Re: RC: breeder ethics

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/3/00 1:50:02 PM Pacific Standard Time, woa@stormnet.com 
writes:

<< Geez, Heidi
 Are we back to this again? I thought we already beat this one to death!
 There are tall horses with bad conformation; there are tall horses with
 good conformation. There are shorter horses with good conformation;
 there are shorter horses with bad conformation. >>

No, Bette, not "back" to anything--just pointing out my personal 
observations.  I've said over and over again that when tall horses happen 
when breeding for quality, one can get quality tall horses.  But all you have 
to do is visit around the Arab industry a little bit to see that breeding for 
tall IS a fad, and is VERY often done at the expense of quality.

One incident (among many) stands out in my mind--a purebred Arab gelding that 
sticked at over 16:3 hh but was an absolute caricature of a horse.  Looked 
like he was built by a committee.  Went to ONE ride, and was never able to 
stay sound.  Despite his very questionable conformation, NUMEROUS riders came 
up to him at that ride and oohed and ahhed, and one said, "He is SO tall!  
WHY did they geld him?"  Well, duh.  He was bred INTENTIONALLY with the idea 
that height was the ultimate goal--his lovely sire produced some outstanding 
horses when bred to mares who COMPLIMENTED him, but this was the result when 
height was the only consideration.  And this poor horse is just one example 
of many I've seen that have been intentionally created in the rush for height 
at all cost.

If you doubt what this trend has done to our horses, Bette, spend a year 
going to breeding farms, Class A shows, and yes, even to the endurance rides. 
 And give the horses an HONEST look.  Pretty sad.  Yep, I can find you some 
very nice tall ones.  But they are in a minority.

One of the early Arab breeders (wanna say Albert Harris, but I'm not positive 
it was him) made the observation that at 15 hh or under, one can find 4 in 10 
that are of outstanding quality, but that when one goes over 15 hh, only one 
in 10 is of the same outstanding quality.  I'd go one step further and say 
that the higher you go, the more rare that quality is.  This observation is 
not unique to me--but must say that 30 years of breeding and observing Arabs 
(and LISTENING to people who are more knowledgeable than myself and who have 
seen more than I have) has made me realize that the folks who said such 
things knew what they were talking about.

Bette--you say you have a good one that is 16 hh.  Fine.  They do exist.  
I've never tried to say otherwise, nor have I knocked your horse in any way.  
So why is it that you protest so much when others share their observations?  
If your horse is what you say he is, we all look forward to seeing him out 
here.  I've seen some good big ones.  I'm talking averages here, and your one 
good one does not make good big ones any less rare.  What's your beef?  I'm 
not here to debate--just to share what I've seen.  And your protestations 
don't change my observations over the last 30 years one whit.  I'm constantly 
looking and trying to educate myself about what's out there, and I come to 
this forum to share what I've seen and to learn from others who are also 
impartial observers.  I don't come here for hype or commercials.  Quite 
frankly, I get tired of folks reading all manner of things into the sharing 
of observations (not just mine, but others as well), but I stay here because 
some folks appreciate knowing what us old timers have seen, and some folks 
have valid input to share.  If you're not interested in that, I'm sure your 
computer has a delete button.  I've tried to take this private, and that 
hasn't worked, either.  So from now on, my delete button is gonna get more 
use when I see your screen name come up, and if you can't read my posts 
without reading in things that aren't there, maybe you'd be happier if you 
did that with mine, too.

Heidi