Hi All; following a late night post of a nice horse recently sold through a member here; I made a few comments that caused some pretty fiery reactions on the part of a few members. I then booted one member - the most egregious one - out for being so rude to me..the group creator. I used to tolerate that stuff on the old ASB Sport Horse group I started over 5 years ago and later passed to another Admin; when it became full of the fights between those centered on the ASB Breed show version of an ASB Sporthorse; and the group that were more familiar with the disciplines they were in than the breed. I was of course in the latter category; and so it was particularly hard on me when I got attacked many times by people who had just become members when another forum group they were in closed. As many of you know I am not a life long ASB owner breeder trainer, or anything of the sort. I am a old lady who had a lifelong dream and started a few FB groups about it because I guess I was a FB pioneer of sorts. I apologize to those on here who were upset by my rant about the comments on that post recently; I was not a good state of mind that night and it was a momentary feeling. I am of two minds about the whole relationship with the ASHA for horses doing Dressage of this breeding; and for myself and this group or any group truly involved in ASBs in open Sport horse disciplines. I am sure I like all of you would love more support from the ASHA for the stuff we like to do with this breed; but then there is the danger of them doing so without the concerns of true Dressage rider-trainers; and Eventers, etc. being at the forefront. I wrote to the ASHA about a month ago offering my help to integrate ASBS more into a Dressage horse group with ties to the ASHA and they ignored me and never returned anything but shortly after they added Suitable to be a Dressage horse to their list of possible changes to their class offerings for next year through USEF and natural tails, etc. I am not saying my message to them had anything to do with that; but I am saying they clearly are interested in taking this interest in the breed into this direction on their own terms..pletely; and with the cheerleading of those that are willing to trust them to do so without direct input. This is why I over-reacted...I have watched the ASB Hunter classes offered on the live feeds of the big shows; and in most cases I found the horses I felt closest to representing a hunter were not in the top ribbons most of the time. I used to show in open Hunter shows for years in my younger years. I know what is wanted. I understand the arguments that the bred must remain representative of its own nature; but a saddle seat light horse in sport horse tack is not a hunter any more than it would be a dressage suitable one in a dressage saddle. If the breed is to truly get a chance to show its qualities for a career in dressage; its important they are judged as they would be in open competition for that end. I hope everyone on here agrees with that though you might not; and recognizes that there are MANY people who use these horses for non saddle seat sport; including dressage who are not really connected with the KY ASHA group that is striving to make inroads into the sport horse market. IF this breed is to shine in this direction; everyone who owns and or rides and trains one for that end is an important and contributing factor in its exposure to equestrians that are not familiar with them, everyone, and excellence in the training and riding of these horses of course helps them shine. I welcome some discussion about all this on here and despite my overreactions sometimes, I really do care about the future of the breed in this sport; but feel how its promoted and managed is critical and musnt become the end in itself of those using them as partners. I really appreciate the input of those on here also that are actually breeding ASBs and Xs for dressage and making the choices in mares and stallions with that end in mind for their offspring. To me, that is the ideal ..that these magnificent horses are chosen specifically for the sport and the traits that help them physically to do it better are encouraged and developed more. To me that is the best possible direction; as well as the careful selection of those already born of course for the job. Anyway, if anyone would like to discuss all this openly, I welcome the start of it.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 18:05:13 +0000