This message is from: "Arthur Rivoire" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello from Carol Rivoire at Beaver Dam Farm in Nova Scotia -
By now it's clear the Presiden'ts Message in the Herald was confusing, misleading, and offensive to a lot of people. -- When I read it, I was flabbargasted! My personal "take" on the message was the NFHR president and the NFHR Board of Directors were advocating lowering the standards -- breeding "pleasure riding and driving horses" --- as opposed to performance horses --- because of the survey. The majority replying to the survey (only 46%) said they used their horses for pleasure riding and driving, which to me meant trailriding. ----- Other Herald readers interpreted the remarks to mean other things. Before anyone assumes I don't value a good trail horse, the fact is I do, but dumbing down the breed to turn out trail horses would not be fulfilling the obligation we have of breeding for versatility, strength, and the many other unique qualities of the breed. - As to pleasure riding and driving horses . . . The most pleasurable horses to ride and drive are the good horses. Those with athletic conformation, good movement, a forward attitude, and a willing and brave temperament. Fjordhorses with poor conformation might be acceptable for walking trailrides, but a poorly conformed horse with bad angles resulting in a choppy gait and a short, stiff neck is no pleasure to either ride or drive. So, that's how I interpreted the remarks -- that the NFHR was advocating lowered standards in breeding - Not breeding for the excellence needed in competition (all kinds from dressage to draft), but just "so-so" horses that would be "OK" for pleasure riding and driving (ambling down the trails). Having talked on the phone years ago with Fred Brandt, and knowing him to be a man that cares, I'm fairly sure he didn't mean his statement as it came across. But, I'm really glad that others felt the same as I did and made their feelings known. This gives the President, and the BOD of the NFHR an opportunity to set the record straight. --- Current owners, and those interested in purchasing a Fjordhorse want to know that the Registry and breeders are high minded and doing their utmost to breed good using horses, maintaining the best of this breed -- This actually has been a wonderful discussion with many people contributing valuable opinions and feelings, and doing so without rancor. A lessson to all of us how valuable this forum of ours can be if we're polite and considerate of feelings and each other's opinions while at the same time, not being afraid to state our own opinions strongly. -- A great example of the lively, but friendly discussion around the cyber kitchen table. Kind Regards, Carol Rivoire
