Re: endurance horse price

[crockett-collection@juno.com (Crockett Collection)]

On Thu, 17 Sep 1998 13:14:33 -0600 "Robert Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>
writes:
>Tommy:
>
>Barb heritage horses are being bred here in Idaho and are supported by
>extensive recorded lineage. I have been working with some of them. 
>What
>comes off the BLM is by no means close to the Barb Heritage, at least 
>in
>these parts. Yes, there are exceptions from the BLM herds but they are 
>just
>that, exceptions!
>

So true.  Recent exceptions like the Wilbur-Cruce herd in Az., but on the
whole, especially in Nevada I'm seeing a lot of domestic breeding back
into feral horses. Stallions several inches to a hand taller then the
common-range bred. I personally attempt to pick BLM horses that
demonstrate Barb like conformation traits. I'm certain my mare falls
short on conformation points in comparison to your pure-bred, but the
heritage is obvious. I wouldn't attempt to pass her off as a Barb. :) She
has been mistaken for one by visitors given her disposition at present. 
I would imagine that Idaho ferals must be rather a bit similar to Nevada
ferals.  



>As for the cost of these BLM feral animals, the round up, adoption 
>costs
>are near $1200 a piece. Thus we are subsidizing at least $1075 for 
>each
>horse adopted and those not adopted cost us much more over their 
>natural
>life. 
>

A tiny price. Part of the so-called land management agenda. I would think
it costs a bit to feed and care for penned animals, but once reintroduced
to natural surroundings the cost should be almost nil. No more then a
forest ranger on fire watch. I know a group called Friends of the Forest
claims to raise money for supplemental feed for those returned to horse
sanctuary during times of harsh weather.  

The entire fight over land use seems pretty unfair to those who breed the
majority of the nation's beef. I just don't understand the public grazing
right war at all.  Some complain about "how hard they have to work" when
in the east people have to pay real money to buy or lease land!  It feels
like some think the rest of  us should be financing their operations.
They pay for grazing rights and that is to their credit.  I still suppose
a lot more beef comes from farms in the midwest where people have to
really pay for it. Land management is a difficult subject at best. I've
probably helped pull this totally off-topic for ridecamp. 

So I still feel the Mustang, especially those that do demonstrate the
traits brought here by their ancestors to be excellent endurance and
riding prospects. A pain to be sure, but vitals with my mustang mare are
far better then my old Polish Arab ever demonstrated. Go figure. 

So how's Champagne doing these days? Gosh, your wife's horse must be in
his late twenties now? 

t


Tommy Crockett
Owner-Operator of The Crockett Collection
Fine Jewelry and Equine Designs
Weeks-Ft. Churchill, Nevada USA

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