From the pictures I see on here you people are mere amateurs when it comes to bling compared to some of the girls here ;D. As a rule, I feel much more traditional about the dress and accessories in the show cattle ring.
There is however, one thing I have always wondered. And wondered even before the recent trend toward more glitter. Why is it that horse show people bling it up to the max and cattle show people have until recently have tried to be as plain and nondescript as possible? Why is it acceptable to have silver inlays and silver buckles on horse show halters, rhinestones on horsewomen's clothing with matching jewelry and yet as evidenced by the response here, cattle showers and expected not to do anything that would "take away from the cattle." Does dressing it up only take away from cattle and not horses?
Seems to me an AQHA ( or NCHA, NRHA or USET) judge is much more attuned to the animal than most cattle judges. And don't even get me started on how they have to apprentice for a year and are video graded on the scores they give by their respective association while our industry almost promotes "you pick mine and I'll pick yours" among judges who also breed cattle. Sorry I digress.
Anyway, I wonder why the flash is not only accepted in horse shows but expected, while obviously it is frowned upon by many in cattle shows?
One thing I do know is that the number of cattle shown in many if not all areas of the country is down and going down farther. $8.50+ corn, $4.00 and rising diesel fuel, the cost of a truck, trailer and show supplies, the growing gap between the "haves" and "have nots" are all part of the reason that the hog and goat projects have sky rocketed. If this cattle showing isn't as fun as we can make it, it will continue to dwindle. It costs too much for it not to be. I am of course a guy, but if I were a little girl, it looks a lot more fun to dress up and lead a blinged up pony around than to lead a calf around in my every day attire. Just a thought. Worth no more than anyone else's.