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847 Posts
I was really hoping the mods changed their minds about this during the server migration, but I see they haven't.
I guess what I'm not understanding is why our discipline needs some kind of validation from the rest of the forum for it to exist here. There are sub-forums from less popular disciplines, such as driving and endurance (heck, you even have a subforum for therapeutic riding, and that's not even a 'discipline'!) where threads are only created/updated every few months or so, and yet for some obscure reason we need to prove the popularity of our discipline before a sub-forum can be created for it.
Sure I sound a little bitter, and that's because I am. Saddle Seat is not a popular discipline, I think everyone who has been involved in it knows this. It takes a very specific horse (both in breed and mentality) to participate in Saddle Seat, and said horses are not as versatile because of this, so many of us who own a Saddle Seat horse only show in this discipline because of it. However, I don't think this is a valid argument for why or why not a subforum should be created - in fact, I think it's an even more valid reason for its inception. We are so limited to what we can do with our horses, we belong no where else but to our own community.
Saddle Seat is a valid and (officially) recognized discipline just as much as any other out there. It's a bit insulting and disheartening that those of us who participate in the sport need to prove ourselves worthy before we can exist in the eyes of this forum. The "Saddleseat Questions" thread suggestion is also just as discouraging. This isn't a thread started by a Saddle Seat rider wanting to discuss different training methods and equitation tips, it's a thread questioning our discipline! (although I will give it credit in that the thread was civil and the OP seemed legitimately interested).
I want somewhere where I can start a thread about methods for training different Saddle Seat horses, grooming techniques specific to our discipline, and discussing how to win the next show. If I did this under the regular English subforum, I am more likely to receive negative comments and general questions about the discipline than an actual discussion on the topic at hand, and we all know it. English Hunt Seat and Saddle Seat are nothing the same.
I really just don't understand why this is so much to ask for. I live in Canada, where my trainer and her students must often travel down the to US to show because of the limited popularity here - but they do so because Saddle Seat is their passion. We have clubs and committees just to promote our discipline, many of which I belong to. I am doing my part out there, just as I am trying to do here, because this forum is intended for all riders and their horses of all walks of life.
Perhaps you can't understand personally, but try to remember that I belong to a forum that seems to include everything but my discipline. I don't belong anywhere here if I want to ask specific, targeted questions about our training programs. Everyone else has this luxury but us exclusive Saddle Seat riders.
Sorry, but not sorry. I know my attitude about this isn't the greatest, but I'm just not understanding the logic behind all this hesitation and resistance.
I guess what I'm not understanding is why our discipline needs some kind of validation from the rest of the forum for it to exist here. There are sub-forums from less popular disciplines, such as driving and endurance (heck, you even have a subforum for therapeutic riding, and that's not even a 'discipline'!) where threads are only created/updated every few months or so, and yet for some obscure reason we need to prove the popularity of our discipline before a sub-forum can be created for it.
Sure I sound a little bitter, and that's because I am. Saddle Seat is not a popular discipline, I think everyone who has been involved in it knows this. It takes a very specific horse (both in breed and mentality) to participate in Saddle Seat, and said horses are not as versatile because of this, so many of us who own a Saddle Seat horse only show in this discipline because of it. However, I don't think this is a valid argument for why or why not a subforum should be created - in fact, I think it's an even more valid reason for its inception. We are so limited to what we can do with our horses, we belong no where else but to our own community.
Saddle Seat is a valid and (officially) recognized discipline just as much as any other out there. It's a bit insulting and disheartening that those of us who participate in the sport need to prove ourselves worthy before we can exist in the eyes of this forum. The "Saddleseat Questions" thread suggestion is also just as discouraging. This isn't a thread started by a Saddle Seat rider wanting to discuss different training methods and equitation tips, it's a thread questioning our discipline! (although I will give it credit in that the thread was civil and the OP seemed legitimately interested).
I want somewhere where I can start a thread about methods for training different Saddle Seat horses, grooming techniques specific to our discipline, and discussing how to win the next show. If I did this under the regular English subforum, I am more likely to receive negative comments and general questions about the discipline than an actual discussion on the topic at hand, and we all know it. English Hunt Seat and Saddle Seat are nothing the same.
I really just don't understand why this is so much to ask for. I live in Canada, where my trainer and her students must often travel down the to US to show because of the limited popularity here - but they do so because Saddle Seat is their passion. We have clubs and committees just to promote our discipline, many of which I belong to. I am doing my part out there, just as I am trying to do here, because this forum is intended for all riders and their horses of all walks of life.
Perhaps you can't understand personally, but try to remember that I belong to a forum that seems to include everything but my discipline. I don't belong anywhere here if I want to ask specific, targeted questions about our training programs. Everyone else has this luxury but us exclusive Saddle Seat riders.
Sorry, but not sorry. I know my attitude about this isn't the greatest, but I'm just not understanding the logic behind all this hesitation and resistance.