Comments for Above Level http://abovelevel.com The Morgan Horse Show Blog Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:18:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on AMHA’s Champion Title Program by Chris Nerland http://abovelevel.com/2011/12/20/amhas-champion-title-program/comment-page-1/#comment-11241 Chris Nerland Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:18:52 +0000 http://abovelevel.com/?p=9274#comment-11241 Great story, Jeff. That little article about the therapy Morgan probably did more to spark interest in owning a Morgan than a dozen full-color show horse ads! I am just frustrated that we don't seem, as a breed, to be getting that sort of story out in front of the public. As I have said before, the Morgan should be the most sought-after horse in America. They are a special breed-all of us who have them know this-as Georgie said, "they come to the front of the stall". Great story, Jeff. That little article about the therapy Morgan probably did more to spark interest in owning a Morgan than a dozen full-color show horse ads! I am just frustrated that we don’t seem, as a breed, to be getting that sort of story out in front of the public. As I have said before, the Morgan should be the most sought-after horse in America. They are a special breed-all of us who have them know this-as Georgie said, “they come to the front of the stall”.

]]> Comment on AMHA’s Champion Title Program by jmorse http://abovelevel.com/2011/12/20/amhas-champion-title-program/comment-page-1/#comment-11240 jmorse Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:33:08 +0000 http://abovelevel.com/?p=9274#comment-11240 I don't think we should be messing with the registry data in the first place BUT, if we are going to do it, why should achievements like this not earn distinctive acknowledgement in the registry? It's a *Morgan Horse* registry, not a Morgan *show horse* registry. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/bs-md-co-therapy-horse-20120129,0,5457863.story Jeff Morse | Green Meads Farm |Richmond, MA Carriage Driving & Morgan Horses I don’t think we should be messing with the registry data in the first place BUT, if we are going to do it, why should achievements like this not earn distinctive acknowledgement in the registry? It’s a *Morgan Horse* registry, not a Morgan *show horse* registry.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/bs-md-co-therapy-horse-20120129,0,5457863.story

Jeff Morse | Green Meads Farm |Richmond, MA
Carriage Driving & Morgan Horses

]]> Comment on Quick Hitch Harness for Sale by amorgans http://abovelevel.com/2011/11/25/quick-hitch-harness-for-sale/comment-page-1/#comment-11239 amorgans Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:25:48 +0000 http://abovelevel.com/?p=9051#comment-11239 Is this still for sale? If so can you call me 802-249-2052 Is this still for sale? If so can you call me 802-249-2052

]]> Comment on Looking For A Show Harness by Carley http://abovelevel.com/2012/01/25/looking-for-a-show-harness/comment-page-1/#comment-11238 Carley Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:40:54 +0000 http://abovelevel.com/?p=9725#comment-11238 i bought a used one a few years ago and have never used it. it is the complete harness with two bridles. i can take pictures if you want, and measurements (if you tell me what/how you need measured)... i paid $600... so make an offer? i bought a used one a few years ago and have never used it. it is the complete harness with two bridles. i can take pictures if you want, and measurements (if you tell me what/how you need measured)… i paid $600… so make an offer?

]]> Comment on AMHA’s Champion Title Program by Chris Nerland http://abovelevel.com/2011/12/20/amhas-champion-title-program/comment-page-1/#comment-11237 Chris Nerland Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:33:15 +0000 http://abovelevel.com/?p=9274#comment-11237 Mike: A horse with objective flaws can, with a good handler/rider/driver beat a "better" horse. We see it all the time. It is called "showmanship". UVM Promise had a looong back, and he was little. But when he was in the ring with Bob Whitney, you didn't care about that because he dominated by sheer personality and brilliance. This is what people who dislike show horses don't understand. We go to watch a performance, a presentation, and to be caught up in the excitement. If we wanted to be sure the "best" horse alway won, we would just submit 4 photos of the horse and have them compared to an AMHA approved template, submit a video of the horse walking, trotting and cantering and the horse with the highest score would win. Sorta like a keuring. Yes, it is a game. Sometimes it is just a silly chase of a piece of ribbon. Sometimes it lifts your soul into a different place, when you and another species work in perfect harmony for just a brief moment. I admit I get tears in my eyes when I see a beautiful pass by a Hunter, or a brilliant performance by a perfectly balanced park harness horse. All of the gushing write-ups or the cookie-cutter ads cannot distract from the moments of sheer beauty we see with this wonderful horse breed. Mike: A horse with objective flaws can, with a good handler/rider/driver beat a “better” horse. We see it all the time. It is called “showmanship”. UVM Promise had a looong back, and he was little. But when he was in the ring with Bob Whitney, you didn’t care about that because he dominated by sheer personality and brilliance. This is what people who dislike show horses don’t understand. We go to watch a performance, a presentation, and to be caught up in the excitement.
If we wanted to be sure the “best” horse alway won, we would just submit 4 photos of the horse and have them compared to an AMHA approved template, submit a video of the horse walking, trotting and cantering and the horse with the highest score would win. Sorta like a keuring.
Yes, it is a game. Sometimes it is just a silly chase of a piece of ribbon. Sometimes it lifts your soul into a different place, when you and another species work in perfect harmony for just a brief moment. I admit I get tears in my eyes when I see a beautiful pass by a Hunter, or a brilliant performance by a perfectly balanced park harness horse. All of the gushing write-ups or the cookie-cutter ads cannot distract from the moments of sheer beauty we see with this wonderful horse breed.

]]> Comment on AMHA’s Champion Title Program by mbk http://abovelevel.com/2011/12/20/amhas-champion-title-program/comment-page-1/#comment-11236 mbk Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:51:41 +0000 http://abovelevel.com/?p=9274#comment-11236 Chris, Your comment: "I still think a special designation should go to horses who win in open competition. They won because they were exceptional against other breeds, not because of an advertising blitz, or who was holding the reins, or who the horse was bought from." Raises another question...I've been to many all-breed shows and many have no real competition of quality...so the question is how do you verify "what" all-breed events are consistent with others? Also as has been pointed out above...how do you verify any of it? Your other comment: "Those of us who enjoy breed shows go into that knowing that the horse who wins isn’t necessarily the best horse. That is part of the fun, in seeing who plays the game best." Is strictly your opinion or take on things...pretty wide brush. Mike Chris,

Your comment:
“I still think a special designation should go to horses who win in open competition. They won because they were exceptional against other breeds, not because of an advertising blitz, or who was holding the reins, or who the horse was bought from.”

Raises another question…I’ve been to many all-breed shows and many have no real competition of quality…so the question is how do you verify “what” all-breed events are consistent with others? Also as has been pointed out above…how do you verify any of it?

Your other comment:

“Those of us who enjoy breed shows go into that knowing that the horse who wins isn’t necessarily the best horse. That is part of the fun, in seeing who plays the game best.”

Is strictly your opinion or take on things…pretty wide brush.

Mike

]]> Comment on AMHA’s Champion Title Program by jmorse http://abovelevel.com/2011/12/20/amhas-champion-title-program/comment-page-1/#comment-11235 jmorse Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:57:45 +0000 http://abovelevel.com/?p=9274#comment-11235 mikado12 ...exactly my point: "<strong> All</strong> horses at a certain level, whether they’re champions in Oklahoma, endurance rides, carriage driving–thus regardless of their disciplines–should be honored by it." One of the problems with the current rules is that <strong>all </strong> horse are NOT so honored. Only those Morgans that play in the USEF Morgan sandbox are. How does this program "help" those that compete outside it...for instance, the 3 time US National Singles Pony Driving Champion, who is a Morgan? Jeff Morse | Green Meads Farm |Richmond, MA Carriage Driving & Morgan Horses mikado12 …exactly my point: “ All horses at a certain level, whether they’re champions in Oklahoma, endurance rides, carriage driving–thus regardless of their disciplines–should be honored by it.” One of the problems with the current rules is that all horse are NOT so honored. Only those Morgans that play in the USEF Morgan sandbox are. How does this program “help” those that compete outside it…for instance, the 3 time US National Singles Pony Driving Champion, who is a Morgan?

Jeff Morse | Green Meads Farm |Richmond, MA
Carriage Driving & Morgan Horses

]]> Comment on AMHA’s Champion Title Program by mikado12 http://abovelevel.com/2011/12/20/amhas-champion-title-program/comment-page-1/#comment-11234 mikado12 Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:13:43 +0000 http://abovelevel.com/?p=9274#comment-11234 Maybe I'm naive, but I think it can only help and not hurt anybody. Like a trophy or a ribbon, its another honor some horses/riders deserve. All horses at a certain level, whether they're champions in Oklahoma, endurance rides, carriage driving--thus regardless of their disciplines--should be honored by it. Maybe I’m naive, but I think it can only help and not hurt anybody. Like a trophy or a ribbon, its another honor some horses/riders deserve. All horses at a certain level, whether they’re champions in Oklahoma, endurance rides, carriage driving–thus regardless of their disciplines–should be honored by it.

]]> Comment on 2012 AMHA Convention by Montehorse http://abovelevel.com/2012/01/03/2012-amha-convention/comment-page-1/#comment-11233 Montehorse Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:03:22 +0000 http://abovelevel.com/?p=9411#comment-11233 I just came back from a vacation from Disney. We stayed at the same hotel as where the conference will be located. I will not be attending the conference, but for all those attending, please remember that this is the peak season for tourists. If you plan on going out to dinner, you may want to book weeks in advance. The hotel is located directly across the street from Downtown Disney. Downtown Disney has an array of restaurants, shopping, activities etc. I just came back from a vacation from Disney. We stayed at the same hotel as where the conference will be located. I will not be attending the conference, but for all those attending, please remember that this is the peak season for tourists. If you plan on going out to dinner, you may want to book weeks in advance. The hotel is located directly across the street from Downtown Disney. Downtown Disney has an array of restaurants, shopping, activities etc.

]]> Comment on And here we go again by leslie http://abovelevel.com/2012/01/01/and-here-we-go-again/comment-page-1/#comment-11232 leslie Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:37:10 +0000 http://abovelevel.com/?p=9381#comment-11232 Chris, I assumed colwilrin's issue was with the champion title program discussion. The slaughter thread seems pretty well-mannered. But I guess we'll never know... Chris, I assumed colwilrin’s issue was with the champion title program discussion. The slaughter thread seems pretty well-mannered.

But I guess we’ll never know…

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