Conformation Station

Today's is going to be a little tricky, I'll admit. No picture in this set is perfect, but hopefully you guys can figure something out from it and give informed opinions on the matter. I will say because of this, I'm going to give out more information than I did last time. Hopefully this will help when you look at her a bit more.

 

Spare pictures can be found at these links:

Trot

Standing w/ head turned

Walking away

Profile shot

The horse in this case is a Morgan, and I encourage you to take a gander at all the pictures JIC they will help you. Next time I have some color stuff lined up for you guys, since somebody brought it up and reminded me I had been wanting to do it.

If you want to have your horse used for the next Conformation Station blog, please link pictures and info here: Sign Ups!

Time To...

Put up a news story since I'm gonna be really busy for a bit. Conformation Station should be the next issue out for the blog. So bear with me while I deal with life in the meantime. I'm going to link to the full story in the blog, but quote specific pieces that I think is worth discussing. Please read the article, it's a happy one. Plus it relates to horses, so there you go.

Courageous Comet named 2009 Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year

"Courageous Comet, a stakes-placed winner of moderate success in New York, left the racetrack in 2000 to begin a new career as sport horse. After initial training and use in fox hunting, Courageous Comet was sold to Becky Holder, an Olympic rider with a known reputation for turning ex-racehorses into top eventers. Courageous Comet excelled in his new career and helped Holder earn a spot on the U.S. team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics."

Here's the first of them. While great athletes can be found anywhere in the horse world, it takes luck and skill in order to find those who are able to do so. Becky is a well known rider who demonstrated the highest level of riding skill that most people in the world don't ever achieve. On top of that, she had a knack for taking somethng that most people don't know what to do with, and turning it into something that people can enjoy (even if it is just watching.)

That being said, do you think that this horse would have had the same fate if not left in her hands? What if he ended up with the average joe trainer who knows how to retrain race horses, but cannot make them top level competitors? Would he have eventually found his way to anywhere near than he is now?

""While some Thoroughbreds are raised specifically to be sport horses, others are finding greater success in their second careers as sport horses than they did in races. Through this award, we hope to decrease the number of unwanted horses in the U.S. by demonstrating their value in these non-racing disciplines.""

I'm not going to comment much on this one, but do you think this is true? Not just for TB's but for horses in general?

Anyways, hope that gives you something to mull over the weekend and then some with. I always enjoy reading your comments, even if I don't say much.

A Bookmark of Sorts

Because sometimes others put it a lot better than I do. Take a read through everything and it will pretty well sum up what everyone has been thinking. I would place it all up at once here to read, but there is just too much to sift through. Also, some people may not know of the links or of their existence so I am  putting them here. Removal will come if you stoop to their level.

ROM = Breeding Quality?

"There are tons of geldings out there with ROMS, Superiors, World champion titles, etc. and they are obviously not breeding. They lack testicles. But how in the hell can anyone think that just because a stallion earned an ROM he's going to be the next best thing since sliced bread?"

Breeding Halter Horses

"Since QH's, and QH stallions, are a dime a dozen, chances are there is another AQHA stallion who easily outshines yours."

FHOTD's Twitter

If you don't want to read FHOTD, 140 letters worth of gripin' and moanin' out to do it for you.

Cedar Hill's Facebook

I really really wish I had known they were in Tulsa on the 5th. I could have attended quite easily and had so much to give you guys. I'm livid at myself, really. 

Cedar Hill's Homepage

Fair warning. This is the most unprofessional homepage for a trainer that speaks highly of themselves. Anyone remember geocities? Yeah, it's kinda like that.

The next PtHA show that is on the trainer's website is Sept. 16-19. While the site itself doesn't say where, the even more horrible website that has the information for it (though the names of the shows aren't lining up.) You can look at what other shows are being hosted by the same area here. You have been warned about the bad website. Just know that. I digress, I have no clue if BYC is showing up, but considering all the other shows he's been in, he just may be. If anyone lives in the area and wants to take a stroll on down that would be very fabulous. Better yet, if you know more about it that we do, do tell.

In case any of you missed it in the comments section, there is a 30 second preview video of BYC up. It isn't the best angles or the most perfect video, but it does hammer the nail on the mediocre coffin a little more. I also have a question to you guys...

Why are they so far out from the rail? One part they look as if they are passing, but in the other it just seems like they don't take deep corners. I was always taught to use the corners of the arena, so it's a little foreign for me to see.

Video of BYC

The best photo of BYC that we will probably ever see.

If any of you also happened to miss his pedigree, you can see it here. If anyone has more knowledge of the QH lines, please leave your opinions and comments in the blog. I've only heard of Boston Mac on the most recent of family members After that it's the general, "Who hasn't heard of them?" horses who pretty much were a foundation for a lot of horses in the breed today.

His Two Oops Foals

In better news, the girl in the video throwing puppies was located. She is apparently from Bosnia, and between 4-Chan and animal groups they found her rather quickly, thankfully.

Growl at the Moon

"One Blog to rule them all, One Blog to find them,
One Blog to bring them all and in the darkness bind them"

OK, so not really, but you guys enjoy some of my really bad rushed humor now and again, right? It's true though, you have to admit that. Incredibly true...why has nobody even come up with that cheesy line? I digress...

Let's get to some points that I've observed on that blog and some pointed out by you guys.

1. Growling will make any horse obey person become a horse behavior expert.

Not today will this happen, or tomorrow, or the next day. As somebody put what I should have been able to figure out on my own from what I had written before in the comments, it is what a horse is raised with or used to. Can a horse become accustomed to a new sound or form of punishment? You bet your hay barns they can. You associate it with the right response and most horses should begin to pick it up. We have our exception horses as we all do, but they're a horse of a different kind.

Still, growling at a horse who was taught that a single click (or any other cue) meant get away, and you may have a horse who is about to go people riding instead. Escalation cues can vary as well. A more sensitive horse may not need the same level of cue to back away as another. I think we can all understand that most cues are not universal. A spur-stop is not going to be understood by an eventer, just as an eventer isn't going to understand neck reining on the level a western trained horse would. I know it's not a sound based example, but you get where I'm going.

Still, if you are interested in growls, there's a book there for you. 

http://todayilearnabout.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html About

2. Top 5 doesn't mean a lot is still super awesome when there are 6 competitors. 

http://timelessandtreasured.blogspot.com/2009/08/hore-show-2009.html

Come on, we all do this. Nobody knows your dirty little secret about your 3rd place schooling ribbon that you got in a class of 4. E'erybody down in Lincoln Park knows the truth about your 5th place win. It's all well and great when it's you and for fun, it's another when you are trying to promote a stallion who you have potential plans to breed one day. Everyone starts somewhere, but don't be a rooster with an empty hen house. 2 people got disqualified, and who knows where they would have placed if they hadn't. Nothing bad on ABRA, but don't go bragging about it either when your competition may not have been that hard to compete with to begin with. In fact, if we know that don't even say he got 5th.

3. Don't practice what you preach.

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/practice-what-you-preach/

We all know she said she'd geld him if he didn't get his ROM, but let's get something straight. He still has no ROM and he still has bullocks. We all know she goes after color breeders and anything else that even resembles what she is doing now, but we've still yet to even see her follow through on her own words to her readers. My prediction? He'll age to 6, 7, 8, and we'll still be working on that ROM. Meanwhile...

4. I didn't do it, my followers did.

http://basketbawful.blogspot.com/2008/04/word-of-day-duncan-face.html

This is the most basic and essential rule that must be followed. You posted a blog with information (biased and unfounded are a must most of the time) and you gave your little rant. Great. But don't play dumb when your followers go on Cujo's warpath and feign innocence. We all know what's going to happen, and you have more control over them than you act like you have. Thought: Try posting something that doesn't have or link to personal info of any kind. We're not looking for serial killers here. These people aren't MIA. They're often already in trouble if not 2 steps away from it. The other side of the U.S. does not need your opinions on how to handle the situation.

Bonus points if the person being harassed is under 10, though it only works on her blog.

5. I write for the #1 horse magazine subscribed by people who don't know better.

http://www.discountmags.com/product/5978/horse-illustrated

I used to have HI once. It was free and they messed up the trial and put me in for a full year with no charge. Might want to invest in a little brain trust. I ended up looking at the breed profiles for the most part myself, but in no way did I really take any of it to heart. I was also *gasp* 16/17 and had gotten my first horse around that time. Oh, the care paranoia...

Still, #1 doesn't mean the best. People like easy reading. I like it now and again, I'll admit. Still, how much more distributed is HI compared to other magazines? I personally see HI and H&R and that's about it. When people think it's the only thing out there, you sort of have some heavy bias. Wal-Mart is the #1 supermarket because they are everywhere. Doesn't mean Food Pyramid isn't just as good or better in some cases.

I also have that issue...and you can get the magazine for $1 a month. I can't even get that good a deal on Discover magazine.

OK, so I got a little ranty in the middle. School has started and you guys needed a new post so badly. Enjoy whatever on earth I was trying to get to up there.

Side Notes:

 WARNING!

The link to this video is highly highly highly graphic in the sense of severe animal cruelty going on. Watch at YOUR OWN RISK. If any of you have information on who this girl is, please contact the appropriate authorities to handle this matter. Do not post any information you may have here or anywhere else. The goal is to I.D. the person(s) involved and have them dealt with by the appropriate people.

Link- Girl Throwing Puppies in a River

Conformation Station

Ok, folks. We're going to give this a try. I'm going to provide you with pictures of a horse sans breed, discipline, and anything that isn't just a horse. Your job? Critique the horse to your best ability. For some additional details you can add:


Potential discipline
Breeding worth
Strengths
Breed guess
Age guess
Whether or not you'd purchase
Etc.

I will be posting a link back to the source of the pictures since we are using them. I ask you simply do not click it until you're done and have posted a comment. You don't want to spoil it for yourself, would you? Also, if I find out that the source link is being abused in any way, I will simply stop doing these. You know what I mean by abuse, too. Now, on to the pictures!

Click Images to Enlarge

Source Link

The Chain of Questions

From http://www.re-picture.info/blog/repictureblog.html

Who are we to say that our way is necessarily the right way when it comes to raising and dealing with animals? Animal lovers alike share many things with others like them, but no two go about raising or handling them the same way. Is barefoot better than the shoed? Nobody can truly say, for each animal varies in its responses to the practices we submit them to, nor does each practice remain just like the rest.

What about going as far as demonizing every person who doesn't do what you do? Does the barefooter begin spreading hatred about the one who shoes, giving out all the potential evils of shoeing? Does the other do the same for the barefooter? Do we go as far as posting numbers, pictures, and e-mails about these people so that only the bad stands out? It certainly raises a chain of questions and a story we are all too familiar with.

Animals deserve as much basic essential care as anyone else, but what happens when that said horse cannot be ridden, cannot eat properly anyone, cannot move freely, or cannot provide in the business they were a part of? We all know basic business principles, and how the goal is to maintain a steady flow of business and income in order to continue on with the said business. 

The name 'horse industry' itself denotes that horses themselves can be a business, and like all things the old mares and stallions must go to make way for the new generation who can still work and continue on. What becomes of those said animals who can no longer provide for their owners? Do we euthanize them, which it turn creates a host of bills from vet calls, proper disposal, backhoe rental, etc. Do we take them to the auction where the prospect they will be taken by a kill buyer and leave with the only money spent being in gas? From a business perspective, the latter looks and can be a lot cheaper than the former. 

Say these horses do end up being taken by  the kill buyer. Are the people who left these horses monsters who deserve to be treated like dirt, or are they acting upon a different perspective such as money, potential use of horse for food, etc.? Is slaughter the great demon many have made it out to be, or have we created it ourselves by banning it here for good? Then do we continue to chastise the people who left their horses to the kill pen when those who took away our chance to make it more regulated took that chance away? Do they truly treat the animals in the way that we are told by these groups, or are we being subjected to look through the wrong end of the telescope so what we see is small and the truth gets farther away? 


These are all questions we must ask ourselves, and actions we carry out personally. What you choose to do is your own right, but to smear others in disagreement is no way to go about the day. Privacy and information has become a sensitive issue today, and to respect it is to respect others a little more.


So what are your views?
Alternatives?
Etc?

Um What?

Honestly, this is just a hold post. I'm currently still gone on vacation + I get to go home and play move into the apartment/start school game so I cannot exactly get everything too too together right now. Internet resources are limited, plus it's buggery slow. So yeah, the summer of chaos continues. Why the picture? Because somebody's crazy has to be funny.

In all seriousness, I need to gather together some info because something is going down in the comments that I cannot sort out to save my life. Maybe it's because I get on to check when most of the populous is asleep and I'm about to go to bed, or I just fail at basic comprehension (OK, so it's this) so I'm asking somebody to gather the alphabet soup and start spelling things out for me. From my lack of basic comprehension I'm reading on the Fugly Blog, I'm feeling like I'm getting a big dose of hypocrite in between a "Yeah, we know what they did was wrong." Maybe I should just go read there and get it sorted out before I make a legit post.

I'll try and get something together if I can. In the meantime go do something productive like...stuff. I also promise if I do get something up, it won't be so terrible/casual. Until then, go forth and spread chaos, panic, and disorder...or just let your cat into some catnip. You'll get the same results.