Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Leslie Ann Dusty on May 15, 2009 at 9:07pm

My boss had a booth and I guess it was okay. Obviously the weather didn't help!! They did have some sales. I went 2 years ago. Not enough English stuff when I went. It seems to be mainly western oriented area. That and pleasure. Seems to be the same old same old most years though. Where are you from?

Permalink Reply by stacy smith on May 21, 2009 at 3:09pm

Thanks leslie, i guess I didn't miss anything. I'm thinking of renting a booth there next year, did your boss make any money?;)

Permalink Reply by Eileen on May 16, 2009 at 1:33pm

I don't go to many of them anymore. Thoughout my life I have managed to take in the major ones. Volunteered at the Equitanna for a couple of years held in Louseville Ky. That was a fun way to see all and meet horse people. Since I now own and ride TWH, I did take in one of those Bick LIck Walking Shows in Perry Ga, on my way to Florida one year. EEEEk what an eye opener that was. I could not sit there through the whole show it was too disgusting to see what they make those horses go through in the name of "showmanship" or "horsemanship" All I can say is that those people can ruin a good horse in the blink of an eye. Thank goodness the Walkers are comming up as excellent trail horses and endurance horses etc etc...rather than being someones "trophy" winner with no regard for the horse itself. Enough said...I must get off of my soap box now.

Permalink Reply by stacy smith on May 21, 2009 at 3:18pm

I agree eileen, even some of the western shows are agonizing, the 'peanut rollers' tick me off. I guess you could be in the winners circle with a super long shank, and a twisted bit eh? I still love to go to the either really small shows or the big one's like the royal but It breaks my heart the way some people mangle their draft horse with those awful "show shoes', legs all bloodied...gawd people suck sometimes eh? Deep breaths..Deep breaths ;)

Permalink Reply by Cindy Jeffery on May 29, 2009 at 1:17pm

I am a western judge, EC Recorded Steward, and a Show Manager so I get to talk to many judges and stewards, some of them top notch. But a lot of this horse show stuff boils down to money especially in the upper categories. People use and do the nastiest things to win the cash. The "peanut pusher" thing is actually against the rules in Canadian rule books and I think in AQHA as well but they still place those PP horse above others. The ruling says that the tips of a horses ears are not to be below the horses withers. Well I tell you each judge has his own perspective on that one and will argue with you when it is as plain as day that the tips of the horses ears are below the withers. Well then they will tell you it is allowed for a certain number of strides (talk about splitting hairs, either it is or it isn't). Why do judges do this? It all boils down to their pay cheque. If they don't allow a certain "higher class rider" to place in the top 3 with her/his PP then the message is spread like wild fire and pretty soon there are no jobs for that judge.....because he is to "tough". It is appaulling! The shows i work at are small local types but we hire national judges from across Canada and U.S. and it's amazing what they tell you, especially when I query them on the rules. PP's really bother me too Stacy!

Permalink Reply by Cindy Jeffery on May 29, 2009 at 1:23pm

Oh one more thing.....What happened to the natural head carriage? You know top line level from head to tail at a nice trot/jog, canter/lope. (talking E/W Pleasure class here) That's what I look for when I'm judging and the horse has to be consistant for at least half the arena. I can understand a bob for footing problems but if they are consistantly level they recover very quickly. Anyway, the horses don't naturally carry their heads with their noses touching the ground, yet riders will tell me that it is natural and even judges have tried to convince me of that. DuH?

Permalink Reply by Jenny Hiscox on May 21, 2009 at 4:10pm

I hear you Eileen, since my girl is an American Saddlebred. ... tail surgery, weighted shoes, extra-long toes... No thank you!