[Sandra-A1]

I just came across this editorial about fraudulent photos...and while this is written by a well known and respected Arabian Trainer & Judge...it can apply to ANY and EVERY breed!

Fradulent Photos Editorial

[madvoice]

That's a very well written article. It shocked me to some extent that this kind of thing was going on. The photos I've ever listed of the horses I'm trying to sell have always been AS IS! Keep up the good work

[arabchic]

They have a great point, they should have documentation that pictures are in their true form and not altered in any way, before they put them in magazines or ads. I think that is a great idea. If they infact do have an awesome horse that they are trying to sell or breed, the horse should be able to look like its natural self and sell just like that.

[Shans5050]

well i put my comments in there

[wyldterv]

Sandra... I have to say, I find this article most interesting coming from Micheal Byatt... I can remember when he himself was NOT as principled as it appears he is trying to become today. I say Kudos to Michael for realizing that Change in the horse industry in general, Arabian specifically, needs to be happening.

Photos have been altered though to be different from relality LONG before digital enhancements came about. I have AHW's dating back to the 80's, you can see how topography was manipulated to make a horse appear to have a flatter croup, where airbrushing was done to clean up necks, etc.

The same happens with dog photos. Which is why I NEVER would buy sight unseen, a dog or a horse based off of photos alone. If you're sincerely interested in a horse that you can not get your hands on, ask for Video of that horse! It's not impossible to Doctor video but it's much more difficult and expensive to do, SO, you have a much higher chance of seeing the 'real' horse.

[Sandra-A1]

Wyld, I don't know how long you have known Michael, but the man has for years been publicly outspoken against illegal and abusive practices in the Arabian show ring. He has been in AHW before talking about the need to clean up the IAHA, now the AHA, show rings.
Speaking for myself, I would not hesitate to send a horse to him for training and showing, and have yet to see a horse trained and handled by him that was frightened, not people friendly and more than willing and happy to perform.

I am glad to see someone in his position in the Arabian Horse World who is willing to speak up and call attention to things that do have a great impact on the breed and it's image. While I doubt there will be any big over night type of change, I have seen, and do feel that the baby steps the breed is taking are steps in the right direction and are making impact and a difference.

I do think that there should be more "truth" in, not only the advertising, but in the actual "breeding" classes at the shows. While I do agree it is a "show" any class that is designated a "breeding" class and any horse advertised as a "breeding" animal should be honesty represented. Then I also feel the same about any animal that is being marketed for sale....

[wyldterv]

I was very heavy in to Class A Arabs from 1980-1988 and then followed from 88 until today. I can remember more "how to do this and that" then I should probably admit, but truth is if you did not learn about it, you either ended up 'took' or you ended up not being competative. That's the way it was.

I can remember they "Hey day" and the demise of the multi-million dollar syndicates as well. I was a teen but I was not naive and had one heck of a mentor to show me the ins and outs along the way, which I'll be forever grateful for.

I always liked the way Michael's horses were set down, but I also know he pulled a few of the 'tricks' in his lifetime way back when, just nothing suburbly horrid like a few others I can think of off the top of my head... I'm just glad to see he's pushing for more 'natural' horses these days! The breed should not be turned into a chacracture of itself IMO.

It is a horse SHOW and I have no issues with using high lighter, hoof polish, show sheen, etc, to create a gleeming horse but let's not add fake tail pieces, fix tails, weave in mane extensions, dye color, sore feet,etc... THIS of course does go on in many different showing venues and it happens in the dog world as well, but to what end? People breeding to these 'created' animals and NOT getting what they thought they were breeding into OR getting stuff they'd not counted on... Alas as long as winning is more important then breeding, it will continue to happen. As long as HUMANS run the show I suppose it will happen to a degree as well.