> Also, what about adding a new competition category such as a "natural form" > (least amount of headgear and no footware) or something like that to bring > FEIF/USIHC into support of these ideas rather than setting it up in > opposition? Would expose more people within the organization to the idea,too, > plus setting up a venue where it pays to do it(fame and fortune). People are > going to want to buy "natural form" horses!! > Ashley >
I like this idea Ashley, because honestly, I think this had more to do with the change in the walking horse industry than anything! I would go to huge shows and people would leave the stands and go to the vendor booths and walk around seeing the sights during the biglick portion, then when the flatshod classes came on, or the speed racking which is more natural, people would just come flooding back into the stands. Was not long before the money people began to catch on... and thats what always drive it, lets never forget it or white wash it, its all about money, completely and totally. and there is where it infiltrates the entire breed. because people want to say their horse is "a direct son of the WGC!" and nevermind the WGC could never gait smooth flatshod in a mild bit. So then he is bred, passing on his inability to gait and it systematically breeds smooth gait out of the breed. It is insidious and a malevolent threat to natural gait. also showhorses are by necessity usually very hot hot hot, so they are also breeding hyped up hot horse temperament. Walking horses from the beginning were bred to be laid back calm people horses with smooth natural gait. Now its rare to find one naturally gaited barefoot and calm that is of modern show horse bloodlines. Janice -- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
