This message is from: "Arthur Rivoire" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello Everyone from Carol Rivoire at Beaver Dam Farm in Nova Scotia -
Almost four years ago, we had a colt born at BDF. He looked very special to me from the moment of birth, and my opinion never changed. He was BDF Quasar (Gjest x Holly- a Solar daughter). As has been mentioned before on this List by myself and others -- I firmly believe that the REALLY GOOD Fjordhorses can be identified at 3 Days, 3 Weeks & 3 Years. -- Quasar was one of the good ones. I was sure of it! Still am! Well, I knew that we weren't ready to replace Gjest as a breeding stallion, and therefore wouldn't keep Quasar for ourselves, so I advertised him as an outstanding prospect. -- There was very little response. At the time, I found that astounding and still do. -- Afterall, I'm supposed to have an excellent reputation for quality horses and a certain experience judging good horses. -- If I get all excited about a certain horse and propose him as a serious breeding prospect, you'd think at least some of the people who are in fact breeding Fjords, would have an interest in acquiring such a well-bred, highly recommended stallion prospect. --- But, no! It doesn't seem to work that way with American Fjrod breeders. So, I wonder why . . . . . And the only answer I can come up with is that there are only a very few truly serious breeders in America, despite the fact that the NFHR lists 111Fjord farms in the back of the Herald. -- I'm not writing this to wallow in disappointment, cry over spilled milk, etc., etc. --- I'm writing this to say HEY! How many really good colts get gelded because we have no system in place to identify the special ones? How many? I really think this is a serious subject that could stand some consideration. Frankly, I think there are probably quite a few excellent colts being gelded, and sadly, at the same time, far too many poor quality colts growing up intact and eventually being used to breed. Whenever I look at BDF Quasar, I'm thrilled by the look and quality of him, and I'm thrilled to own him and have the priviledge of training and using him. But, at the same time, I think how sad that his unusually good qualities never got used for the improvement of the breed. First of all, he's the son and grandson of GJEST & SOLAR, two old-time, unquestionably fabulous stallions. -- Secondly, despite the fact that America was lucky enough to have these two great stallions over here, and despite the fact that some of the most knowledgeable men in the Fjord world advised combining the two lines . . . . there is no Gjest/Solar son standing at stud. -- That's a shame. So, what's so special about BDF Quasar? He's very tall and big-boned. You could almost say draft-type. Probably would say drafty. But, if you describing him on paper without seeing him in the flesh or on video, you'd have to quickly say that the horse is a phenomenal mover with incredible suspension, action, rhythm, regularity. He's got it all. He has what it takes to be a good dressage horse -- And, to top it all off ---- The horse has SOUL! There's a look in his eyes that's so attractive and appealing and deep. Quasar also has the most incredibly good temperament, attitude, and work ethic. He's only 3 1/2 years old, and already he's a lovely driving and riding horse. All these things make him the outstanding horse he is, and I can't help but think it's a shame he can't pass on his special qualities. I am a breeder! And while I love a good gelding, I believe above all that the best male horses should be identified early, and somehow saved for breeding, and it's a real loss to American Fjord breeding that some are lost to the gene pool. Maybe it's a question of education. -- Maybe there is a way that these very young colts could be identified in sort of a 'preliminary way'. --- I know this is a difficult problem for owners. Often times they think they've got a very good colt, but need confirmation before making plans to geld. And the thing is that the time for gelding comes awfully fast, and owners tend to act fast when that colt starts to feel his hormones. -- Some owners have a wonderful colt and don't know it, and so he's gelded. Other countries dont' have this problem as the colts are judged early, thereby enabling the owners to make informed decisions in a timely manner. You see, in Europe, at least in Holland, most of the weanlings (age 3 or 4 months) are judged at an Evaluation (Keuring). The owner knows right away if he shoud be thinking stallion. If his colt is judged "B" or "C" quality, then he knows immediately to geld. If the colt is judged "A" quality, then the owner might decide to postpone gelding. --- But, if the colt is judged "AA" quality, then there's a strong liklihood that the colt is a stallion prospect. -- They have what we don't have. They have a knowledgeable Fjord judge advising them as to the future of their colt. We can't do it exactly the way they do it, but perhaps there is a way . . . I've proposed this before and it didn't fly. Lots of people had lots of reasons why it couldn't work. However, I think it could work, at least to the extent of giving the owner something to go on. A kind of educated guess. -- We've got these trained evaluators like Wayne Hipsley, Jim Havelhurst, and others. --- Why can't owners send a video of their colt to these people and get an opinion. - The video would have to be done according to a prescribed formula. For instance, show colt walking in hand on riangle. -- Show him free lunging at trot -- Show closeup of all legs. Show him trotting towards and away so that straightness can be evaluated. Show closeup of head and teeth. And whatever other guidlines the judges might have . . . . This could be a money making thing for both the judges and the NFHR. The Registry could charge $150 (or whatever?) for the service, giving $100 to the judge, and $50 to the NFHR. --- Just a thought . . . . --- Why not use this method? And why not use these NFHR approved Fjord judges to help out owners and hopefully, save some very good breeding stock from being lost forever? If anybody has any opinions, I'd like to hear them. Probably, as before people will come up with a lot of reasons why it couldn't work. But, I say, before getting into the details -- First decide if there's a need -- If there's a strong benefit to owners and to American Fjord breeding. -- After that's established, figure out how to implement it. Regards, Carol Rivoire
