Part 4
The USEF Ruling on
SHANKING —
A Con versation with Michael Byatt B Y
C I N D Y
R E I C H
In light of the new rulings on showing Arabian halter horses that came down through USEF early this summer, we are speaking with trainers around the globe about their methods of training for halter. Please see the articles The USEF Ruling on Shanking, in the June issue, page 113, Do We Really Need the Hard Stance? in the August issue, page 28, and The USEF Ruling on Shanking — A Conversation with Ted Carson in the September issue, page 71. Michael Byatt with *Gazal Al Shaqab (Anaza El Farid x Kajora).
I
n our continuing series regarding recent rule changes and the halter division, just after the conclusion of the U.S. Nationals, we spoke with Michael Byatt. In previous installments, we have included thoughts from Allan Preston, Cameron Bonney, and Ted Carson. As Michael says, “First, I would like to point out that there were no ‘new’ rule changes. The same rules have been in effect, but they were put into stronger language that caused more attention. There The Arabian horse have always been rules about shanking and industry should be whip use, but at many questioning what they shows, there was a lack of enforcement. What are supporting and was apparently not being rewarding in the hard understood, is that all handlers’ actions are on stance. Right now, display at all times during a show, and video taken they are encouraging at a high profile show was sent to AHA and USEF, something that resulting in the more discourages strongly-worded dictate. “I am 100 percent in participation. favor of enforcement of these rules. It hasn’t affected me at all, because I have always tried to be aware that — even in situations of say, an aggressive stallion — attention has to be paid in regard to one’s conduct in the ring.
I hope that these rules are enforced to the letter, but they have to be enforced fairly and consistently. For example, in Canada I felt that the judges were supercharged on the issue. I was called out in Canada for a very hot colt I was handling. I was all right with that because the rule was being applied across all trainers. I didn’t get a penalty, but I did get spoken to. The judges used their horsemanship skills to understand that this was a really, really hot colt. Where I have a problem is when the penalties are assessed against the little guy but ‘bigger fish’ get away with the same behavior. The judges can’t be discriminatory in their application of the rules.” What about the hard stand-up? Is it necessary? “Allan Preston of Australia said something to me a few years ago that really stuck with me. It had to do with the fact that as the hard stance has become more technical, with fewer people able to reach the level of difficulty and possessing the expertise that is now required, there has been a proportional decrease in the number of halter entries. In other words, fewer people are able (or want), to reach that degree of difficulty to show successfully in halter. “If you look at halter showing in the 70s and 80s everyone showed their own halter horses — Frank McCoy, Howie Kale, and so many others. Anyone could participate and have an equal chance of success with their horse. Then, as the hard stance became more technical and harder to achieve, the ordinary breeder or owner or handler saw their chance of succeeding dimishing. The Arabian horse industry should be questioning what they are supporting and rewarding in the hard stance. Right now, they are encouraging something that discourages participation.”
265 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b DECEMBER 2016