This message is from: Mike May <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
More from the Fjord List
>Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 19:35:52 -0600 (MDT)
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>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Information Architecture)
>Subject: Mike's comments, NFHR approved judges
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>Mike, thanks for responding to my note. I know that the geographical
>distribution of Fjords here is erratic right now, but think it's important
>that a structure be defined and regions set up so that, as the breed grows,
>it will have a clear way to grow and a structure within which to do so.
>All regions don't necessarily have to have shows right now, and,
>unfortunately, for the time being Brian Jacobsen will probably have to
>trailer a distance if he wants to compete against anyone but himself. But
>if there's a region set up in the Southeast, then when there are enough
>Fjords there, another non-affilliated group won't end up getting started
>with no structure, no BOD, etc. and the group will have a clear outlet for
>publicizing its existence in the newsletter, and it will have insurance when
>it wants to do a show. It's not the idea of the NFHR provided financial
>support for ribbons or anything, it's the structure and the professionalism
>that would be of use. And those are easier to put in place earlier than
later.
>
>Second, concerning Evaluation Rules, I am well aware of those rules. I
>think that there are a good deal of problems and inconsistencies with them
>and have sent the Evaluations Committee a 3 page letter concerning that. I
>know that a snaffle bit on an older Western horse is clearly illegal per the
>rules, because Western uses AHSA rules and it's not legal there. And that's
>regardless of whether or not it's a green horse. However, lots else wasn't
>covered by those rules. Was the Baucher snaffle legal? People were
>complaining about it, but it is a dressage-legal bit. So is a French
>(3-piece) snaffle? Yet the Baucher is not excluded or included in
>Evaluation rules, the French snaffle is excluded because it says a 2-piece
>snaffle. The Western goes by AHSA rules, the English makes up its own rules
>and doesn't cover a lot of situations. Likewise the kicking strap on the
>driving horse. It got removed because someone complained but there is
>nothing wrong with it and, per my ADS technical rep. here, it would be
>allowed in ANY ADS competition. Furthermore, it is not mentioned at all in
>the Evaluation rules, one way or the other. That's why I think we need a
>rulebook, so we don't have the kind of bickering and complaining that we did
>at the Oregon Evaluation.
>
>Finally, someone asked about NHFR approved judges. First of all, what
>exactly is the point of having NFHR approved judges if we don't have NHFR
>approved shows? You don't have to be an NFHR approved judge to judge at
>Libby, Turlock, or anywhere else so why have them? Second, I am of the
>impression, per conversations with NFHR BOD members, that you don't really
>have to know much (anything) about our breed to be an NFHR approved judge.
>I believe the qualifications at the moment are 1) that you be a carded judge
>in at least one other breed (is that only AHSA approved breeds? I don't
>think so...), 2) that you have judged a major breed show (in another breed)
>in the last year or so, and 3) that you attend educational judging seminars
>at least once a year (I may have the frequency wrong). I showed a couple of
>years ago under a very good AHSA judge who was carded in our breed, but they
>had never judged Fjords before and I'm not certain that they had ever even
>SEEN one before. I know that the BOD is working on a judges handbook, but
>we don't even have a final breed standard yet, so how exactly can we have
>APPROVED judges?
>
>Thanks for listening.
>
>Becky Vorpagel
>Jont Creek Acres
>
