Let’s stream Connemara inspections live so everyone can watch!

It’s only a matter of time until the courts strike down Connemara breed inspections for the same reason that a federal jury ruled against a cloning ban in the American Quarter Horse Association: It’s an illegal, monopolistic practice.

In the meantime, I’d like to put Connemara inspections on public display, invoking USEF’s instruction to members that they shouldn’t be doing anything they don’t want to see broadcast around the world.

I am officially appealing to the American Connemara Pony Society to stream Connemara inspections live.

We know the technology exists. In fact, USEF was streaming the June 2013 meeting at which it told members to use the broadcast test to examine their behavior.

When we stream these inspections, let’s capture the entire inspection process, not just bits and pieces.

I’d like to be able to see the conformation of the horse, the tape measuring of certain body parts (please get that part), the amount of time dedicated to each inspection, the effort required of the horse and the identities of the inspectors. I’d also like the camera to go behind closed doors, where inspectors discuss how they plan to vote. No editing allowed. We could see how much knowledge inspectors have about horse conformation. We could see who was having the most influence in the process. It would be mesmerizing. I’m excited already. Why hasn’t anyone done this before?

The broadcast should include the inspectors’ names, scores and comments, as well as the final results. When people compete at horse shows as well as other athletic events, those results are public. The judges’ names are public. Why have inspectors’ decisions and results been hidden for so long? It suggests inspectors have something to hide.

Streaming all of this information would allow Connemara owners, USEF officials and others around the world to monitor this process.

If these inspections are as above board as the Connemara society would lead us to believe, then inspectors have nothing to worry about.

So, how about it, inspectors? Let’s get those cameras rolling.