This message is from: Pat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Gayle, Your last post hit the nail on the head. I've always wanted to tell
this story, which sums up what I believe to be a true breeder:
Without mentioning names, I was working for this breeder, he had
been
around since the early 30's and actually had something to do with the
organization of AQHA in 1940, anyway they had 87 broodmares and 6 stallions, one
old stallion died and they were wanting a replacement. A two year old was
selected and started riding and campaigning him. He was really something to see,
he was high point RMQHA Jr western pleasure horse as a 3 yr old. Won a couple
big
futurities and even National Western Stock Show, against some big names that
year. I got his Superior pleasure in no time and he always placed in
conformation
with a few Reserves. One problem, a bit of a dispositon problem, and really
nothing exceptionally bad, but enough that he was gelded midway through his 2nd
show season, and eventually became a great youth gelding. You might think with
87
broodmares, this wasn't a big deal because they then had many others to choose
from, but that wasn't the case. They were VERY selective in what was kept. Mares
as well as colts. The other stallions were kept in the main show barn, all were
AQHA Champions, were handled like the other 30 some in the barn, had turnout
lots
with in the main group. Everyone handled the guys, lead in and out everyday, all
except one was hand bred. I don't know, I just think that was a good sign of a
good breeder, if everything's not there, geld it. I firmly believe there are
alot
of horses out there that would make for a better meal that a mount.
Pat Holland
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I have this morning off from the barn so will try to catch up on responses to
> several posts from this past week.
>
> Beth, what days will you be performing? My husband has some friends in
> Denver. I just might be able to 'convince' him that we need to go visit
> them?! By Jan. I am usually ready for a change of venue -- something,
> anything!
>
> Catherine, May is a tough time for horse owners (particularly stallion
> owners) to leave their premises with foaling and breeding underway. Think
> your participation in an Evaluation may be hindered. Think you'd have
> bigger, better numbers if you chose a different time of year. Many mares
> will be due to foal or have brand new babies by their side. Many folks
> wouldn't want to transport very far with tiny babies.
>
> May and June are our PRIMARY months for breeding and foaling. Schedules get
> pretty intense. Mother nature doesn't give a rip when cycling mares or
> foaling babies, about us needing to be gone for a few days!! As an example,
> at my Eval. held in July, I had to dash home with Dusty in the evening to
> breed a straggler mare. Fortunately, it wasn't far to travel. Had it been a
> long distance, I probably would have had to forego the Evaluation in order to
> fulfill my breeding obligation.
>
> So, my suggestion would be -- the later the better.
>
> Misha, in regard to the recent dialog on Natural Horsemanship. I took the
> folks from my barn to see Monty Roberts when he was here in Eugene. I had
> read his book and had seen him on TV a couple of times. I found him and it
> (his methods) "interesting." As I was watching the entire 'show' unfold, I
> was thinking that much of what he was saying and demonstrating, was nothing
> new. His techniques were the same things that successful "HORSEMEN -ooops -
> "HORSEPERSONS" have learned and practiced down through time. He even stated
> that in his book and said it verbally during his demo, but think that most
> folks glossed over or entirely missed those statements.
>
> The only difference between him, John Lyons, Linda Tellington Jones, Parelli,
> etc., and the rest of us (trainers) is that each of them have invented their
> own personal "equine hula hoop" if you will, and they are MARKETING it!
> Smart move on their part!
>
> Each of them does have some valuable information to pass along and I am sure
> they have helped a lot of folks to better understand the type of
> relationships that can be developed between humans and their horses.
> Education is certainly a key to success.
>
> Not any one tool can fix every problem, but if one can glean bits and pieces
> from each of these programs, it will certainly help to make better
> 'horsepersons' and probably some happier horses too. Folks will be less
> likely to inadvertantly be torturing their equine friends!!
>
> As a trainer, I have set a personal goal of spending time each year either
> with another trainer, or attending demonstrations like Monty's, or purchasing
> a new video, simply to expand my own knowledge, to keep up with new
> techniques, etc.
>
> I found the posts regarding horses, music, and cadence really interesting.
> When I decided to put together a routine in Freestyle Reining for Dusty (for
> those of you unfamiliar with this it is a reining routine with certain
> predescribed elements, put to music and done in costume), I chose music that
> provided different tempos from slow quiet to FAST. I really love this
> particular piece. It builds crescendo until you feel it even raising YOUR
> blood pressure a notch. After having done the routine to the music a couple
> of times, Dusty began to catch onto it. He REALLY gets into the fast stuff
> so I have to change the pattern frequently or he begins to tell ME where
> we're going!
>
> Am wondering what you're singing when your horses are getting STRONG? Could
> it be lullabies? LOL!
>
> Mike, thanks for posting Dusty's pedigree. Saved me the typing!
>
> Carol, your posts in reference to the quality of stallions' produce and the
> European Evaluations was interesting.
>
> I am not one much in favor of government regulations. I really think the
> government is rapidly approaching Big Brother status. However, there is ONE
> area in North America where I wish there were stricter regulations and that
> is in regard to stallions being kept whole. Here we have nothing to depend
> on, but someone's own integrity. I have personal knowledge that that is
> practically nonexistent in some cases given that fact that many horse owners
> are unknowlegible when it comes to quality or conformation. Many don't know
> a straight leg from a crooked one. Their sole basis for keeping a stud colt
> whole is, #1 -- he belongs to them, #2 -- he's so sweet, #3 -- and they can
> get more MONEY for him if they can convince the next sucker that comes along
> that he is definitely stallion material!
>
> Sorry if this sounds caustic, but it is factual! I've seen some of the
> awfullest stallions that would barely make nice geldings, being left whole
> motivated by MONEY and ignorance! On more than one occasion, I have gently
> tried to pursuade folks to geld, but money has spoken louder than me!
>
> That is one reason why I have been so involved and supportive of developing
> the NFHR Evaluation program. I feel that EDUCATION again is the key to
> success. I could foresee that in a few years after our evaluation program
> had been in place, we would be able to see a marked improvement in the
> overall quality of Fjords being produced here because informed mare owners
> would be able to make wiser choices when deciding which stallion to breed
> their mares to. There would be more criteria involved in the decision making
> than -- he's close and he's cheap!! Don't laugh! I have heard that one!
>
> My farrier recently told me of a quote from an article which went something
> like -- the countries with the best horses EAT their horses!! Can't remember
> exactly who said that, but it was Parelli or Lyons or one of the well knowns!
> Think he was referring to Europe! Sound harsh? It is factual. Just ask
> some of the folks who were in Norway a few years back attending the big
> spring stallion show. Several of them were in search of new blood to bring
> back to the US. They had all picked one young stallion that they liked. To
> their amazement, he did not place well. Come to find out, the reason he did
> not make the cut so to speak, was that there was a full brother to him that
> had previously been through their evaluation, had done quite well and already
> had produced some quality offspring. The Norwegians did not want to stand
> another stallion with identical bloodlines.
>
> The folks from our group decided that they would like to see if they could
> purchase him since that would make no difference in our country. By the time
> they located his owner, they were told that they were too late. They thought
> someone had beaten them to purchase this nice young stallion, but the owner
> said, "No, he's gone." He'd already been shipped off to the slaughter house!
>
> Lindsay, were you there on that trip? Someone who was there can correct me
> if I have left anything out, but this is the story as it was told to me.
>
> Please, no flaming arrows. I am NOT suggesting that we eat our horses! Just
> passing along a story!
>
> I guess the bottom line is that through EDUCATION, whether it be through the
> European or American Evaluation systems, we can improve the quality of our
> Fjord horses and hopefully encourage a few folks to sharpen their knives?!
> My vets cross their legs when they visit my ranch in hopes that I don't
> decide they're next! LOL!
>
> Gayle Ware
> Field of Dreams
> Eugene, OR
