Re: Breeding for endurance

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/23/99 8:19:49 AM Pacific Standard Time, MBlanchrd@aol.com
writes:

<< I hope that the endurance world does not become "hung up" on certain
 pedigrees, breeds, or even colors.  >>

Not much danger of that in our sport, because the results have to perform.  If
one becomes "hung up" on a line and breeds it into the ground to where it
can't perform, then it is no longer an endurance horse.  

That said, I will say that I am a CMK breeder of certain lines, and I will not
necessarily incorporate a line into my own program that is a good endurance
line, unless it also conforms to my CMK standards.  That does not mean that I
can't applaud breeders who choose to work within DIFFERENT lines than mine
that are also good endurance lines.  No one can breed ALL good lines and do it
well; I know what I have, and will continue to work in my own small program
within those lines.  Meanwhile, endurance is my reality check.  I have some
wonderful lines for this sport, but IF I LOSE SIGHT of the fact that I am
trying to preserve GENES, not names in pedigrees, my program will suffer as a
result and the quality of my offspring will go down.  

Heidi