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 PH
http://www.beaverdamfarm.com/book.htm
