I am not up to date on the 'numbers' BUT having
tried the 'grow your arabian' route, it is not surprising to hear the discussion
about numbers of Arabians decreasing. The math just doesn't work in the
favor of the small breeder.
Some of the reasons as I see it:
1. Cost of registration
2. Lack of ordinary and affordable shows for
showing
3. Politics in the show ring affecting the
novice negatively.
4. Sale prices are directly related to the
politics.
5. In TX, only endurance riders and a few
show people have Arabians.
6. Arabians ARE more sensitive and hence more
flighty than Qtr horses which are the 'all time favorite' for the ordinary
noncompeting rider.
7. Cost of keeping the expensive horse is
expensive: ie special barns, special riding instructors, special
saddles, special tack, etc
8. Average Arab is not 'hefty' and henc the
average person over 66 inches considers them too fine boned and not tall
enough. Hence, the quest to build the taller Arab.
9. Main profit seems to be from buying them
cheap, training them to accept riders and then resale. I recently
bought a half arab for $400 as a 2 yr old. Back in 1980, a half Arab
was $800. Do the math. With only established farms being
able to take a farm deduction, a horse seems to be a beautiful animal with
4 hooves and a month into which one pours money with a negative balance
occuring.
10. The world is becoming less country and
more city.
11. Where is the next generation of horse
people? Who will continue?
12. With some many of us so busy working and
trying to stay afloat, it is hard to do much campaigning.
13. Golden Rule, the alternate one: He
who has the gold, makes the rules.
