It’s In the Genes...

I started out some time ago to write this blog about the traditions, the stockmen/women, the good people who cherish a way of life made possible by the horse industry and the entire business of animal agriculture. These people work every day to produce good horses and good livestock. I wanted to portray them in the same light I know them, as friends, peers, and caring stockmen/women. I became sidetracked in the angry insulting venues used by the so called “educated” side of this argument. You know the “smart” ones who think we should get a real job. What would the shelves of their local Walmart look like if everyone involved in animal agriculture were to follow their advice? What would the horse industry look like if all the professionals both small and large were to adopt the *NAHSC philosophy?
I don’t know Gary Hughes but he sounds like the kind of person I am referring to in this blog when I talk of the good horsemen and good people in the industry. His interview written by Journal editor, Christine Hamilton, thanks his Savior, his nephew, his friends, and an older gentleman who helped with his horses years ago for all they have done for him. He also gives credit to the friend who sold him BB Quick Hancock and the horse himself. Gary Hughes works for the BLM in mustang management. Wonder how many of those it would take to trade him out of the good gray gelding? Read the entire article here http://www.aqha.com/showing/shows/worldshow/09winningrun/amaheeling.html

I do know the breeders of Walking X Hancock and they are examples of the good people in livestock you would be lucky to count as friends. When you think about it, Walking X Hancock is actually a combination of evils according to NAHSC stereotypical bylaws. 1. The breeders of Walking X Hancock, Jan and Bill Wood have ridden horses to make living their entire lives. They put together a small band of mares from those who carried them well for so many years of those good horses. They have paid attention to sound conformation, working genetics, and trainable minds but haven’t been all that impressed by show points or promotional campaigns when choosing their breeding stock. BYBs with a really big backyard? 2. He sired BB Quick Hancock during one of the last years Warren and Kim Boles were involved in PMU ranching. The PMU industry is legendary fodder for the NAHSC.

The Woods no longer breed any horses. The Boles have left the PMU industry and scaled back their breeding program drastically. Haythorns, Cragos, and Lapkes to name a few others have or will be making drastic reductions in their breeding programs. We are losing the produce of these horsemen and gaining Fuglies, Eponas, John Hollands, and Karen Sussmans, yet we haven’t even begun to solve the unwanted horse problem. How’s that for selective breeding?
The American Association of Equine Practitioners honored the North American Equine Ranching Information Council with the 2009 Lavin Cup December 8 at the 55th annual convention. The Lavin Cup is the association’s award for outstanding equine welfare initiatives.
The North American Equine Ranching Information Council (NAERIC) was established in 1995 to promote the production of quality horses of many breeds while producing pregnant mare urine. Whether or not the estrogen and estrogen replacement therapy is, was, or ever will be safe for women is not my point today. I don’t wish to debate that or even discuss it.
These people were horsemen long before they became PMU ranchers. The 64 family ranches currently involved with the NAERIC have organized programs and marketing campaigns to ensure quality breeding and good animal husbandry. These animal husbandry practices include at least twice a year veterinary herd health reviews and third party oversight. The NAERIC placement fund has been instrumental in placing more than 26,000 broodmares in the U.S. and Canada since its inception in 2003. They also support research at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. The NAERIC Advantage program paid out $60,000 in incentives to owners of AQHA horses competing in approved events alone in 2009. I used the AQHA data since I am a working quarter horse fan and we started out talking about a world champion quarter horse gelding.
The Lavin Cup is named for AAEP Past President Gary Lavin. Past recipients of the Lavin Cup include Hanover Shoe Farms, Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Inc., and the American Quarter Horse Association. The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse.
For more information and discussion about the NEARIC visit these websites.
http://www.naeric.org/ http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/62383.php http://www.equinevoices.org/tusconcitizen-sept10-2007.php , http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/newsletters/v10n1/10n1luba.htm
You can read more about the Boles’ program at their website http://www.bbquarterhorse.com/ and you can enjoy Jan’s column as well as other equine related articles at http://www.tsln.com/

Written By RH1