PasoVoice.Com :: Grand Nationals

loriperez

I was really sad to see so few people and horses in the arena. WOW. And I am sorry, but so many of the horses were of poor quality. I wouldn't even consider them to be a "SHOW" horse. Nice horses yes, but not excellent caliber. To be the Grand Nationals should be the finest and best - not just an average example of the breed.

Oh yes, there were some excellent horses, but I definitely could see a decline. For example the A/O pleasure class I saw yesterday. There were people riding horses that were not prepared, groomed or trained properly. Horses bobbing their heads, bouncing butts, no collection, not even in gait!!! Over 1/2 of one class I saw should have been excused for not performing the requirements. (It looks like the quality of the horses there is declining). The exhibitors even looked messy. Everyone was dressed so different. Funny looking hats and big jackets on some....just didn't look good. One person their hat looked like he got it out of the creek after his horse ran over it. THIS IS THE NATIONALS PEOPLE.

I am so glad that I did not spend my hard earned (last few) dollars to go up there this year.

SO SORRY...BUT I HAD TO SAY THIS. My membership number is in the 1400's so that tells you how long I have been around...I have enjoyed many many happy memories at the shows and love the people and the horses.

Too many years of resisting, not listening to the members and too many BOD's ......(lots of politics, etc.) has gotten us here today.

This is just an opinion.

I do hope for the people who wish to continue showing with PFHA that they can succeed.

Eldorado

Lori,

Mel and I were there Saturday came back yesterday. The two of us said exactly the same thing you did.

caliber · Site Admin

Is so sad...................... but unfortunate the PFHA wont listen to members! and the result is visual! Sad

Kerry W · Site Admin

Was it just a year ago that I sat glued to my computer for an entire week, reporting results? Shocked

Time flies!

wildflower · A/O

Hey Lori,
hope everything weel with you and your horses.
I have not been watching at all, but thanks for the update, when is the Trote Y galope class, I would like to watch that?
I am so glad we did not go this year, hopefully the classic fino classes will be more interesting! Rolling Eyes

Waiting and saving my bucks for the next IPHF show!!! Laughing

loriperez

Hi Jacky: This a.m. (2nd. class Surprised

) is Trocha y Galope. Not sure if there will be any entries. Tomorrow (thurs.) 2nd. class Surprised

) is the Trote y Galope class. There are entries. I know of at least 3-4 people who entered. I saw your post about Colombia. Julio and I are not sure if we can go now. If something good doesn't happen soon there will be no funds for travel Crying or Very sad

At least we did get to see our friends who were up here on business (they are the ones from Medellin, the breeding farm know as Hacienda Lusitania). They stayed with us for a couple of days after the IPHF show. They really want us to come! But we must be realistic.

wildflower · A/O

Just watched the T y G Stallion class, two horse and I have not seen them all year and they are now National and Reserve Champions. It was sad! Alex's horse was good but the other one did not represent the Trote Y Galope at all...sorry!

WOW Crying or Very sad

BigJ · Moderator

Sorry, but I do not agree with your statements Lori. I was here Sunday and am here now. The quality I have seen...let me just say "AT LAST!"

Sure what you saw, I have seen for YEARS not just this show but for over a decade at ALL shows. Yes, including the "great" Mundials and others. Dirty, filthy tack, bad fitting outfits, cheap nylon reins, dirty hats and boots and the horses looking like they took a manure bath.

What I have seen has made be feel that finally the breed, in spite of stupid human intervention (paso horse owners and paso horse organizations) is still very sound health-wise, conformation-wise, genetic-wise. Thank GOD!

I watched yesterday's check-in and warm up for a fino class. Most were in gait-naturally I may add, AND the one or two I saw that were too diagonal were obviously not going to make it. When the class entered the ring, 'lo the prophesy of natural gait! Those horses did not make the cut.

I have seen EXCELLENT examples of this breed and for ONCE in a LONG time say I am once again confident that the breed will survive.

I have seen better legs, straight and sound. I have seen the gait improve as a result. I have seen great A/O horses that not long ago would have been top breeding animals that only the "pros" would deem only they could "ride". I have seen A/O riders actually ride their horses and not puppet some stupid impressions of what paso fino riders are. It was not long ago that if an A/O rider was that good they would suddenly be visited by the "paso fino pro trainer" fairy and wake up as a self-proclaimed professional expert. How I wish some of our trainers could ride as good. I have seen CORRECT paso fino phenotype and not some jumbled up troton/trochador/paso mix-up and the GAIT shows! Good temperaments, good exhibitors.

Now the bad:
When oh when will the judges evolve into a man again! I mean get a spine! It is embarrassing to listen to our announcer continually repeat that in fino class only the fino gait is allowed--no more walking--yet see our trainers of the year walking their horses while the judges watch. But as one person said to me, who is going to excuse Natacha Dos or Kelly Cox? That assassin's bullet would have that judge's name on it in a nanosecond.

The judges continue to be a problem. They will not, in fact REFUSE, to follow rules. It is time to document and clean house.

The finest? Let's talk about that shall we? How about not just dirty horses but horses in trocha, lame horses, and drugged horses. Yet, for some reason I never heard anyone say how sad that was or question the quality of those horses or suggest the show was "declining" then. Hmm...

Declining? Hardly. Sounds like PFHA-poor mouthing to me.

BigJ · Moderator

grif · A/O

The quality of the Paso Fino horses this year has ben absolutey awesome. Those who are not here are definitely missing out.

loriperez

Oh please. Funny. Doesn't seem to be a Paso Fino standard either at least according to our rules when it applies to judging. Surprised

BJ - Yes there were some great horses. And I was glad to see that gait seem to be of more importance - not who was the most collected. We still don't seem to be as concerned about tracking, cadence, confirmation, etc. as we should be.

Those comments about Besilu were just rude & stupid. You don't think PFHA REALLY APPRECIATED the fact they got someone sponsoring those expensive Grand Championship Ribbons

I have no ill will against Nationals, or PHFA. In fact it sickens me to have seen and witnessed thier lies and politics over this past year. I just feel it is time for something else for our farm. But if you can say it is not declining when there are about 100 people watching, (I give you 200 or so for the fino mare & stallions classes)the GRAND NATIONAL SHOW, then I think your expectations are REALLY LOW. I wish nothing but the best to those there & have worked so hard all year (who many are my friends and horses that I know).

Deb · Last edited by Deb on Thu Oct 01, 2009 10:12 am; edited 1 time in total

I also disagree. We were able to watch the last 3 days of the show and loved it. Please take a look at the poor quality of horses (kidding, we thought the horses were pretty incredible) that we took about 500 pictures of on our site, www.desertpasofinos.com. There were a lot of horses that did not come to this show because they're getting ready for Mundial which is coming up quickly. I give all these AO's and professionals a lot of credit for keeping the show going in this stinkin' economy. Yes, there should be more consistency with the judging and sticking to the rule book. And there is no business or sport that is not without it's share of backyard experts.

caliber · Site Admin

thank you Deb for sharing the pictures with us!