If I had a “baseball card” that also included my political leanings it would say “bats right, votes left.” After Richard Nixon’s reelection in 1972, I put a bumper sticker on my car that read: “Don’t blame me. I voted for McGovern.” When I lived in Chicago I thought the city’s “one-party system” was political heaven because the only real election was the Democratic primary. During my spare time in 2008, I was a volunteer in the campaign that helped elect Barack Obama president. Ever since my political leanings were formed in the 1960s, it has been against my basic inner fibers to support any candidate with an R after their name.
But in the past couple of years, I have seen many of my friends and associates, including the Paulick Report’s associate publisher Brad Cummings, stand up for candidates and elected officials they would not support except for one quality: they spoke up for the horse industry in Kentucky.
So for me to ignore those Republicans who are fighting for our industry in difficult primaries this spring would be hypocritical. Across the board, I probably disagree with the following candidates on a myriad of issues but at a critical juncture for horse racing, I proudly ask that the industry get behind their candidacies.
Public enemy number one for all horse folks should be the flaky and downright obtrusive Alice Forgy Kerr. She voted against VLT’s at the track, voted for an increase in the ADW tax and has done almost nothing to support the racing and breeding industry.
(Click on the “read the rest here” link above to read the comments to his post. Many very insightful people there…numbers 9, 10, 11, 21, 30 are right-on, IMHO, but to get the whole perspective in the comments, read them all.)
Spring is here! I love this time of year. The grass is so tasty and green. It’s hard to imagine that my friends in the southern hemisphere are just now starting their fall season. The earth sure is an interesting place to live!
I’ve heard it said that all things have a season. Jane told a friend that there was a period or “season” in her young life when all she wanted to do was jump. She thought dressage was boring. She loved the sensation of the wind in her face and the challenge of higher and higher jumps. At the time she had a horse who was entering the “fall season” of his own life, and had to slow down and not jump anymore. That is why Jane started getting serious about dressage. It was for her horse’s sake at first, but then she found new inspiration, and dressage became her passion.
Sometimes, when we are moving through the autumn of our lives, we slow down a bit. We find that we don’t take the same kind of risks, or want the same kind of challenges. This is natural for all living being. It’s not a bad thing; it’s just the perfect cycle of our physical existence.
If you’ve slowed down a little, don’t be mad or sad about it. Just know that these changes are natural. With age truly does come wisdom, so allow yourself to recognize the payoff you’ve received in those years you’ve seen go by. Finding a new passion in the new season of your life is key to remaining happy.
What do you feel passionate about? Do just a little of that, today!
Tryon, NC — April 19, 2010 — Last Spring Bob Bell, President of Classic Company, debuted the first Boutique Horse Show at the historical Harmon Field in Tryon, NC to rave reviews and numerous requests to repeat the event. He’s happily obliging on May 28th through the 30th.
Bell created a new “definition” for this event that has not only become catchy among exhibitors, but with local residents as well. Boutique (boo teek) – noun – A horse show that is fashionable and unique. Always held at wonderful venues with excellent accommodations for special horses, owners, and riders. Always includes parties, trendy classes, and fun events. Always has stylish trophies and rewards for Grand Champions. Always has Mimosas on Sunday mornings. 2010 will be no exception in standards with the awarding of Silver Trophies to division winners and the naming of three Grand Champions, the Best Young Horse, a Grand Junior rider, and Grand Amateur rider all to be presented very special trophies courtesy of The Farm House.
Lausanne (SUI), 19 April 2010 – All horses show normal nerve sensation or sensitivity. Where that sensation is increased beyond normal limits it is called hypersensitivity. Hypersensitivity can be produced by a range of normal occurrences, such as an insect sting or accidental self-inflicted injury.
Hypersensitisation is the term used to define the artificial production of hypersensitivity and is contrary to horse welfare and fair play.
At FEI competitions, the determination of hypersensitivity in the horse is made by a combination of thermographic and clinical examinations, carried out by at least two experienced equine veterinarians.
Thermography is a means of detecting abnormal heat patterns of the skin through the use of an imaging camera. The clinical examination is carried out by observation and palpation (applying manual pressure).
Lausanne (SUI), 20 April 2010 – The FEI press conference, held on 17 April in Geneva, on the disqualification of the horse Sapphire ridden by McLain Ward (USA) in the FEI World Cup Jumping Final, is now available free-to-view on FEI TV in English. Visit www.feitv.org and register to watch for free.
The opening statement by the FEI President is available here.
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