On Thu, 13 Sep 2007 05:15:38 -0400, you wrote: > We need to involve more people who know more breeds than simply >Icelandic's.
Trouble is, that's virtually the entire board of the IHS. They have almost all come from "big horse" backgrounds, and in my opinion should already know better. I think at the board meeting I will push for FEIF to come into line with the FEI rules for bitting etc.> > >I think it's time for us to stand up and say we don't need an international >organization. FEIF is going down a road that is all too embarrassingly >familiar. I agree in principal, but would say that competition riding is only one part of FEIF. They also do a lot for kids, leisure riders, breeders etc all of which does not have such a high profile. > >We don't NEED the Swedes or the Germans or the Icelanders who are into this. >We don't need to be sending money to the FEIF, when this is their focus. If >we cut their funding, that's a start. As I've said before, they honestly won't miss the funding from us "small" countries. FEIF dues are calculated on the number of members of the organisation of the member country, and so far the US and UK are relative minnows.> > >In the USA, the usual percentage I see cited for show riders is something >like 5% of the total riders. That seems about right, across all breeds. I >suspect it's about right for Icelandic horses too, probably across the >world...but how much money is allocated for these events? What else does >FIFO spend money on? > See above. I think over here, a much higher percentage of Icelandic riders do take part in competitions, but then we're not talking high-powered events. To put it in perspective, the judges we had at the show last weekend were able to come at a moment's notice as the show they were meant to be judging was cancelled due to lack of entries. There were less than 100 horse/riders taking part.... there were a grand total of 30 at the show over here! Mic Mic (Michelle) Rushen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solva Icelandic Horses and DeMeulenkamp Sweet Itch Rugs: www.solva-icelandics.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes"
