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 Dr. Doyle Meadows (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Click to enlarge] |
"It is such a pleasure to be here," said Meadows, a native of Texas. "The Celebration is the garden of our community chest, and I appreciate that and I appreciate [breakfast Rotarians] ... you are also part of the community chest."
Meadows, among several goals related to improving the tarnished image of the Celebration, wants it to be much more visible locally. In doing so, it is important for the Celebration to support local civic groups, he said.
The Celebration has an enormous economic impact during its 10-day run in late August-early September each year, but its positive impact on the community goes far beyond that 10-day period.
Looking outside of Shelbyville in any direction, you'll see horse farms, said Meadows, whose wife is a native of this area. The trainers and people running those farms are taxpayers of this county, he said.
The trainers are essential to the Celebration.
"I met with the trainers," said Meadows. "I told them if they bring us a good, clean horse they'll be the architects of their own destiny."
Geneva Smith, breakfast Rotarian, commented that the trainers are 90 percent of the Celebration and that they need to be respected and their input needs to matter.
"The trainers deserve a lot of respect," responded Meadows. "It's not an easy job and we want to reward those who are doing a good job."
Even with clean horses and clean judging, the horse industry in general has other challenges set forth by things like the rising price of fuel (Diesel fuel costs about $4 per gallon), which may pose a threat to the various one-night shows held throughout the region.
Nonetheless, Meadows believes, "We can overcome some of those challenges."
Meadows also spoke about getting youth more involved in the Celebration. Things like judging contests are one way to do this as they give children skills that will not only teach them about horses, but more importantly equip them with skills that will last a life time.
He said getting youth more active will ignite more family participation in the Celebration, which in turn, will spur growth in an industry which is currently dominated by a more mature group of people.
The walking horse industry kicked off season 2008 last week with the Trainers' Show, which, according to Meadows, had a great crowd and was a big success.
It is all about who has the most money.
The "normal" person doesn't have a prayer.
Kudos quantumcat, but issues such as development pressure, zoning set in the county that promotes houses intead of horses, inavaibility of hay for non-growing small horse farms, especially the individual O/E like you are trying to encourage. As it is now, if you are an OE you are treated like dirt in the Walking industry, unlike the AQHA which is successful in raising the value of it's horses and high participation of O/E THAT WIN. And I don't mean O/E that pay off a trainer either. As it is I see a piltry effort to shore up the industry and predict the Celebration is going to be forced to sell the complex as a multi-venue outfit to stay alive in 5 years. The people that travel throughout to see the Celebration are dying off and the "youth" can't save the industry because the only youth that matter are the rich brats of the owners that are NOT here regularly to make a lasting contribution. They get thier ribbon, get thier picture, say oh I am so great, grow up and leave or pursue thier selfish little way. I can't see anything but a tunnel with no light.
Let me make a case in point. I have seen where out-of-state newly enthusiastic Walking horse self trained owners will come to Shelbyville for the Celebration once maybe twice, that is it. They figured out that you don't stand a chance, it is a waste of money, they were robbed when they bought the horse and the whole concept is a fraud. But, every year there is a new OE owner with hopes and dreams. The problem is the word is out so thick across the country, that the new owner numbers are getting less and less every year.
The high end "gaited" communities might want to include stables and knowledgable staff for the benefit of full or seasonal residents.
The former Milky Way Farms has done just that.
Trail rides,riding lessons,trips to the shows,tours of local barns,subscriptions to equine publications and,perhaps,membership in the area horse clubs such as the Blue Ribbon Circle could promote the breed,the Celebration and our area.
That might expand an already targeted demographic of "elite",monied patrons.
The horse show needs to go beyond that group and persevere in its outreach to all ages and all parts of the community.
We can't afford to forget that Bedford County is a part of the Walker's history and the Celebration is part of our heritage.
Once people know the Celebration retains the purpose that brought it into being,the show,the horse industry,the community and the visitors can move ahead to a better future than the founders of the show could have imagined.