This message is from: Nathan Lapp <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> misha nogha wrote: I suppose I am going to get a lot of flack for this comment, but I had to say it. I once gelded a stallion I had, not a Fjord, who had nearly perfect conformation, was a super athlete, but was a real nasty fellow.
Good for you! Too many breeders don't have the guts, or the honesty, to see and admit mistakes in breeding. I haven't been in the horse business long enough to know breeders' policy on this, but my sister Rachel and I have extensive experience with dogs. Australian Shepherds, in particular, have been bred too much for color and show performance. Their owner/breeders will make any number of excuses for bad temperament--he bites because he had a bad experience as a pup; someone kept her tied too much; they don't like men because they were once abused by a man; etc.. This highly intelligent, high performance breed now has a bad reputation for disposition. Because, I believe, too many breeders didn't have the courage to cull when their dog bit. I know how it feels--you lose sleep thinking about ending this beautiful dog's breeding career, or worse, having him put down. But it's a must in responsible breeding. An old gentleman who used to own an animal research and breeding farm once said that the nice thing about breeding pigs versus dogs is that "you can eat your mistakes." Barbara Lyn
