I belong to the Hanson Riding Club in Hanson, MA.  I have a quarterhorse and enjoy the club because they offer 3-4 schooling shows a year.  They have always been fun and there's always been great camraderie which I enjoy.  I show my horse and I let some kids who work in my barn show her too.  The club will not let gaited horses compete in games classes unless they can perform a true trot.  Since the games classes are geared toward kids what kind of message are we sending?  My dog is not even in this fight but this seems wrong to me.  Are we such a competitive society that we can't allow the kids who ride gaited horses to have some fun in egg & spoon?  Angela Balmes is the President of the club.  Lisa Doyle is the Vice President.  They are firm on this.  They have a website at hansonridingclub.com and you can email them if you have an opinion on the matter.  hansonridingclub@yahoo.com.  I would be interested in knowing what you all think.  PS - I think Pasos are beautiful.

I can't imagine why a horse would need to trot in order to compete in games classes.   Unless a horse is executing a specific pattern that calls for a trot, I can't imagine why a gaited horse can't participate.  They might feel that a gaited horse has an advantage in egg and spoon because they are smoother, although gaited horses can break into a pace and can bounce just as much as a trotting horse at times.  Just a suggestion, they could have two egg & spoon classes--one for gaited horses and one for trotting horses.  Or they could have two winners in one class; one gaited winner and one trotting horse winner.  That would give the kids (or adult amateurs) who own gaited horses an opportunity to compete in the games.  Those are just fun classes any way; it's not like it a high-performance class or a dressage or reining class where a rider has done a significant amount of prep work to win a ribbon.  I think it sends a very poor message to the kids, that "rules" are more important than they (the kids) are.  Rules should regulate competition to make it fair, but it shouldn't squeeze people out because of what gait their horse does.

I personally think that with the downturn in the economy, and the availability and interest in "electronic entertainment" that consumes our youth's time and interest, that riding clubs should be bending over backwards to encourage youth participation in the horse industry and accommodate all horse owners.  Otherwise, we're not going to have a horse industry. 

Have they stated some kind of valid reason as to why they won't let gaited horses participate in games?  There is a lot of bias against gaited horses, particularly in clubs that cater to dressage and hunter/jumper riders.

This sure has been a sore spot with me for a couple of years and I am glad that you are asking for comments on the subject.

 It makes absolutely no sense to tell someone that their gaited horse can't compete in a "fun" class! As far as the egg and spoon thing goes...the western pleasure horses always win at our local shows because they go into such a smooth...VERY slow...methodic lope that I haven't seen a gaited horse that can compete with that and keep the egg on the spoon. Most gaited horses have a much more animated (rocking chair) lope/canter. Also, gaited horses never seem to do as well in the speed events...so, why would the stock horse people care one way or the other?

 My personal opinion is that stock horse people don't want to be "shown-up" by a gaited horse. I have both...stock and gaited horses. I don't have a problem with both types showing in the fun (gaming) classes together.

I guess since Stock horses can't really compete in gaited classes. Stock horse owners can feel discrimated against also.  I believe that high end shows can and should focus on breeds. But fun shows like 4H and other low level shows should be open to any one. Kids can't afford 2-3 horses. They are often at the mercy of what ever horse(s) their parents own. We don't want to discourge them from participating.

By letting anyone show as a youth or amature they get hooked on the sport. When the get a job and can afford to buy the type of horse they choose to own and compete on, Then they can go and compete at a selective show.

I also don't have a dog in the fight, Since I don't show and think of them as quite boring. I've never understood why somebody would haul a horse 2-3 hours away, sit around all day and get 2 or may be 4 opportunities to ride 5 minutes as their classes came up. When they could do an 8 hour trail and be on the horse all day and see some absolutely stunning scenery.

OK, Imagine my surprise to see my name posted on a chat forum??? Hmmmm.  I don't know who you are qtrhrsemama but you are a misinformed member of HRC.. 

I don't appreciate finding my name posted on a chat group, without my permission and stating that I am the Vice President?  I am not.  I am the Reporting Secretary for the club.  And, it is not myself and Angela Balmes (who is also VERY displeased to see her name in a post that is erroneous and false) who are firm on this.  The original ruling years ago re:gaited horses not being allowed into the Games Division was the decision of the show manager at that time.  I'd like to know if you ever spoke to any of the Board of Directors personally about this issue?  I know I didn't speak to you as I had this conversation with one person and one person only and told her it would be addressed by the board.  If you didn't speak to me, and you didn't speak to Angela then how can state that "They are firm on this"?

I personally really don't care if gaited horses are in the games or not but I'm not the Show Manager.  HRC's monthly board meeting was this past Friday and the gaited horses and the games division was slated to be discussed and had you read your newsletter for April you would see that it clearly states in the Secretary's Report from the Open meeting that it would be discussed.

And lo and behold it has been decided to allow the gaited horses into the games divisions.  If complaints follow, they will be addressed then.  We'll wait and see what happens.

 I am very upset though that you've made myself and Angela seem like we're Gustapo's of some sort.  I noticed you failed to mention that HRC added a Gaited Class to their shows as well as Year End Awards for the high point gaited horse/rider?  Seems to me we've really tried to accomodate everyone.  Where is the discrimination there?  How many other small open shows have Gaited Classes?

We are constantly looking for ways to improve our club and do more for our members. I welcome you to attend a meeting and become informed as to whats being done to address questions and concerns of the members before you come onto a chat group and accuse myself or others of discrimination.  I personally had this conversation with one member of HRC and one member only so I know where some of your info came from but you were not privvy to both sides of that discussion obviously.

Educate yourself first.  Then make educated statements. 

The statement you've made here borders on slander.

I am also a member of the Hanson Riding Club and obviously a much more apprecciative and informed member.  I am so furious about so many things I've read that I don't know where to start. I am disgusted that someone would stoop to using their children as fuel for gossip and  I can't believe anyone would attack the Hanson Riding Club and their board members over this issue.  Angela Balmes has been accused of being against gaited horses participating in the games division, well let me tell you she has been their biggest supporter!!!  Shame on you for writing something so inflammatory when you don't know all the facts !!  Do you even know why this is even an issue, why we even have a gaited horse class?  Let me tell you.  At the request of a member the Board discussed including a class for gaited horses.  It seemed that there were 2 families that owned gaited horses and were interested in showing at the club show.  Despite an already lengthy class list as well as some opposition, Angela advocated to include a gaited horse class.  The gaited horse class was created to "test the waters" and see how much interest there was and based on that, the decision would be made to possibly have a gaited division.  Regardless of attendence it was decided to present a year end award for this class.  In regards to the games division, again I can't believe the gall you have to criticize the Board.  The decision to not allow gaited horses in the games division was a decisison made by the former show manager not the Board, this has been explained a number of times.  The show manager presented a number of seemingly valid reasons for this decision based on her experience as both a show manager and a judge!  At the time the Board deferred to her judgement.  The subject of allowing gaited horses in the games division was brought up at the March open meeting and it was announced that the matter would be reviewed at the next meeting.  Which it was.  Unfortunately, this slanderous accusation was made prior to the decision of the Board being announced.  Regardless of the games division how can you say that the club discriminates against children and gaited horses when the class was created for 2 families!!  I don't know of any other club that would create a class for such a small number.  In regards to the Western riders not wanting competition I beg to differ and it makes me wonder if you have ever even ridden Western.  I have ridden both Hunt Seat and Western for years and I would prefer to post then to sit.  Just because a horse is slow does not mean he is smooth.  Quite the contrary.  Also, the winner of the games classes at several of the shows last year was won by a girl riding Hunt Seat on a big Thoroughbred!!  Again, comments made with no knowledge! 

The integrity of the club as well as it's Board members have been attacked.  Western riders insulted and accused of being afraid of competition. And this was all because the club agreed to accomodate a few members who owned gaited horses.  What should have been posted was "Thank you to the HRC for their support to help promote the gaited horse in our community".

After my response to this question I went back and again read peoples comments regarding this issue.  Today is the first time I have ever posted a comment.  I have scanned chat rooms and read bulletin boards and found them to be funny and informative. Some conversations seemed to have gotten a little heated but in the end it seemed as though people agreed to disagree. I am bothered by the fact that accusations can be made by uninformed people. That the forum has been used to attack good people that try their best.  I belong to SSHC, MHC, NEHC, PtHA, APHA, and the only thing they offer are horse shows and the only mail I receive from any of them is when it's time for the year end award banquet.  HRC Board members are not paid.  They receive no compensation at all for all the hours that they put in working to make the club the best it can be. The club offers not only horse shows but clinics, fiesta day, award banquets, pleasure trail rides, judged trail rides, parade participation etc....All members receive a monthly newsletter dedicated to updating the the members of upcoming events within the club and other events that might be of interest to them.  It takes a lot of fundraising, sponsorships and such to support these events as well as a great amount of time to plan them.  This is all in addition to the regular "business" meetings.  This club has grown by leaps and bounds and a number of other clubs have mimicked certain aspects of our club.  The HRC Board is a great example of a club that bends over backwards to accomodate their membership.  It is the most kid/family friendly club around that I know of and I think it is a shame that because of a few glitches in the class list it has been attacked. 

QHALLAROUND-It wasn't my intention to put down the other clubs.  Every club has something to offer and every club does things different. And your right, for an additional fee you can participate in APHA's PAC program.  Your note reminded me that HRC is APHA PAC approved as well as Morgan Horses. Here are two more examples of how the club has tried to help promote different breeds within the club.  I wasn't clear and I apologize for that but I was referring to monthly newletters or activities locally that we could participate other than horse shows. I also understand that some of these organizations cover multiple states and could never notify it's membership of all the events.  That's why the small local clubs like HRC are great.  This whole issue is about HRC discriminating against kids and gaited horses in regards to the game classes.  The point I was trying to make was that we offer so much and are taking a beating because we didn't have a perfect plan in this situation.  The matter has been addressed and changes made but someone chose to attack instead of waiting for the results to come out in the monthly newsletter.

 And just to be clear I wouldn't join a club that I wasn't a supporter of.  I don't feel that the clubs I am a member of are less of a club because they don't send newsletters or offer fun days and clinics.  The reason we join a club is because they offer something that appeals to us and that we want to be a part of.  I know what is involved in running a club and I think anyone that participates deserves some appreciation.

My comment wasn't meant to belittle or offend.

QHAllAround - I too joined specifically to reply to this post.  The reason I did is because my name is thrown out there and I am being called discriminatory and I don't appreciate it.  Myself and the other members of the HRC Board bust our butts for this club because we love it and believe in it.  We are not paid positions. 

 If someone out there thinks they can run the club better than we are and have....please.....by all means, step up and run for a position.  I'd love to see someone put their time and energy into the club instead of into their typing fingers.  Its the people that give selflessly of themselves that are the most often underappreciated and attacked and its these very types of insensitive unthought out remarks that made me walk away from horses all together for 10 years.  I've only been back for 3 years and already I'm tiring of this nonsense.

I am a member of several other chat forums and am well recognized and supported there.  It seems to me this post was placed here in the hopes that myself or Angela would not see it as the original poster obviously is new to posting as well and joined just to place this. 

Why didnt they send a link to this post to the HRC email address that they posted so I could respond to it? 

Painted Horse_horse:

I guess since Stock horses can't really compete in gaited classes. Stock horse owners can feel discrimated against also. 

I've never understood why somebody would haul a horse 2-3 hours away, sit around all day and get 2 or may be 4 opportunities to ride 5 minutes as their classes came up. When they could do an 8 hour trail and be on the horse all day and see some absolutely stunning scenery.

 Gaited horses are not allowed in the western pleasure classes...so where is the discrimination?

 I am only talking about the "fun" classes...any horses should be allowed in those if it is a fun show (not breed specific).

I do agree with you on the trail riding comment. I usually don't travel more than 2 hours to a show...but I'll travel 6 or 8 hours for some great trail riding!

 I am also on the board of a club...and I volunteer my time for local events, so I know how some of you feel and I can understand why some of these posts are on here.

Actually we do not have rules re: gaited horses not being able to participate in any class and that includes Western Pleasure.  If a gaited horse can do the gaits called for by that classes specifications then they are more than welcome to show in the class.

(I'm not being facetious either.....I know true gaited horses cannot do a true two beat jog but if they could...they are allowed)  Its strictly at the judges discrection.  If a gaited horse wanted to go into Western Pleasure they could.  Doesn't mean the judge would pin them....but they are not banned from the class.

QH, as you said, Frankly it doesn't make a bit of difference to me.

The original poster brought this to the forum and its being addressed by other people who are aware of the club, its happenings, its rules and regulations, its Officers and their integrity etc. I have no control over what other club members post just as I had no control over the OP throwing my name out there without permission and incorrectly stating my position on the board.

 There is a lot more going on that just this post that is bringing the frustration and venting posted here.  Its human nature unfortunately.  I believe this may just be the pimple about to pop so to speak. 

 I posted nothing incorrect, belittling or negative about any other organization or clubs in my replies to the orginal post.  I am one of the two who were accused of being discrimatory and I feel I have been wronged and have a right to respond. Regardless of what you read elsewhere about others this is a direct attack on myself personally, this truly is slander.  

  It appears you may be combining my posts with someone elses.  I have remained diplomatic and am more upset than anything by having my name posted on a public forum accusing me of being discriminatory and being firm on issue over which I have/had no control. I was not even a member of the club when that ruling was originally made but this poster wouldn't know that because they did not get correct information prior to posting. I am NOT the VP of the club yet its posted on here that I am. 

It appears to me that other members of the club have responded in the same manner and thought process as the initial members post but opposing it and taking affront with the incorrect information provided.

Hopefully this will just be dropped as I would really like to see the whole thread pulled where names are thrown out and its in direct conflict with the user policy of this site from what I understand.