10/19/2024
INTERESTING FLASH BACK TO 2011 - "Dear Reader" column in the October, 2011 issue of ShowBiz magazine!! Time goes by but "times" don't really change!! Quite an interesting REVERSE mirror of where we are now I think!! I sure do miss doing that magazine!! š¢š„¹ I really loved it! š„°š¤
"Dear Readers,
Our sport is topsy-turvy right now. SO much ado about a lot of things, but for the west coast one of the main conversation prompters is the large number of shows we haveā¦.and it grows everyday! At a time when the competitor numbers are diminishing, or at the very least staying relatively the same # wise, there are new shows being added up and down the coast one on top of another.
When directly asked the question, āWhy add more shows?ā the answer is more times than not, one of two thingsā¦āI can do a better job.ā Or, āIf I donāt take those dates, someone else will.ā
The World Cup system in the west is in major turmoil with differing opinions on how to fix it. For every solution there seems to be ten people lined up explaining how THAT wonāt work. For the foreseeable future, it probably wonāt be much different, but be sure - times are a changinā!
I love this time of year, mare owners are researching stallions to decide who ādaddyā will be for their next yearās crop. Year end Finals are in process and the competition gets very intense for sure in those rings. Some trainers are either back east or on their wayā¦and for some the new National Horse Show venue of Lexington, Kentucky is calling. Report for that show will be fun!!
At the same time it is refreshing and entertaining to hang around the kids ring for a bit. There is still the wide eyed wonder and excitement for a child to get around the pony or short stirrup ring for the first time. Trainers, parents and friends still have the enthusiasm that rewards efforts and sometimes we forget we were all there at one time. A bit of nostalgia if good for all of us!!
As we go into winter, and a time to hibernate and re-group, take time to remember what itās really all about. Not the ribbonsā¦the old saying, āitās about the horseā, is also not the real kicker anymore.
The saying āThe outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man/woman/child.ā THAT is why we do thisā¦because they bring out something incredible in all of us ā OR AT LEAST THEY SHOULD!! The unconditional affection we get from them reminds us of a gentler way.
No matter how bad the ride, how much their little mouths get pulled on, how much too tight the saddle is, how badly the boot gards fit, or how much they may be asked to jump higher than they possible canā¦they still whinny and nicker when we come into sight.
And when each of us hear that, we should NEVER forget that they are at our mercy and THAT is the only gift we can really give themā¦. Mercy, kindness and gentleness in the way we handle them at the end of the day!
Ride on and love these great companions we have as we move toward 2012,
Kathy"
