We interrupt this program...

...to present a small rant. Sorry, not sorry. Feel free to skip if you don't agree!

I knew what this was when I got a solid paint bred horse. I knew the prejudices on both sides of the argument, the lack of opportunities, etc. I know that until more people get out there and show their SPBs, it's going to be very difficult for SPBs to have a strong voice.

But it's kind of a no-win situation. When shows offered SPB classes in the past, no one showed up. So now, shows only offer the bare minimum. And for someone who wants to get out there and show their SPB, it is SO FRUSTRATING.

I have been waiting for the show schedule for the Houston Paint Show to come out for months. I finally got a notification from a friend that it was out today, and so off I went to see what solid classes were being offered. This was it:

Hunter Under Saddle
Halter Stallions
Halter Geldings
Halter Mares
Western Pleasure
Reining

That showmanship class I was looking forward to? Nada.

I emailed show management, because how else will they know "what the people want", and this is the transmission:

 HLS&R: At this time, we are not offering the SPB showmanship classes.

 

 Me: That’s too bad, it was kind of a make or break it for me. Can that be looked into for next year?

 HLS&R: It is possible that it will be considered, but I can’t say if it will be added to the show schedule. 

Well, in that case, "I can't say it I will be patronizing your show in the future", I wanted to say. Having only a mare, that would give me 4 classes that I could show in, were my horse versatile enough to do all four of those disciplines. As it is, I could reasonably enter 2 of those classes, HUS and halter, only one of which I would expect to be competitive in. So, let's say that I am a broke horse owner with only so much money to splurge on showing (ahem), so I decide that it's only worth it to show in classes I actually care about (aka not halter)? That gives me one class to pay the $74 fee for, which doesn't include the cost of the class itself.

I know that breed shows are more expensive; I've been counting on that since deciding I might like to show at Houston. But if they are not going to offer the classes I want to do, then why should I fork over my hard earned money, not to mention fight Houston and rodeo traffic with my horse trailer, for one class?

Suffice it to say, I am very disappointed that they are not offering showmanship. I would have happily paid whatever to be able to show in it and hunter under saddle. Heck, I may have even splurged more and entered the other classes that I have no chance in, just to have a shot at the SPB High Point award.

At this point, though, I think I'm going to have to pass on Houston this year. It would have been a fun experience, especially getting to show with my other paint friends, but I'm just not sure it's worth it.

We now return to your regularly scheduled programming.