Tania Kettle

Well, Karaka was super fucking disappointing today.

Two thirds less than normal, of people.

Almost 50% of horses got passed in due to not reaching a decent price, and the rest went for fairly little money.

Some of the horses didn't even cover their stud fee, let alone vets, food, worming, farrier etc.

There are going to be some very, very unhappy people tonight and for once, the studs were taking home a fair whack of horses, because they didn't sell.

You can also tell the Trainers that are leaving for the South Island, moving to Australia or giving up completely.

Unless Harness Racing does a complete 180 turn around and starts looking after its Breeders, Drivers and Trainers, there won't be Harness Racing in the future.

A colossal waste of my time today.

I hate stupid, and I particularly hate stupid, old, white, self-entitled men, who even when they're drowning, refuse to change direction.

****

So after the disappointment of yesterday at Karaka, it was the big Cup night at Alexander tonight, and I re-remembered why I love the horses and horse peeps so much.

I met up with old friends I hadn't seen in ages and made new friends.

I was part of intelligent breeding conversations, where peeps came to the same place as me re stallions and especially their off-spring, but for completely different reasons.

Which I always find interesting.

These conversations are always a place where you go in with an open mind, because these men (and women) are intelligent, horse smart, and a lot (well, some) think outside the square.

There were lots of, Wait!  How did you get to that point? What process did you take, to get to that conclusion?

Me thinks there will be lots of other conversations at later dates.

What a shame these peeps are not running the Breeding program.  We need intelligent, Think-Ouside-The-Square peeps, because it is these men and women who will in the future, and do right now, get results.

Yet you don't know their names, because they don't breed the quantity of horses to get noticed.  However, their rates of success (Getting-In-Foal-Holding-Foal-Getting-To-Track-Racing-Winning) are far higher than the industry standard.

I know, right?  Go fucking figure.

Do not get me started on stupid, old, white, self-entitled men again.

Love to my friend whose family sponsored a race, it's great that peeps put back into our industry and if I ever make any money from my horses racing, I will do the same. 

You don't get anything from it, it's just a really nice thing to do for the horses.

And a super love to our friend that won.

Two completely different, but wildly good, experiences.

****

Oh wait...If you are doing the Treadmill Experience 12-3-30, which is:

Setting a treadmill to a 12% incline and walking at 3 miles per hour for 30 minutes, please note,

American Treadmills go in MILES, whereas New Zealand Treadmills go in KM's.

This means in New Zealand times you have to have the speed at 4.8.

As I found out today from the young one, when I told him (very proudly) that I was doing it at 3.3 speed.

In actual fact, as he politely pointed out, I need to be doing it at 4.8 speed.

Bugger.  Bugger.  Fuck.

****

So that's been our week:

Take what you need, leave the rest, don't be a Fuckwit.

Kissy hugs

Caps, me (T - she/her), Spirit, Az, Ralph, Chew, Suz, and of course, my beautiful Mumma Bear, Belle and Boo-ba-licious, Pat, Pepper, Marmite the Second, Geraldine, Milli, Bessie, Raz, Riz, Sugar, Butter, Cookie, Cinammon and Mork. 

* I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where I work and live, and pay my respects to Elders, past and present.

** Having pronouns in an email signature signals you as an LGBTQIA and/or ally (a person who is not LGBT, but who actively supports the LGBT community)

LGBTQIA – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex (a person born with a combination of male and female biological traits) and Asexual (little or no sexual attraction to others)

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