On the Fence with Carol – Regarding A Little Bit About A Lot

Click here to read Carol’s piece in the Equine Chronicle 

By Carol Harris

charris75@aol.com

Hello Everybody, as you can see I’m still sitting on the same Ole Fence doing my best to provide you with some current thoughts that concern some of the buzz at AQHA. Thank you for your letters, emails and pictures. They help to let me know what you all are thinking about.

Quite a few directors have been sending me copies of their 440 Express communiqués. They have been dumbfounded by leadership’s inexhaustible directives on what to expect at the Convention. I hope you have found them as entertaining as I have. No matter how much our leaders attempt to brainwash the members into joining their thoughts on promoting miss-guided agendas, they still just don’t get it, or perhaps do not want to. Glaring omissions regarding the value of points from their remake of the Incentive Fund or the cloning debacle has many wondering if they might not be withholding more bad news.

If they only tried to be as accomplished at honesty as they are in hiding our true status on so many fronts, we might not be facing such a mess. We keep reading words about wanting members input, but actually our leadership only seems to want input that agrees with their own. All other input is simply ignored.

I’ve also been hearing lately from judges that feel the new testing and education programs are simply a front to promote other sources of income from their 300 judges who will be required to pay for registration and testing every couple of years, but of course this type of education could in time be available to more “want to be” judges. I’m not capable of saying whether this is their plan or whether any of it could be profitable. Our Association has become so over burdened with changes and responsibilities that any more complications could easily become fatal. Once again I feel I must bring up the word “simplicity”. Its valuable meaning is not in the vocabulary of our leadership and because of that, we have problems that badly need some good answers. Keeping this in mind, our judging system badly requires discipline that should ensure each and every one of our judges follow all rules as written. If that is accomplished, our hopes for a level playing field will begin to become a reality. Eventually there will be no more drugs in racing or showing if owners and trainers are both considered responsible and equally made to suffer consequences for their horses positive tests. Secondly, we need to get rid of our present Steward system and hire some dedicated un-complacent horsemen or women who represent no conflicts of interest. Our present system of Stewarding could be compared to what might happen if the NFL let the football players referee their games. A third way to provide a level playing field would be to make horse shows more affordable for everybody. For some time this has bothered me – we have actually out-glitzed the Arabians and even the old parade horse folks with our desire to dazzle each other and our few spectators that occasionally show up. Why hasn’t good ole common sense made us realize that the burden our Association has put on their exhibitors with the “beyond expensive show clothes” that are felt necessary to be competitive? If our leaders desire growth in our decreased membership, how can they possibly think our average American Quarter Horse owner will continue to be able to afford our current ridiculous dress trends?

Presently I’m glad to say we are reading more about the Welfare of our horses and the changes that have recently been included in our Association’s new Mission Statement. This promising propaganda continues to be a source of mystery because we must not forget the poor horses still have not felt relief. If you don’t believe what I’m saying, just go to your local AQHA show and watch. Talk is cheap – why don’t we try a little action.

In ending, I have a question and I’d appreciate your input. If our leadership would actually put the well being of our horses first, might the AQHA begin to regain the popularity and respect that they have lost?

Best to you all til next time,

Carol

Please let me know what you think:

Carol Harris

charris75@aol.com

7255 W. Hwy. 329 · Reddick, FL 32686

Click here to read Carol’s piece in the Equine Chronicle