I thought it would be fun to try and write something whenever it pops in my head.  It should be like a bad batch of popcorn!  Feel free to email your thoughts to Adam@ewhaonline.com

Entry #1- Uh-oh!  Adam is thinking too much again!

Recently a discussion took place on a "horse board" and it made me think.  With gas prices going up, will we see an increase in numbers at our shows?  Will those that were accustomed to showing at the breed level be looking for a closer place to go to enjoy their horse showing?  Will we lose people that might not want better competition?

I think that we should all aspire to become better.  If that means upping the competition, that's what we need.  I hope we don't lose anyone, first and foremost.  But I also hope that anyone that is looking to come to a fun, affordable circuit feels welcome.  There are several circuits in our area that will most likely see new and tough competitors come in.  EWHA, Holland Western, Kenowa Saddle-ites, and Red Flannel to name a few.  For the sake of all of those circuits, I hope we all can welcome any and everyone with open arms and a lot of smiles and laughs.

So to wrap this up, if anyone EVER feels like they are not welcome, please come and talk to me directly.  I am hoping that I will have already been by your trailer to say "hi" and possibly even make fun of myself.  Please feel free to make fun of me as well!

Most sincerely,

Adam

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Entry #2- Subjectivity- Just what does this mean?

So lately I've been pondering the idea of subjectivity and objectivity.  It seems like, especially in the horse world, it is really hard to be objective.  It's really hard to take off the "rose-colored glasses" and judge for ourselves how things really are.  We work so hard to get these horses ready to show.  The horses get bathed, groomed and loaded up into the trailer to the show.  And then what happens?  You walk into a ring to be judged by a single person.  A person that never really tells you why they love your horse or why they hate it.  Just a person.  A person that doesn't necessarily have to judge you by a breed standard.  I mean, it's an Open Show, right?  So really, if that person judging wanted to, they could just pick whatever horse they liked based on their favorite color growing up.  No explanation required.  No, "well, I really like the way your horse is put together from nose to tail."  Or, "Your horse really moves the way the breed says it should."  So what happens?  You walk away from that class either REALLY happy because you won the blue ribbon, or you walk away REALLY angry or sad that you DIDN'T win that blue ribbon.  I mean, everything after first is not a win, right?  (I don't tend to think that way.)  And I am not suggesting that everyone does feel that way.  In my opinion, the best thing you can do for yourself is find the positive every time you enter the ring.  Be your own judge.  Try to learn from the competition around you to make yourself and your horse better as a team.  Just because you win doesn't necessarily mean that you had a winning ride.  But try to keep a smile on your face, be a good winner and sport and then go back to work.  To me, THAT is being objective.  All we can do as an association is hire a judge.  We cannot guarantee how a judge will work throughout the course of a day.  Nor can we guarantee that a judge can work objectively.  They are, after all, horse people, in and of themselves.  Subjectivity is the hardest thing to set aside.

Sincerely,

Adam

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Entry #3-  So when is it time?

It's been brought up this year on several occassions that we are missing the boat with the 11-15 and 16 & Over Walk/Trot divisions.  When we added these divisions, it was thought that maybe we were already missing the boat and needed to give an outlet for those that may not have shown before, had young horses, or were just unable to show in a canter class.  Since adding the divisions last year, we have been asked why we do not have daily Hi-Point awards as well as Year-End Belt Buckles in these divisions.  Really, it comes down to a couple of factors.  We would never want to exclude someone from something, and realize that those showing in these particular W/T classes are also paying their entry fees and supporting the shows.  Consequently, we do offer individual Year-End Hi-Point awards.  But the bottom line is that daily Hi-Point awards are costly as it is and having only 3 classes offered throughout the day may not bring in the amount of money needed to pay for said awards.  Same goes for the Belt Buckles for year-end.  Now the easy answer would be to just add a full slate of classes for these divisions.  But that also adds an array of other problems and issues.  It makes the show longer, just to start.  But the biggest problem is as follows...

How do we regulate a Walk/Trot class?  At this point we don't.  There is the idea of integrity attached to the class and it is "self-governed", in a sense.  I certainly won't tell you whether or not you deserve to be in that class!  It's not my place.  I have no idea whether you are loping at home, or showing at other shows in canter classes.  It is for you, and you alone to decide when it is time to move to the next level.  There tends to be a thought process and fixation on winning.  If we offered a belt buckle for year-end, we certainly may add several exhibitors to our shows.  But we would also add people that want to win a belt buckle so badly and do not deserve to be, or should be in that particular class.  It would present an opportunity for the "ringers" to come in.  Not exactly fair to those who deserve and work so hard to be there.  Those who are there to build confidence in themselves and/or their horses.  Those that are there for fun, and not just to win a buckle or award.  Those that are there to use this class as a stepping stone to the next level.  THAT is what this division should be used for.  If we made it a cushy place with all the same awards, would people ever feel like stepping up?  There are always exceptions to the rule.  Stepping up may not be an option.  This division may be perfect for some that are unable to go all day at the next level.  Some that typically have young horse after young horse.  Again, we in no way want to exclude those people.  You and only you know whether or not this division is the right place for you.  But you also should have the ability to be objective enough to step up when the time is right, be proud of the accomplishments made at that level and start working hard at whatever the next step is for you.

So again I ask, when is it time for YOU?