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Horses in the parade
Submitted by futurevet on Sun, 06/28/2009 - 12:16am.
Every year it's wonderful to see horses in the parade....not so any more. It just seems there needs to be some sort of rules behind allowing a horse and rider to be entered into the parade. Several of the horses are in poor condition (i.e-underweight). Some of the riders (I believe they call themselves the "Carolina Cowboys") should NOT even be allowed to ride a horse! They make their horses misbehave (even if it is just a horse with holes in its training why put it in a parade? only those experienced horses that do not spook are to be in parades), rear, and trot/canter (in 100+ degree heat) when probably the horses are not shod(which is VERY bad for their hooves).
I know of a lot of people concerned about this issue (I'm sure every animal lover). It's not safe for the horses nor those watching the parade! I've witnessed one of the "Carolina Cowboys" running his horse up onto the sidewalk through misbehavior where children were watching. Even allowing a horse to rear (or MAKING them do that through the bit) is dangerous as well and should be looked down upon, not used as entertainment!!! Why does whoever let those entries into the parade year after year???!!! As a horse owner myself, it makes the Hampton County horse community look very bad! We have visitors from all over to watch our parade....they should NOT see this!
Let's PLEASE do something about this and NOT let those entries into the parade anymore! I hope that others can help me in my search to contact the person behind this.
In Total Agreement
I agree, there should be some way of screening the entries. I was sitting at the beginning of the parade and one older horse was already struggling from the heat, and the parade had just started. I felt really sorry for the poor horse. I also had one of the "Carolina Cowboys" ride near where we were watching the parade and rear his horse up only ten feet away from where my son and another younger child was standing. He looked to be only a teenager, and obviously his only goal was showing off, not taking into account the danger of the stunt he was pulling. I love watching the horses. It's one of my sons favorite things about the parade. I agree that only serious individuals with horses in top shape to take on the long walk on asphalt and extreme heat should be allowed to ride in the parade.
Horses in the parade
God bless you, futurevet for addressing this. I've worked with horses all my life. I've even considered putting my horses in the parade, but after seeing the quality of riders (the horses can't be blamed), it's no longer anything I'd want to associate myself with. I was so angry with myself this year for staying to see the end of the parade. I have to say, this was the BEST parade I'd seen in years....until the end. Did anyone notice how dirty the horses were? How very few hooves had been trimmed recently? (most were chipped and cracked) How thin so many of them were? How frightened, and worked up the "Carolina Cowboys" horses were? Look, no one is saying only the highest pedigreed horses should be in the parade, but is it too much to ask to have clean, well fed, healthy, calm horses with riders who seem to give a darn about their's and their animal's appearance? This isn't a trailride through the woods, it's Hampton County front and center! Terrell Cleland was in charge of the parade applications this year. That would be a good place to start. If appealing to the Festival Committee on the basis of humaneness and safety aren't enough, how about the fact that Hampton County's image takes a hit every year!
Yes something should be
Yes something should be done about the fact that the horses do not have shoes or boots on there hoofs on the hot asphalt. But that should be the riders responsiblilty. If we had the help on the HCWF commitee to monitor every entry in the parade we probably would have a lot less units. Since you see fit to throw Terrell to the dogs because he is in charge of the parade maybe you should come out to the HCWF meetings they are held monthly at no cost, no interview or application required to be on the committee. We will gladly create a parade subcommitte to monitor the horses that are entered in the parade. You could be chairman Also I am sure that now after you have insulted Terrell that we will probably be looking for a new Parade Chairman also. I am the Vice chairman of the Festival, Mud Run, Carnival and Camper chairman. I also help Terrell with the parade along with alot of other Good committe members. We would gladly accept any help. But just remember the salary & Benefits are not real good. Just the INSULTS & NEGATIVE COMMENTS. But Thank's for the comment about the Best Parade that you had seen in years.
Thank's Jimmie Polk
Festival committee
I think yall did a great job with the whole festival.As far as the horses go yall cant prescreen everyone before they are allowed in.Heck I saw some people watching the parade that looked worse than those horses did.The parade was a great one from what I could see.I agree with Jimmie if you feel the need to complain or run others down become part of the solution not part of the problem.By the way congrats to Hampton allstars of all ages your doing great keep it rolling.
Horses in the parade
Good Grief! Did you ever get the WRONG message from my post! I did not throw Terrell to the dogs. He is a good hardworking person (as are all the VOLUNTEER committee members). The previous poster simply asked who to contact. Listen, everyone who lives in this county knows how hard you all work, how much personal time it takes, and how thankless a job it is. But isn't it possible to make a simple suggestion without you taking it personally? Can we all take a deep breath and address this valid issue maturely? There was nothing ugly about my post, nothing insulting. Jimmie, as a horse owner yourself, I know that YOU know what bad shape some (not all) of those horses were, and how badly handled some (not all) of them were. Can you put some guidelines on the parade application? Can we make the parade safer for the parade watchers? Lastly, the question remains: Is this the image of Hampton County we want others to see? Especially now that the parade is being televised???
horses in parade
I agree with "no horses" in parade- it's always so hot in the parade and the horses are not cared for. I talked to Chris and he told me he did not have anything to do with the horses- last year was just as bad. Jimmie Polk- if you have no horses in the parade maybe more people would sign up to help. Why is there no ASPCA in this county? In a county (other then this one) ASPCA would have told those people they could not be in the parade- go home and feed them and shod them.
horses
If people are using the excuse that horses being allowed in the parade is keeping them from helping they are just finding excuses.
Well Put POOR EXCUSE is
Well Put POOR EXCUSE is better than no excuse i guess.
Let's end this horse business
As Chairman of the Watermelon Festival, It's time for me to put an end to this discussion, or at least try to. Terrell Cleland and the few folks he has to help him run the parade all do an exceptional job. Ultimately I, as Chairman, am responsible for what goes on at the Festival, good or bad. Your complaints, issues, tirades, rants and suggestions should be made to me without pointing out who you think might be responsible or at fault. Although I do take responsiblity for any legitimate problems that may crop up, I do not and Mr. Cleland does not take responsibility for the way a horse owner treats his/her animal. We have neither the manpower or the time to make sure that each horse is shod or has on boots. We do not have a degreed vet on the committee that can make sure that a horse is fit enough to participate in the parade and we do not have "Horse Cops" to ride along with each group to make sure that a rider doesn't rear his horse or perform tricks that could be hazardous to the crowd. We hope that people have enough sense to not do that, but that is obviously not always the case. The parade is without a doubt the hardest event of the entire Festival to run. Most of the issues that have been discussed, or should I say ranted about, on this blog have been taken into consideration and will be addressed at the next Festival meeting. That meeting will be held on the 1st Thursday of August at 6:00pm at either our Festival office at the old Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home or at the Hampton Methodist Church Social Hall. Anyone wishing to attend that meeting is welcome to come, not to voice your complaints, but to offer solutions to the problem. Maybe what we should do is cotinue to keep out the car clubs, not allow horses. We can ban 2 year olds that won some beauty pageant from riding on a car without being in a child restraint seat in 100 degree heat. Not let candy throwing be allowed. Can't have bands because they might keel over during the 3 mile walk. Not let the firetrucks in because they may have to leave on a call during the parade. Not let anyone that's part of a color guard or in bathing suits, Confederate uniforms, clown outfits, Scout uniforms,etc., participate because it may offend someone. Hey we just solved the problem. Since we just tossed everone out for one reason or another we don't need to have a parade at all!!!!
Signed (Proudly)
Chris Haulsee- Chairman Hampton County Watermelon Festival
206 Ann Street, Hampton SC, 29924
haulsee61@yahoo.com
can't please everyone
I guess he told ya off...lol Keep up the great job.