The problem I (and obviously also others on this list and elsewhere) have, is that the standards are actually not the same as they used to be.
You say we should find another breed with standards we like. I say, keep the standards the same as they originally were, and I'll be happy!
There are lots of things that are changing within this breed, but I stick to discussing height, as it is much easier to keep facts separated from beliefs then. Sure, measurements may differ, I've seen horses measured 148 cm (58") and then a couple of years later the same horse is only 143 cm (56"). I have a mare myself whom I imported as a 3 year old from Italy. She was inspected in Italy and measured 146 cm (57.2"?) and a year later when inspected in Sweden she was measured 141 cm (55.2"?) so i know all about that. But it's still much easier than to discuss for example type, when we only have descriptions and no photos of for example Folie and his sons.
Now if the ideal height is constantly being "pushed" (upwards) why should I go find another breed with standards that I like? I like the standards that used to be (max. 15 hands). In 1998 at the WHF annual meeting in Luxemburg (I was present) the height limit upwards was opened, so that now also horses taller than 15 hands are accepted "if they are of outstandning quality". Now I hear rumours that they're pusing the height limit even more upwards, and even though it's just rumours, it doesn't surprise me, as I myself have heard several influential people advocate the idea of the ideal haflinger being taller than 15 hands.
Now tell me why *I* should go find another breed when the standards are being changed in this way. Why not keep the standards and stick to them?
Oh, and I AM a breeder, and I DO have registered haflingers. I was even the registrar of the Swedish Haflinger Assocation for 10 years.
Best wishes,
Kerstin
Haflinger Stud Farm Eldfuxen
http://www.haflinger.has.it
--- In haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com, haflingerhorse@... wrote:
- - -
> Everyone gives an opinion, here's mine, if you don't like the standards, find another breed with standards you like! the Haflinger is around because of standards set by the World Federation and breeders, long before many of you even knew what a Haflinger was, and now, many of you who are NOT breeders, and don't even care to have a registered Haflinger, OR be a member of the National Registry are going to sit at your computers, drink your coffee and give your 2 cents on what should or should not be considered a Haflinger based on bone and type because a standard has changed in the past how many years??? Humph.
>
> Jacque Woodward in Ohio
> Woodward Performance Haflingers
> www.hfbhaflingers.com
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