the FEI released a statement outlining a supposed 'new' rule structure that will cover training and warm ups. In this statement, the FEI blames Epona (without using their name) for not supplying adequate evidence of violations, so therefore, no further action will be taken toward the individuals caught on tape riding their horses roughly. While their inaction is disappointing, it is certainly not surprising. From the very beginning, when these videos went viral, the FEI made it clear that they would try to minimize this incident and distract from its steward's ineptitude by blaming Epona. There was much hand-wringing and placations toward the concerned public, but it seemed quite obvious that nothing could retroactively be done about the riding at Malmo. After all, what a mess it would create for the FEI! Both the first and second place winners were among those caught on tape! By sanctioning those riders after the fact, who were not given warnings (that we know of) or inhibited in any way from riding roughly in the warm ups, wouldn't they be admitting their own ineptitude?
However, there are some positives to come out of this recent statement about the new rules structure. It seems to me that they are admitting that they need to do better in monitoring reining activities, as well as educating the stewards in what is acceptable, and what violates the rules. This is a victory for those concerned with the horse's welfare at FEI competitions. In making a really big, international, fuss, the FEI could see that people are watching and we are serious about keeping coercive, rough riding OUT of our top level competitions. Ian Williams, FEI Director of Non-Olympic Sports, said, "We absolutely understand the importance of learning from this alleged incident." Does this mean that more rule violations will be issued at future events? That we will see an end to ugly, coercive riding at FEI events due to intense scrutiny - not just from the public, but from the stewards employed by FEI? Hard to say, but to be sure, we will be paying attention. Actions speak louder than press releases.
If you would like to contribute to keeping the pressure on the FEI to enforce it rules, please sign this petition. We all have a responsibility to speak up for horses. Thank you!
Monday, August 1, 2011
A Surprise in The Mail!
Well, I was going to write about my visit to an Ultimate Horseman's Challenge Assn. competition last weekend, but that will have to wait, as this morning I received an email that gave me something much different to write about.
Ginger Schmersal felt compelled to send me a comment, meant to be published here, in which she mistakenly accuses me of saying her husband, Craig Schmersal, is the person pushing to have warm ups at reining events closed to the public. You might remember Craig; he was the trainer caught at the FEI World Championships in Sweden hyper-flexing his horse. I have stated in this blog that I do not like what I saw in that video. While I was not referring to him in regards to the petition, how telling is it that she assumes that I am? Her message was full of insults, as well containing possible slander about someone I know, so as much as I would like to, I cannot publish those comments. Was this message an attempt to bully me into keeping my mouth shut? She also has tried on numerous occasions to convince me that I am nobody, nobody cares about what I have to say, and that everyone who reads me are nobodies - hurtful for me to hear, for sure, but not exactly unexpected. Who is she trying to convince?
What all her squalling tells me is that I am on the right track. If what a person says is truly unimportant, why would you go through so much trouble trying to quash them? Why would you go out of your way to tell strangers on FB lies, and make yourself out to be a victim? Fear? Guilt? I can only deduce that what I am writing about IS important. In everything that I have written, I approach my subjects with a fair and balanced approach, even while reporting on Craig's video. While many people have written about how Craig should be banned for life from being around horses, I haven't gone that route - not once. Yet, it seems Ginger doesn't like me because I have dared to say that Craig's methods have no place in reining horse training.
Feel free to make your own judgement; he was riding at a public event, and it is the responsibility of every horse person in the world to keep tabs on any type of abusive activities toward horses.
It wasn't that long ago that it was perfectly acceptable to sore a gaited horse beyond comprehension to get their action more exaggerated. Not long ago, it was perfectly acceptable to kill horses on movie sets. It is only when reasonable, compassionate people spoke up on behalf of the horse did anything begin to change. And it has become very evident to me in the past month of writing this blog that many are quite tired of seeing trainers ride their stock roughly and with the most important goal as winning. Some reining trainers have nothing to worry about when it comes to the public scrutinizing their methods. Others probably do, because adapting and getting better is a difficult thing to do.
So once again, I declare my dedication to the cause of bringing you the truth as I experience it, being humane to horses while training and competing with them, and being a voice for those that don't have one, whether it is the horse or the rider. The rules of competition, and of society, apply to everyone, from the million dollar riders to us little nobodies.
Ginger Schmersal felt compelled to send me a comment, meant to be published here, in which she mistakenly accuses me of saying her husband, Craig Schmersal, is the person pushing to have warm ups at reining events closed to the public. You might remember Craig; he was the trainer caught at the FEI World Championships in Sweden hyper-flexing his horse. I have stated in this blog that I do not like what I saw in that video. While I was not referring to him in regards to the petition, how telling is it that she assumes that I am? Her message was full of insults, as well containing possible slander about someone I know, so as much as I would like to, I cannot publish those comments. Was this message an attempt to bully me into keeping my mouth shut? She also has tried on numerous occasions to convince me that I am nobody, nobody cares about what I have to say, and that everyone who reads me are nobodies - hurtful for me to hear, for sure, but not exactly unexpected. Who is she trying to convince?
What all her squalling tells me is that I am on the right track. If what a person says is truly unimportant, why would you go through so much trouble trying to quash them? Why would you go out of your way to tell strangers on FB lies, and make yourself out to be a victim? Fear? Guilt? I can only deduce that what I am writing about IS important. In everything that I have written, I approach my subjects with a fair and balanced approach, even while reporting on Craig's video. While many people have written about how Craig should be banned for life from being around horses, I haven't gone that route - not once. Yet, it seems Ginger doesn't like me because I have dared to say that Craig's methods have no place in reining horse training.
Feel free to make your own judgement; he was riding at a public event, and it is the responsibility of every horse person in the world to keep tabs on any type of abusive activities toward horses.
It wasn't that long ago that it was perfectly acceptable to sore a gaited horse beyond comprehension to get their action more exaggerated. Not long ago, it was perfectly acceptable to kill horses on movie sets. It is only when reasonable, compassionate people spoke up on behalf of the horse did anything begin to change. And it has become very evident to me in the past month of writing this blog that many are quite tired of seeing trainers ride their stock roughly and with the most important goal as winning. Some reining trainers have nothing to worry about when it comes to the public scrutinizing their methods. Others probably do, because adapting and getting better is a difficult thing to do.
So once again, I declare my dedication to the cause of bringing you the truth as I experience it, being humane to horses while training and competing with them, and being a voice for those that don't have one, whether it is the horse or the rider. The rules of competition, and of society, apply to everyone, from the million dollar riders to us little nobodies.
***This post has been edited and re-posted to clarify/explain certain facts related to my story.***
Friday, July 15, 2011
A Black Eye for Bridle-less Riding
I recently learned about a piece of equipment being used to 'train' horses to stop harder, and I wanted to share this information with all of you. It is called a tack collar, and while it is surely being produced by many manufacturers, I found out about it through Buckaroo Leather Products. They recently posted an article titled, "Tack Collars, gimmick or useful training Device?" , which seems to imply that they are investigating the usefulness of this device, when, in fact, they do not criticize it at all, but rather defend it (that does make it easier to sell!). So I guess I will be critiquing it for them...
This collar is simply a leather strap resembling a breast collar that has spiked rivets on the inside. It is worn across the horse's chest, and when the horse is asked to stop, the collar is pulled against the horse's body, and the pain from the rivets causes the horse to stop harder and faster. The spikes come in a variety of lengths, all the way up to 1/2 inch. The article says that they are 'soft, gentle studs' but I can clearly see in this picture that pulling them into a horse's hide, even if they have a blunt end, would cause pain, especially when the horse is running hard to do a sliding stop.
The point of using this device is so that when the rider decides to move from riding in a bridle to going bridle-less, the horse will be impressive in its stops and responsiveness. They even show a picture of Mandy McCutcheon, the NRHA highest money earning non-pro ever, in their ad, because if she uses this, surely, it must be acceptable, right?
Since when is it necessary to use a spiked collar to get a horse to stop nicely? A horse that is bred and built to do reining, receives patient, proper training, is physically fit and feels good, and has a rider that has good timing and body control doesn't need to dig spikes into the horse's chest to get a nice stop. Riding bridle-less used to be a novelty, meant only to show how broke a horse is - and a way to show how lightly controlled and how partnered-up the horse is. This tack collar is the opposite of that! Trainers like Stacy Westfall have made riding bridle-less trendy, and yet, we can no longer assume that someone who is able to ride without a bridle is doing so because they are completely in-tune with their beautifully finished horse. I contacted Stacy to ask her what she thinks about these tack collars, and she didn't respond. Does she use them? I have no idea, but I would guess probably not. It is all the people who want to be just like her, or at least maintain the guise that they are 'natural' horsemen, that are using them.
Arguably, this type of device is not much different than using spurs, but we have all seen that spurs have become so commonplace - and so overused - in reining that we don't even question them. And the result is that many reining horses are dead sided and spin their tails. Now we have "spurs" for their chest too, so that in every direction a horse moves, it can potentially meet a hard metal poke.
The article goes out of its way to warn people that this collar should only be used by experienced riders on well-trained horses. That is a good way for them to avoid liability, but has absolutely no teeth to it at all. First, the purpose of this tack manufacturer is to make money, and second, how do you ask a customer to prove that they can handle a particular device? You can't, and even if you asked, most people would say, "Of course, I am a great rider, and sure, my horse can handle this!" But how many people, that are the type attracted to a spiked breast collar, actually have a soft hand, like that article recommends? I would venture to say that if you truly are an experienced trainer with soft hands, what on earth would you need something like this for?
****UPDATE****
I was contacted by Mandy McCutcheon, who was pictured in the article for these collars by Buckaroo Leather Products; she stated that she did not give BLP permission to use her image, nor has she ever used this piece of equipment to train her horses. Further, she said that the horse pictured, ARC Sparkle Surprise, is a good minded horse that went straight from the bridle to going bridle-less with just a rein. Kudos to her for setting the record straight!!
This collar is simply a leather strap resembling a breast collar that has spiked rivets on the inside. It is worn across the horse's chest, and when the horse is asked to stop, the collar is pulled against the horse's body, and the pain from the rivets causes the horse to stop harder and faster. The spikes come in a variety of lengths, all the way up to 1/2 inch. The article says that they are 'soft, gentle studs' but I can clearly see in this picture that pulling them into a horse's hide, even if they have a blunt end, would cause pain, especially when the horse is running hard to do a sliding stop.
The point of using this device is so that when the rider decides to move from riding in a bridle to going bridle-less, the horse will be impressive in its stops and responsiveness. They even show a picture of Mandy McCutcheon, the NRHA highest money earning non-pro ever, in their ad, because if she uses this, surely, it must be acceptable, right?
Since when is it necessary to use a spiked collar to get a horse to stop nicely? A horse that is bred and built to do reining, receives patient, proper training, is physically fit and feels good, and has a rider that has good timing and body control doesn't need to dig spikes into the horse's chest to get a nice stop. Riding bridle-less used to be a novelty, meant only to show how broke a horse is - and a way to show how lightly controlled and how partnered-up the horse is. This tack collar is the opposite of that! Trainers like Stacy Westfall have made riding bridle-less trendy, and yet, we can no longer assume that someone who is able to ride without a bridle is doing so because they are completely in-tune with their beautifully finished horse. I contacted Stacy to ask her what she thinks about these tack collars, and she didn't respond. Does she use them? I have no idea, but I would guess probably not. It is all the people who want to be just like her, or at least maintain the guise that they are 'natural' horsemen, that are using them.
Arguably, this type of device is not much different than using spurs, but we have all seen that spurs have become so commonplace - and so overused - in reining that we don't even question them. And the result is that many reining horses are dead sided and spin their tails. Now we have "spurs" for their chest too, so that in every direction a horse moves, it can potentially meet a hard metal poke.
The article goes out of its way to warn people that this collar should only be used by experienced riders on well-trained horses. That is a good way for them to avoid liability, but has absolutely no teeth to it at all. First, the purpose of this tack manufacturer is to make money, and second, how do you ask a customer to prove that they can handle a particular device? You can't, and even if you asked, most people would say, "Of course, I am a great rider, and sure, my horse can handle this!" But how many people, that are the type attracted to a spiked breast collar, actually have a soft hand, like that article recommends? I would venture to say that if you truly are an experienced trainer with soft hands, what on earth would you need something like this for?
****UPDATE****
I was contacted by Mandy McCutcheon, who was pictured in the article for these collars by Buckaroo Leather Products; she stated that she did not give BLP permission to use her image, nor has she ever used this piece of equipment to train her horses. Further, she said that the horse pictured, ARC Sparkle Surprise, is a good minded horse that went straight from the bridle to going bridle-less with just a rein. Kudos to her for setting the record straight!!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Not For Sale
I am blessed with owning a fantastic mare, Miss Bam Bam Command, whom I claimed as my own while she was just a foal on her momma's side, and whom I have owned officially for 19 years. She is a beautiful palomino, put together very nicely, has outstanding, desirable bloodlines, a sweet, gentle attitude, and back in her early days, was very talented under saddle. And she is the mother of one of the leading money earners in the NRHA, which makes her other babies a hot commodity. I have had many, many offers over the years to buy her, but I won't. Ever. And here is the story why...
Every horsey kid (and some horsey adults) has an Ultimate Fantasy Horse, a vision of what their perfect horsey soulmate would look like. Mine came to me when I was a little girl, when my grandma gave me a beautiful palomino horse statue, like a Breyer. The golden shading, the pure white mane...I was hooked! I grew up showing Arabians and Half Arabians though, so since there are few palominos in that breed, I didn't get a chance to own one until Bam Bam. I happened to be boarding my Arab gelding at the barn where Bam Bam and her dam lived while I attended college, and I first saw her when she was about a week old. Now, at that time, I had already owned a bunch of horses, had won 3 National titles, and had been giving lessons and starting to train a few, so it wasn't like I was a newbie. But I swear to you, the moment I saw her, I was instantly transformed into a little horse-crazy kid. It was the closest thing I have ever felt to love at first sight. The moment I laid eyes on her, I KNEW she was my horse.
I purchased her some months later, and when the time came, she received her under saddle training from John Slack. At the time, John was at the top of his game, and he did an excellent job with her; getting the best he could from all her maneuvers, but maintaining her soundness and sanity at the same time. I treasure a video I have of him riding her - both showed such talent! Bam Bam was never shown though; at the time I was a college student at Arizona State, and just didn't have the time or money to go show. So instead, she came home, and I started riding her myself. Bam Bam and I rode all over the mountains of Arizona, with friends and by ourselves, and she was a handy, reliable, and cool-headed mount. Truly, a Cadillac to take down the trail. Later, I began using her for lessons, and again, the mare showed me how great she is - patient, safe, and careful with every beginner to sit on her. I never regreted not showing her - she is still sound and happy at age 20!
At one point, I had to nurse Bam Bam through strangles. I remember that she had a fever of 104, and I spent hours running cold water over her from head to toe, wiping her poor nose, and comforting her. The mare would lay her head in my arms, and just exhale. We were so bonded to each other.
A few years later, I heard that a friend had bought into a newly formed Boomernic syndicate, so I contacted him and struck a lease deal. The resulting foal was Commanders Nic, who went on to win $275,000, at a time when that kind of money was much harder to add up. It wasn't long thereafter that I received a call from a prominent trainers wife, who wanted to buy her from me. I am sure she thought I would be impressed with who she was, but I didn't hesitate to say, "Sorry, she isn't for sale, and won't ever be." I didn't even ask what they were offering. It just didn't matter. This person was immediately irritated with me, and proceeded to ask if I would sell a filly of Bam Bam's that I had (and still have), to which I also said no. That filly was my replacement for Bammie and wasn't bred for public consumption. Well, this really pissed her off. She began to belittle me, and eventually said that I would always be a back yard breeder if I was that attached to my horses. Can you imagine?? I am sure her pride was hurt that she wasn't able to bulldoze little ol' me into giving her what she wanted, but she obviously didn't know what kind of horse owner she was dealing with. My heart and soul are not for sale, for any price, and neither is my best horse. I have always known that the pain of absence of that horse from my life could never be soothed with money.
Thankfully, other people have fallen in love with Bam Bam too, and I have done well in selling embryos from her. She has been bred to the best stallions in the business, has produced some outstanding horses; some are money earners, and some are preparing to see the show pen. But honestly, it doesn't matter to me if she had never had any foals at all. She is a wonderful horse, in every way, and I know how lucky I am to own her. I know that if I had sold her, she would have been used up by some big breeder for the money of selling her babies, and who knows what might have happened to her once she stopped producing. As things are, she will be loved and cared for her whole life by someone who truly loves her. So if that makes me a back yard breeder, so be it. I have the MOST amazing mare, right in my back yard.
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Have a wonderful Thursday, and give your favorite horse a big hug today!!
Every horsey kid (and some horsey adults) has an Ultimate Fantasy Horse, a vision of what their perfect horsey soulmate would look like. Mine came to me when I was a little girl, when my grandma gave me a beautiful palomino horse statue, like a Breyer. The golden shading, the pure white mane...I was hooked! I grew up showing Arabians and Half Arabians though, so since there are few palominos in that breed, I didn't get a chance to own one until Bam Bam. I happened to be boarding my Arab gelding at the barn where Bam Bam and her dam lived while I attended college, and I first saw her when she was about a week old. Now, at that time, I had already owned a bunch of horses, had won 3 National titles, and had been giving lessons and starting to train a few, so it wasn't like I was a newbie. But I swear to you, the moment I saw her, I was instantly transformed into a little horse-crazy kid. It was the closest thing I have ever felt to love at first sight. The moment I laid eyes on her, I KNEW she was my horse.
I purchased her some months later, and when the time came, she received her under saddle training from John Slack. At the time, John was at the top of his game, and he did an excellent job with her; getting the best he could from all her maneuvers, but maintaining her soundness and sanity at the same time. I treasure a video I have of him riding her - both showed such talent! Bam Bam was never shown though; at the time I was a college student at Arizona State, and just didn't have the time or money to go show. So instead, she came home, and I started riding her myself. Bam Bam and I rode all over the mountains of Arizona, with friends and by ourselves, and she was a handy, reliable, and cool-headed mount. Truly, a Cadillac to take down the trail. Later, I began using her for lessons, and again, the mare showed me how great she is - patient, safe, and careful with every beginner to sit on her. I never regreted not showing her - she is still sound and happy at age 20!
At one point, I had to nurse Bam Bam through strangles. I remember that she had a fever of 104, and I spent hours running cold water over her from head to toe, wiping her poor nose, and comforting her. The mare would lay her head in my arms, and just exhale. We were so bonded to each other.
A few years later, I heard that a friend had bought into a newly formed Boomernic syndicate, so I contacted him and struck a lease deal. The resulting foal was Commanders Nic, who went on to win $275,000, at a time when that kind of money was much harder to add up. It wasn't long thereafter that I received a call from a prominent trainers wife, who wanted to buy her from me. I am sure she thought I would be impressed with who she was, but I didn't hesitate to say, "Sorry, she isn't for sale, and won't ever be." I didn't even ask what they were offering. It just didn't matter. This person was immediately irritated with me, and proceeded to ask if I would sell a filly of Bam Bam's that I had (and still have), to which I also said no. That filly was my replacement for Bammie and wasn't bred for public consumption. Well, this really pissed her off. She began to belittle me, and eventually said that I would always be a back yard breeder if I was that attached to my horses. Can you imagine?? I am sure her pride was hurt that she wasn't able to bulldoze little ol' me into giving her what she wanted, but she obviously didn't know what kind of horse owner she was dealing with. My heart and soul are not for sale, for any price, and neither is my best horse. I have always known that the pain of absence of that horse from my life could never be soothed with money.
Thankfully, other people have fallen in love with Bam Bam too, and I have done well in selling embryos from her. She has been bred to the best stallions in the business, has produced some outstanding horses; some are money earners, and some are preparing to see the show pen. But honestly, it doesn't matter to me if she had never had any foals at all. She is a wonderful horse, in every way, and I know how lucky I am to own her. I know that if I had sold her, she would have been used up by some big breeder for the money of selling her babies, and who knows what might have happened to her once she stopped producing. As things are, she will be loved and cared for her whole life by someone who truly loves her. So if that makes me a back yard breeder, so be it. I have the MOST amazing mare, right in my back yard.
Have a wonderful Thursday, and give your favorite horse a big hug today!!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Getting Up On A Soapbox
Last week, I was lucky enough to attend the NRHA Awards Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies. The setting was the beautiful National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, and it was great to see everyone all dressed up to honor the importance of the night's events. The awards given were fantastic; leather jackets, bronzes, and even embroidered hide pillows! The dinner that was served to us was delicious, and everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie, and the pomp and circumstance that the evening brought.
I especially enjoyed some of the Hall of Fame Induction speeches. Carol Rose and Tim McQuay speaking about Shining Spark was both hilarious and poignant. The speech about Collena Chic Olena was bittersweet, and endeared her owner to me, as she seemed like someone I would know - down to earth, and someone who truly loves her animals. Bob Kiser's speech was pure class; he embodies the dedication and commitment to both the sport of reining and his family, that we all should emulate.
And then came Boomernic's induction ceremony. Instead of focusing on the stallion himself, it became clear that Boomernic's owner was using this opportunity to lecture the audience on what he sees as social infractions within the reining community. He ranted that everyone needs to support Craig Schmersal, despite being caught on video using questionable means to school a horse at the FEI World Championships. He lectured that the reining community needed to embrace his trainer Brett Stone, even though, "everyone knows that he has had drug and alcohol problems, but he is trying to make a come back." He pounded the podium with his fists, and demanded respect, and the audience sat in stunned silence. While all the other Hall of Fame inductees received multiple standing ovations, when Boomernic's was over, the applause was subdued and no one left their seat.
Getting inducted into the Hall of Fame is a BIG DEAL. Something that should be accepted with a huge amount of humility and respect. It is not the time or place to hold an audience of your peers hostage, and try to force your opinion on them, and thus bend their future behavior, because of your momentary position of power behind the podium. Having a microphone in front of you does not make you any more important, or your words any more palatable. It only makes your opinion LOUDER, and allows more people to see you as you really are. Everyone I have spoken to was appalled that Mr. Miola would use the honor and the opportunity of having a horse inducted into the Hall of Fame to push an agenda, and certainly, an agenda that many of us do not share. People will not forget this type of hot-headedness very quickly.
Perhaps Mr. Miola has some things he needs to get off of his chest. I have a few suggestions; first, he should confine his venting to those around him that can just listen. Maybe even find a trustworthy therapist to do this job. Second, he needs to consider that his peers in the reining industry are capable of making their own decisions and his spouting off is just a great big turn-off. And third, he should understand that there are consequences to this type of behavior, and most likely, his stallion's books will reflect how his 'speech' was received by the reining community. In the polls of public opinion, we will vote with our checkbooks.
While I have not seen that NRHA has released a video of the Hall of Fame speeches, I have hopes that they will. It is, after all, part of the public record of the National Reining Horse Association. But, given that Mr. Miola's stable, Silver Spurs Performance Horses, is a corporate sponsor, perhaps they will feel the need to cover up this rant to protect their own image. We'll see....
I especially enjoyed some of the Hall of Fame Induction speeches. Carol Rose and Tim McQuay speaking about Shining Spark was both hilarious and poignant. The speech about Collena Chic Olena was bittersweet, and endeared her owner to me, as she seemed like someone I would know - down to earth, and someone who truly loves her animals. Bob Kiser's speech was pure class; he embodies the dedication and commitment to both the sport of reining and his family, that we all should emulate.
And then came Boomernic's induction ceremony. Instead of focusing on the stallion himself, it became clear that Boomernic's owner was using this opportunity to lecture the audience on what he sees as social infractions within the reining community. He ranted that everyone needs to support Craig Schmersal, despite being caught on video using questionable means to school a horse at the FEI World Championships. He lectured that the reining community needed to embrace his trainer Brett Stone, even though, "everyone knows that he has had drug and alcohol problems, but he is trying to make a come back." He pounded the podium with his fists, and demanded respect, and the audience sat in stunned silence. While all the other Hall of Fame inductees received multiple standing ovations, when Boomernic's was over, the applause was subdued and no one left their seat.
Getting inducted into the Hall of Fame is a BIG DEAL. Something that should be accepted with a huge amount of humility and respect. It is not the time or place to hold an audience of your peers hostage, and try to force your opinion on them, and thus bend their future behavior, because of your momentary position of power behind the podium. Having a microphone in front of you does not make you any more important, or your words any more palatable. It only makes your opinion LOUDER, and allows more people to see you as you really are. Everyone I have spoken to was appalled that Mr. Miola would use the honor and the opportunity of having a horse inducted into the Hall of Fame to push an agenda, and certainly, an agenda that many of us do not share. People will not forget this type of hot-headedness very quickly.
Perhaps Mr. Miola has some things he needs to get off of his chest. I have a few suggestions; first, he should confine his venting to those around him that can just listen. Maybe even find a trustworthy therapist to do this job. Second, he needs to consider that his peers in the reining industry are capable of making their own decisions and his spouting off is just a great big turn-off. And third, he should understand that there are consequences to this type of behavior, and most likely, his stallion's books will reflect how his 'speech' was received by the reining community. In the polls of public opinion, we will vote with our checkbooks.
While I have not seen that NRHA has released a video of the Hall of Fame speeches, I have hopes that they will. It is, after all, part of the public record of the National Reining Horse Association. But, given that Mr. Miola's stable, Silver Spurs Performance Horses, is a corporate sponsor, perhaps they will feel the need to cover up this rant to protect their own image. We'll see....
Monday, July 4, 2011
Never a Dull Moment!
Happy Independence Day!! Over the weekend I attended the NRHA Derby in Oklahoma City, OK, as a spectator, but with a sense of voyeurism, as I knew that I would blog about it. I wanted to see with a journalistic objectivity, and try to convey what it was like to be there. I was able to attend the NRHA Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies, watch the warm up pen, walk through the stalls, and had a front row seat for the Finals. You will see me writing about these experiences a lot in the coming weeks, because it is endlessly inspiring to see a sport operating at that level. Good and bad, stunningly beautiful and plain ugly, I got to see a lot, and I will be sharing what I saw with you.
One thing is for sure, as I unpack, unwind, and try to get back into 'normal' life, I will miss the great people that I met over the weekend. It was wonderful to talk, laugh and joke about silly horses' antics, mourn the loss of a good one we had, swap stories and histories, and makes some toasts. I am sure I have made some friends for life!
As they say, it is nice to get away, but it is nice to come home. So I am going to keep this short, and go spend time with my family. Enjoy your day - enjoy your freedom!
One thing is for sure, as I unpack, unwind, and try to get back into 'normal' life, I will miss the great people that I met over the weekend. It was wonderful to talk, laugh and joke about silly horses' antics, mourn the loss of a good one we had, swap stories and histories, and makes some toasts. I am sure I have made some friends for life!
As they say, it is nice to get away, but it is nice to come home. So I am going to keep this short, and go spend time with my family. Enjoy your day - enjoy your freedom!
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