If you were heard by the Legislature any result yet?
I find it very sad that as individual citizens there are just a few like you wiling to take on the real battles. Winning horse of the year and some blue rayon doesn’t even come close to what you have accomplished.
Horsemen have lost their prespective and are not seeing the next fence. That has allowed those who are dishonest to gain a foothold in a sport that was a “Family Recreational Activity”. We are losing to those who prize money more than they prize the horses who make it all possible.
I went to the Convention in 2006 with a proposed rule that anyone who has been “CONVICTED” of a felony involving the theft of horses and the lack of compensation to the real owners, or those who have been “CONVICTED” in Horse Frauds, or those who are “CONVICTED” pedophiles should automatically be suspended from activity in the Federation and any Federation licensed show. They would not hear the discussion, and it was left up to John Long our “CEO” to decide.
We know the criminals can pursue the “Unrecognized” circuits but it is a start to set standards. RNB and TWF you both deserve the “Horsemen of the Year Awards” for your hard work and sacrifices. If this has to be done state by state and if the Federation won’t help then how many of you are willing to sponsor similar bills in your state?
The “Equine Activity Laws” started by Colorado have saved us all sleepless nights from frivolous law suits. It’s time to take the next step.
Riding s horse is healthy for children and those who do not are sitting around becoming obese and unhealthy. Yet, the current trend from Washingto under the excuse of “Clean Water” submits statistics that are flawed showing horses as contaminators of the water. If it hasn’t come to your state yet it will be soon. Horse manure doesn’t pollute the water when compared to chemical fertilizers, insecticides, germicides and other human waste. . While horses may not drink water from brooks and ponds all the wil “protected” wild life including the Canada Geese are protected.
It’s time for more than reports of what someone has accomplished FOR you and to become active and participate in the struggle. I am sure if all the horse owners in Virginia showed up in Richmond that law proposed by RNB would already have been passed unanmously by the Legislature.
It’s not enough to have a “Horse Day” and to honor horses as an American Heritage with lip service. In New Jersey the state animal is the “horse” and that didn’t stop the Olympic Team from moving out to another state. That didn’t stop New Jersey from forming the Hghlands Council which has stolen the equity and the property rights from horse farms. It hasn’t stopped them from saying that a declared waterway " a brrok" on your farm must be fenced in with 300 feet on either side to keep the horse out.
The real gift of horseback riding is to teach you to look where you’re going not down at where you are or back to see where you’ve been. Wake up horsemen! This is not a spectator sport.
