Vicki Humphrey Training Center

09/10/2024

Open Letter from a concerned member. I urge all of our members to voice their opinion respectfully and request a revote. We cannot afford to kick this can down the road. Copy and paste or write your own letter but please let your voice be heard!!!
Dear Board Members and CAC Members,
I am writing on behalf of a group of concerned members regarding the recent decision to mandate participation in each regional in order to compete in a Regional Championship Show. While we understand and appreciate the intent behind the decision, we believe it is crucial to reassess its implications, particularly in terms of economic burden and the lack of member consultation.
One of the most significant concerns with this policy is the economic strain it places on participants. Traveling to multiple regions for championship shows involves considerable expenses, including transportation, lodging, and time away from work and other responsibilities. Making them travel twice is difficult. These costs can quickly become prohibitive, especially in today’s economic climate where many individuals and families are already struggling to make ends meet.
For some members, the financial burden may be manageable, but the others, it could mean the difference between continuing their involvement in our organization and having to step away. This decision, if upheld, risks alienating a substantial portion of our membership, potentially leading to reduced participation overall. Instead of fostering greater engagement, the requirement may inadvertently create barriers to entry, particularly for those who are not financially privileged.
Disallowing “participation only” at Regional as a qualification is disheartening as the lack of stress involved knowing you had fulfilled your obligation by showing turned Region 14 into a fun-filled enjoyable show this year. As our last show of the year with two babies who had never been to a show, it was personally great to know a 6th place was not going to be a deal breaker. It also seems contradictory to disallow Regional participation as a qualification and require qualifying in each region but at the same time allow a “back door” solution of concurrent shows and pre-shows that absolutely contradict the intent of the rule change.
Another significant issue is the lack of input from members before this decision was made. Our organization thrives on the active participation and support of its members, and it is essential that their voices are heard, especially when decisions of this magnitude are being considered.
We have received numerous communications from members expressing their concerns and frustrations about the mandate. They feel that their needs and opinions were not adequately considered. As a member-driven organization, it is our duty to ensure that decisions reflect the collective will of those we serve. By not seeking broader input, we risk eroding trust and diminishing the sense of community that is so vital to our success.
Given the significant economic implications and the lack of member consultation, we respectfully urge the board to reconsider the decision to mandate participation in each regional championship show. Instead, we propose exploring alternative solutions that encourage participation without imposing undue financial hardship or disregarding member input.
We believe that by reversing this decision and engaging in a more collaborative decision-making process, we can better serve our membership and ensure the long-term health and vitality of our organization.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Vicki Humphrey

08/03/2024

The Board is going to vote on the use of Tongue Stabilizers for the US National Futurities next week. We need to get ahead of this vote.
We have fought hard for the use of tongue stabilizers and we have improved the comfort and welfare of our horses AND our riders with them.
We passed that resolution arguing that horses who cannot relax their tongue position on their own, with the help of the tongue stablilizer, do relax and go to work with less stress. Nothing is more stressful for a horse of any age than having their tongue end up over the bit or between the snaffle and curb bit.
At the AHA Convention we had veterinarians and professional trainers logically educate us as to why the use of tongue stabilizers was a humane way to help our horses become more comfortable learning to handle their bridle. Having passed that new rule allowing the use of tongue stabilizers using this logic, how can we now disallow their use because they are “stressful” on young horses?!?! In fact, it is when horses are young, in their formative years that they need it the most!
As a trainer for 50 years, I have a general routine with young horses. They start with fat snaffles and no cavessons. I give them time to understand the feel, use, pressure of a bit. Then I make adjustments to horses according to how they respond, none of them identical. Some have busy tongues that never relax under a bit. Then, I introduce a tongue stabilizer. The ones that relax and are more comfortable with the TS, wear it as long as is needed. Some for week, some a month and some always. In the rare circumstance that a horse is more stressed by stabilizing his tongue, I take it off!
We are horsemen and need to make decisions for our own individual horses that are in their best interest . If a tongue stabilizer makes your horse more stressed, then don’t use it!
Finally, I want to point out again, as we did at the Convention when we passed this resolution permitting its use, it is legal to use it in the paddock. This proposed change just requires that we take it off when we go in the gate. That might actually make it more stressful to our young horses.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, the passing of the Tongue Stabilizing Resolution does not require you to use it, it is merely an option. If your horse is stressed by it, DON’T USE IT.
Once again, we are acting illlogically and inconsistently. Either the stabilizer helps alleviate stress or it does not, but we cannot have it both ways.

I urge all of you to call or email your director with this statement:

We are in favor of Tongue Stabilizers for the Futurity horses. Please vote to allow them . The delegates passes this resolution based on the reasoning that the tongue stabilizer helps alleviate stress.

Don’t make us take one step forward and two steps back.

Hashtag: Futurity Commissioners: Lance Walters, Deb Witty, Carrie Olson, John Ryan, Chuck Mangan, Ryan Chambers, Kimberly Dickinson

07/18/2024

Saddlesuits For Sale at Youth Nationals - VHTC

01/05/2024

Ring in the New Year with one of our talented sale horses!

10/26/2023

08/20/2023

Region 14 Championship Horse Show 2023

(Saturday Afternoon - Evening)

Vicki Vhtc Humphrey Cynthia Copeland Hodge

08/19/2023

Region 14 Championship Horse Show 2023

(Friday - Saturday Morning)

Vicki Vhtc Humphrey Lori Foster Laurie Ames-Husband Cynthia Copeland Hodge

08/19/2023

Make sure you check this talented mare out at Region 14!

08/18/2023

Region 14 Championship Horse Show 2023

(As of Thursday Evening... more to come)

Riyan Public Relations Vicki Vhtc Humphrey Laurie Ames-Husband Krystal McCulloch Mitch Sperte Joni Masselink Celina Carabetta Anna Carabetta Kayla Masselink Anne Dursi Art Bartlett Cynthia Copeland Hodge Lori Foster

07/22/2023

07/21/2023

Schedule an appointment to check these guys out

07/21/2023

Still have some incredible horses available at the show.

07/21/2023

VHTC and Tracy Dowson congratulate new owner Amber Knowlton on her purchase of National Champion Supreme Commander SMP with Agent Grant Krohn. Best wishes for continued success!

07/21/2023

Jessica Clinton and Black Label VH - National Champions. Junior Country for owner Rocky Higgins!

07/20/2023

Congratulations to Cindy Eberly on the purchase of SD Bells N Whistles from Connor Koch, VHTC agent. We wish them the best of luck with “Buddy”!!

07/20/2023

07/20/2023