On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 08:08:54 -0000, you wrote: >And FEIF has been doing work on this and yes it does take time getting 17 >countries to >agree...
Bit like herding cats. Seriously though, I think a major part of the problem is that many people just do not see there is a problem. And that includes the FEIF Sports committee, our own Sport leader and Chairman, most of the judges, and many of the sport riders. It's not that people are trying to cover up the poor horsemanship that is certainly present - they just do not recognise it. Therefore, they do not recognise that as an organisation FEIF needs to do something about it. And unfortunately, the way some of the people on this list have acted in the past (from the best of intentions) has alienated some of those best placed to make a difference. Much as we might like to think otherwise, at the end of the day this is "just" an email list read by few people outside the US, with relatively few members, most of them unable or unwilling to actually participate in national or international matters where their voices would be heard by a larger majority. I still believe the only way to really make a difference to Icelandic horses across the world is from within FEIF. It's all very well saying we should not support the organisation, but it's the worldwide one for Icelandic horses, and we will effect far more horses from inside than if we simply play in our own little patch. It took being "off the scene" for several years, then attending the WC, for me to truly recognise the problems. That's in spite of reading this list since it was first created in about 1995 by Christophe - and I'm pro-natural methods, bitless/shoeless/treeless etc etc etc. How do we propose to effect all those thousands of people who are dedicated sport riders (and spectators!) who see nothing really wrong with today's riding? Diatribes, bitching, hysterics and patronising comments won't cut much ice with them. We need calm, logical reasoned arguments, and a good case for change made through the proper channels. Mic Mic (Michelle) Rushen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solva Icelandic Horses and DeMeulenkamp Sweet Itch Rugs: www.solva-icelandics.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes"
