Of course, one of the big reasons it would have
trouble working here is distance. This is a big country, and say I had a
good quality horse with international potential, how am I going to get it to
Florida to practice on flat sand in hot weather, (which I'd have to in order to
win at an international level). Even if I were paid to be there, where
does that leave my family and my farm? I can't go home on the weekends
when it's 1200 miles to get there. Yes, it's possible logistically, but I
don't see anyone coughing up the bucks for that kind of system.
And if it hadn't been created 200 years ago by the
Bonaparte aristocracy, I bet the French Parliiment couldn't get legislation
passed for a similar program in the 21st century. Immigrant riots in
French urban areas because of high unemployment, and you want to spend money on
rich horse owners? Yeah, the media would have a field day with that. .
.
Laurie in Clare, Michigan
(Who lives in a state that has a 6% sales tax AND
just raised the income tax from 3.9 to 4.35% - even I don't want
to fund state sponsored endurance riding!)
