(Continued from Page 1.)


vlts...a stimulus for texas economy In an earlier study,


these claims by showing that the social costs of gambling already exist in Texas from other forms of gambling. Pathological gam- bling is rare, affecting between 1 and 5 percent of the population. Texas already receives revenue from other potentially harmful activities and substances and VLTs are no different. Casino type gamblers


come from income groups above the national median and are more likely to hold white collar jobs. Some studies show that social costs, crime, and il- legal gaming are reduced after legal gambling is introduced.


Texas is viewed as a significant expansion and a step toward full scale gambling such as seen in Nevada and Louisiana. Oppo- nents feel that it is immoral for the state to obtain financial sup- port via expanded gambling. Proponents counter


Introducing VLTs into


the state comptroller esti- mated that more than $1 billion per year is lost to neighbor- ing states as Texans travel to Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Louisiana to more attractive gambling venues. The horse industry has had significant losses from breeders and train- ing facilities moving out of state to take advantage of bet- ter incentive programs and race purses.


VLTs would be the same as the state receives from race- track betting and the lottery. A percentage fee is taken from each wager, so the revenue is much the same as the excise tax on alcohol and cigarettes. This type of revenue stream may well bridge the gap of the upcoming budget deficit without raising taxes. According to the


State revenue from


THE HORSE GAZETTE


state comptroller, income from VLTs may potentially provide Texas with an ongoing revenue stream around $1 billion an- nually. This estimate is based on the percentage take from betting, taxes on increased economic activity, and accounts for possible revenue losses as money is shifted from other tax- able spending. Studies indicate that the social costs of gambling do not exceed the economic benefits of gambling. Legislative goals that


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Texas HORSE supports can be found at: http://texashorseweb. com/?page_id=119. The leg- islative process for a VLT bill must first gain a two thirds vote in the House and Senate for a Constitutional Amendment to allow the voters to decide on the issue in November 2011. Voters will want to ensure their votes for state congress this Novem- ber reflect their positions on this matter.


much like slot machines. VLTs, however, are monitored, controlled, and audited by the state lottery agencies. Slot machines are monitored by other state agencies and may not be centrally controlled.


VLTs, track betting, and lotteries are all varieties of pari-mutuel wagering. The machines provide a new way to gamble, but would be located where gambling is already operating and approved by voters.


training training to preserve individuality imagine a horse


By Sue De Laurentis & Allen Pogue, © Imagine A Horse 2010 We are blessed to live in


Another great aspect


the new age of horsemanship where humane and effective methods are available for horse lovers every- where either through dedicated self-study or personal exposure to enlightened trainers. Humans benefit greatly from this knowledge but even more, the horses. Animal behaviorists


are even making available studies and methods for identifying, and training animals with learning deficits and disabilities. There has not been a lot of published informa- tion regarding about horses with learning disabilities and we have worked with only a few of them. It is certainly an area of interest to watch as it grows. Visten is a horse with


slightly different perspective on learning. What becomes of other horses like him? Where do they fit in most standard programs? I often think of the words of one of my favorite Jimmy Buffet songs when I think of Visten…”The answers are the easy part, the questions raise the doubt!” Visten is like a gifted child whose brilliance doesn’t shine through in a normal classroom. There are lots of colts


Visten’s age (coming 3) that are already in the show ring, or on the trails or in a jumping or perhaps reining career. It is quite possible that many horses with learning ability variations are included in the very large number of rescue horses in our country. Rescuing is popular, very popular but it is our belief at Imagine A Horse that if more at- tention were paid to the aptitude indicators of equine individuals that most rescue horses wouldn’t need to be rescued. Not all horse trainers (or commercial training programs) are capable of working with or even have the desire to work with learning deficit horses. In addition, not much latitude is given in most disciplines to allow for horses who are mentally or emotionally outside of the normal range. One of the things that I


love about Trick Horse Training is that we can allow for many vari- ances in the learning capacity of horses. Horses can be evaluated individually and there is not a set time pattern that a trick horse must conform to. Better yet, variations in behavior and preferences of the horse can often be shaped into novel moves and tricks. This is the reason that many of our horses have signature tricks that only they per- form! A signature trick is usually a version of a trick or move that the horse thought of on his own.


of Trick Horse Training is that we use lots of props, like pedestals. Horses can easily understand the association between obstacles and actions and so can people, which helps to clarify the steps involved in the requests. An exercise such as yielding the hindquarters didn’t re- ally make sense to Visten but when


the idea to put the Frisbee (with a pick up tab sewn on it) on the top tier of the pedestal. He loves to retrieve the Frisbee! When we did this, he eagerly walked right up the lower tier with all four feet and (to our surprise) continued on up to place his front feet on the second tier and picked up the Frisbee as he climbed up. His focus was on the Frisbee and not on how tall the second tier of the pedestal was! By changing our strategy to fit Visten’s style we were able to channel his ability.


Boullet, our two year


old Missouri Fox Trotting horse doesn’t like laps in the round liberty pen at any speed. We could easily insist that he do laps as requested but allowing him some freedom of expression resulted in some bril- liant work on his part. He demonstrated that he would rather climb the two tier pedestal, spin on the revolving one and rear to yet another one than do meaning- less (in his opinion) repetitions. We happily accepted, and helped him to shape his offerings! Does following a horse’s


his front feet were anchored on a pedestal he was able to understand it. Horses are masters at compen- sating for humans and will usually do what we ask even if they don’t understand the exercise! They are “good little soldiers”. But true bril- liance in performance comes when a horse understands the request from his point of view, and when he loves his work. If brilliance of performance is what you desire, seek out the individuality of the horse!


Visten emphatically


shows us what he CAN do which is often drastically different from what we ASK him to do. It is important to understand and balance his abilities with motivation that he responds to. This requires that we know him individually and intimately and not follow rote exercises in training him. It is horses such as Visten that help us become better teachers, not the perfect student horses! We’ve been teaching


Visten to walk up onto a two tiered pedestal. This was a monumental task for him as his balance and coordination are still developing. It seemed at first that it may be more than he was capable of when we had


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lead mean that we don’t expect obedience? No, obedience is not optional. But we DO want student horses to know that their ideas are of value. The exchange of ideas, mutual respect and discipline will result in awillingly obedient equine partner.


Lady “C” (TWH) is yet


a completely different personality than either Visten or Boullet. She is exhuberent and expressive in everything that she does. Ask for a little and she will always give you a lot! She is an over achiever and she is very quick about it. Explain a task to her in a way that she can understand and it is forever etched in her mind. Visten and Boullet are both highly motivated by food treats and Lady is not. She performs for the sheer enjoyment of playing with us. To her, performing IS her reward.


Trick Horse Training is


not for everyone or for every horse. However for many horses it can be a highly motivational and a build- ing block in the foundation of the Ultimate Companion Horse! In all three horses,


Visten, Boullet and Lady “C” the thread of commonality is what made us fall in love with the gaited breeds, personality, versatility, combined with a generous and willing nature. For more information


visit www.imagineahorse.com or call 512- 264-0442.


Call 210-677-0502 Page 9


LISA C. SMITH Law Office of Lisa C. Smith


Equine Law Attorney 10004 Wurzbach, Suite 112 - San Antonio, TX 78230


Office (210) 863-7472 lisacsmith@satx.rr.com


between the state and the operators of the VLT machines and venues. Texas state would receive about 30% of this net income from every machine. The current proposal would place VLTs at horse and dog race tracks throughout Texas.


or use their winnings to play more games. Wagers range between 5 cents to $10 per play. The payback to players for VLTs is about 90%. The other 10% is profit that is split


VLTs take money or credits in return for a play at the game. Players can win cash, prizes,


Video Lottery Terminals Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) are games of chance played on electronic terminals


Starting at $3,995


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