Thanks For All The Great Questions!
OK, that May '08 issue of Horse & Rider is out the door, and before I stop to catch my breath, gotta thank everyone for all their questions in response to the last post.
The door's still open to further Q's. If I can come up with the A's, I'll post 'em right back at ya!
Meanwhile....TGIF!!
posted by Juli Thorson @ 6:36 PM
14 comments
14 Comments:
HI, Juli. I remember that feeling when I wrote/edited for Practical Horseman and Horse & Rider!! What a relief!
I am very concerned about the future of the horse industry, and I agree with you that regulation/taxes, etc. are likely to take hold if there isn't a lot of action. I'm also concerned about issues of the APHA and the restrictions on solid paints. And DOT fines that have hit some professionals. And the shortage of large animal veterinarians.
But.... I think all of these are minor manifestations of a bigger problem: the horse industry has been ineffective in bringing in new participants.
I live and work within easy commuting distance of NYC. Many people that I know had some involvement with horses as children, but they and their children are active in other sports/leisure activities.
Somehow, the "what's in it for me" regarding involvement with horses is not getting communicated to the next generation.
Meanwhile, the New York Times published 2 articles in March that detail the benefits of horse involvement for troubled teens and the disabled.
I'd love to see the horse industry focus more on what horses give to their owners/riders to show just how rewarding owning horses can be.
I've started a blog that describes the lessons I learn from horses, called "horse-therapy."
Hope you take a look.
And appreciate your comments on the above--whether you agree or disagree and your "wish list" of what can be done to reverse the decline of horses in the US.
Hi, Cathy,
Thanks for visiting my blog, and I'll definitely visit yours.
I do agree with your comments about "what's worrisome." Here's another issue that doesn't get much airtime:
We've been in a period where individuals from the baby boom generation (of which I'm a member) are pretty much calling the shots in the horse industry, and collectively, "we" just don't seem to get that our experiences, attitudes, and beliefs aren't necessarily shared by those in subsequent generations. Furthermore, the horse industry's been regularly retooled to meet OUR needs ever since we were children, so we are very spoiled when it comes to taking other groups' needs and interests into consideration. And it's now starting to show.
very well put, Juli.
What do you think is necessary in terms of retooling the industry for the future?
Cathy:
On the retooling subject:
* Associations need to set aside the notion that unrelated youths and nonpros can't own and show a horse together. PARTNERING is going to be a big survival trend going forward.
* The industry has GOT to get it together and do more, collectively, to promote the horse-owning lifestyle. Previous attempts at this have failed dismally because the groups couldn't/wouldn't get along and share costs equitably.
* More attention needs to be paid to the phenomenon I refer to as "gap-osis"--effects of the widening gap between the "haves" at the top of the financial pyramid, and everyone else.
* The intrinsic rewards of horse ownership need more emphasis. The industry's been so geared to promotion of extrinsics--profits, prizes, and publicity to big winners--that the resource allotment is skewed.
Just a few things, for starters; what are your thoughts?
Juli, I think you nailed it.
With reining, the ownership rules (and the fact that non pros can't lease horses) stifles participation. You see so many people get to the point where they have to fork over a lot of $ to move on to the next level, and they drop out. The association does not meet the needs of these competitors. The current group of competitors is pretty happy with the status quo and so many people don't seem to see the long term effects of not continually trying to retain members/competitors while trying to open up the sport to new participants.
The gap you describe seems to becoming more pronounced. There are people waiting to buy the $100K futurity prospect, but the honest horse that will pack a low level non pro around is very hard to sell. I understand that it's gotten worse--I've been told that horses that would have moved easily last year cannot be sold now.
And I couldn't agree with you more about the benefits of horse ownership and the lifestyle components.
I always maintain that, for someone with a child or teenager that is veering toward delinquency, horse involvement may be less expensive than psychiatric intervention, etc. when things go south.
Where I do see growth is in the therapeutic riding category. I work in a part of NJ that has a lot of corporate headquarters. I understand that one of the benefits for a local therapeutic riding center included a donation of a BMW--the headquarters are there and one of the corporate leaders has a child who benefited from the program.
I think AQHA is on the right track with their regionl experiences and referring to the "AQHA lifestyle" but it's not enough; given the declines that many organizations have experienced lately, I'm not sure how the associations will be able to free up the funds to address this issue--many will be too fixated on survival to understand that they're just putting bandaids on bigger problem.
What would work, I think, would be for one organization to take the lead and develop a task force consisting of leaders, not of horse oganizations, but business leaders who have an interest in horses. If these people developed a 503C to address this problem, and funded it, they might have success. But it would require a committed group with a lot of $ and a dedication to all levels of the sport. Most people I can think of fall of the sled with the last item--it would require putting the good of the entire industry ahead of other things.
Juli,
I am a 15-year-old girl living in Wisconsin. I have a lot of experience with that "gap-osis" you were talking about. I am blessed to have parents who have indulged my horse passion and bought me a horse. He is boarded at a barn in the area. This is our third barn we have moved to because of competition over who's horse is worth more, what kind of equestrian boots or clothes you are wearing(who really cares if you wear Ariat or Ovation?), and who's a better rider. It's becoming like high school, not my refuge from it. I always kept myself separate from the other "gossip girls" at the barn, but they always made sure to go out of their way to put me down. I just smiled and responded with "cool" whenever they blatantly told me how much their horse was worth (Not to brag, but I had an advantage over them there, which I reminded myself of many times to calm my inner anger). Whatever happened to fun? At my local 4-H club, which I am a member of, everyone stays away from the snobby horse project. Most of the other people in my group don't help with any community service projects, just showing up for the low-cost shows. It makes me angry! Personally, I like seeing the expressions on the home-bound's faces when we give them Easter baskets.
Cathy:
Great post!
Anonymous in Wisconsin:
You strike me as a real sensible young person. The horse world is lucky to have you!
Dear Juli - My question is WHY does your magazine and its sibling publications publish so many articles that imply that SHOWING is the be all and end all of what to do with a horse? The "gaposis" you are all talking about is just exagerated by that. I've been around horses for 54 years now, intend to continue til they put me in the ground, and have competed in exactly one "C" rated show - back in the late '60's. None of my very enthusiastic horse friends could care less either. But we all read a lot about how to improve our horses' performance in general, especially on the trail. We make the sacrifices we do (and have) because of those "other benefits" of having a relationship with a horse. You writers and editors are doing a great job of many things, but not of bringing out that! How 'bout more articles like Clinton Anderson's, and fewer on how to present the best "bling" in a WP class?
Hi, Anon,
H&R publishes articles about showing because a significant portion of the audience is interested in that activity.
However, in a typical issue, the majority of our editorial pages AREN'T show-specific. I'm looking at the April issue right now, for example, and with the exception of a small item about matching show pad to chaps, there's only one show-oriented article in the entire issue: "Beat Rail-Horse Burnout," by Bob Avila.
Remaining articles topics include:
* Benefits of riding bareback.
* Ways to keep your horse in a down economy.
* New strateties for deworming.
* Barn-building plans.
* Everyday mane care.
* Dealing with the hard-to-bridle horse
Once upon a time, H&R was more show-specific than it is today. Perhaps you have that other time in mind?
Hi Julie,
I purchased a horse last April. Thin, unkept, pathetic looking. I felt I had to save him. I rode him, he was very quiet. After good food, alot of TLC and a year of leisure, he is a total brat. If he doesn't want to do something he grabs at my arm with his teeth, tries to bit my hands when I leading him etc. He doesn't have much respect for me. I'm not the forceful type and I'm looking for some tips on how to handle him. I really love him, but lately I've been thinking we may not be a good match. Any ideas?
Patricia,
If you aren't able to work directly with a trainer, I suggest you delve into some of the train-for-respect materials of someone like Team H&R's Clinton Anderson. His website is downunderhorsemanship.com.
Is this the only horse you have? Horses are programmed to constantly test their herdmates for dominance, and that includes humans--especially if a human is the only other "herdmate" they interact with. A lone horse will easily learn to bully his owner, and the phrase, "Give an inch, take a mile," definitely applies here.
Once a horse learns he can intimidate you, the behavior will escalate if not dealt with. Sounds like you need to learn how to establish and maintain "the rules," and there's more to that than I can provide in a single post.
If Clinton Anderson isn't your style, keep looking. There are plenty of good trainers with books, DVDs, websites, and clinics. John Lyons, for examle.
Hi Julie,
Thank you for getting back with some information. He is not the lone horse, he does have a pasture mate that he bosses around also. I think he probably was abused in his other life. He seems to prefer men, he relates to my husband, but he is not a horse guy. I'll look into some of the tools you mentioned.
HI, Patricia,
Since your horse bosses the other horse around, that's a sign he's a dominance-seeker by nature. Some horses just are that way.
That said, even the most naturally dominant horse can learn to respect you as the "boss hoss."
Horses are creatures of habit, and to take full advantage of that, be sure you are very, very consistent about what you establish as "the rules," and what you establish as the consequences for breaking those rules.
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