Seems much less activity on this forum?

[Sylvie Hebert]

May be with the economy,racetracks closing or in precarious state and simply horsemen having to move to other things and yes also the unwanted horses issues,less people have luxury of playing or simply having racehorses.I know for a fact that in my area horses are a dime a dozen and lots of people are out.

[Joltman]

maybe it can be an incentive to improve. I would like to see a discussion forum on Conformation, where people could post photos and critique.

jm

[clh]

Okay, I'll bite . I quit posting as much because of the bickering quite frankly. I think some people got a little too mean to the folks who came here for advice from the folks that had the experience and they got blasted for it. They were told their mare was a piece of crap, their stallion should be gelded and they should never produce another foal again. They didn't come here for their business plan advice - they probably already had done that. I know when I first came here years ago, there were some folks who were passionate but it wasn't mean spirited and for a time, it seemed to be mean spirited here. I post on other boards and even though I don't breed any longer, I still have an interest in breeding and I still miss it. I still love seeing other people's foals and still want to continue learning. I can still offer advice about what we did here at our farm with certain things as they come up. I still have one horse at the track.

So perhaps that is more information than was asked, but that is what I see is going on. I felt a close kinship to alot of people here and met some folks here, it just got too b*tchy for me to spend too much time here. It is nice to know that there is one person that is really interested in Midnight Vader on this board though

Thanks,

C

[IcouldbeU]

People don't post here because it's no fun. One post can lead to many nasty PM's, the "rescuers" attack when you have questions about breeding, anyone who really has knowledge have left this board and the ones who left are wannabes in my opinion.

[bdw0617]

People don't post here because it's no fun. One post can lead to many nasty PM's, the "rescuers" attack when you have questions about breeding, anyone who really has knowledge have left this board and the ones who left are wannabes in my opinion.

ironically enough i think you have it exactly the wrong way around.

but I agree with the sentiment. not everyone has the same goals as you, not everyone has the same knowledge as you do or skill set, people want to learn and ask questions and converse bicker / hate free. at least most of the time, sometimes stuff happens but I mean it shouldn't happen as much as it happens here. it gets old.

[IcouldbeU]

sadly BDW...reading what others have said on this thread I think you have it backwards...CLH put it exactly right.

When I asked about breeding my mare last year who was unplaced and injured in her 6th start, I was told to send her to a retirement home. When I asked about finding a Ribot line stallion, I received more than a few PM's informing me that since I had never bred a horse, instead of looking for a stallion, I should go claim something that I could afford.

I do not have breeding knowledge, my horse knowledge is limited to the 25+ years of owning horses who I raced. I pay trainers, blacksmiths and vets. I have won my share of races but because I do not have much experience with pedigrees and breeding I am a fool. I thought that getting into the breeding end would be a fun extension of what I was doing but I see that I am unwanted and new owners/breeders are definitely unwanted in this industry.

[clh]

I am so sorry ICouldBeU that this was what happened to you. It really makes me very sad. When my husband I started in this business we had no experience with horses but we had a vet who helped and a great farrier. We also had a partner who ripped us off but that is another story . But I was also able to come here and find answers and friendship. I hate it that you weren't able to do that. We had a great time the years that we bred and I know we bred quality horses. The mares didn't want for anything in our care. The only reason we got out of the business was 1) husband retired and he wanted the flexibility to travel and 2) I had been injured the past three summers and he was afraid they would kill me one day . (A broken hip, broken foot and a knee that needed surgery after a foal gave me a good kick). Other than that, the time we spent with the horses was the best time ever! I HOPE you did not let the folks here "talk" you out of trying to do something that would have brought you great pleasure. Sounds like you had plenty of experience in the business.

[IcouldbeU]

CLH: It may be a good thing that things with breeding did not work out for me, my wife says that I am accident prone, I could only imagine what would happen to me! I am sorry that you were hurt so many times! I do have a friend who breeds on the east coast and I hooked my brother in law up with them so that he may be able to get the racing partnership that I could not help him with. As for me, I will still lurk around here and stay with geldings at the track

[bdw0617]

this is one of those businesses that i have found you have to roll up your sleeves and figure stuff out for yourself. Because otherwise you will get crapped on or taken advantage of.

[Joltman]

this is one of those businesses that i have found you have to roll up your sleeves and figure stuff out for yourself. Because otherwise you will get crapped on or taken advantage of.

That's part of the challenge, as long as you can put up with the crap. Some of us look for alternative ways of doing things, outside the norm. Contrarians - which the 'experts' will always condemn and demean. The odds are against, but the lore of racing is full of people who did things differently, and were successful. Some even changed the way the whole business works. It is one of few sports where the little guy can realistically get to the big leagues - even later in life Maybe not the next Sheik big, but high level making the most of what one is given. And struggling and winning at times, learning along the way, like life itself.

jm

[Sailor Kenshin]

Okay, I'll bite . I quit posting as much because of the bickering quite frankly. I think some people got a little too mean to the folks who came here for advice from the folks that had the experience and they got blasted for it. They were told their mare was a piece of crap, their stallion should be gelded and they should never produce another foal again. They didn't come here for their business plan advice - they probably already had done that. I know when I first came here years ago, there were some folks who were passionate but it wasn't mean spirited and for a time, it seemed to be mean spirited here. I post on other boards and even though I don't breed any longer, I still have an interest in breeding and I still miss it. I still love seeing other people's foals and still want to continue learning. I can still offer advice about what we did here at our farm with certain things as they come up. I still have one horse at the track.

So perhaps that is more information than was asked, but that is what I see is going on. I felt a close kinship to alot of people here and met some folks here, it just got too b*tchy for me to spend too much time here. It is nice to know that there is one person that is really interested in Midnight Vader on this board though

Thanks,

C

You are exactly right.

And I don't specifically mean this board, because I'm too new to have seen the past you speak of. But I have been an innerwebs poster for a lonnnng time.

And the same things are happening on every other forum. Bickering. Nastiness. Jealousy. Backbiting.

Several good political and other forums are gone b ecause of just that. It's everywhere.

PQF and only one or two other hobby and other-interest forums are the only places I still visit. I'll probably never own a horse and never breed, but I am a fan. This forum is reconnecting me with an old interest and filling me with new insight.

But the nastiness you mentioned is wide-spread.

[zinn21]

About a week ago I read a thread I hadn't followed, already 5 pages long. The thread was quite nasty. I jumped in with a flip post essentially stating the thread had become an ego driven pissing contest. My remark wasn't fair but I hit the wall and told it like I thought it was. And it's that type of dialogue that becomes tiresome for me. Don't know what the answer is as someone previously mentioned one can find similar dialogue on many other MB's. This is a very tough business. Hopefully we can respectfully share information that will benefit us all..

[clh]

The problem is that this industry is dying before our eyes and when new people want to get in this business and when the experienced folks don't welcome them and answer their questions without making them feel like an idiot it is no wonder we don't get new members. Yes, sometimes some of the things that are said is inappropriate, but certainly it can be told in a kinder, gentler way even IF the other person is not being kind in return. I am a member of another board and most of the people there who profess to be so knowledgeable and spout experience have never owned a horse, never ridden a horse, never been to the track - BUT they give advice to people and feel they are 100% correct all the time. It is really very discouraging to see people trying to learn and then constantly be told off by armchair quarterbacks. Are there no manners left or do people just don't care?

[Bast]

Are there no manners left or do people just don't care?

Manners are just about gone.

We've raised a generation or two telling them that knowing or doing is not nearly as important as trying hard. That just isn't so. One can try very hard, doing things wrong, and get nowhere.

But now we have millions of people convinced they know Everything because of the intensity of their emotions. Emotions have their place, but knowledge and skills are gained by serious study and application.

We have people camping out in public places who claim they want to change society for the 99% they claim to represent. They appear to know nothing about economics, or much of anything else useful, like basic hygiene, but their belief in their absolute expert opinions is unshakeable.

There are a lot of people out there convinced that they are elite, and "special", and deserving of whatever they desire because they know what they deserve. They expect to start at the top.

[clh]

You are so very right Bast. I should have know better than to have asked that question. When children aren't afraid of their parents or their teachers and do whatever they want to do without any consequences whatsoever, what do we expect? We should expect exactly what we've got.

Do you think people feel safer being nastier and rude on the internet than they would in a face to face situation with someone? Does that make them feel better about themselves that they can say whatever they want because they can't be seen and can hide behind the "screen"?