This message is from: Arthur and Carol Rivoire <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hi! This message is from Carol at Beaver Dam Farm, Nova Scotia. I have a couple of points to make regarding the discussion about the NFHR doing more to aid breeders and owners, ie - PROMOTION & EDUCATION. I'd also like to add another goal to that list - PROTECTION of the breed. I feel, and so do others apparently, that the NFHR isn't moving forward as well as it might to promote and protect the breed, and to educate breeders and owners. I'd like to see the NFHR hire a Consultant; namely, Wayne Hipsley, as this man has a diverse background helping other breed associations, and also has a very specific knowledge of the Fjord breed. Wayn'e expertise wouldn't be free, of course, but I feel it would be money very well spent. All of us would benefit, and the horses would benefit. Is there any good reason why forty or fifty thousand dollars should be sitting in the NFHR's bank account not doing anything for the horses, breeders, and owners? I wish somebody would answer that. That's all I'm going to say for now on that subject. The other point I'd like to make is I think the show organizers have done a good job at setting a certain tone for the shows; that of a low-key family show. This atmosphere is very comfortable and very attractive and appealing to some newcomers. I think we should strive to keep the family atmosphere and the friendly atmosphere. Of course, this is all to the good and is appropriate to our special breed of horses. --- However, as good as this basic premise for our shows is . . . it could be improved to service the needs of all the owners and breeders who want to attend the shows. For instance, the in-hand classes. Even though the in-hand classes at the shows are not Evaluations, they are still important for breeders. -- I would like to see a list of all horses in the halter classes included in the show program . . . A separate insert, if that's what works. ----- So, here's the important part! Each horse being shown in-hand should have his sire, his dam, and his dam's sire listed as well as the name of the breeder and his location. That is the only way the spectators can possibly learn anything about Fjord breeding. --- This information s hould also be read on the loudspeaker, at least for the ribboned horses. ---- I also think that the sire and dam, and the dam's sire should be required for all horses appearing in the Fjord Herald. This is an extremely effective educational tool, and the way it's done in Holland. I get the Dutch Studbook's quarterly magazine, and since I can't read Dutch, I content myself with studying the pictured horses and in the process learning a lot about what different stallions produce. I can do this because each horse in the magazine is identified by name, AND by his or her sire, the dam, and the dam's sire. I have suggested this last bit several times to show committee people both at Libby and Woodstock. Nobody seems to see the value in it . . . but I can tell you that I've stood at the rail with spectators and heard them moaning that they couldn't tell what they were looking at with no pedigree information provided. Several people in the dog showing world have been astounded at the way we do things. Best Regards from Carol at Beaver Dam Farm in Nova Scotia.
