So I went to an WSCA open show today. My student is headed to a WSCA youth show tomorrow and seeing as how I haven't been to a show yet this year, I thought I'd get out and see if I'm really on the up and up.I was right with the judge, either in agreeance or in what I knew he would place. I was so dissapointed he kept placing a horse that consistantly four-beated her lope. What a bummer! I thought we were getting over some of this nonsense with the "forward moving lope" rule in the AQHA rules. Apparently not. She did also have a well bred horse and the most silver, but I am more apt to believe the judge's preference was to the four-beating. As he placed some others that fell closer to that category as well.
Once again, a super bummer! I don't understand what the conundrum is over seeing a true gait as the only appropriate option. I don't understand what the four-beating does for anyone. It looks weird, feels weird and is not natural to the horse. Nuff said! It's a no brainer.
I'm not a huge fan of Western Pleasure either but I really believe it has it's place in the horse show world. Not everyone has the drive or capability to move out on a horse and jump or cut a cow. I just wish they would stay truer to the horse's natural gaits and self-carriage rather than placing four beaters with their noses on the ground.
I should not have been surprised with the pleasure and horsemanship classes came up because the judge was placing down-hilled, post-legged, big bodied stock horses with no wither in the halter classes too. A halter/showmanship judge once told me that you are supposed to place the horse that you think you would like to ride (meaning for soundness and comfort). Apparently not everyone agrees with that.
After the show we headed to Redstone for lunch. I tried a new wine I liked called "A" Acacia Syrah from California.
I had a sharp little bone in my chicken! So, I am not a complainer. I realize that I am paying for the food and the service and have the right to speak up, but I am not a complainer. I also realize the restaurant usually wants to hear if there is a problem, but once again, I'm not a complainer. The chicken was shaved rotisserie so I can see where someone would make a mistake. Especially if they are carving tons and tons of birds in one day.
Even though there are benefits to letting your server know if you have a problem, I hate doing that to people. Especially on a holiday! If I had something truly amiss where I could not eat my food, I would say something. Otherwise, I like to leave people to the good day they are potentially having.
"Like gravity, karma is so basic we often don't even notice it."- Sakyong Mipham
