This message is from: "Arthur Rivoire" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello Everybody from Beaver Dam Farm in Nova Scotia -
Today, it's seasonably cool here on the Northumberland coast of Nova Scotia, but spoiled by unbelievably warm days we've had, it seems awfully cold as the wind whips off St. George's Bay. Arthur's worried about the wind chill factor --- Most of the horses have shelters in their pastures, and are ignoring them happy to graze the still very green grass. -- However, it is pretty wild out there. Arthur just called me to the kitchen window to see the big waves crashing on the beach. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well, what's got me fired up enough to sit down and write isn't the weather. It's something I came across this morning reading the November edition of EQUINE JOURNAL, a huge monthly publication serving New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. --- ELEVEN PAGES devoted to the Gypsy Vanner & Gypsy Cob Horse (same horse as far as I can see) -- Of the eleven page, 1/2 a page was editorial written by Equine Journal --- 2 pages were bought by the three Gypsy Vanner/Cob/Drum Horse breed registries --- And the rest of the pages (all full pages) were purchased by 14 individual breeders. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I tell you, I was shocked when I realized the impact these people were making promoting their breed! What a fantastic job!! What a success! What an IMPACT made on all readers of this popular magazine. Even the most casual of readers couldn't help but be impressed with the Gypsy Vanner horse. -- At the very least, the reader would remember and recognize a Gypsy Vanner the next time he saw one. -- In addition, readers would get the impression that the Gypsy Vanner MUST BE an up and coming breed . . . An accepted breed . . .and one that should be taken seriously. -- And perhaps a breed the reader should consider looking at for her next horse. And to think, this Gypsy horse, unlike the Fjordhorse, is not an ancient breed that's been protected and improved on by knowledgeable breeders for centuries. -- The horse pictured in these eleven memorable pages has been the breed of gypies -- people who have no base. People, who wander from country to country doing odd jobs --- fixing tin pots, for instance. People who, for the most part, live unto themsleves, outside the law. Certainly not adhering to any breed organization with conformation, performance, or Breeding and Evaluation standards--- Standards such as - 'No inbreeding', ' No cross-breeding'. -- There are no written records or pedigrees on the Gypsy horse-- Probably no distinct stallion lines cherished through the years for the proven strengths they've contributed. Given the nature of Gypsies, being travelers without national boarders, I would seriously doubt there are any known stallion lines, which is the way strengths and weaknesses are recognized and tracked in horse breeding. And without which, in my opinion, a legitimate breed cannot exist. The Gypsy Vanner/Cob/Tinker Horse has been used to pull Gypsy caravans --- And that's about it, as far as I know. The breed is known for being strong, quiet horses that can pull heavy loads over rough roads. -- They are not known as saddle horses, driving horses, or draft horses. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the eleven pages of mostly photos (47 of them) --- Guess how many showed the Gypsy Horse doing someing??? -- The answer is ONE PHOTO! This showed a Gypsy Horse pulling a rough cart driven by what looked like a Gypsy. The other 46 photos showed the Gypsy horse in pasture, in hand, or running with flying mane and feathers. What does that tell you? ---- It tells me that compared to the Norwegian Fjordhorse who does just about anything and everything that horse people could dream up of doing with a horse . . . The Gypsy horse doesn't hold a candle to our breed. And yet . . . There he is the feature horse in the Equine Journal - 47 photos -- Eleven pages! --- Making a hell of an impact! ----- Making sure the horse public knows exactly what a Gypsy Vanner/Cob/Tinker horse is. Sowing the seeds of thought in the reader that . . . 'The Gypsy Horse might be my next horse'. Eleven pages of pictures and text to enjoy, ponder, and store away for future reference from individual breeders and Breed Societies alike on where to go to GET MORE INFORMATION about the breed! ---- Where to go to BUY A GYPSY HORSE. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Equine Journal and most other big equine publications do regular Breed Profiles. They do this because it's great revenue for their magazines. All they have to do is write a little copy about the breed, and the BREED REGISTRIES and individual breeders do the rest. HERE'S WHAT I THINK - I strongly believe the NFHR should run a full-page ad in every significant publication doing Fjord breed profiles. -- If the NFHR took the lead in this promotion of the breed, then more individual breeders would be encouraged to place their own ads. --- And if all this happened, which it certainly should, then there would be a BIG IMPACT - BIG STATEMENT about the Fjord breed in North America. -- An impact which is sorely lacking and sorely needed at present! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What has happened in the past when I have suggeted that the NFHR spend money advertising and promoting the breed, they've cried poverty. Said they couldn't afford it. -- As far as I'm concerned that answer is totally unacceptable. -- The Registry is you and me --- All of us! There is plenty of money in the treasury. It should be spent to promote the breed NOW! Too damn much time has gone by. This breed should be MUCH FURTHER AHEAD in the public's mind than it is. -- After 25+ years, there are still far too many horse interested people who have no idea what a Fjordhorse is, or what it can do. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE! Think about it -- When, if ever, did you first hear about the Gypsy Horse in North America? -- If you're like me, then it's been in the last four or five years, at most. -- Practically every magazine you open nowadays has ads from Gypsy Horse breeders or Breed Registries. -- This breed has made a remarkable impact on the minds of people who read horse agazines. -- If you read these magazines, you can't help but have noticed the Gypsy Horses. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In contrast, HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE FJORDS? -- Tragically, not very often. In fact, almost never. Even in magazines devoted to driving; such as the Driving Digest, The Whip, Carriage World . . . Very seldom do I see jords. -- Once in a while in the magazines, I see them driving in competition. --- Almost never do I see ads from the NFHR or from individual breeders. --- That is, except for our own ads for Beaver Dam Farm Fjords II. We've advetised consistently for years, and perhaps that's why we're still doing well after all this time. I think I understand why we don't see more Fjord ads --- I honestly believe it's because the Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry, NFHR, is NOT helping us out by promoting our breed, which is . . . please remember . . . one of their MANDATES. -- If the NFHR were leading the way by consistently promoting the breed, more individual breeders would be placing ads. I've sung this refrain many times, but obviously it needs singing again. The NFHR should be spending money on promoting the breed. Because by not doing this, they are putting some breeders out of business and driving prices down, which if it continues, will eventually force the quality breeders completely out of the game because - Breeders simply cannot do a good job if there's little market, no interest in the product, and prices are going down. And as everybody in business knows, in order to sustain and grow a business it's necessary to spend money on advertising. It's an on-going necessity. Good horses should sell for GOOD PRICES, and responsible, quality breeders should be rewarded for their efforts! The Fjordhorse is a VERY GOOD HORSE! A Family/Recreation/Sport Horse! -- The NFHR is doing an excellent job through their Evaluation Program to maintain the awesome qualities of the breed, and to identify faults, and educate breeders. -- This is great! It's wonderful! BUT, IF NOBODY KNOWS, who's going to buy our horses? --- The time is now! We need MUCH MORE from the NFHR than the piddling little 2" x 3" ads we see in a few (very few) publications. The Gypsy Horse breeders are getting VERY GOOD prices for their horses despite the fact that they're a little known breed with no performance record. -- Even the Breed Profile in the Equine Journal had almost nothing to say about the Gypsy horse's value as a performer. It said that the Gypsy horse was known to be strong and steady pulling the heavy caravans on rough roads. -- The articls said nothing about the horse being used for Agricultural Work, Trail Riding, Dressage, Hunting, Pony Club, Reining, Cutting, Packing, Combined Driving, Pleasure Driving, Therapeutic programs, . . . etc., tc. --- All of which, the Fjordhorse does remarkably well, and EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW IT! --- But, damn it . . . DO THEY? I really don't think so, I most strongly urge the NFHR to get with it and start fulfilling their MANDATE to PROMOTE OUR BREED! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Arthur and I have been importing, breeding, training, selling Fjords for more than 25 years. In those years, we've sold way more than 300 Fjordhorses. Almost without exception, all of our customers are wildly delighted with their Fjordhorses. These owners are doing things with their Fjords they never thought possible. They're having personal and performance success with their horses. -- They're totally satisfied in every way. -- Day after day, decade after decade we hear from people who used to own other breeds and now own Fjords. --- Experienced horse people. -- Just yesterday a call from a horse vet who owns her first Fjord. She said . . . "I'm so impressed with their conformation, and as a vet, I see a lot of horses". The NFHR should run a series of ads showing these people enjoying their Fjords . . . competing their Fjords . . . Using their Fjords in all disciplines. We've got an absolutely, unparalleled breed here that's totally versatile, and has the size and ability to suit a vast percentage of the horse buying public. So, how come prices are going down and people can't sell their horses? I know the reason, and it's not because there's anything lacking in the Fjord breed! - The NFHR needs to SPEND SOME MONEY to tell the world just how great this horse is! I'm forwarding this email to Mike May and requesting it be put on the Agenda of the next BOD meeting. -- If you agree, it would be helpful if you would send comments to Mike to be sent to BOD members. Please remember that when it comes to promoting the breed, it's not just 'Big Breeders' who will benefit . . . It's every single Fjord owner. -- Because, at some time or other most of you will be in the position of wanting to, or having to sell your Fjord. . . . And, if there's no market, then the job will, at best, be very difficult, and at worst, absolutely impossible. Most Sincerely, Carol Rivoire http://www.beaverdamfarm.com Beaver Dam Farm Fjords II R.R. 7 Pomquet, Nova Scotia B2G 2L4 Tel:(902) 386-2304 Fax:(902) 386-2149 Carole Rivoire, author of THE FJORDHORSE HANDBOOK, only book in English on the Fjord breed, available from Beaver Dam Farm, $36.95 US includes P&H http://www.beaverdamfarm.com/book.htm
