This message is from: "Ursula Jensen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> NOW - here's the problem -- there are some people who have come to buy horses that say they don't want to pay for our facilities, care, time and training - they've come right out and told us so - and then think if they buy elsewhere they are getting a better deal - Its frustrating to me because we do - all this work, and not many people apply value to it. Our horses are priced within the average. ------------------------------------------------- that's a real interesting point Pat and worthy of further consideration. This is the type of thing I think about almost on a daily basis while doing my barn chores....anytime we are in the presence of our animals is an opportunity for training (esp the babies) for some of us it's second nature to be reinforcing good manners and obedience without calling it a formal lesson. As well, anytime a mature horse is ridden or driven it's a lesson even though we can also call it just a pleasure outing...to us it's a normal way of interacting with our animals no matter what age.or circumstance..of course this 'should' translate into dollars but you're right, it's often hard to make buyers understand that an animal left in a pasture compared to one being 'handled in an interactive manner and by experienced people should have a different dollar value.....the other side, too, is 'HOW' the animal is handled....by an experienced or an in-experienced handler....one who has the experience to recognize minute potential problems by handling the horse one way or possibly inconsistently & not picking up signals that can cause problems down the road...Any time we interact with our horses is an opportunity which can cause a positive or negative message on many levels of the horses' psyche.....and affects the way this animal reacts in the future....every interaction is part of the 'whole' or what you are trying to achieve. Pretty 'deep' stuff ,EH? But so true. So,when I'm out mucking with my big ole wheelbarrow and the babies come to check things out and try to interfere with my work, it's an opportunity for me to teach them to respect my space, my efforts and my place on the hiararchy. Pat, I guess the bottom line in terms of applying value to all the 'minute' and 'little' things we do in how we handle our horses, can be compared to 'housework'....there sure as heck is a difference in the final product if you spend a lot of time at it but if you don't do it there are many ways to cover it up the lack of effort too... AND like housework, there is little appreciation and value attached. Unless you have to pay someone to do it. How profound is THAT, eh? The old adage.....'pay now or pay later'.....
Ursula Jensen Trinity Fjords Box 1032 Lumby BC Canada V0E-2G0 http://okjunc.junction.net/~ujensen/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] (250) 547-6303
