I got my APHA issue about two weeks ago. This is the World Show issue that has all of the "beautiful people and their horses" ads. I know some of these ads cost mega bucks, since they are full color and spread over several pages. My question. Do you think that this gives an unfair advantage over people who cannot afford this? Do you think that judges see these ads then look for these people in the show pen? Since exhibitors are not suppose to fraternize with the judges, should this kind of advertising even be allowed? Or is this just an ego trip to be seen in the journal? Just wondering what everyones thoughts are on this.
Opinions on fairness in advertising in World Show Journal issue?
I have my new Paint Journal and I know the advertisements you are speaking of. I'll give you the anwers to your questions, as they way I see them. By the way, I show Paint in Alberta, but I have never dreamed of going to the World Show (I don't have enough money!) and I've never put an ad of any sort in a magazine. But I know why people do it. Advertising sells. You don't think it makes a difference? Just ask businesses such as Coca-Cola and Adidas and all those companies that pay huge money for advertising. They know that it makes a difference. People pay more for Coke than no name cola.
First question. Do you think this gives an unfair advantage to people who cannot afford this? Yes, I suspect it gives a slight advantage. That's what they are hoping, anyhow. Is this unfair? I don't know. Is it fair that it takes alot of money in every aspect to be successful showing? A backyard horse worth $5000 is going to have an awfully hard time competing against a rich person's $60,000 horse, and believe me, those expensive horses are out there! And having lots of extra money gives you a top name trainer to ride with, it gives you a super stable to keep your horse, it gives you the very best of saddles, clothing and other tack. Is it fair? Probably not. But that's how it goes in every sport - money helps. If your parents can afford to send you to summer hockey school, if they can send you to the best hockey coaches, if they buy the $200 hockey sticks, if they can haul you to all the games, then as a hockey player you are going to have an advantage over the poor parent's kid who can't afford to do more than haul their kid once a week to hockey practice.
Second question. Do the judges see those ads? You bet they do. Judges read Breed journals. They recognize names. They recognize trainers and specific horses.
Should this kind of advertising be allowed? If you don't allow it, then you'd have to also not allow stallions to be promoted, trainers to advertise, etc as all those people are also promoting this bloodlines, titles, abilities and such.
Is it an ego trip? Probably for alot of people. Not necessarily for everyone. Many people are aware that advertising sells, and will put in an ad to keep themselves competitive with the others. If I somehow found a way to buy a World class horse, and I put all my time and money into trying to get ready to win with him, I probably would have to consider an ad. Not because of my ego, but because I need to be competitive with the others.
So beyond a doubt, horse showing is something that takes a certain amount of money to succeed. But you don't have to go to that huge expense. Show locally. Buy a young horse and have it trained and take a chance. Do alot of your own training. Buy stuff second hand. Buy an older horse with soundness issues and work with that. There is ways to keep money down, and still get out there.
Don't think money makes a difference with barrel racing? Well, the richer barrel racers can buy the best trained, fastest horses. They can buy the top bred foals and send them to the best barrel racing trainers around. They can afford to haul to lots and lots of competitions to accumulatate money and prizes.
In my opinion, life isn't fair. But since I'm alive and kicking, I'm going to continue doing the best I can, with what I have. For now I won't be advertising in the Paint horse journal. Could I in the future? I doubt it, but I suppose anything is possible!
There's my thoughts on the issue.
Reply:The QH journal is the same before the World and I don't see what the problem is. If you've spent all year hauling your horse around the country to get points to qualify, you'd want to shout it out.
Most trainers these days have judges cards for QH, Paint and App and to suggest that they avert their eyes from magazines is silly. In the Gainesville, Pilot Point, Aubrey area, everyone knows each other, uses the same stores, same vets etc so they "fraternize" on a daily basis. I don't think an ad in a mag is going to make that much difference one way or the other. It's not an ego trip either, we promoted all of ours in the journal because it's a good promotional tool for the trainer, the studs and their offspring and encourages people to come seek you out at the show.
What next, no stalls curtains because other exhibitors can't afford them?
Reply:I don't believe it gives an unfair advantage. It is however, a major waste of space, and a pain to the reader. But if people want to waste their money on advertising which doesn't benefit them in any way, let them do it, they are just showing off, and it's their own loss.
Reply:This occurs in every breed journal. I used to get the Paint Journal, but the ads got so mind numbingly boring.. lotsa "Look at Me!" stuff. I think that for a big operation, this advertising is probably necessary to keep them in front of their customer base, but I also think it helps drive up the costs of a lot of the biz. I like the AQHA's member mag...it is geared to everyone, has great articles and not page after page of enlarged butts, forearms and cheeks. The Arabian folks also have a similar mag for its members. About real people and their horses. Still some "dream on come-ons", but stuff I like to read and I don't have to look at 50 ads to get to 1 good article. I think judges look at these journals and they know who's in the big leagues and who's not, but I have seen great horses owned by John Q Nobody get used at the big shows by judges that are fair. In Arabian showing, a lot of these judges were featured quite extensively in breeder ads themselves as they tend to be trainers when they aren't judges. I try not to show under a judge who knows me. Once, this happened and the judge was a fellow club member... I tried to avoid eye contact, and hoped for the best. I got the class and later, the judge saw me, recognized me, and remarked about this. Thought it was odd when most riders are vying for attention, but I just didn't want to get picked due to any favoritism. She appreciated that.
Reply:I'm not sure it does. Those with the glitz of ads better be ready to back it up in the ring. A horse might look picture perfect there but comes in the ring and another non-advertised horse keeps getting the judge's eye. The best horse should be put up and most times the best one in the judge's opinion is (and it really is just an OPINION). Personally if it were me and if I recognized the horse I'd look that much closer.
True story - I know of a mare who is a 4 time world champion. I wouldn't take her if she was given to me. Seriously. She's a RIP to deal with; she's a nasty wench in the stall; she's crooked big time in front and unsound because of it. She fractured the coffin bone in the pasture - that's how bad the crooked is and how much pressure it's putting on her. I also handled three offspring - none could stand pressure of seriously working (as in riding!) as they'd get sore. They had crappy attitudes - which would be fixable if the people there would do so but they don't. The oldest colt is an aggressive BRAT and can't be broke to ride because even just lunging him he won't stay sound. The middle one is better but has other issues; the youngest had the best chances but even as a baby a day of playing and he'd be sore and limping. And the thing is this mare was world champion pinned in halter not once but FOUR TIMES. I don't get how 'cause I took one look at her front end and looked at the next mare.
Show wins don't mean everything. Horses have bad days and a bad day on the wrong day can make a difference. The horse that acts up in the ring, blows leads etc is not going to win no matter how many expensive ads are run. JMO
Reply:Honestly, I can't stand the exhibitor 'ads' for the World show, but I do not believe it gives any advantage to the exhibitor, as far as judging. There is no way the judges even recognize these people (unless already known from a previous experience) inside the arena. First, the outfits, hats, glitz and all... plus the amount of horses and people they see every day.... plus the fact that they are looking at very specific things and the exhibitor's face usually isn't one that gets a ton of attention. That's just my thought on the matter.
I do hate the waste of space in the Journal and think that if a ranch is going to advertise their horses going to World then it should be on the horses (especially mares and stallions, if breeders). I also think that if a trainer is going to advertise his clients going to World, it should be how many and his talents that are advertised... Blah... it really irritates me! lol
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