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What Matters? Calling It Right Matters

In recreational tennis, we call our own “in’s” and “out’s.”In golf, we call penalties on ourselves when we unintentionally commit an infraction.In recreational basketball, we call fouls with honor.Covid-19 has broken into our horse show world. But it's not just our Saddlebred world, it’s the Arabians, the Quarter horses, the Hunter Jumpers, and many more. We’ve now seen that this virus plays no favorites; has no discernible boundaries. We’ve seen it impact trainers, exhibitors, and barns; at shows and at home.So, what does that mean? It means we have to “call it on ourselves.” The insidious nature of this virus is that it can work in silence. So, when diagnosed with a positive test, we have to “call it on ourselves.” If we don’t, no one may ever know. You may be able to keep working and showing horses and possibly no one will ever know. You may be asymptomatic but still have a positive test. If so, do the right thing. Don’t go to the show. Let others know. Don’t go to the barn. It will keep others safe and keep us able to keep enjoying the barns and the shows.This past couple of weeks, we’ve seen people “do the right thing” and call it on themselves. We saw it at a show last week. And we also saw the Saddlebred industry step up to do the right thing. Trainers stepped up to load horses and haul horses when one of our own was diagnosed. The spirit of cooperation is what we’ve seen time and time again throughout the many years of this industry.And we’re calling on you to do it again now. Wear your mask. When this silent virus stalks, sometimes you don’t know. There are sometimes no symptoms; or they may look like something else. The only way to protect others is wear your mask and stay six feet apart. As Marty Schaffel said in his column this week, sometimes you forget and need to be reminded. Don’t take offense if someone gently reminds you. It’s for all of us.Familiarize yourself with the COVID-19 safety protocols and procedures for every show you attend, the JLC Best Practices for Operating Competitions, and the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan for USEF- Licensed Competitions when it applies to the shows you are attending.Call it on ourselves. Do the right thing. Help each other out.These are the ideas that we need in these uncertain, challenging times. We are not unique. The virus is here and it’s here for a while. But we are stronger. We are more together. We can do it. Together.What matters? Doing the right thing matters.