Dear Equestrian Sports New Zealand

AKA Daylight Robbers R US.

I did not quibble at the increasing price of registration fees this year, seeing as last year you told us that it was going to increase for the next three years. I still sent in my cheque for $589 that basically allows me to compete my horses in my desired discipline and doesn't do much else. I understand that money is used to increase the upper end of our sport and help our riders do well off shore. I don't quibble tat none of this money makes it to the grass roots of the sport as far as I can see, after 8 years on the local showjumping group committee. Apart from pretty identification papers and doing the insurance at shows, just what are you doing with all that money that it needs to increase at such a rate?? It was only a couple of years ago that the Bulletin was $40 and now that has increased by 50%. I did not quibble about any of these things.

But I'm quibbling about this. The cost of a name change has gone from $50 to $80. What in Gods green Earth is the extra 30 bucks needed for apart from revenue gathering?? I understand you want to keep the price high so people don't often change horses names, but jeebers isn't $50 bucks for you to change the name in the computer and print some stickers enough?? I had a horse that came to me once called Bobbit- you know like that woman who dismembered her husbands genitalia? Would you not want to be able to change that name?? Incidently I didn't change her name because her papers where for a gelding that was a year younger and I think Bill can attest to her mothers femaleness, I just registered her as a new horse.

I want to change Kate's name. I HATE Kate's show name, it's not her at all. But I don't know if I want to change it $80 much. I hate that the very federation that should be promoting our sport and encouraging members, is creating a weathly elitism in the sport. There are people that can not afford to do registered shows and that seems unfair that they don't a chance to play with the big boys. It used to be expensive, but it's getting ridiculous. It will get to the point where people just give up because the fees are too much on top of all the other costs involved with running an equine athlete.

Le sigh.