Ridecamp: Re: [RC] $$MONEY Fer NUTHIN'!$$

This thread brought to mind a local "instructor" - a nice enough gal, with whom I do get along; but when I let go of our local youth program - didn't like the way it as headed - and my then 13 year old daughter decided to drop out (she was languishing under a burden of being an assistant rather than a rider), she continued to go over from time to time to help out anyway. Well, she stopped doing THAT after overhearing the "instructor" tell another young - and inexperienced in the EXTREME - rider not to listen to my daughter, because she was only an endurance rider and didn't KNOW anything. Aside from how hurtful that was to my daughter who has been competing since she was 8, has a couple BCs a top ten, and quality show ring wins as well on SEVERAL horses, and has successfully trained her own current horse, well, I was just astounded by the ignorance. I was equally astounded by the demonstration of such ignorance and bias right in f
ront of these young people.

It is important that, before we open our big traps, we have SOME clear idea of what we are talking about - and never never NEVER deride another's skill, choices or opinions in front of others - and certainly without checking it out for one's self. I am sure it would come as a surprise to this gal who still has no idea my daughter heard her, that my daughter has more working knowlege than most ADULTS she competes with in the show ring. 

Endurance is a different sport, and without doubt, making it an income-producing sport will without fail bring it to its knees with the very same greed, scandal and furtive behavior as any other sport. This is demonstrated every day in pro sports, college sports and other equine sports. It has ALREADY touched our sport what with the Treetop scandal last year. Human athletes have the right to be stupid and hurt themselves and their own integrity, I suppose, if they choose - but for US, it will ultimately cost the horse. 

IMHO,
San ( who soent FAR too many years in the show ring!)