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My Last
National Show ? For an amateur photographer and Arabian horse enthusiast like myself, our National Show is the climax to the year just as it is for many of the competitors there too. I always enjoyed being there, it has a unique atmosphere and the best horses in the country. I always got some great photo's and showed them to the world on my website. It's 'mission statement' is to show the whole world the quality of Arabian horses we have here in the UK, for free ! It's my own personal endeavour because I have so much passion for the breed in this country, and I do it at my own personal expense. Sadly, I left this years show somewhat upset and angry at the "playground bully boy" tactics of someone else at the show. It would appear that one of the professional photographers there allegedly complained about presence of myself (and another amateur photographer friend) to the show officials. Apparently whoever it was thought that we were 'taking their business away'. On the Thursday we were approached by a show official and asked to stop taking notes (I note the horses names on a notepad) and were told about the alleged professional photographers objections. I have the utmost respect for the AHS show officials, who dealt with this in a very courteous and proper manner, but it seemed to me that they had sadly been pushed into a corner they didn't want to be in. Out of respect for them, the fantastic job they do, and the AHS as a whole, I gave them a promise that I would no longer note the names of the horses for the entire three days of the show so there was no way I could sell photographs by contacting owners, so therefore I wouldn't be in competition with the professionals there. I held to that promise. I have no ill feeling towards the show officials, they give up their own free time to make these shows work for all of us and they were just doing their job. They work incredibly hard to make these shows a success. So, this is why there are few details about the horses on these pages, only what I can remember. I just wish that whoever allegedly complained to them had approached me personally first so we could have talked this issue over in a mature manner instead of just making the complaint. I'm certain if I'd explained exactly what I do they would have seen that I was no threat to them. I still hope they will. But it would seem that there is no longer a level playing field. Are "amateurs" who aspire to take "professional quality" photographs going to be chased away the moment they get close to professional standards? I hope not. I have been photographing Arabian horses at shows for over 20 years without any complaint. I do it because of the lifelong love and enthusiasm I have for the breed. But after what happened at Malvern, will I be able to continue do this ? The answer has got to be YES ! Like in show ring itself, there must be a level playing field for amateurs so we can work or compete equally alongside the professionals. I will fight to uphold these deeply felt beliefs if necessary. This should NOT be the last National Show I photograph and show here. I will try to continue to show everyone else our wonderful horses. The show must go on ! G. A Rigby 8-08-2003
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