Re: [RC] The Numbers Are Running Against Us - Truman Prevatt
Frankly I gone really give a rats behind what someone shows up to at a
ride nor do I do this sport to win big money prizes. Money and horses
don't seem to go together in the same sentence unless it is spend it.
I actually don't give a rats behind if the Arabian breed becomes a
small nitch breed or if it flourished and takes over the world (which I
doubt very seriously and which is what I think the orginal poster was
pointing out) as long as I have a good horse to ride.
I'm not an Arabian breeder so I could care less if the demand for the
breed goes up or down.
On the international level Arabs or I suspect most likely some sort of
Arab cross will end up dominating. Since it seems on this level that 7
to 8 hour 100's are what is going to take to win at the worlds and the
big races in the middle east, it will probably most likely be a cross
to get in some more speed.
Am I a member of the AHR - yep. Why, I like to support the organization
since I do have a couple Arabs ( that came to me - shudder -
sweepstakes nominated). However, the AHR is missing the boat since it's
given up the recreational market to the other breeds. The fastest
growing market for horses is in the recreational sector. That's just
plain not good business and the breeders should be the ones making the
noise. Of course Heidi will probably tell you that the current show
ring horse is not a good candidate for the recreational rider and that
very few breeders are breeding such an Arabian today and she is
probably right.
Frankly as the old movie goes, "Frankly Scarlett, I don't give a damn."
Truman
Lif Strand wrote:
At 07:39
PM 10/1/2004, Truman Prevatt wrote:
How many recreational riders do you see on
Arabs? How many do you see on the QH or gaited horse? At some point it
will catch up with them.
I think it's pretty regional. When I used to live in CA you saw mostly
Arabians on the trail. Here you see "ranch horses" which means the
same thing as mutt horses, generally part QH or part Arabian. I think
anyone riding a gaited horse in my neck of the woods would be asked if
the horses needed a vet or a bullet. But only a little over 100 miles
to the east on the Rio Grande you see all kinds on the trail - gaited,
Arabians, drafts, donkeys and mules. I've never seen so many donkeys
under saddle in my life!
But you go to an endurance ride around SW NM and you'll still see
mostly Arabians. People are still digging them up from somewhere. But
as you say, the AHR isn't pushing them, and soon there won't be so many
on the trails. So all you people listen to Truman and get into
non-Arabians real quick. Hurry up - I've waited a long time to get the
big money prizes in endurance!
________________________________
Lif Strand fasterhorses.com
Quemado NM USA
High Country Rider: An endurance rider's journal
www.fasterhorses.com/highcountryrider/
-- "It is necessary to be noble, and yet take humility as a basis
"It
is necessary to be noble, and yet
take humility as a basis.
It is necessary
to be exalted, and yet take modesty as a foundation."
