You are correct. For years our horse show industries are so consumed with drug issues that training issues take a back seat. 40 years ago while competing at horse shows in California, I complained to the horse show officials about a horse in pain in the warm up ring due to draw reins, tight nose band sharp, spurs and the trainer hitting the horse on the head. I was told that there was no proof this was damaging to the horse. I was determined to help stop this kind of treatment in my own horse industry and went to school studying wild horse ecology and human-animal consciousness to focus my equine practice on applied behavior ecology of horses.
After many years of teaching, writing and developing stress management products, sadly it has not helped. (www.mystichorse.com) Our industry has become all about the money and not about the horse. People like you who can communicate what is happening are critical to changing our industry. We need more people in “press” to communicate what is happening as well as we need to educate judges, trainers and riders and our regulatory organizations. I will spread the word. Thank you.