Letter from the President
As I welcome you to a new year of IALHA membership, I
invite you to consider two quotations: one from our own 2008 Strategic
Planning Committee, the other from my childhood.
At our September meeting, the Strategic Planning Committee sug-
gested the following statement as a vision for the IALHA to focus on
this year: “An international community united in our passion for our
horses.”
The statement, while simple, underscores five key ideas. First, an
acknowledgement that we value the contributions and welcome the
involvement of people from all parts of the world: international. We
encourage our Region 8 members to let us know what we can do to bet-
ter meet your needs. Second, an affirmation that we seek, not just mem-
bers, but the formation of a community, where we share knowledge
and help each other out, and in so doing increase our connections with
one another, despite challenges of distance. Third, a commitment to
look for ways to build bridges to unite and increase trust, not walls to
divide or hide behind. Fourth, an understanding that – regardless of the
particular bloodlines our horses carry or the disciplines in which we
participate with them – our efforts are fueled by passion.
At times, the strength of our emotions makes it difficult to see
other points of view, yet this passion remains an essential part of our
experience with these horses, and it is something to cherish. Just as it
would be wrong to try to break the spirit of one of our horses, it would
be short-sighted to try to stifle other members’ passion for their
particular branch of the Andalusian tree. Some may favor Spanish
horses, others Portuguese, others a combination of the two, while still
others a particular outcross. We must appreciate the depth of each
others’ feelings for our horses.
We can celebrate all by staying focused on what we have in com-
mon: the ancient roots which go much further than the modern branch-
es from which so much dissension stems. At root, these horses grew
from an ancient beginning in a region that was not divided by country
lines as it is today. As the wise people who penned the Association’s
Articles of Incorporation decades ago understood, by calling these hors-
es ‘Andalusians,’ we honor this history that goes far deeper than mod-
ern political divides. The breed was established and treasured long
before mother country studbooks closed to one another. I believe that
continuing to preserve the historic roots is critical to the long-term
health of the breed.
Finally, the Strategic Planning Committee emphasized that the
focus of all our efforts must be the horse. In all our planning, all our
work on the Board and in our regional areas, we must constantly ask of
ourselves, “Will this idea being presented benefit the horse? Does it
help us to remain true to the horses’ historical roots?” The answer to
these questions must guide our decisions.
When I reflect on the vision suggested by the Strategic Planning
Committee, I see reason to hope for a brighter future. Ten words,
five ideas, one focus: unity.
————
The second quotation is one my mother had painted on a large
mural that I saw every day while I was growing up. I don’t know
where the saying came from originally, but I know it has stayed with me
all these years.
“I asked, ‘Why doesn’t somebody do something?’And then I real-
ized, ‘I am somebody’.”
We, all of us, share in the opportunity to make the future vision of
an international community united in our passion for our horses a pres-
ent reality. I invite you to join me in doing your part to advance this
vision. Reach out to other members in your area. Connect with oth-
ers from around the world, and bring back what you learn to share with
the rest of us. If you have a question, ask. If you see a gap, find a way
to help us fill it. Encourage others who share a passion for the
Andalusian to join–or re-join–the family.
We are stronger for our differences if we remember to look also for
those things we hold in common. A tree whose branches extend beyond
reach of the roots risks being toppled in a storm. By refocusing our
attention on our historically unified core and seeking to deepen our
understanding of the ideals on which this breed was founded centuries
ago, we forge the way for continued healthy growth and renewal.
—Julie Alonzo
14 ANDALUSIAN Issue 2, 2009
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