Backyard Breeders, Big Name Breeders, "Puppymill" Ranches…… these are a few of the terms to identify people perceived to be at the root of the problem by the New Age Horse Savior Cult. These people are drawn into the arguments to support their agenda every time yet another pro-slaughter fact or opinion is mentioned. Rescues are telling us no one can care for horses as well as they do.
I believe they don’t have any first hand idea who or what they are talking about, much less what any horses from these situations look like in the flesh. I think they only recognize what they have been shown on the internet. I think they want to believe in the set stereotypes because it is easier. Easier to spread hate, distrust, disrespect, and all the emotions running so rampant on the forums where there is a visual “example” of the horror to rally around.
What if the majority of the horses looked different from the stereotypical image projected by the Fuglies, Johns, Alexes, or whomevers?
I thought it would be fun to use four of my own mares for a pop quiz. I consider myself a very average trainer/dealer/anything for a buck and just because I have them in blood horsemen. I have sold/trained/and owned many nice horses over the years. I can put a pretty decent handle on one. When I am finished with most horses, most people can get along with them. I won’t ever start a breeding dynasty, show a world champion, or see my name up in lights as a clinician, but I like to think I do okay.
Hopefully this quiz will at least lend question to a few of the myths and stereotypes being promoted in the anti-slaughter agenda.
These are mares I own or have owned. They are all mature mares of predominantly performance horse breeding. One is solid color APHA, the other three are AQHA. The youngest was eight when these photos were taken. The oldest was fifteen. Two are the products of backyard breeders. One is from a big name breeder, “own daughter/legends pedigree mare.” One is a “ranch puppymill breeder” mare.
One is in training to be remarketed. One has been a broodmare her entire life. One is my “go to horse” that I wish was a gelding. Two are saddle horse fit and two are “pasture” condition. Remember our long ago discussion of drugged horsemeat? One of these mares has never had any vet care other than worming with ivermectin, although she is halter broken. Can you tell which one has had the lifetime of neglect?
That’s the test for all the competent horsemen of the New Age Horse Savior Cult. Put your hands in the air and tell me which one of my mares is which, using your vast practical knowledge.
The little fellow in the photo is my BYB contribution for 2009 to the horse overpopulation. But here’s the thing, I will complete his paperwork, geld him, ride him, fit him, and give him an honest resume at my cost BEFORE I ever expect anyone else to be responsible for him.
By RH1
I'm declairing myself ineligable to take the quiz, but I wanted to say I love that colt. What a handsom little guy he is!
ReplyDeleteThanks, he is a week old in the photo. It is a shame he isn't getting anything to eat.
ReplyDeleteThe homozygous thing is a big deal these days. I don't care so much about color, but homozygous for stud colts (future geldings)now that's something I could warm up to.
Trivia for the day.....do your realize the AQHA has perlino, cremello, and white for color choices on the registration apps? WHITE....
That range mare sure doesn't know how to take care of him lol.
ReplyDeleteHomozygous for stud colts would be awsome!
Paints and quarter horses are inerchangeable now.... Color Used to be the difference between the two now we don't even have that. yet another reason for the off shoot registries in the QH world.
She does the best she can considering the unfortunate life she's been forced to live.
ReplyDeleteOh, goody, a game! But, no one's gonna wanna play. These are fit mares-where's the drama and emotion in that? These mares aren't headed for the "truck". There's no "ransom" or "bail" involved. And no feel good high to be had. I don't think anyone really cares where these girls came from when you get right down to it-they're much too nice. Now, throw four bags of bones on here, and the games will surely begin. That's the mindset we're dealiong with, sad to say. May I say you've got some nice mares here, and should be proud of your "eye", as Fugly would day, when it comes to choosing stock.
ReplyDeleteThank you that's just the point. It doesn't matter where they came from.
ReplyDeleteThere is no one set of breeders, dealers, or owners to blame in this whole mess. The only people "causing" slaughter are the ones holding the lead rope when the horse in question changes hands.
As good as she looks for her age, I know better than to take the old brown mare to a little podunk sale, and the way the market is, perhaps any sale, open or bred. I know there is very little if any market for a 16 year old broodmare who is barely halter broken.
Fugly and I have had discussions about her "eye" before.
We've talked about this one before. Good horses are bred by all of the above mentioned. If we just stop breeding, we'll lose some very good horses. Responsible breeders have already cut back, but that's rarely been acknowledged by the Anti side. They still can't understand that the Equine Industry is indeed a business on many levels. The greed they abhor in any other industry would be perfectly acceptable.
ReplyDeleteI had to throw in the remark about Fugly's eye-you know how I admire it:)