>And who are the backyard breeders? Just
curious what your definition is. (I have not had opportunity to
follow this entire thread so forgive me if I missed something.) I am
pretty sure we qualify as backyard breeders (at least we try to keep it in the
backyard so as not to offend the neighbors). :) We breed (gasp)
half-Arabs and have had many successful crosses producing what we believe to be
beautiful, athletic and correct gonna-be-endurance horses...the next year or two
will determine that as our stallions' progeny starts showing up on the
trail. Unfortunately, too many people use the term "backyard breeder" in a
derogatory manner and I am just curious how this was meant here or how it has
been used in this thread.
Well put, Maggie. In the case of the Arabian, it
has been "backyard" breeders that have all but "saved" our breed from the show
ring trends. Some of these folks were very knowledgeable--some kept
valuable breeding stock going for another generation or two more or less by
accident. Some of the most valuable USING stock in the Arabian breed
mouldered away in back yards and nearly disappeared, thanks to the fads, until
preservation breeders sought them out. I am eternally grateful for having
found the Farana sire line stallion Ibn El Nafar, to use one example--he was
crippled as a yearling and remained a backyard pet all those years, and we found
him in an exhaustive search for Farana sire line horses. We managed to get
just four foals by him, but they are OUTSTANDING and will carry on a line that
was nearing extinction. Thank heavens for back yards.... (Which goes
right back to genetic diversity....)
