PasoVoice.Com :: Prioritizing how competitions are produced

Hacienda Radiante

I'm not even going to touch the breeding issue that you brought up. Like art, music and food, breeding programs are intensely personal. You are entitled to your opinion, others are entitled to theirs and I have seen some god-awful crosses from allegedly experienced breeders.

I agree that not registering the horses is a sorrowful loss, but then I'm not in a financial situation where I have to decide between registering the horse and feeding it. I find your comment about giving the horses away frankly elitist. I will respect the people who choose to care for their horses, rather than keep their documentation up to date, even if I don't agree with it. From what I've seen there are probably plenty of unregistered horses lurking around the major breeding/showing farms as well, so be careful where you throw stones.

BigJ

I think the topic has digressed again into the old rut of comparing paso organizations. I hope for success when any activity promotes the paso fino breed whether it is through one individual or an organized event.

The Paso Fino Horse Association does have a duty to be all things to all people who belong and own paso fino horses. The problem was not so much that the organization had a responsibility to all members but trying to make only one event satisfy all needs, which is limited by its very nature.

The Paso Fino breed, by its very nature, has a broad spectrum of uses and appeal to many disciplines. It is not dependent on "show" animals to perpetuate the characteristics of the breed but on the population as a whole. A show is designed to test these characteristics to insure the breed expression is maintained for future populations. These shows are constrained by the limits of man: distance and time. Wouldn't it be great to have months of time to see everything a paso could do well in one place all at once? We don't. So we are constantly challenged with how to develop systems to maintain the very characteristics that attracted us to the breed to begin with.

I don't think it is wise to continually fractionate a breed that was perfectly suited to meet our needs with any necessary categorization. Neither do I think it is wise to continually suggest that because PFHA cannot meet the demands of its members at this time that any other organization can simply because the same fabric that makes up one makes up the other.

So far any organization created for paso fino events have been precisely for that venue and not as a replacement for PFHA. Although there have been many rumors that was the intent, it has not happened.

It is far easier to put on a show with the rules written according to desire than it is to run a breed registry and an organization that is pulled in more than one direction by its many members. Much, much easier to attract only those who are interested in a specific discipline and organize a show to display that discipline than to try to support many interests and disciplines.

If we must be tempted to compare PFHA with anything, compare it to other breed registry organizations that DO support the variety of members and their interests. IPHF is not such an organization, yet.

Roseanne

Wow - that's the core of the whole problem isn't it! Anger at people and over things that "we think we see" -

Remember the old saying " what you seek is all within you"?
I would take that one step further - I'd say that "what we perceive is all about what's within us".

I think we can assume that attempts at changing the basic way that individuals think and feel is not an option. Objectivity can't be forced. It's either there or it's not.

But one thing is sure - there's not a single one of us - regardless of where we live, or how many horses we have, or whether we breed competition horses or trail horses - not one - that needs to think that they know everything there is to know about our horses- or the people who own them. Because when we "think" we know about things that we are not direct participants in, we make fatal mistakes in judgement.

To attempt to bridge a divide between different modalities, locations etc when our numbers are so small is an impossibility. It has never been about the people who are involved in our organizations meeting their own agendas. Every organization in the world regardless of what the organization exists for - is managed by people with individual agendas!

We are facing a numbers-marketing -growth issue that can and will be solved by individuals taking initiatives. The "unity" issue is old and tired and unrealistic as is exemplified by this stream.

caliber · Site Admin

BigJ

Perhaps some of us are still hopeful and naive enough to still believe that unity has less to do with who you like to hang out with or the comfort of only seeking the company of those who agree with you.

It is strange to me that if "unity" is so worn out and such a drag why IPHF sought ATTA's sanctioning. Also peculiar that IPHF sought to conduct a meeting during 2007 PFHA Grand National Show for the mere convenience of everyone's presence. Also strange this year to see IPHF actively recruit PFHA horse owners to participate at this weekend's show. Strange too, how ATTA seeks a seat with CONFEPASO, an organization designed to promote all paso modalities under one umbrella. Odd that IPHF and Grand Prix events brag about taking the best of USA and Mundial judging systems, exhibitionism, and show structure. Even more peculiar to be attending IPHF show this weekend---a dejavu of PFHA horses, riders, and owners.

That kinda smacks of a unifying trend if you ask me.

Roseanne

When the overall number of people within a group - any group - not just our organizations - is so small, the groups within that group have a tendency to section off from each other based on commonalities, it's basic group dynamics 101. As groups become larger and more diverse agendas widen, tolerance increases - many people are involved in a large range of activities and the individual groups develop a sense of comfort and stability within the larger context. This comfort level is based on numbers numbers NUMBERS and that's the point I'm trying to get across. Do you think that Obama could have been elected President if the poplulation of the US had not grown and become so diverse? A dramatically polarizing issue - race- was overcome -conquered by the numbers.

So I'm not trying to argue that we shouldn't strive toward unity, that would be very silly. I just think that the call for unity within our organizations needs to be more about tolerance and initiative. I'd like to think we have the capacity to look at things objectively and understanding the numerical issues that feed our problems. If we stay in a mold it's going to squeeze the life out of us.

If we can't reach for each other - at Nationals, in ATTA, in Confepaso, in California and Canada where can we go from here? Can I do business/ put on a show/ organize a trail ride etc. with someone I don't like? or that I think is just out for what they can get out of a deal? Yes I can. In the event that I choose not to participate will I say others should not? No I won't. For me unity starts with tolerance and respect for differences - I don't think we can jump forward without passing those milestones. It doesn't make sense to suspect wrongdoing and then give unity lip service. It doesn't do any good to point fingers and explode then later say we are just trying to communicate either. We need to back up, to look at our numbers, to look at our financial assets as a group, to hold our tongues when we feel the wave of negativity. Let people step forward and try if they think they can.

Pasofinoguy

poor showing in the trocha class. It would have been nice if they didnt put down pfha because we dont allow trocha

caliber · Site Admin

IN ALL defense, Who put PFHA down? I did not heard nor hear any officials of the IPHF put down PFHA? if the owner of the horse said something, he is within his right, But all I have heard so far coming out of the IPHF is, promoting future shows sanctioned by the PFHA.

Pasofinoguy

It may be his right but it was very low class.

4enduro

partnering with any orgs for our promotion of horses is good and if folks think they need to create thier own organizations for showing... The more the merrier ...great.I like ATTA now IPFha but since I belong to PFHA and they understand showing horses is fine for supproting an office and registry data base.
Growth and expansion do have meaurable statistics that can identify real promise. PHFA maintain functionality by the shows but for membership and growth they have chosen to expand parameters for economic reasons rather than shrink or stay static . The research they did proved by embracing pasofino breeders and the bulk of the membership that uses paso finos for pleasure horses for trail riding and sport or serious and recreational uses distance riding arena sports and such venues such as horse soccor & on & on with out limits as to where our horses can venture into and succed and surpass other breeds or at least compete and be seen and that is promotion. We all know without being seen the ride that seels our horses cannot take place so we should get them out there new ways and then we can help our show people as well.maybe regions for trail or recreational would attract more membership.
Cross country and endurance are differant venues as are three days eventing and hunter paces and CTRs.What they have in common for our horses should be examined, and since the show lines can produce horses successful in some sports it would be a very good thing for the show horse breeders to examine the facts and support more actively the paso fino horse, It can only help finacially & marketabilty. There is no show vs trail bloodlines as many have argued . Or is it just proven breeders having success in markteing that way? qualities trail rides look for?disposition? stamina ,heart . We have it all in our breed.