Maybe you shouldn't then. It makes you come off as incredibly rude and stuck up. Honestly, I've never really understood why people dislike hunters so much. Until this board.
I'm not going to change my speaking style to suit your preferences. It's the way I speak. For example yesterday I said, "OMG, Joe's work is the reason for my existence!". It's kinda understood that Joe's art really isn't the reason for my existence, but it is a more creative way of saying, "I rather enjoy Joe's artwork". I guess people aren't used to that particular literary device. I've chosen to ignore the rest of your sentiment.

I suppose I'm well off compared to some people. I've got a horse and can pay the board(which probably costs 1/3 of what you pay for your horse's), but getting the extra cash for shows isn't always easy and I don't own the right color or breed of horse to be in hunters, but I've stuck it out anyways.
Congrats for doing what people do every day, and don't make assumptions about people you don't know. There really isn't a right "breed" of horse for the hunters, in fact, the horse I'm obsessed with right now is an Appendix, mine is a Holsteiner, one of my friends has a QH, and another has a TB. I don't care about breed, as long as it moves decent, jumps cute, and looks like a hunter. And dun really isn't that controversial of a color for the hunters. Now, an appy or a paint is much more controversial.

I have a red dun quarter horse x haflinger that I bought for pretty cheap as a green 4 year old project pony. He not only grew in size, but he grew on me too. He was not at all the fancy show horse I had dreamed of, that'd carry me effortlessly around 3'6 courses with autochanges, but none of that mattered after a few short weeks. I'd intended to keep him at max a year, but I knew there was no way I'd ever be able to sell him.
My project was a green 8yr old solid paint who liked to buck and never did lead changes. Yay for me. Most riders do eventually have a project horse, it's not unusual, and I don't see the point in this story.

I've worked my dang a** off to get where I am today and to make my horse the star he is now. We always place at shows, both schooling and the provincial(B) circuit.
Most people DO work hard to get where they are. I worked hard to get where I am, and you seem to be ensenuating that I didn't.

Up until 2 months ago, I didn't own a single piece of in style or big name equipement. My Charles Owen helmet is an early Christmas present because my old helmet was too small and I worked out a deal with my mom to earn it.So, yeah it pisses me right the hell off when you say that brands matter, to the judge or anyone else. If you're a good rider, you're a good rider no matter what you're wearing. And a good rider can make a horse look good in any tack or clothing.
Not what I said. Not at all. Judges take off for un-traditional tack and clothing. Like if I were to show my horse in a DRESSAGE show bow, bell boots, a german martingale, an elevator, a colored saddle pad, etc. the judge would not place you.

"If riding were only blue ribbons and bright lights, I would have quit a long time ago"~ George Morris

"Virginia has the nicest horses"~ George Morris

"Riding is first a sport, then an Art. That's why I make a lot of money"~George Morris

"Do as little as possible, but as much as necessary"~George Morris

"Distances are like men... never take the first one you see, there will always be another one"~George Morris

"Function equals form, and form equals function"~you guessed it :)

Last Edited By: Hunter Princess Oct 28 08 7:39 PM. Edited 1 times.