From the President...
addition to hours of brushing, there is also that first spring ride. Mind you, it has usually been six months since our last ride unless November or March are unusually warm. I confess the first ride is never my favorite as I feel like I am steering a tank—a tank that is suspicious of everything in his home pasture because now I’m on his back. Each ride is substantially better, and I am soon back to using light as a feather aids and Shiloh becoming a brave, trusty steed for the upcoming year.
Onto our beautiful issue with many interesting articles. I was especially pleased to see Working Equitation featured. I held a Working Equitation clinic in St. Louis two years ago with Erica and Howard Peet. It was fun and interesting to hear the Peets discuss their Dear FOSH Friends and Supporters, experience with Working Equitation and why they enjoyed the discipline I hope you are enjoying your spring and so much. Interestingly, the Peets train early summer riding weather. Several of Andalusians, which is a far cry from our us in the Midwest had a recent telecon- gaited horses; however, they were eaference and lamented that this was one ger to learn more about gaited horses of the chilliest and windiest springs we and were very supportive of all the gaitcould ever remember. As one individed horses with which they were comual remarked, “We had a real spring!” peting. I agree—it was a real spring with wild breezes and volatile ups and downs There were two aspects that I remem(mainly downs as I sadly looked over ber in particular from our conversadozens of my tulips bent under a cover tions: (1) No horse is perfect in every of snow in mid-April). phase of the competition, which means the placings change in meaningful ways I’m sure most of you are finished with throughout the competition and (2) As the shedding process by now. Every a fairly new discipline with so many year I marvel how Shiloh (a MFT) sheds newbies, the comradery and mutual such vast amounts and Dusty (TWH) support is a refreshing change from has only about 1/4 of the coat of Shithe hard core, highly competitive show loh. I was told by Shiloh’s previous rings with which many exhibitors expeowner that it was because he was born rienced previously. The latter aspect is in Indiana, and Indiana has colder win- one that I likened to the FOSH shows ters than Missouri; however, I have no idea if that is scientifically accurate. In Continuted on page 29. 5 • The Sound Advocate • Issue 2, 2021
