Informal efforts to work together between members of the various registries are better than informal efforts to oppose each other, but they are no substitute for formal efforts taken by the elected leaders of the various registries. Such a step does not require any of the registries to make any change in their form of organization and certainly does not require any of the registries to dissolve.
Instead, the leaders of these registries could agree to form a confederation of registries that are coming together for the purpose of advancing some of the proposals set forth in the previous post entitled "Baby Steps."
It is time to start talking. It is time for leaders to lead. I am not Ghandi. I am not even Rodney King. I do not care whether or not we "can all get along." I just want us to work together. We do not have to love each other. We do not even have to like each other. We simply need to recognize that cooperation is in the interest of each registry and every horse.
The young Corollas in the picture above could face each other and start fighting. Instead they choose to eat. All of us need to follow their lead. It is supper time.
Let’s use this post to talk about the positive things that have been happening.
ReplyDeleteAt least one horse show, the AIHR national, awarded HOA, as well as AIHR points. I assume the leadership of both registries had to agree to this.
At the 2008 HOA Annual Meeting in Virginia, both the Florida Cracker and Marsh Tacky registries were invited to join us and to present some of their horses both for the education/enjoyment of the rest and for inspection for registration. Unfortunately, the Marsh Tacky group had a prior commitment. There were several Florida Cracker members and at least two horses, one of which was inspected, and passed handily, for registration.
As member of the HOA, I am most aware of what they do. I know the registry has helped pay for some magazine ads and maybe some exhibitions. Does anyone know of an ad or exhibition where more than one registry contributed to the expense?
I think that ads would be a good place for cooperation. The membership of the registries is not evenly distributed across the country. An ad which listed all/several of the registries would increase the chances of a reader anywhere in the country finder a breeder within a reasonable distance.