>>> what are a thousand DQP inspectors at the bottom of the sea...
Funny, Janice! I know they have a bad reputation, but let's not forget that the 2006 TWH World Championship got effectively shut down. Let's hope that was a change that we'll see some real positives from. The Big Lick horses in this area have effectively gone away (or at least gone to ground) in this area over the past 20 years. I used to see padded and stacked horses at some of the local open shows but I can't remember the last time when I saw one. I know there are at least a few TWH Big Lick barns left, but not so many people seem to be involved. I first got Mac and Holly, almost 19 years ago, and when I would tell people that I had TWH, I'd get some evil looks - I could tell that many people were suspicious of anyone who owned them, even though ours were just pleasure horses. So, even way back then, the evil practices were not accepted by mainstream horsemen in our area...and I'm in NC, next door to TN. Now, I don't particularly pick up that feeling, and almost all of the TWH I hear of are trail/pleasure horses. This may be true just in my area, but I don't think so. Any soring/abuse is too much of course, but I really think that it has gotten better in some areas. So, I guess that's what makes me so sad about Icelandic's - I can see changes in the other gaited breeds in my area over the past 20 years, most for the better...but I see the FEIF allowing stronger and stronger bits and harsh riding in an escalating pattern over the past five years or so. That is NOT the direction I want to see them go... Karen Thomas, NC
