Although horse riding is my preference these days I grew up in a family involved in harness racing and still enjoy watching the stake races in particular. However, the track is a quarter mile show track which limits the real speed of the world class ponies we have. Our round track always favors the rail pony and government should help the DHPC get a bigger venue because whether you know it or not we have some of the fastest harness racing ponies in the world. Are we trying to kill the sport or encouraging fair play? The debate regarding drug abuse at pony racing in Bermuda seems to be going way off track. I am concerned that those against pony racers are showing signs of being too subjective. Adrian Robson's Friday forum could have been well received if it had more balance without appearing to favor those against the sport.

We are going way overboard when suggesting a sport is cruel and callous without examining the positive aspects. All sports whether human or animal oriented are capable of wrong doing. In the equestrian sports experience, skill, training knowledge, education, rules and good organization help to minimize abuse.

The government and other animal rights people need to be sensible. While they can support the idea of introducing more ideas to restrict abuses I cannot agree with those who show outright prejudice by wanting the sport to not exist. Do not make the same mistake that was made with the Bermuda Day parade riders where the innocent had to suffer for the guilty. Most pony racers know not to race on Bermuda's roads but maybe a penalty should be in place to discourage it by the DHPC. The other sweating, foaming from the mouth etc, stuff is crap because I don't hear of any ponies dropping dead or being overworked. Are we talking about idiots who over do it or the majority? If people are going to be that fanatical a bit in a horse's mouth must also be cruel. I wonder if my horse likes me on his back. Maybe it's cruel to walk your dog with the collar around its neck on a leash. Do you see where I'm going?

I am also concerned that the horse people in general are allowing themselves to be divided because of negative reporting. The focus must not change to develop and improve our sport. It must be without discrimination towards all local equestrian disciplines such as western riding, english riding, pleasure driving, harness racing etc. We know there are some who are BEF English riders who are not fond of harness racing, yet the harness racers don't complain about injuries received from jumping. Harness racing also helps finance the development of the very national equestrian center they compete in. It's better to support all equestrian disciplines and encourage them to reach international standards otherwise how many other equine breeds do we want to disappear in Bermuda.

People with a bias mindset need to be educated that all equine breeds we know today have been developed by man from all the earth's regions to better meet the requirements of its chosen discipline. A trainer realized the horse he was using for a particular job or event had to be bred for it to make both the handler and animal's task easier. Equine parents who were naturally good at the task at hand were chosen to produce offspring who also showed talent and in time a breed was produced as we know today. As time went on these breeds were seen world over especially in races and shows. The biggest problems that arose were that each breed specialist thought their equine event was superior. They were also inflexible to learn or be objective to other styles. This is the problem I see with the new wave of horse people and people in general today in Bermuda. If they did not grow up involved in harness racing they don't understand it. In their minds it must be bad. This is wrong. Obviously most reporters fit the category of going by what they hear and see rather than actual equine knowledge and experience.

Standardbred harness racing horses have been a tradition in Bermuda since the Shelley Bay era. The name standardbred was given to the breed at a time in the late 1800's when the breed was being developed in the eastern US. These offspring were descendents of the stallion Hambletonian who produced a line of horses which met the standard time of 2min 30sec. required to be harness racers. With their superior genetics for speed, endurance and hardiness they became the fastest harness racers on the planet reaching speeds of 35 miles an hour and going a mile in under 1min 50sec. The American Trotting Bred ponies we speak of have been bred for decades from their horse counterpart to have a fast pacing or trotting gait. Very seldom they make the best riding or pleasure type because even their natural road (slower) gait is fast. I hope this helps to resolve some of the misunderstanding when these ponies are seen in action showing determination by sweating and foaming from the mouth.

This Island has a unique opportunity to be a part of history in the making. No other country is involved in this pony breeds international exposure like the US, Canada and Bermuda. It reminds me of what England, Canada and the US done jointly to improve and develop another driving breed known as the Hackney pony whose genetics are from the Hackney horse. Bermuda also had some of the best hackneys in North America in the 1970's and 80's. Unfortunately we stopped showing this breed. Let's not make the same mistake. Our children should not always have to visit other countries to see everything.

Equine racing scientists constantly improve racing gear such as feather light sulky's (racing buggies) etc. The type of form fitted nylon harness used today make it even easier for today's speedsters with even more greatly improved comfort combined with more flexible leg hobbles to further assist their natural movement. Most of all I am impressed with the fact that almost everyone involved in the sport keeps up with the technology.

For those who think Bermuda's pony racers are pitiful, abusive and going against the will of the animal, it is a proven fact that horses live a longer, healthier life when doing what they were bred to do. The funny thing is tourist comment to me every week that our horses appear to be the best kept horses they've ever seen. It's largely because we import high protein quality grains and hay and have to make an effort to exercise our steeds because of limited pasture land. Overall I think that all of us including the pony racers do a good job.

Mike Watson

Member of Exhibition Livestock Committee