This message is from: "Arthur Rivoire" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello All from Carol Rivoire at Beaver Dam Farm in Nova Scotia -
Glad somebody asked what this term means. I've always been bothered that it does have a derogatory sense, because it shouldn't. I guess to me, a "backyard breeder" is a person owning one mare, possibly two, who has a foal once in a great while. That's a backyard breeder to me, but I hate to use the term because of the connotation usually applied to it. I don't feel that way. In fact, I think that someone like that who chooses to have a foal is very likely to turn out a wonderful foal because of all the attention lavished on that "only child". This presupposes that the mare is a good one and the stallion was carefully chosen. Considering the fact that Beaver Dam Farm hardly ever has more than three foals per year, we must be a "small breeder". We don't have more foals than that for several reasons, one of which is we want to be able to properly care for what we have. Now as to the "Big Breeders" . . . Who are they, and are they good or bad? It depends - BAD!!! I'd say if they can't afford all the horses they're producing and don't care for them properly, and don't do all the necessary pre-natal things to insure healthy foals. -- GOOD!!! I'd say if they have plenty of money and experience and hire people to take good care of the herd. Because, believe me, if you have a large herd and are producing a lot of foals, you ABSOLUTELY NEED a lot of money and a lot of help!! It simply can't be done any other way. Well, that's it for me today. Tomorrow Arthur and I are off to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Can't wait! It's one of our favorite places to go. While we're gone, six horses will be leaving here for new homes, one of which is our old broodmare, Maryke. Well, not really so old. She's only 15. She's going to Ann & Ed Sullivan and their two horse-loving daughters, Maggie and Bridget. There aren't many homes that I'd approve for this adorable mare, but we feel sure she'll get all the attention and care she needs at the Sullivans in Connecticut. Two others we'll miss a lot are BDF Philly and BDF Phoebe, 4 yr. old mares owned by people in NYC. Philly and Phoebe have been with us since birth, and are now mature and trained to ride and drive. They're going to a dressage stable in PA for advanced studies in dressage. Best Regards, Carol Rivoire http://www.beaverdamfarm.com Beaver Dam Farm Fjords II R.R. 7 Pomquet, Nova Scotia B2G 2L4 Tel:(902) 386-2304 Fax:(902) 386-2149 Carole Rivoire, author of THE FJORDHORSE HANDBOOK, only book in English on the Fjord breed, available from Beaver Dam Farm, $36.95 US includes P&H http://www.beaverdamfarm.com/book.htm
