This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 10/12/00 5:42:01 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< This does not mean I'm totally against the American Program. I'm not. I feel it's much better than having nothing, and the American judges who've been trained by the NFHR are much more qualified to judge Fjords than owners will find at ordinary shows that do halter classes. No judges are perfect! Even the European Fjord judges can be wrong. I know that! However, THEY DO KNOW THE BREED MUCH BETTER THAN ANY OTHERS! And, therefore, they are the only ones I would trust with evaluating our own horses from Beaver Dam Farm. That's simply my opinion. Best Regards, Carol Rivoire >> Geez, Carol, don't know whether you intended to, but you've really brushed my hair the wrong way this morning! Think about what you've just said - the American Evaluation program is just 'better than nothing'?!! Having served on the American Evaluation Committee since it's inception, including as chair, that rather ruffles my feathers and I feel the need to defend our program here! Your entire description of the KEURING process, describes the AMERICAN EVALUATION program! One of the primary reasons for creating the AMERICAN EVALUATION program was not to go against the European system, but to enhance it to better serve the needs of Fjord owners in North America. We took advantage of the years of knowledge and experience that the European systems had to offer and simply expanded on that. Since I am primarily a Western rider, think about the European programs, I and everyone else in this country who also rides Western (there are quite a few of us), were left completely out of the Keuring loop! That wasn't fair. Thus began the idea of creating our own 'customized' program so that EVERYONE in North America could be included. We have a large contingency in this country who do heavy draft also. They needed to have a program in which they too could participate! There was a need here and the American Evaluation program filled it. It was NOT an easy task and there have been thousands of hours devoted & donated to this program by many dedicated-to-Fjords people! It is a GOOD program! Yes, it was, at times, a bumpy ride, not without frustrations. Any worthwhile project undergoes growing pains while it is being refined. However, thanks to the dedication and foresight of those members of past and present American Evaluation committees, we now have a very comprehensive, successful program! Carol, you have also caused me to feel the need to defend our judges. As you know, Bob Von Bonn visited my place a couple of years ago. While I agree that he is very knowledgeable, he does have his own agenda. Our Evaluators and judges have several lifetimes of experience and knowledge behind them. They do know a straight leg from a crooked one, good movement from bad. That does not change from one breed to the next. The primary things that need to be added to our Evaluators and judges repertoire of knowledge then are the 'idiosyncrasies' of the Fjord horse, such as breed type, etc. Our judges and Evaluators have spent their lives with horses and are not stupid. I believe they can & have learned these things and shall continue to do so. I really do not want to start a 'poison dart' session here, Carol, but your post hit close to the quick for me - caused me to feel the need to defend myself and our American Evaluation program! You mentioned in your post that that was your opinion. This is mine. The American Evaluation program is GOOD for the Fjord horses in North America and their owners. WAAAYY back in the embryonic stages of developing the American Evaluation program (as I mentioned earlier, there were some very dedicated people who worked on this program), I remember having discussions about the future of Fjords in North America and how 10 years down the road, we would be seeing a vast improvement in the overall quality of our Fjord because this program would serve to EDUCATE owners as to good vs. bad qualities in their horses, thereby giving owners 'tools' with which to make choices as to whether an individual animal should be bred and what qualities to look for when choosing a mate, etc. We're getting there. I am seeing the results now. In looking at the latest Herald, I like what I see happening for the most part! In conclusion, I remain in defense of the American Evaluation program. IT IS A GOOD THING!! Gayle Ware Field of Dreams Eugene, OR www.fjordhorse.com
