This message is from: "Ron & Sherrie Dayton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hi all,
First of all this is going to be rather long so I apologize in advance. I
want to share with everyone what was involved in the decision that the show
committee and PNFPG made in not allowing Fred's mare and trainer to compete
at Libby this year. It was not an easy decision! It was not a snap
decision, there had been concerns over the several days leading up to the
Friday night incident in the arena that was the straw that broke the camels
back so to speak. It did not start with the Advanced Driving test at the
Evaluation. We did not make our decision just on what happened on Friday
night. People had been coming to the show committee over several days
leading up to Friday night. The show committee and officers that were
present met on Saturday morning and we made the decision to not let the
horse/handler compete. We told Fred that the other horses and the other
handler could compete.
For those of you that don't know me I have been involved with the Libby show
committee for about 15 years. Some as show chairman and other times as just
a member of the show committee. This year I was Show chairman. This year
was the first time in all the time that I have been a part of this show that
we had to tell someone that they would not be allowed to compete. Politics
were NOT a part of our decision, SAFETY was. In all the years that I have
participated in this show we have never had people come to the show
committee with safety concerns and in some cases down right outrage at the
lack of regard for the safety of their fellow competitors. There were 17
different people that came to me, Woody Hoopes and Shirley Anderson about
this horse/handler. That has never happened before! Some of these people
are on this list and if they want to wade in on this they can, I will
respect their privacy and not name names. I will say this, they are all
very experienced, well regarded horse people.
First, some background. Fred is not aware of this but this all actually
started last year at Libby. This same horse raised concerns last year and
we kept an eye on her then. Last years show was a much smaller show with
only 29 horses on the grounds and much smaller classes. In retrospect
maybe we should have done something last year but we gave the horse/handler
the benefit of the doubt.
Fred and Bonnie claim that it is the cart, this horse behaves this way under
saddle as well as in harness. The basic body language of this horse is with
a hollowed out back, neck thrown back and up and with her head/nose tipped
up in the air as far as she can get it. The general appearance is that
this horse is about to bolt. She does not give the appearance of being
quiet and calm and under control. Basic horse 101 is that if one horse
gives the appearance of being nervous or is nervous, it makes other horses
nervous. That's the way that they have evolved and survived over time as
prey animals. All you need is one nervous/out of control horse to set off a
whole arena full of horses. Several very knowledgeable horse people that
observed this horse said "she (the horse) has no confidence in her handler
or is afraid of her handler".
Next, Brian DID NOT go around bad mouthing this horse, Brian was our safety
person on the grounds this year since he was unable to bring horses. Brian
simply shared the same concerns that everyone else was having.
Everyone that came to me about the Friday night incident told me that Bonnie
DID NOT ask permission of those in the arena to practice her barrels "BEN
HUR"style, yes, standing up in her cart at a full gallop with other horses
in the arena, basic common sense and respect would tell you that this
should only be done in an enclosed arena with no one else in the arena, if
ever! Part of our decision was based on the total lack of regard that
Bonnie showed for her fellow competitors!
Woody did talk to Bonnie on Sunday afternoon when she was driving this mare,
he also said that "every time that Bonnie touched the lines the horse threw
it's head up and away".
We did not make this decision to "eliminate competition". Woody and I were
not competing so had no axe to grind.
Bonnie and I talked on Saturday night, she apologized for the Friday night
incident and pleaded to compete on Sunday, I talked to the show committee
and we decided to let our decision stand. She talked about the cart and how
this cart is the one that is used for "speed" events. I tried to explain
the difference between "out of control speed" and 'controlled speed". I
suggested that she watch Krist Martinsen in the speed classes. Krist and
Per compete in all the driving classes, pleasure, barrels, obstacles, double
jeopardy, what ever we have that year. His horse canters during speed
classes when Krist gives him the command but instantly comes back down when
Krist gives him the command to slow down, when he's in a pleasure class his
horse "looks like it is a pleasure to drive", quiet, calm with relaxed body
language. No one has every said that they would not compete against him
because they felt his horse was out of control. It has nothing to do with
the cart! We have competitors that do speed events all the time and with
the same cart that they use for speed classes and their horses are always
under control and always give the appearance of being under control.
As to not having the time to meet with Fred and Bonnie, any of you that were
there can attest to the fact that I and Woody and the show committee were
rather busy, either in the arena, working the gates, handing out ribbons,
everything else that is involved in putting on a show. There was no time
during the show.
Fred, you were not lied to or about. at least not by the Show Committee or
PNFPG, whether you believe it or not, our only concern was the safety of
all those on the grounds. The decision that we made was one of the hardest
that I personally have been involved with. You and Lois have some very nice
horses. That was proven during the halter classes but even then there were
people that were observing that said about Bonnie "I wouldn't let her touch
a horse of mine". There again it was said by a very experienced horse
person.
I regret that this had to happen and really do feel bad for Fred and
especially Lois. We did what we felt was best for the show and for the
safety of everyone, competitors, horses, and spectators. If we erred at all
it was on the side of safety.. As I said in the beginning, this has never
happened before and hopefully will never happen again.
Respectfully,
Sherrie Dayton
2006 Libby Show Chair
