[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Those pictures look nice. The problem in this area is even tho the rules have changed, poll not lower then withers, around here, if there is a horse in the class with a head set lower then the ones like your pictures show, they still win. I went to a show last spring. There were some horses like your pictures, but some that were lower beat them.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Good morning.

Our ping list has really grown this week:)

ljswise: Welcome, nice art work.

Opening today.

Becky

[Duchess47]

Therein lies the problem. The judges. They have come very close to destroying some great breeds because people will naturally breed to win in most cases.

The quarter horse is no longer an athletic horse that excels in ranch work. Most leading quarter horse sires couldn't work cows if their life depended on it.

The appaloosa has just about had all of it's color and ability bred out of it. Not many can hit the trail for a 500 mile ride anymore.

Until people start screaming at judges decisions and the breed associations start listening, things won't get better.

Two years ago, the ApHC sent pictures of ten horses to ApHC judges (who are also AQHA) to have them rate them as they would in a halter class. The pictures ranged from no color to loud color, and that's how the judges rated them. No color first, down the line with loud color placing at the bottom. The sad thing was, the pictures were all of the same horse - just had color added or covered up digitally.

I wrote the CEO of the ApHC last year, and spoke to two directors also. At the world show, 22 of the winners had no color or characteristics. They shouldn't have even been in the show, let alone win.