So, since you are going to do it anyway your behavior has been officially pre-flagged for what it is; useless and unproductive venting. Hot air. Waste of molecular energy. Here are some guidelines for using this discussion board, in case you have never participated in one before, or you otherwise are not sure what constitutes normal, appropriate behavor:

DO:...........

......Use the board to discuss horsemen's' issues, jockey concerns, The Jockey's Guild, the TOBA the NTRA etc., Great horses, great races, great race courses, great books, and so on. Share what you do and what your work involves. Help people who are not racetrackers to understand different aspects of the industry and what it takes to put on the show...........

.........Use the instant messaging capability in the Forum to communicate privately.

...........Use the board for getting in touch with old friends, making new ones and sharing interests. Network across the country and find employment and employees anywhere.

...........Use the board to discuss problem animals and aspects of breaking, training and conditioning

..........Use the other open discussions to share information, answer questions with your opinions and experiences, have a great time, and so on

..............Suggest categories and start new topics.

..........Have a ball!

DON'T:

........... Participate without your parent's consent if you are under 13 years of age. Although I am relatively sure that the forum will not contain content inappropriate for minors, your parents need to know that you will be chatting with adult strangers. Demonstrate your level of maturity by honoring this request with your honesty. I am counting on this to keep my website running. If you lie you hurt me and my website, so be adult by doing something in a truly adult fashion...

...........Use strings of obscene language. Take posting to these forum topics as an exercise in thinking through what you have to say instead of using vulgarities to express your frustration. I am anticipating that some subjects could be touchy. We all know how to go to warring with words, but doing so can take up a lot of space without ever saying anything or making any difference beyond fostering hostility and shutting conversations down. Try to be a good neighbor in this community!

............Commit slander! Public figures who get gossiped and slandered regularly will not be considered illegal, but you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT openly claim some fact against any real people whose lives would otherwise be private! DON'T NAME NAMES!!! If you're mad at someone, take it up with them, don't downgrade them in the forum, even if you can "prove" whatever (that's not the point). Otherwise you can be sued for libel or slander.

............Plus I don't want to have to shut my forum down because you have a beef with so- and- so, or because I got in trouble on your account! (especially not that!) If you had a bad experience working with someone or for someone, you can surely find a way to tell about it without making the other person wrong. In return, believe me, there will come a time when you will need the same consideration and you'll be glad you bit your tongue when you did. I am not intending to censor this forum. You can communicate just about anything if you do so responsibly. If you disagree with my statement here, take it up with me privately.