In response to Ira Karet’s letter that ran in the March 29 edition of the Bulletin, he appears to have little understanding of what horse activities and the WEG is about, or the type of people who attend those activities.

Neither the Tryon International Equestrian Center nor the World Equestrian Games are attended by the drunks and loudmouths you generally find at football, soccer and basketball games, who vent when their team either wins or loses.

I went to the 2008 Kentucky WEG. I was there morning, noon and night, and never saw any drunks or drug-related activities. On the buses, coming back at night, all I saw was happy spectators, thrilled about horses they had seen.

A rider cannot successfully compete, if they are drunk, on a 1,000 to 1,500-pound horse.

As to the jobs that will disappear? Most people would appreciate of the additional income that the WEG will provide for the local business.

To actually complain when the additional income stops is unfathomable, mind-boggling!

The reality is that the WEG will not be the end of equestrian activities. The TIEC facilities will attract the Quarter Horse competitions, the Arabian competitions, the Saddlebred Competitions, the Walking Horse competitions, all of which attract hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators. All of who spend money locally.

Whenever the shows season starts at the TIEC, people in English riding pants are seen shopping at Ingles, gas stations and restaurants. I am quite sure these establishments are happy to get the business.

Baiba Bourbeau, Tryon