ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: $$$$ and horses

Re: $$$$ and horses

Mary Ruebush (mruebush@montana.campus.mci.net)
Mon, 10 Mar 1997 07:10:26 -0800

Dear Annette -
We are definitely of one mind! I am a breeder also and stress
imprinting and EARLY training, and not only has my pleasure gone up, but my
medical bills (and those of the people I sell to) have gone down. I concur
absolutely about the value of learning about weanlings, and try to sell at
this point also, but find, like you, that most people do not understand the
value of these early bonds. The people I do ultimately sell to however,
"get it big time" when they start saddling and riding. My stud is a young
one, with his earliest foals only a year or two under saddle - I can't wait
to see how the P$R's pay off since my foals will allow you to do anything to
them without even a halter on. No more rising heart rates over gum checks!
The problem I see is that this training is quite labor intensive
early on, and most people here in Montana do not want to pay for the work
that I do, that they may or may not understand the scope of. Ultimately
they all understand, but so many are turned away by the prices before they
even come see. It is a conundrum, but one I continue to labor with, as I am
not willing to give in to the production of "brain-dead" arabians! We have
a new web page up - still some glitches and changes to be made, pictures to
be added etc, but would appreciate comments from you if you have time. We
are definitely in the same business, and I wish there were more of us to
fight the "beauty without brains brigade"! Web page is at:
www.blackbeararabians.com Please be gentle: it is a work in progress. I
have much more experience with horses than computers! Mary Burgess
At 06:09 PM 03/09/97 -0700, you wrote:
>To Mary Burgess,
>
>You are right on in your comments about the best horses being those you
>raise. I have found that out since becoming a breeder in 1990. The ones I
>have raised myself will do anything for me. Further, as a breeder, I make
>the best money, and am still able to give a good deal on the price for the
>buyer, when I sell a weanling. Unfortunately, it is hard to convince people
>to buy weanling and wait 2 to 3 years to ride it and put the money and time
>into raising it right, having it trained, etc. Most people want something
>they can ride next week. It is too bad, those people who don't raise a
>horse never know what a difference it makes in the responsiveness and bond
>between the horse and the person. Your comments about getting what you pay
>for, or don't pay for and paying for it elsewhere, like the ortho
>specialist, are also correct, in my opinion. Our farm motto is "We breed
>for temperament, gait and temperament!" because I don't care how good the
>horse looks, what color it is, or how well gaited it is, if it doesn't have
>a decent temperament, it is not a horse I would want to ride or sell to
>someone else.
>
>Annette Gerhardt
>
>

Home Events Groups Rider Directory Market RideCamp Stuff