This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have read a lot about the pros and cons about the live and DVD evaluations. A lot of people seem very opiniated one way or another. So am I. An evaluation is a tool of advertisement. It does not say that every evaluated horse is better than one that is not evaluted. I just says that you have proven certain qualities. It is the same as having a vet check when you sell or buy or horse. You prove the condition of the horse that day. That does not mean that is healt hier than a horse that didn't have a vet check... I simply say: You get out what you put into it! If you invest in a lot of training and advertisement chances are your horse is going to be better known than others; if you have a professional trainer ride or drive your horse at the evaluation (live or DVD) chances are that it will be shown closer to his full potential. A back yard breeder that loves watching his horse, but never had any formal training on how to demonstrate his horse won't really benefit from DVD evaluation because he still wouldn't know what a judge is looking for. He would have even less advise around him than at a live evaluation where maybe an experienced person offers to take the horse in the ring or help clip the mane just right to help look the best. To me complaining about the money aspect is pointless. In Germany, evaluations, regardless what breed, are mandetory. Unless you are a professional rider you are not even authorized to ride your own horse. $300-500 per month boarding plus paying a proffesional trainer for 100 days plus evaluation fees for judges......you easily have to spend several thousand dollars to get your horse evaluated. And even then the final testing and scoring is based on a single day performance. If your horse had a bad day you may have to invest the money for the 100 day testing twice or you still don't get the breeding permission at all. Breeding a horse with pedigree in Germany is only for well situated people. Here in the USA you have a choice. You will be able to register you horse with the NFHR wether or not you have the time and/or money to get your horse evaluated. I am all for evaluations especially since Ford breeders are so far and few between. I see an evaluation as a form of advertising. If you don't have the time or money to bring your horse across state boarders to get it officially evaluated you can take certain measurements (canon bone, height....) yourself or train your horse for local shows. If somebody is serious enough about the performance of their breeding stallion they can show hism for example at local dressage shows. Once they receive a number of rides in the 60% range in first level dressage, it is a pretty safe bet that they would get a blue ribbon in the advanced English test. The same holds true for reigning. With riding local shows one can also qualify for the excellence and or versatility award. There are many ways to demonstrate the quality of your horse and educate people about the value of your horse for breeding. Evaluations are just one of them. To me live evaluations are the only realistic ones if you choose evaluations as your tool of advertisement. Otherwise we could also suggest to cancel horse shows and send in DVD for the various classes instead. That way we could save ourselves some more money and don't subject our horses to the stress of showing and being away from home.....
Heike
