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Sorry -- Terminology ... I tend to think of a "backyard breeder" as  
someone who has no real concept of what they are trying to achieve  
with their breeding "program".   They don't test for inherited  
diseases, and they don't evaluate their breeding herd or their  
progeny with regard to that vision -- whether that is by  
conformation, behavior, or performance records of the horses in the  
breeding herd, or the accomplishments of their progeny.   To me, a  
BYB  is a haphazard operation - there is no "program".

A small breeding operation is not, to me, the same thing.   It isn't  
the *size* of the operation, it is the *approach*.  I fully agree  
that - given the fads that the various horse industries go through -  
if what wins at the big Arab shows became a 'required type' for  
'examiners' to license, we would get pretty much what you described.   
Kind of like the Quarter Horse industry, with those big bodies on  
little, tiny feet....

On Apr 1, 2008, at 12:14 PM, heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> > I have to say that I like the **concept** of licensing or
> > certification.  What I don't like is that any such program is easily
> > manipulated.   I think most of us have seen or heard of situations
> > that would have been avoided if a person had been required to show
> > competence.  BYB's is only one part of that.  Animal abuse / neglect
> > cases due to ignorance or incompetence spring to mind.
> >
> > The problem is -- where do you draw the line, and who gets to draw
> > it?  Once you open the door to licensing, it is very hard to stop
> > progressive requirements, and very easy for the people in charge of
> > licensing to use it for any number of special agendas which have no
> > relation to the original intent.
>
>
> I would add that it is the smaller "backyard" breeders who have  
> basically kept the traditional "using" Arabian alive.  If it were  
> left to the powers that be in the Arabian "industry" to send  
> "examiners" around and pass judgment on breeding stock, the Arabian  
> breed would now be entirely a schizoid bunch of sausages on  
> toothpicks with a flag on each end.
>
> Therein lies the flaw in the "inspection" concept--it is literally  
> ALWAYS hijacked by personal agendas, even when they may seem to be  
> benign and well-meaning.
>
> Heidi


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