A Year ... Well 2 digits later

First off I must apologize. I have not only been absent from this blog which I truly enjoyed starting and getting up and running. I love judging horse shows, hell I love horse shows! I love to show. I love to manage and plan and promote and announce and pass out ribbons and check entries..... I love horse shows! I love everything about them. The most rewarding part of a horse show for me now is judging them. Yet, for all the passion that I have for horse shows, I allowed my blog to become a part of the muck and mire that is so far removed from horse shows, we seldom, if ever see this side in a ring. I didn't allow my BLOG, I allowed myself to banter and bicker over this horse that tore me up when I first laid eyes on her. For the record, she is doing fantastic and still looking for her forever home. Please check out www.beautysequinerescue.org for more information.
I would like to go forward again with your questions and be a part of the insight on the subjective side of horse show judging as it is in some disciplines and possibly shed more 'black and white' light on inquiries that could be answered deep within a rule book somewhere you may not have known about.
So it is with great humility that I ask for a new following; some old, some new, some borrowed, and of course, some with a blue! I promise to keep myself on point for the topic of the blog in general. Comments for the most part will be left unedited unless in violation of blogger rules of course. I am, however, going to leave the bickering and bantering posts published. It is what it is and if one person learns from it, it has served a purpose.
On to 2011 and horse shows anew! Send me your topics, questions and anything you would like to ask about horse shows and the judging process. I'm thinking I may post on the topic of how someone becomes a judge in different disciplines and how to start the process of obtaining judges' cards. I do have a seminar to attend coming up in a few months. That might be a good place to start this blog over!

Set Up & Be Ready at Cone A

Jan, what side is the proper side to stand when showing showmanship at the starting cone?


Such as if the Judge is on the off side (right) of the horse, is the left side proper, as to not impede the judges view? If the judge is on the nearside at the start of the pattern, is the off-side the proper side?

What if the pattern is a straight pattern, such as all of the cones are in a row, so the judge is standing in line with the horse at the starting cone, what is the proper side to stand on?

Well, this is a really good question because there is no written rule directly governing the answer. The only thing you must remember is not to impede the judges' view as you have pointed out and know where the judge is at all times.  If you use the quarter method correctly, you will not go wrong on either counts. Note, although it is not required to use the quarter method, it is really the only way to ensure a correct showmanship presentation 

NOTE FOR 4H - It is included in 4-H rules that the handler not obstruct the view of the horses hooves from the judge or ring steward. I do not know the origins of that rule but I would not think much of it. If you are aware of the judge and you are using the quarter method, at no time would you obstruct the view of your horses' hooves. This is a 4-H ONLY rule and I just wanted to make a note of it although it is fairly irrelevant.

So when setting up at the first cone, you are correct. If the judge is on the off side (right) it is proper to be on the left side. If the judge is on the near side, standing to the right side would be correct. When setting up for a pattern that will be performed in a straight line, and the judge is standing facing you maybe at the end of the line perhaps, then stand on the near side. This will make the lead off into the pattern more smooth since you will not have to cross back in front of the horse once you are approved to start your pattern. The least amount of movement is best since it will reduce your chances of faults. It is not incorrect, in this situation with the judge facing you to set up and then wait for the nod from the off side but that is an extra move and you could make a mistake when you cross over. Extra moves do not mean extra credit.

One thing I'd like to say here is that as long as a pattern does not call for a horse to stop and back up very near to the first cone, it is proper and very advantageous to move to the first cone, set up and be ready as soon as the exhibitor on pattern moves off the starting marker. This would be an advantage for you to take that extra second to set your horse up while the judge is observing the horse on pattern and not you. It's also nice to score a horse that has moved to the line up and then look up to see your next exhibitor ready, not setting up their horse.

Amber Hyder's Comments to Me

After using the guestbook at Beauty's Haven Equine Rescue's website to post disparaging remarks about both the rescue and myself and then attempting to disrupt the webstore sales site that I set up to raise money for Beauty's Haven Equine Rescue, Amber Hyder has now taken it upon herself to try to intimidate me on my own blog. I guess the fuss over at Fugly's was not enough for her.

531371 (http://openid.aol.com/ffashashbrown) has left a new comment on your post "Who would interfere with fundraising for an equine...":

People need to stop seeing this blogger as a "godly" person! The only REASON why she is working at BHFER is so she can get that horse on her piece of trash property! Yall are seriously stupid for believing this psychotic woman! She doesn't need to have another horse in her hands- seriously.

 

531371 (http://openid.aol.com/ffashashbrown) has left a new comment on your post "I can finally sleep!":




$700 should be going towards fixing up your facility....your poor horses don't even have any grass to eat.

I think I need to clarify this once again, I do not WORK for anyone. I am a retired FAA air traffic controller who judges' horse shows.

I donated a beautiful bronze sculpture to Beauty's Haven which they recently auctioned off for $153. I do not have unlimited funds to give them although I donate what I can and help raise money for them. They are also a hard working family that takes very good care of so many horses including Amber Hyder's former horse. Everything I do for Beauty's Haven, I recieve no tangible items in return. I do however recieve the best intangible gift there is, the unconditional love from the horses that have been forgotten, unwanted, abused, neglected but still allow us to touch them, fix part of them that can be fixed. That is what I recieve for my 'work'. For now, that is my job. I have already adopted one horse from Beauty's Haven, fostered and trained one that was adopted out to be a great trail horse and raised much needed funds that they need to continue their work. I wanted to clarify that so that no one is under the assumption that I am compensated in any way tangible from any rescue organziation which I volunteer.

As for my horses, you are correct. It is winter, my farm is not big and our grass has gone dormant. January, the calendar says. I own a 42 year old APHA brown and white tobiano gelding. He has many ailments but wants for nothing. He could stand in a 100 acre pasture up  to his croup and starve to death as he has no teeth and consumes everything from specially made soup.
 I own a 22 year old thoroughbred with one eye. He raced two starts at Pimlico before shipping home to Virginia as he had lost the eye after his second start. He was retired and left to grow up until he was almost 4. One of the greatest and most vocal jumper trainers I've ever had the pleasure of knowing, saw the talent in this one eyed young horse. Mike Rowe trained Private Eye and he became a much loved and winning jumper.
 I cannot forget to mention Belle. Belle is not lacking in the weight department. I find when I've been around the rescues and seen some new ones come in or large seizures such that the Horse Protection Association of Florida had this past Thanksgiving 09 of 56 starving thoroughbreds, that I come home and I guess to compensate for those with nothing to eat, I overfeed mine. That's usually about the time I put peanut butter on the milk bones for the dogs too! Oh but I digress.
I have also worked fundraising and have helped some satellite foster homes associated with the Horse Protection Association of Florida which is another great and well respected equine rescue here in Central Florida. Again, that time is volunteer time, I'm not employed by them and I recieve no renumeration whatsoever for my volunteer time.
As for another horse? Wow, with mine and my daughter's 2, one of which is the gelding we adopted from Beauty's Haven THREE years ago before I ever knew that Amber Hyder or the horse that she neglected even existed, I have plenty. I'm not in the market for another horse. So I won't getting any more horses probably my entire life. I am not a young person and I would not wish for my animals to be a burden to someone else when I leave this earth. I'm sure Lady Angelica will find a great home and I will help Beauty's Haven with her medical bills and continue to find ways to raise money for them so they may continue to pick up the pieces of these broken lives and put them back together the best they can (why didn't Amber give Beauty's Haven the money that caring people sent to her after she solicited money openly on a public forum and stated she had recieved for the care of Lady?) I did think of adopting her but that was before I realized this old mare with one ear is so sweet and loving that I believe we can find her a caring and loving permanent home. She may even have the disposition and temperament to be a therapeutic horse and we have three of those great facilities around our county also.
As for Amber Hyder's attempts to sabotage the fundraising webstore for the rescue, leaving disparaging remarks on a blog or guestbook, threatening to sue me for slander (in Florida that falls under the defamation law and you have to actually work to lose money, Amber), for all those threats, she still has yet to answer any inquiries that have been asked of her.
Really, Amber, no one has yet to believe your story but as we go on with this, so does it keep Beauty's Haven Equine Rescue in the forethought of charitable donors around the globe. Despite her efforts to discredit me, we have already recieved five paid orders from the Beauty's Haven Equine Rescue Boutique! Thank you to everyone! Even a kind thought or forwarding of the website to others helps out and so far I've found everyone here and on Friends of Beauty's Haven Equine Rescue on facebook has really done well in only 12 hours since launch!

One speical note I'd like to add.....this is for one person ...... I won't forget what lives to the west of here. If you stand by someone who would do so much harm to one innocent horse, what can this say about you? Maybe it says what everyone else has said. Hash browns burn easily if you leave the frying pan over the fire.

Who would interfere with fundraising for an equine rescue?

Well, yesterday after many hours of work from myself and another volunteer we were able to set up a new webstore for Beauty's Haven Equine Rescue. I buy and make the items at wholesale cost and 100% of the profit is donated to BHFER.

Unfortunately this morning I find on my email where the former owner of Lady Angelica, Amber Hyder, took it upon herself to join the members area of that site and misuse yet another forum. So I"ve had to limit who can join the site. That really is sad as the members area would have been a very good marketing tool, not to mention the fact, that the sales from those items help pay for the rather large vet bills that Amber's former horse has incurred. I really should have set more security measures on the members page as I figured she would do this after using the guestbook on the BHFER website as her personal rant forum.

 Now she decides to leave more remarks on the comments of one of my previous posts. No need to delete them as I figure everyone should just see her response. No doubt she'll keep cropping up like a poisonous weed in your horses' paddock.

So for now, I'll shamelessly plug the website another volunteer and myself set up to help raise money for Beauty's Haven Equine Rescue. Mention you saw it on my blog and you'll get free shipping through January 31. 2010. Beauty's Haven Boutique.

Wow So what have we learned from my last couple of posts?

First again, I apologize for such a long abscence. I appreciate everyone who reads along.

To update everyone, Lady Angelica is doing well. She is healing and is such a sweet mare. We've had a terrible cold snap going on down here in Florida for the past two weeks plus which has taken it's toll on water pipes, pumps, horse blankets and caregivers. We just aren't equipped here to deal with cold snaps longer than a few days. Beauty's Haven Equine Rescue has not been without their share of cold weather problems but one fantastic thing about this cold weather has been that we have had virtually NO flies for the duration! With our weather, we have flies year round but with our daytime temperatures being barely above 50, it's been good. This has really helped to facilitate a healthy healing enviroment for Angelica's wounds.

Angelica thanks you for all your well wishes, prayers, healing white light and whatever other jingles and such that have been sent her way. She is estimated to be around 18 to 20 years old and is just the sweetest mare to work with on the ground. She stands well to have her wounds, including her ear cleaned and medicated. This has been a godsend as you cannot halter her or use a lead around her neck to keep her in place.

She loves walking around and visiting the other horses but in the evening she wants to be in her big box stall! She has a big shuttered window in the back of her stall where her gelding suitors come to visit. It's really quite endearing and she has come a long way in just about a month's time.

As for animal control in Dixie county, I just have to say that they are lacking greatly in managing this case. Almost ALL of the evidence involving the neglect of this mare, came directly from written word, spoken word and pictures from the OWNER, herself and yet they seem to be trying to figure out if this is actual neglect. It clearly falls into that catagory by definition of the Florida State law  but then again, I've been made aware of the fact that the good old boy network does live on in Dixie, County Florida Apparently, although the animal control officer is seemingly new to the office, they are not new to Amber Hyder and seem to keep company with others closely associated to Amber Hyder, the former, neglectful owner of this mare. I've even tried to push them to pursue the skinny dogs also located on the property that I saw when I was there, if for no other reason than lack of mandatory rabies and county tags. Please feel free to use this link for the contacts to DIXIE COUNTY FLORIDA ANIMAL CONTROL Send them a snail mail, phone in a question, email them or whatever. Snail mail is nice because you can send it along and if a whole mail bag shows up, someone is going to have to answer to the volume of inquiries at least but that's just my preference regarding them.

So to the title of this post....what have we learned? Well, I learned that Kathy of the  Fugly Horse of the Day Blog has featured Amber Hyder twice now in her blog. I was unaware of the first Fugly 'award' and someone brought it to my attention that because of Angelica's story, she recieved a second Fugly 'award'. I'm greatful to Kathy and the Fugly Blog for bringing a wide range of attention to Angelica's story and Beauty's Haven Equine Rescue. Donations are always needed and a kind word left in their guestbook is much appreciated also. Especially since Amber took it upon herself to use the guestbook for her own personal rants since this happened. The farther back into the archives we can push her ranting, the better.

I've also learned that I'm an okay fundraiser! I donated a bronze sculpture of mare and foal which we auctioned on ebay. That item brought in $153 which we were very excited to see. I have more items listed on ebay and 100% of the sale money goes to Beauty's Haven Equine Rescue directly! I will continue to list things as I come across them or whip them up from my sewing room. Please check out our latest sales and let me know if there is something you would like to see. I sew just about everything for horses from polo wraps, saddle pads and fleece sheets like the one Angelica is wearing in the picture above to western, english, fun show and barn clothing.

I've also opened a webstore called Beauty's Haven Boutique! At present time we can only list five items for sale so what I've done is to set it up so that you pick a blank item. T-shirt, sweatshirt, apron, and tote bags; then you go to the photo album and pick a design to have printed on your item; then pay securely through paypal ( you do not have to have a paypal account set up and linked to your bank account if you don't want that; credit cards, debit cards and echecks also accepted). Send your order and voila! Every penny over cost to make these items is donated directly to Beauty's Haven Equine Rescue!

Well I've learned tons more than what I just wrote but I think that's enough for today. I will be back to talk about types of abuses you may see in the show ring and how to handle them. I think that ties the saga of Angelica's story together with what this blog was originally inteneded and then maybe I can get my mind back on the judging track!

Again, thank you to everyone who picked up and posted this story on your blogs, sent donations, prayers, jingles, healing white light, good thoughts and everything in between! I was afraid I was beating my head against a wall and screaming in silence but you all were right there helping in your many ways too! I applaud your efforts and help. If I can ever be of any assistance and get a story out that you need to help with, don't hesitate to ask! The internet sure was powerful and LOUD in this case. For that, beautiful Angelica is alive today!