We’ve talked so much about how hard it must be for Edward Gal, and how much we hate to see such a special partnership broken up. But we haven’t really talked about how disconcerting this must be for Totilas. This horse just lost the most important person in his whole world, and on top of that was moved out of country to a new barn, a new stall, with new caretakers, a new rider, and a new routine. Think that’s easy?

Buying and selling horses is standard practice in the equestrian world, whether you are a professional or have horses for pleasure. Some of us don’t think twice about selling one of horses. And some of us couldn’t even comprehend selling our beloved equine friend.

Why We Sell Horses

For the professional, buying and selling horses is just a part of every day business. Whether you’re a trainer, breeder, or owner, it’s all about keeping yourself in the black and having horses that perform to your and your clients’ needs. There’s no room to get emotionally attached to every horse that comes through your barn. I totally get that.

For us horse owners who have horses for enjoyment, there are still reasons we sell our horses. Maybe the one we have simply isn’t a good match for us, which can at best leave us frustrated and at worse make the partnership dangerous. For amateurs who compete, sometimes it’s about upgrading to an even better horse with a better chance of doing well in the show arena. Or maybe it’s that the horse doesn’t have the aptitude or affinity for your chosen discipline. Sadly, sometimes we have to sell our horses because we can no longer afford them.

Why We Don’t Sell Our Horses

On the other hand, there are many horse owners who are committed to giving their horses what is now commonly known as a “forever home.” Offering a horse a “forever home” means that you will keep him and care for him for the rest of his days. Proper food, vet care, medications and supplements, hoof care, and regular attention are all a part of the bargain, even after your horse retires from under saddle work. It often means that you will take care of him as he ages, which frequently includes arthritis, cushings, and other medical conditions that develop. It means that even if your horse is injured or sick or disabled, he will always have a place in your barn.

For many of us, a horse is more than just a means to an end (a good ride or a pretty ribbon), he’s a family member.

I’d like to think that Ace has a forever home with me. The only reason I’d ever consider selling him or sending him to another home would be if for some reason I could no longer afford to care for him properly. Love isn’t enough to keep him fed, and I’d never go for that as a substitute.

What About You?

I firmly believe that there is no right or wrong here. We are all into horses for different reasons and with different goals. For some of us, that means keeping our horses forever. For others, buying and selling horses can be about what is best for us and our equine partners.

So where do you fall? Do you consider yourself a forever home? If not, why would you consider selling your horse and what steps would you take to ensure he goes to a good home?

It’s been no secret since the event prices were released last fall that many feel the tickets are out of their price range. Low ticket sales, currently at less than half of what they expected with the Games two months out, have finally got the point across to the WEG Foundation. In the last week, they announced that tickets for certain events (excluding popular ones like the jumping finals) are being reduced by 30% through September 6.

Honestly though, I’ve never had much of a problem with the actual ticket prices. I would save up to go watch the best in the world do their musical freestyles and soar over fences taller than I am. It’s everything else that starts to add up.

If you don’t live close enough to drive, you’ve got airfare. No price gouging there, but it’s still a significant cost.

If you don’t have friends or family in the area, you need lodging. And right now, costs are upwards of $300-400 PER NIGHT for a run-of-the-mill hotel room in and around Lexington.

There’s no such thing as free transportation to the Kentucky Horse Park. You can drive in and pay at least $20 per day per car to park, or you can take a shuttle that’s at least $5 per person per day if you are staying at a preferred hotel.

I don’t even want to think about what they’re going to be charging for a slice of Papa Johns pizza or a 20 ounce bottle of Pepsi.

American spectators who have attended past WEGs in Europe said it’s costing 3 times as much to attend on their home turf.

And the first US WEG is super expensive for vendors as well as spectators. Word on the street is that vendors are paying twice as much for their booths as was charged for the 2006 WEGs in Aachen. Plus required liability insurance, plus airfare, plus room and board for workers for 17 days.

I’m no economist, so I don’t know how the laws of supply and demand and years of a weak market are playing into this. What I do know, is that the prices surrounding the World Equestrian Games are really only attainable by the elite, and are not for the every day horse person.

Sure, a vendor paying $34,000 to attend the Games is what some people for a fancy show pony. But I’d say there’s a lot more of us who would love to attend the Games who pay $1,600 for an off-track thoroughbred, work off half our board doing barn chores, go to local shows, and manage to stay in horses on pretty moderate incomes. And I also think we’re the ones would would enjoy attending the World Equestrian Games the most. (See this Chronicle of the Horse forum thread for great discussion on pricing people are finding, what they’ve paid in the past, and where all this money is going.)

I’m sure that tomorrow I’ll be back to my usual excitement about amazing horses, cool new disciplines, and the wonderful horse friends from around the world who will be at WEG. I don’t want money frustrations to discount the fact that this is still going to be a fantastic gathering of horses and horse people that is totally worth catching if at all possible.

But for today, that little black cloud is hanging over my head a bit. Any ideas on why things are so expensive surrounding WEG? And suggestions for how to get there and make the trip worth your money?

It’s no secret in the equestrian world that riders of different disciplines tend to not get along. We all think our own way of riding is the best, which automatically makes all others the worst. Western pleasure riders think us hunter jumpers and dressage queens are royally stuck up, and we think that western pleasure is too easy and boring. I could go on – and I’m sure you could add to – about all the different perceptions we have of each other.

What we tend to overlook is that we all love horses. And that’s a pretty significant common bond.

There is not really a right way to ride or a wrong way to ride (not to be confused with considerate versus cruel riding). The right way for any given horse is how he has been trained and to what cues he knows to respond.

This whole concept was amplified for me when last week my western pleasure riding buddies threw me up on one of their horses to give the whole western thing a shot. I wish I had a picture of me … decked out in breeches, tall boots, and helmet … up on the western saddle with big ol’ western roweled spurs on under my 3/4 inch English ones trying to ride western pleasure. I’m sure it looked hilarious – but I wasn’t about to pass up such a good learning opportunity!

The girls found it hard to believe that I’d never been on a western horse before. Sure, I’d been in western saddles plenty of times, but never on a truly pleasure-trained Quarter Horse. It was harder than learning to drive for the first time. Despite a lifetime of riding (English) horses, I suddenly didn’t know where the brakes or gas were, and I sure didn’t know how to put the thing in gear. Fortunately, my mount was a very well-trained and forgiving mount, who did exactly as I asked when I finally figured out how to ask him correctly.

Between that short time in the western saddle, and months of picking the brains of fellow riders at my barn, I’m starting to figure out this whole western pleasure thing.

So, for all my fellow English snobs out there, here’s a brief tutorial in what to look for in a western pleasure horse and how to ride one. And if you are a western rider, please feel free to jump in and continue my education or correct me if I don’t have something just right!

What To Look For In Western Pleasure Movement

Western pleasure Quarter Horses are usually those who are a medium build for their breed. I would guess that anything around 15 hands, giver or take a few inches is ideal. They have stockier builds. Quarter Horses who grow tall and lean tend to be used as hunters.

Contrary to popular belief (and my formerly best guess), it’s not about which western pleasure horse can go the slowest. Yes, they are slow. But of high importance is how they use their legs. Their legs should sweep out in front of them, with as little knee and hock action as possible. A horse with a great lope (we have one of these at our barn, so I’ve had a great visual tutorial) almost looks like he is stabbing the ground with his leading front leg as he sweeps it out in front of him while keeping it straight. Their tempo in all three gaits (walk, jog, and lope) should be consistent. The lope should be a true three beats with lots of impulsion from the hind end. The poll should be at wither height, and the carriage level from back to front. Their movement is very collected while going on a long rein.

To get an idea of what to look for, check out this video of a horse who is a multiple time western pleasure champion at both the World Show and Congress:

How To Ride A Western Pleasure Horse

Even trickier than figuring out how a western pleasure horse should move, was figuring out how to get him to do it. All of the cues were different, not to mention I was learning to ride with my stirrups a good foot longer than I’m accustomed.

Western pleasure horses, when trained well, are ridden entirely from the seat and leg. You don’t want to ever have to touch them in mouth. After a lifetime of riding English, squeezing a horse to get him to stop or slow down was totally counter-intuitive. If you ever have the chance to get on a western trained horse, here’s what you need to know to get the very basics.

Western Pleasure Go: Bump With The Spurs

The gas peddle for a western pleasure horse is bumping him with your legs or spurs. A short jab is all it should take. If that doesn’t work, several short jabs in succession. This works for walk and jog. To ask for a lope, slide the outside leg back and bump with it only. Oh, and a cluck means jog a kiss means lope.

Western Pleasure Stop: Squeeze Your Legs

The brakes for a western pleasure horse are squeezing with your legs. I can’t tell you how difficult it was for me to squeeze my horse with the spurs when I wanted him to stop. It’s not that I had to squeeze hard or was coming remotely close to hurting him, it’s just that it was completely backwards for me. But when I finally got myself to do it, it totally worked!

Western Pleasure Turn: Outside Leg

Yes western pleasure are trained to neck rein. However, you also primarily use your legs to get them to turn. Unlike English horses who are taught to bend around your inside leg, western horses move away from outside leg pressure.

Western Pleasure Riding Position

The first thing the girls told me was that I was moving too much in the saddle and to sit still. When I first learned to ride, it took a long time for me to relax through my back and core and develop an active following motion. I had to unlearn all of that in my brief western pleasure ride. It was so hard for me to stiffen up, sit deep, and allow my hips to move only so slightly.

“This is so hard!” I cried.

“See!” They said. “And everyone thinks western pleasure is so easy!”

I am here to personally vouch for the fact that riding western pleasure is quite difficult … especially if you’ve been trained to ride English.

The other thing that was hard was wrapping my lower legs around the horse’s sides, keeping them still and with slight pressure with the spurs. My body wasn’t used to it – especially with such long stirrups – and I’m used to having shorter stirrups as my anchor.

The amazing thing was though, when I got my seat to deepen, my back to stiffen, and my legs to wrap, the horse immediately slowed, collected, and moved with some great impulsion. For a few strides, I really really got the whole western pleasure thing.

I was on Cloud 9 the rest of the evening. I’d always wanted to ride a real western pleasure horse. I got to learn something new. And I had a great evening with some fellow horse lovers – who while they come from a different discipline are turning into wonderful friends.

And yah know what else? The more I ask them about western pleasure horses and riding in an effort to understand, the more they start asking me about English!

Photo: Horse Radio Network

Lucinda Fredericks and her mare Headley Britannia powered to the lead at the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event in the cross-country phase and maintained it with a clear round in today’s show jumping finals.

Many tears accompanied her victory, as well as Bettina Hoy’s second place after a clear show jumping round with Ringwood Cockatoo.

Bruce Davidson, Jr. held on to his third place with a clear round on My Boy Bobby.

The show jumping course rode well on a hot day in Lexington, Kentucky. Very few riders had trouble with time, but quite a few had clear rounds until the final jump, a long triple combination.

The final top 10 in the 2009 Rolex Kentucky event was dominated by foreign riders, all of whom are in good position for next year’s World Equestrian Games. The final top placings were:

1. Lucinda Fredericks, Headley Britannia, AUS
2. Bettina Hoy, Ringwood Cockatoo, GER
3. Bruce O Davidson, Jr., My Boy Bobby, USA
4. Nicolas Touzaint, Hildago de l’Ile, FRA
5. Lucy Wiegersma, Woodfalls Inigo Jones, GBR
6. William Fox-Pitt, Seacookie, GBR
7. Phillip Dutton, Connaught, USA
8. Oliver Townend, Carousel Quest, GBR
9. Tim Lips, Concrex Oncarlos, NED
10. Stephen S. Bradley, Brandenburg’s Joshua, USA

Visit the Rolex site for complete results and scores.

Post-Win Interview with Lucinda Fredericks


Rolex Recap with Chris Stafford & Gina Miles

Thoroughbred racing is an incredibly high-risk sport.

A crowd of young, energetic, flighty, half-ton animals careen around an oval at speeds sometimes in excess of 40 miles an hour with lightweight humans perched precariously on their backs. The impact contained each time a hoof hits the ground at that speed carrying that much weight is unfathomable. They run next to each other with barely inches to spare, making it all to easy to trip one another up. The accidents that can happen if one horse stumbles can cause pile-ups of horses and jockeys that rival the worst traffic accidents. The jockeys themselves often compromise their health and strength with rigorous reducing practices in order to keep their weight low enough to not exceed their horse’s weight assignment. And that’s not to mention the catastrophic injuries they can suffer if they fall, their horse falls with them, or they are caught in any other kind of accident while in the saddle.

These horses are the picture of health and athletisicm. But the sport they love can be hard on their bodies, short and long term.

The nation’s most familiar race, the Kentucky Derby, has a great track record (pun intended) for safety. The death of Eight Belles last year is the only catastrophic breakdown and death in the race’s 134 year history, with 1,710 horses who have competed thus far.

But that’s just one annual race. Thousands upon thousands of races are run each year at tracks of all sizes by horses of all abilities. A review done by the Associated Press last year found that equine fatalities in thoroughbred racing were nearly a daily occurence among US tracks. Nearly 5,000 deaths were reported from 2003-2007, and many weren’t.

While thoroughbred racing, like any sport these days, is constantly evolving to protect it’s participants, Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky is making some unprecendent updates for the safety of it’s horses and riders prior to the Kentucky Derby in May.

Safety From Start To Finish: Churchill Downs Makes Vast Changes To Improve Horse Racing

A serious of new safety initiatives will take effect on Saturday, April 25, the opening day of Churchill Downs’ spring meet. The policies will then be incorporated into the other tracks owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated over the next year, including Arlington in Chicago, Calder Race Course in Florida, and Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

From the Churchill Downs website:

In development for nearly a year, the “Safety from Start to Finish” initiative is designed to incorporate new health and wellness measures, as well as long-standing safety policies and standards, under a single formalized initiative to serve as a blueprint for all Churchill Downs Incorporates facilities.

The key safety initiatives that will be in place at Churchill Downs prior to Kentucky Derby 135 are as follows:

• Independent, standardized third-party testing and monitoring of track surfaces;
• “Supertesting” of all winning horses for more than 100 performance-enhancing drugs;
• Age restrictions requiring Thoroughbreds to be at least 24 calendar months of age before becoming eligible to race;
• The freezing and storage of equine blood and urine samples to allow for retrospective testing;
• The banning of steroids;
• Limits on the number of horses allowed to compete in certain races;
• The prohibition of “milkshaking”, which results in excessive levels of total carbon dioxide in Thoroughbred racehorses;
• Prohibiting the transport of horses from CDI facilities for slaughter;
• The banning of unsafe horseshoes, including front shoe toe grabs longer than two millimeters;
• The use of low-impact riding whips with limited usage rules;
• The presence of on-site medical personnel, equipment, and state-of-the-art equine ambulances;
• Immediate online access to jockey medical histories for emergency medical personnel;
• $1 million in catastrophic injury insurance coverage for jockeys;
• Mandatory and uniform reporting of equine injuries to the Equine Injury Database System, thereby assisting in the compilation of statistics and trends to improve safety conditions around the country;
• A professionally designed and installed safety rail on the inside of the dirt course;
• Mandatory usage by all jockeys, exercise riders and other on-track personnel of safety vests and safety helmets that meet internationally acknowledged quality standards;
• 3/8-inch foam padding on all parts of the starting gates;
• Significant financial support for equine retirement programs;
• Inspection of all horses by regulatory veterinarians prior to and following all races;
• Review of security procedures around barns and other racetrack backstretch areas;
• Continued maintenance of protocols for the treatment of horses that have been injured during racing or training, to ensure the most humane treatment possible; and
• Mandatory, independent, and complete necropsies of any horse that dies as a result of an injury sustained while racing or training at Churchill Downs.

You can read specific details on some of these safety measures at the Churchill Downs website.

It sounds to me like a lot of great measures that might just go a long way to protecting the well-being of racehorses and jockeys. I’m particularly glad to see the 24 month rule (all thoroughbreds are considered a year-older on January 1, no matter what month they were actually born), the emergency safety rail, limiting the number of horses in the field, and the vet checks before and after races. I’m also glad to see many of the measures being put in place to protect the jockeys, although it seems like many are for post-injury care rather than prevention.

Do you think these new and updated measures will make a difference in cutting back on horse and rider injuries and deaths in thoroughbred racing?

2010 Radio Show Episode 25 – Show Notes and Links

• Thank you to Jamie Link, Chief Executive Officer of the Alltech FEI 2010 World Games Foundation, for joining us on our 25th episode of the 2010 Radio Show. Jamie gives us an update on the his job, foundation finances, sponsorships, the economy and a number of other things. The foundation website can be found at feigames2010.org.
• One week left to enter to win February’s Games Giveaway as we give away a triple stitched leather halter from KBC Horse Supplies. (Remember, you have to enter every month.)
• Thanks to our sponsor, KBC Horse Supplies, the single source for all your horse needs. Be sure to check out all their February specials:

• Follow us on our new Facebook Group and get updates on the 2010 Radio Show.
• Kentucky Governor Beshear appointed a new 45-member advisory council Friday to assist with various aspects of the games. The most notable new member is Capt Kirk himself, William Shatner. Shatner is a horseman and owns a farm not far from me here in Lexington, KY. Others appointed include former Gov. Martha Layne Collins, Hall of Fame jockey and founder of the North American Racing Academy Chris McCarron, Keene land President Nick Nicholson, Georgetown College President William “Bill” Crouch Jr. and state Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown.
  Beshear appointed Margee Koffler of Lexington, the chairwoman of the U.S. Dressage Association, to head up the group. Read more…
• A great story about security at the games appeared on bizlex.com this week. Take a look.…
• Karen O’Connor speaks about her WEG plans briefly in an interview for the Eventing Radio Show. Listen to the whole interview with Karen and her long time groom Max.
• Join us next week as we have coverage from the 2010 Games Community Forum held in Lexington.

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Horse are a huge commitment. They’re expensive. They take a lot of time. And they also have a huge chunk of our hearts.

Our guys handle our horse passions in many different ways. Unfortunately, there are some who completely resent it; the time, money, and emotional investment put into an animal instead of him. Others are like my dad and my  husband, and they support it while leaving me mostly to my own devices. Others still are either horse-men themselves, or learn to be. I’ve known some of all sorts.

My husband knew all about my horse habit when we were dating. I wasn’t as actively involved then, but he was aware it could happen.

A few months ago, I was re-organizing our book shelves. I happened to come across a “Preparing for Marriage” book filled with questions we had to answer and then go over with each other for a pre-marital counseling class at church. I promptly chucked it onto the “pitch” pile. A few minutes later, Ben walked into the room and started picking up books. He came across the marriage prep book, opened it, and started reading it. There was some pretty funny stuff in there, like my belief that we would keep the kitchen clean every day (ha!).

Then he got to a part about our hobbies. There was a question about what things we enjoyed to do separately, and how much time we would spend doing those activities. My answer? “Horses! 4-5 days a week.”

I wrote that down over four years ago, and it’s exactly what I’m doing now that I’ve got a horse. Ben can never say that I didn’t warn him.

The trick is to make sure I still take care of my hubby and spend time with him. I still cook dinner, make lunches, and get a few hours at home every night. I go to his band concerts and to watch his wrestling team at matches. Half the time, he kicks me out of the house to go ride my horse if I’m whining and feeling lazy. And every once in a while there are days when he just doesn’t want to be ditched, so I’ll forgo my horsey plans and stay home with him. (And he doesn’t begrudge me the money that goes into my horse because it gives him an excuse to buy the electronic toys he wants.)

It’s a good system for us. And I’m so glad that he supports my passion.

My hubby will never be a horse-man. He’s actually pretty good with the horses, and has ridden very well the few times I’ve gotten him into a saddle. He picks poo like a pro and can haul around water buckets and toss hay bales.

He also has an eye for Arabians and proper jumping position. I used to think he only like Arabs because he liked the Black Stallion books. But if I give him a line-up of 10 different horses of 10 different breeds, he will pick the Arab out every time and say it’s his favorite.

He could also give George Morris a run for his money in critiquing photos of jumping position. My hubby can look at a picture and tell me everything that’s wrong with a rider’s position and why … and he’s completely right. He doesn’t know anything about jumping horses, but he ran hurdles in track which informs his ideas. It’s pretty impressive stuff.

My dad never got into horses himself, but he drove the trailer, took pictures at shows, and brush-hogged the fields at our barn in exchange for using the truck and trailer. He’d stand beside the fence and inform us (my sisters and I) when we were on the incorrect diagonal or lead. Typically, my mom, sisters, and I would head to the barn and he’d hit up the golf course. It worked beautifully.

Horse Husbands, A Twelve Step Program

Last Friday’s episode of the Stable Scoop was all about horse husbands. Glenn kicked Helena off the show for the week and brought in several men to sit around and talk about how they felt about their wives’ and daughter’s horse habits. It’s some pretty funny stuff.

Stable Scoop Episode 27 – Horse Husbands, A Twelve Step Program:

• Thank you to all the horse husbands who risked divorce by being on this show. Here is the line up:
  • Glenn the Geek, host of the Stable Scoop Radio Show and horse husband of over 20 years.
  • Jeff Wells, veternarian and author of A Veterinarian’s Handbook For Horse Husbands which can be found at equinehusbands.com.
  • John McGraw, co-founder of Equestrian Life and horse husband and father.
  • Professional Horse Husband Greg Tryon tell us what it is like to be married to an Olympic level eventer. Check out their website at teamtryon.com.

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So what’s it like for you? How does your horse husband/boyfriend/significant other handle your horse habit? Is there anything you do to ensure you can do your thing and keep him happy? What funny habits has he picked up on? What horse skills has he managed to learn?

2008 was a rough year in the equestrian industry. A series of high-profile accidents and deaths across several sports got national attention and brought to light key problem areas in the respective disciplines.

The tragic death of the filly Eight Belles, who was euthanized 10 minutes after running second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby and fracturing both front ankles, was probably the most well-known of these incidents. It brought about an uproar among horse people, bloggers, and the general public about thoroughbred racing. Why it happened and what can be done to prevent it in the future were major discussions for weeks.

At the same time, I heard from many horse bloggers and horsey friends who said that they would never watch the Kentucky Derby again. They can no longer support a dangerous, callous sport like thoroughbred racing.

Cons of Thoroughbred Racing

The biggest problem with thoroughbred racing is that it is a big-money sport. As such, owners, trainers, and breeders tend to see horses as a commodity and not always as living, breathing animals. This attitude is evidenced in many areas:

• racing thoroughbreds too young
• breeding for speed at the expense of soundness
• the rise of industries such as nurse mares
• breaking down horses by pushing them too hard and racing them too often
• keeping race horses cooped up in stalls with no pasture time or interaction with other horses
• drugs that mask pain and lameness
• all kinds of unethical(and illegal) treatments to make a horse run faster

We, especially us horse enthusiasts, hate to see a horse break down. It’s even worse when it happens live before our very eyes like with Eight Belles. It makes us see all the negative aspects of the racing industry, and cry out (justly) for the wellfare of these horses. Sometimes all we can do is boycott an industry with which we take issue. Don’t add to the Neilsen ratings, don’t bet, don’t go to the racetrack. If enough people joined in, maybe we would see some changes. If not, we still have to do what we feel is right.

Pros of Thoroughbred Racing

There are just as many reasons to love racing as there are to hate it. Just as there are a lot of people in it for the money, there are just as many people who are in it for the love of horses and the love of racing. The woman who owns the barn where I grew up has gotten into breeding and racing in the last few years. She’s doing it on a small scale and doing it because she loves it. She wants to change the industry by showing that it is possible be successful and keep her integrity. She doesn’t whip her horses. She lets them grow up a bit before she races them. She doesn’t push them too hard or run them unsound.

Or check out fellow blogger Holy Racehorse, who advocates the benefits of barefoot trimming, rehabilitates race horses, and truly cares about the well-being of each one of her charges.

There are a whole lot of good people in the thoroughbred racing industry. And good things about it include:

• Thoroughbreds love to run. And they are good at it.
• It gives thousands of horses a job. That’s important in this current climate of too many unwanted, neglected horses.
• Thoroughbred racing adds a lot to our economy in jobs as well as gambling. A lot of people put in long hours and work hard, but they have jobs.
• Racing is a spectator sport. It’s glorious to watch these thoroughbreds run. They are so obviously meant to do it.

So, Will You Watch?

Personally, I will continue to keep my eyes on thoroughbred racing. I love thoroughbreds. I love their athleticism and their heart; whether they are running, jumping, galloping cross country, or performing piaffe and one tempis. I will watch for the love of horses and the love of horses who love what they do. I will watch for the barn owners and Holy Racehorses of the world who continue to train and compete with integrity. I will watch so that I can see for myself what goes on the industry so that I can decry what is bad and encourage what is good.

Tell me, where do you stand? Will you refuse to watch the Kentucky Derby or participate in thoroughbred racing in any way? Or will you continue to tune in?

I can definitely see both sides. And there are a lot of valid reasons for both. Feel free to share your view or add any pros and cons to the above lists.

Deanna Castro over at Professional Horse Blogazine wrote an interesting post today questioning if it’s possible to get rich with horses as your profession.

My initial thought was, nope, definitely not.

Then it occured to me, not unless your name is Parelli.

And that got me thinking, why is it that so many horse people complain about the money the Parellis make off their program?

What you think about their training system aside (that’s another discussion for another day), you have to give them credit for being able to turn such a major profit training horses and teaching people to train their horses. Sure, you may think (not saying I don’t agree) their DVDs, rope halters, and carrot sticks are way overpriced. You may think that it’s too commercial. You may think that it’s more about marketing and less about the horses.

But the thing is, the Parelli system does work for many many people and horses. And there are tons of people willing to pay for it. Think about it honestly; would that many people really shell out so much money for something that’s all glitz and glam and doesn’t actually do something for them? And then keep shelling it out for Parelli saddles and Parelli bridles and Parelli clinics and Parelli conventions and Parelli level 2 and 3 DVDs?

The more I think about it, the more I realize that I need to give the Parellis some major props for being able to make themselves so wealthy working with horses.

They aren’t just horse savvy, they’re people savvy. They know how to market to us, they know how to draw us in, and they know how to keep us hooked.

Time and time again I’ve heard people say that if the Parellis really cared about helping people and horses, they wouldn’t charge so much for their stuff. But just because they care about horses doesn’t mean they can’t care about making a buck, too. The two aren’t always mutually exclusive.

I still say that most people who work with horses for a living earn enough to live and that’s about it. They can feed themselves, feed their horses, get to shows, and that’s about it. Even the top international competitors are supported by sponsors. It’s a hard to industry to work in. You do it because you love it. Not because you want to get rich.

And that’s why I won’t begrudge the Parellis their monetary success; they’ve done something very very few can.