This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (BRIAN C JACOBSEN)
See how this sounds to you as an idea to help EDUCATE Fjord owners,
EVALUATE more stallions, CULTIVATE the constant improvement of the breed,
and, I couldn't think of a catchy word to go along with the others, but
PRESERVE the history of the breed in North America. I'd like to hear a
response from many of you, either positive or negative, so I can know
whether this is worthy of taking any farther. Also, if part of it is
already being done, someone please let me know.
As has been discussed in the past, and Carol Rivoire recently brought up
again in a modified fashion, we need a way, whether it's commanded or
persuaded, for more Fjords, especially stallions, to be EVALUATED.
We also need an available and affordable way for Fjord owners to be able
to see these horses being evaluated, and be able to hear the comments
from the judge about each horse. This would greatly EDUCATE the
Fjord-owning public about what is a quality horse.
If those two things above could take place, it would CULTIVATE a
widespread and continuing improvement in the Fjord breed in North
America.
And finally, if the idea I'm about to present has merit and is adopted,
it would serve to PRESERVE the history of the Fjord breed for all
generations to see.
So here it is. All the above in one package is a tall order to fill, so
perhaps you're all expecting some incredible, Einsteinian, revolutionary
new idea. But I think you will be surprised by its simplicity.
1. Videotape each and every horse at the evaluation ( front,
rear, side, and motion shots), and
2. Make these videotapes available to members for a fee, and
3. Preserve each videotape (or at least excerpts - the vital
parts of each horse) on CD Rom.
I told you it was simple. But you see, there's so much more to it than
appears at face value.
First of all, are the Evaluations being OFFICIALLY videotaped already?
If so, someone please say so. If they are, perhaps this idea can be made
an extension of what's already being done. If not, maybe this is the
place to start.
Stick with me; Here's where it gets good! First of all, Evaluations. A
lot of work has gone into them, and they are growing, but what would
really help give them a boost? What if breeders started seeing that
everyone was getting videotapes of the evaluations, and that people were
really paying attention to them and starting to make breeding decisions
based on them? That if they wanted to remain competetive, they would
have to jump on the Evaluation bandwagon. Think of it - right now things
are so regionalized, so segregated, that the only stallions people are
familiar with are either ones that are close to them, or ones they see
advertised in the Herald. As an example, I don't believe Solar has been
advertised as much lately in the Herald: A new mare owner who wanted to
find a stallion to breed to might not even know he existed, yet he is one
of the most well-known stallions in North America! Here's another
example - some of you have just agreed with me that our stallion Leif is
a good stallion, but how many of you knew about him? Just because we are
fairly quiet about advertising or promoting, he is largely unknown. Yet
he has the potential to positively influence Fjord horse genetics in this
country. So how will videotapes of Evaluations change that? You can't
appreciate what you can't see. Or conversely, you have to know what's
out there before you can make the best decision. And I believe that once
people started seeing what is out there, they would no longer be
satisfied with just the stallion next door. So this would be a method of
encouraging rather than legislating Evaluation participation; A way to
pull breeders in rather than push them. (This is not in opposition to
Carol's latest idea of requiring all stallions to be Evaluated, I
actually think that's a good idea. I just wonder if this way would work
as well or better. People usually respond better to the market driven
need for competition than they do to being forced into it). By
extension, either breeders would become more willing to travel to
Evaluations, or they would work to make Evaluations more available.
The video would be best if it were professionally done. There are
services that would video each Evaluation and then produce as many copies
as we want. It would cost more to have it professionally done, but you
get what you pay for. A charge of $30-40 per video would by no means be
unbearable and would go a long way toward offsetting the cost of
production.
So we've covered Evaluation and Education. CULTIVATION, if I may call it
that, or continual improvement of the breed, would be a natural result.
People have a natural desire to have something that's good, or to have
the best. Something they can be proud of. Many of our veterinary
clients only use their horses for trail riding, etc., but they never tire
of telling what great and famous stallion is the granddaddy, etc. So it
is only natural that once people know what's available, they will want to
use the best they can afford. And, they have now been educated and know
why this particular stallion would be a good match with their mare.
Finally, and even though this is last it is by no means the least
important, these videotapes themselves, or putting them onto CD Rom,
would forever preserve the history of the Fjord Horse in North America.
Haven't you ever wished you could see old movies or pictures of the great
stallions from Norway and Holland? Just think what an incredible tool
that would be to all of us. There are some pictures to be found on the
Internet, etc. but no moving video. What happens, and forgive me for
using my stallion as an example again, if 100 years from now, it is
realized that Leif had a major impact on the breed, or that he sired a
son who had a major impact, etc. Barb and I would be long dead and gone,
and there are very few pictures to be found of Leif. We do have some
ameteur video that we take, but what if our son Daniel doesn't continue
with the horses and the videos are just cast aside somewhere? See what
I'm getting at? What a tragedy not to have some professional footage
taken at an Evaluation (which I would have participated in if I wanted to
be taken seriously) along with comments from the Evaluator! And, to take
this one step farther, all this could be put on CD Rom and it would last
forever!
Well, I have written enough to digest at one time. There are some
details that would need to go along with it, like educating breeders
about A.I. so these stallions would be more available, like featuring in
the Herald the stallions that have been evaluated, maybe even publishing
a little studbook like the other countries do, but these ides will come.
I wanted to get the big picture out there.
It's pretty simple isn't it? But it would have immeasurable impact. Big
dividends for a small investment so to speak.
Please give me your constructive comments!
Brian Jacobsen, DVM
Norwegian Fjordhest Ranch
Salisbury, North Carolina
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