Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Who says any of us are breeding THOSE types of horses??? Would we be on 
this list if we were???? If you read the posts here, Heidi, you'll see 
that all of those responding ARE breeding athletic performance horses!
;-)
Bette

heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> > Perhaps if more people put their sentiments in writing as Lif has done,
> > and sent them to the Commissioner there might be some ripple effect---
> > seems to me a better plan than just bashing (although most of the show
> > bashing is justified (based on my assessments of the Western Pleasure,
> > Hunter, and Halter classes over the last several years) and arising out
> > of frustration ).
> >    
>
> Many of us have been acting on our beliefs for years, Bette.  And it takes
> more than petitions and letters--it takes voting with your dollars and
> your feet.
>
> The first thing it takes is BREEDING horses that are NOT like those being
> paraded in front of the public, and the second thing is actually TAKING
> those horses out and DOING things with them.  The tide IS turning--it is
> rewarding to see more and more riders becoming aware of the fact that
> there IS a difference in Arabians--and if one wants the sane, sound sort,
> one learns about conformation, breeding, etc. and buys accordingly.
>
> Although the overall registration numbers are down, the market for GOOD
> riding horses is on the upswing.  Personally, I think this is a good sign.
> Until our breed returns to sane breeding practices that tend to produce
> RIDING horses, we cannot expect to market our breed as a whole as riding
> horses.  Savvy riders have figured this out and have learned to shop.
>
> I don't think we will accomplish this through AHA--I think we will
> accomplish it through grassroots efforts, such as the various preservation
> groups who are hosting shows and having symposia, through the efforts of
> breeders who work to place horses in 4-H homes, through the efforts of
> folks who do any sort of amateur sports with their Arabians (distance
> riding is the largest group, but there are amateur owners out there doing
> dressage, team penning, and all sorts of things), etc.  It is by DOING
> with QUALITY Arabians that we can regain favor with the public.
>
> While I agree that it is a good thing to write and petition and all that
> stuff, it will do no good unless we can point to our successes.  And for
> our breed, distance riding is one of the biggest successes of all.
>
> Heidi
>
>
>
>
>  

--
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians
Home of Bunny and 16.2h TLA Halynov
who lives on through his legacy Hal's Riverdance!
http://www.arabiansporthorse.com

Always remember: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." (George Carlin)



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They're athletes! This is a partnership between horse and rider - we don't
have any jockeys out there, just pals and partners. We'd allow a rider with
a broken foot, a sore back and a nasty cold to compete - but we would never
let a horse in a similiar condition hit the trail. 
~  Dr. Barney Flemming DVM

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