If one theme stood out at the town hall and general meeting at this year’s AQHA Convention, it’s that we’re in this together to effect positive change for our horses and the future of the horse industry. 

At the town hall, held on Friday, March 11, agricultural consultant and panel moderator Kevin Oschner stated “None of us is as smart as all of us.” (A Kenneth H. Blanchard quote.) 

Coming together for one common cause—the horse—seems easy enough, right?

Oschner also quoted, “To confront reality is to recognize the world as it is, not as you wish it to be, and have the courage to do what must be done, not what you’d like to do.” (From Confronting Reality, by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan.)

Hm. That sounds a little tougher. Especially when there’s so much deflection in the industry. That is, “Well, my group isn’t as bad as that other group.” Or, “Their problems are much worse than ours.”

Finally, Oschner stated, “In times of drastic change, it’s the learners who will inherit the future. The learned find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.” (An Eric Hoffer quote.)

Now there’s the one that separates those who are ready for change and are willing to do the work from those who want to stick with the status quo.

Where do you fall? Are you ready to do something exceptional to help move the horse world forward? Be sure to read “From the Editor” in the May 2016 issue of Horse&Rider for more on the topics covered at AQHA’s first town hall during Convention.