From the Desk of Marty Schaffel: The Frustration of the Unknown

Most thing in our lives follow a routine. When we get up, where we go, and what we do. And the events in our lives that we participate in every year have also become a routine. We know what to expect.  Major horse shows are like that.

Then came the year 2020. And there is nothing routine this year. Nothing that we can say we expected.  The way we do business. The way we interact. And how our horse shows go on.

These past few weeks are no different.  Horse shows have been different. Many shows and county fairs have cancelled.  Those that have taken place have had different rules and procedures.

And the upcoming World Championship Horse Show is no different. This year is not routine. Every day people ask about the impact of social unrest and the virus on WCHS. And my answer is always the same. Most of what we want to know is not known. We wake up every day with questions.

The Joint Leadership Council is trying hard to understand the facts. We want all of our members to know the answers. We need everyone to be as informed as possible.

The health and physical well-being of our members and horses is of paramount importance to all of us. And so is the success of our industry. We are trying hard to get answers to everyone’s questions. We are trying to conquer the unknown.

ASHA puts a huge emphasis on communicating important information to our members. The general unrest in the world right now has made this imperative even more vital. While we can't speak for other organizations, we can tell you that we're working in partnership with many of them to protect our members' interests. Our goal is to minimize the anxiety produced by the fear of the unknown, so our members can make informed decisions.

Marty Schaffel, ASHA President