"I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible."A recent comment from Railbird started me thinking-and that is never a good thing-about the aftermath of the recent NTRA marketing summit.
-Oscar Wilde
Handride and The Aspiring Horseplayer have returned singing the praises of the NTRA and most, if not all, of the comments are positive and forward looking. The presentation, on paper, is outstanding and outlines a clear path for the keepers of the game to follow.
Granted, I was not at the summit and did not see what they saw or hear what they heard but I have more experience than is good for anyone in dealing with obstinate, ignorant and obfuscative, management types. Each and every one of them assured you that they were listening and had nothing but your very best interests at heart. They were affable and "readily available". Always telling you that they expected to be 'called out onto the carpet' if things were not progressing as was required. Any one of them could have run for office and every one of them drove the damn thing into the ground.
The best thing to do with someone, when they are angry, is to let them tell you what is pissing them off. Inevitably, they will feel better and then, after a token gesture, they will go away. That is what management is paid to do.
This is not that and now is not then. This time it's different.
This is however a "Legacy" sport, steeped in tradition and money. Things are done because that is how they have always been done and those at the top are comfortable and empowered enough to not have to care if the whole damn thing falls apart. All the marketing in the world is not going to make a damn if the real man behind the curtain isn't brought to account. You can't market the plague.
Like the joke goes: "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition."
I believe the summit was a good faith effort and that genuinely smart and caring people are working hard to come up with a solution for the ills of our sport. I am confident the salvo struck close to home and that people are giving it the consideration it is due. Much good can come out of this but only if change is in fact implemented. We, all of us-yes, the three of you who read this-must keep pressing. Extolling the virtues of this game but also exposing its seedy underbelly. Only then will we see how serious everybody is about the needed change.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
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