On This We Must Stand

There was a proposal that the Horse of the Americas Registry develop a part bred registry for horses of half Spanish mustang blood. The issue was hotly debated and in an open election the proposal was voted down.

The leadership of the Horse of the Americas Registry asked the Spanish Mustang Registry to appoint a committee to work with the HOA to develop plans to promote Spanish mustang preservation. The SMR declined to do so.

A group of Spanish mustang enthusiasts in Europe have chosen to affiliate with the HOA.

Another Spanish mustang registry,the American Heritage Horse Registry, has come into being.

The HOA is a growing registry that seeks to give real power over important issues to the membership. The HOA must continue to shoulder the heaviest burden of all of the registries. It must continue to keep to the high road and continue to seek cooperation from the other registries.

I have no doubt that the board of the HOA will strive to do just that. It is vitally important that the HOA membership not divide itself over the part bred registry issue. The stakes are much bigger than who won and who lost.

There is not enough room in our life boat to fight each other.