This message is from: "Ursula & Brian Jensen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
There is no age restriction on having your horse evaluated for conformation and the info garnered by the experience is invaluable to the breeder or owner....a learning opportunity I don't agree that a video evaluation would be helpful...in fact, I think it would dummy down the evaluation process. Our North American Evaluation System is in it's infancy and credibility is a priority. I believe the process would be watered down by informal evaluations such as video or casual farm visits. A breeder that is serious about the Fjord breed and potentially what he produces, must become informed and educated. Attending evaluations is a must to develop an eye for which animal is a possible candidate for breeding stock...those are the animals that would benefit from further inspection by qualified evaluators at an Evaluation. To develop an 'eye', it is important to see many many horses and many different types.(not just your own) This takes time...Carol tells us that she has a good eye but I bet she didn't have that when she first started out (how many years ago ?) It has taken time and seeing (probably) thousands of Fjordhorses both in N.A, Holland, Norway etc.,reading about pedigrees, asking questions, watching videos and going to Evaluations.That requires great fortitude and energy and comes at a price. I agree, that videos are a learning tool but do not believe in using them to evaluate....the quality of footage would have to be regulated and much would have to be considered...It would also discourage people from attending serious evaluations ...why buy the cow when you can get the milk cheap. It would allow the breeder to once again operate in a vacuum. We want people to separate themselves emotionally from their horses to get a serious and unbiased opinion of their stock and then make informed decisions. There is nothing stopping anyone from applying to hold a 'Conformation Only' evaluation or even young stock evaluation, in their area as long as you have the numbers to make it worthwhile. Conformation evaluation does not have an age pre-requisite.(only performance) Catherine, some good points. Ursula Ursula & Brian Jensen Trinity Fjords Box 1032 Lumby BC, V0E 2G0 Canada 250-547-6303 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://okjunc.junction.net/~ujensen/
