EQUINE INDUSTRY( Continuued from Page 8)
3. Operate for spectators, as well as for exhibitors; otherwise, you ' ll have an empty grandstand. To attract spectators, there must be—( 1) Color; as obtained through presenting the flag and playing the National Anthem; the use of a costumed bugler; formal dress of all officials in night shows; and through having colorful events like an Arabian Mounted Costume Class; Gay“ 90s Morgan Class; Appaloosa Indian Mounted Costume Class; etc.( 2) Action; keep moving.( 3) Timing; no show should be over 2V4 hours long.( 4) Crowd appeal, which necessitates( a) eliminations in big classes,( b) conduct of the less glamorous classes before a non-paying crowd, and( c) variety.
( 5) Special events that are unique.
4. Select judges of unquestioned honesty and integrity; and avoid those whose chief interests are“ wine, women, and song,” or personal obligations.
5. Hold a judging school in conjunction with the horse show; operate them as twin events. This( 1) adds to the educational value and( 2) provides a logical way in which to handle the judging of halter classes. Where a judging school is held, use officials who can give good reasons.
I CHALLENGE RACE TRACKS
Race tracks are owned by people, and most people are in business to make money. Thus, there can be no quarrel over the important place that the mutual windows occupy with most track owners. I do feel that altogether too many track owners are prone to starve the goose that lays the golden egg. Except for paying purses, just how much good are they doing for the light horse industry? We Need More and Belter Education Pertaining to Horses
No industry is plagued by as many fads, foibles and trade secrets as the horse business. Many horses are still castrated and weaned by the moon, fed some mysterious potion, and doctored by witchcraft— to mention only a few areas. It is my contention that education is the best, and the only, way in which to rectify this situation. Here’ s why? Well informed people call upon the family doctor when human ill health is encountered; whereas backwoods people resort to fads, foibles and trade secrets. Hence the following needs:
WE NEED 4-H HORSE CLUBS
These boys and girls will be future horsemen; hence it is important that they be well trained, to the end that they become good horsemen. Also, boys and girls are our best products; and there is a well known axiom that if a youngster has a horse and knows how to care for it, he or she won’ t get into trouble. I commend Rutgers in assigning % time of an extension staff member to work with 4-H horse clubs. WE NEED COLLEGE HORSE PROGRAMS
Most college programs passed out with the demise of the draft horse. In my judgment, there is a crying, but unfilled, need for college light horse programs; embracing the following in animal science, although equitation may be taught in P. E., and the horse disease and parasite instruction and research should be in veterinary medicine:
1. College level courses in—( 1) Equitation.( 2) Horse Management.( 3) Horse Science and Farrier Science on an area basis; that is, these need not be in every college. 2. Research on horses. 3. College light horse establishments for—
( 1) Training students in the production and management of light horses,
( 2) Providing instructional material for visiting FFA and 4-H club members, adult breeders, and horse enthusiasts.
( 3) Conducting fundamental and applied research of importance to the light horse industry,
( 4) Giving impetus to the nation’ s rapidly expanding light horse industry.
4. Summer placement and training of students on light horse establishments, as a means of imparting practical application. Among the opening for horse-oriented college graduate are:( 1) Horse production, training and management.( 2) Selling horse feeds, pharmaceuticals and drugs.( 3) Horse associations and magazines.( 4) In communications, especially in horse sports.( 5) Girls who are proficient in shorthand and typing( in addition to their training in Horse Science) as secretaries to executives in horse work and in the area of communications.
WE NEED HORSE SHORT COURSES
Generally speaking, I have received excellent support from all segments of the light horse industry on the two unique horse schools— the Horse Science School and the Stud Managers School— which I direct. There are a few, however, who still sleep beside the still waters. Nevertheless, Agriservices Foundation, the nonprofit sponsor of these Schools, is greatly encouraged, and is moving ahead on a long-time program. It would be my pleasure to augment Rutgers’ short course program by holding the Horse Science School in the State sometime in the future.
WE NEED AUTHORITATIVE LITERATURE ON HORSES
There is a paucity of authoritative, and well written, literature pertaining to horses. WE NEED MORE HORSE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Factual information is the first and most important requisite in any business or problem. My problem solving approach, as a scientist and consultant, is this:( 1) What are the facts,( 2) What are the pros and cons,( 3) What is the recommendation, and( 4) What is the decision.
A recent report revealed that the following man years( One man year refers to one person working an entire year) were devoted to U. S. animal research in 1961-1962:
Dairy cattle _________________ 235.9 Poultry _____________________ 184.1 Beef cattle _________________ 124.6 Swine ______________________ 95.6 Sheep and goats _____________ 63.0 Fur animals ________________ 9.9 Horses _____________________ 0.9
It’ s small wonder, therefore, that the“ unknowns” far outnumber the“ knowns” when it comes to horses. In horse nutrition, for example,
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10 VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse