This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 10/6/01 7:46:36 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< I believe that any stallion left whole should be an outstanding individual - not just a ball-bearing horse. I am a Nazi when it comes to a sharp knife. >> LOL Gayle!! I agree that it's very tempting to see the "dollar signs" in owning a stallion (or breeding a mare for that matter). I think the NFHR Journal addressed this issue a few months back. What people forget is the time & expense of keeping breeding animals and the fact that it's not a 100% gamble. The stallion might not be fertile, the mare might not take, the foal and/or mare can die during pregnancy and birthing. So many variables. Also as you say there are already too many stallions. If each stallion can cover 80 mares a year (as I've read some do in Europe, lucky guys : ) then he has a huge influence on the breed. Whereas, a mare can only bear one foal each year. So only the most "true to type" with great talent should be kept entire. It's interesting to see how, since the Fjord is so versatile, there are breeding programs for each type. Some more inclined towards driving, dressage, draft or what have you. Brigid M Wasson San Francisco Bay Area, CA <A HREF="http://ourfjords.freeservers.com/fjord1/Our_Fjordsx.html";>Our </A> <A HREF="http://ourfjords.freeservers.com/fjord1/Our_Fjordsx.html";>Fjords</A> / )__~ /L /L
