Equitable equine opportunities for all

Angela Payton and Lisa Jenkins
Published: March 21, 2008

Many people really don't have much good to say about the hunter and westernhorse industry because they don't understand much about it.

    Well, there is a lot to say about the equine industry, and  Culpeper may as well come to terms with this industry because it is out there and a lot of us horse people care a lot about it. 

     We put a lot of time into our horses and would like to be recognized for all our hard work and all our time.
     You hear about the fox hunters, Kelly's Ford Equine and Commonwealth Park. 

     OK, they are supported by the yuppies who have the money to pull their horses around. 

     What about us little people who don't have that kind of money to allow us be pulled around to different events-

     What's up with all this fox hunter stuff- What about the western people- We work hard for what money we make and would like to show our equine as well, hunter and western shows, but still have to leave the county to find shows. 

     Why is it that I hear we don't have enough money coming into the county- 

      The equine industry could bring money into the county if the county would quit pushing the little horse people aside. 

     Culpeper needs to stop focusing on the fox hunters and look at the big picture. 

     Equine comes in many forms: hunter, western, barrel racing, teaming penning, sorting, cutting, reining, trail competition, endurance and, yes, even quarterhorse racing. The list goes on and on. 

The equine industry can bring money into the county, if the county would just cooperate with all horse people, not just fox hunters and yuppie upper-class people. 

     Why not bring an equine center to Culpeper and bring some money into our county- 

     There are a lot of us horse people in the county, and we would like a chance to show our horses at fair, affordable shows right here in Culpeper so we won't have to travel so far. 
     Look around. Virginia is nothing but horses, and it is here to stay and will never go away, so Culpeper, let's make equine a part of our county for everybody.