I agree we need to do more to expose our breed and to participate in the open shows where we are showing to more than other Haflnger owners. I believe that to do this and do it well we need to educate the people that judge these shows on the breed standards for the Haflinger so we are properly judged against the other breeds and not compared to the other breed standards. When we achieve this we will be in a position to show everyone how godd the Haflinger is and continue to grow the breed.
--- In haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com, "rivervalleyph" <rivervalleyph@...> wrote:
>
> Jacque,
> I agree. I am not usually one to drop in on such conversations, as all of you probibly know, I am not "politically correct". However, I am a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, APHA, the NCHA or National Cutting Horse Association, as well as AHR and many smaller Associations and clubs including our local Wet Mountain Saddle Club, the Western Cutting Horse Association, the Southern Colorado Cutting Association, and more. As a person with more than one passion, not just Quarter Horses and Cutting but Haflingers both under saddle and harness as well as halter, I do feel at times that AHR is expensive, and yes, more expensive than other registries. For example, through AHR it costs 20 for a transfer, through AQHA or APHA it is 15 dollars for members and there is NO late fees no matter how long ago the transfer took place. Now, AHR charges 65 for a membership and yes you get the 6 magazines. However, AQHA and APHA are both about the same if you get the magazines as well, but AQHA sends out the Quarter Horse Journal- monthly that is published by a professional. Also, NCHA is more expensive to join, I just paid 80 dollars for that too- however 20 dollars is for trainer dues- so the actual cost for the membership is 60/year. NCHA sends out a huge journal every month. NCHA members are kept tract of with Life Time Earnings for you and every horse you ride or own. They offer many shows, in every area. Unlike AHR where the shows are all back east. Sure- we have gotten a classification started out here and held it for three years now- whoopy! I am glad for that- but out here there are no shows inspired by AHR. There really isn't much now that I think of it. AQHA and APHA offer things like miles and hours you ride a horse, they keep tract of your horses points with point shows, they are all over the country, not just back east! AHR has not to my knowledge ever backed up haflingers being shown some place like the stock show out here or in Dallas ForT Worth, or some place like that where people with registered or unregistered haflingers would love to show off our golden ponies! For instance- I spend, every time I go show or go to an expo 1,000 each time we go between the costs of going, entries, fuel, etc. I just can't afford it. AHR never offered to help sponser this- I went to the expo here in Denver year after year, it costs 275 for a stallion package or a mare package, plus you have to buy insurance, plus its 125 for each stall after that, plus you have to have coggins and health papers, brand papers, etc. By the time you add it up- you are head over heels in for one expo! I will say that I met nice people there, however, after three or four years I quit. I never sold a horse there, although I did promote the breed, and spent countless hours preparing horses and others and countless dollars. I don't have the money to do that right now. However, NCHA has contacted my and sponsered me to go to events. Now I know that AHR is very small compared to NCHA, but if that is how we are comparing, than isn't 65 dollars a year high? Also, I raise and have a few QH's, the DNA costs are less, I don't have to ever renew my stallion lisence yearly. Didn't I pay for that when we bought the first stallion lisence? Why am I paying every year for his name to be published? He is liscened! That does urk me.
> I too would like to see more offered through the registry. Here's an example- I have been a member of AHR for quit some time as was my mom and dad and granpa. However when a good friend of mine lost her very best friend, a lady that was also a member at the time, I wrote a poem and put together a bunch of pictures of her and her gorgous mare who was registered as well. I asted if AHR wouldn't publish it in memory of my friends awesome mare, who by the way was shown a lot out here and won many titles- a tribute to the breed for sure. AHR would not publish it unless I paid for it as an ad. There was nothing in it for me- not even my name- just simply pictures of Louisa and her mare and the poem I wrote. Was I upset- you bet! I had by the way been advertising with AHR some yearly. After that I never have. I was so upset I can't explain it! However, I have seen others that have written things and sent in pictures of horses that have passed by or that they bought!
> See, this is why it was hard for me too to send in my fees and dues and so on to be a member again. To support the breed. I could sell grades as well. I choose to send in the papers again to help the breed and registry. I would like to see AHR support its members with more help, more ideas, more shows, ect, though I know that times are rough for us all. But even the idea would spark interest for now!
> I support all the thoughts you had Jacque, good or not. I agree. It may not be the prettiest picture, but it is one view!
> This isn't to make anyone feel like what they have done is worthless, but what could be done could be worth gold. Everyone's thoughts here should be excepted and understood and only when that happens can we as an Association, move forward and gain!
> Sincerely,
> Dawn in COLD mountain town of Westcliffe, CO
>
> --- In haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com, haflingerhorse@ wrote:
> >
> >
> > Oh Emily, EXACTLY the type of response I would expect from an AHR board member to another member who offers suggestions and ideas as to why there are not more people breeding, joining, or becoming members. This is the EXACT same responses the others are getting when issues arrive in our registry, such as issues (and letters) as far as inspection, issues with current judges (other letters written) and these people who speak up become 'attackers' of the registry instead of the registry looking to help these people. In fact, a letter went out to AHR members that the board was willing and open to offering suggestions and now I am an attacker for the suggestions on what could be wrong (from a owner/breeder/competitor standpoint).
> > It is all roses when everyone thinks a group is just the best, but if someone goes against the group, or ideas, or has a different suggestion, then it is an 'attack' Yes, certainly I am attacking my breed registry, the registry in which my horses earn me a living, not just a write off hobby.
> > And I have been on committees in which people were not welcome, I have spoken with Bill Jameson privately, as well as Paul Sutton, and Andrew Yoder, and you and I have also had our share of private emails regarding direction and I have also spoken with Ruth Schwab at the office.
> > My response was to why others may not be joining, and that if there were actual incentives (as AHR is so quick to point out their membership fees are the same as other registries, but AHR isn't so quick to point out that they offer much less in incentivies than other registries) that perhaps it would encourage more people to join, and participate. The registry can't keep expecting a free handout, or volunteers, because they 'love' the breed. These same people are tired of being asked again and again and again for free handouts, they get tired of it. But keep up that attitude that those who offer suggestions are now 'attackers' of the registry, they are also the ones paying into, but many won't be if that attitude continues as is showing now with the membership rates dropping even lower.
> >
> > Jacque in Ohio
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com, Emily Gibson <briarcroft@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Jacque, with all due respect for your important role in Haflinger breeding,
> > > training and organization of successful shows like the Buckeye Show---
> > >
> > > in response to your diatribe against AHR and the people who put in many
> > > volunteer hours to make things happen for the benefit of the breed, I will
> > > only respond with this:
> > >
> > > there isn't any AHR committee turning away willing volunteers with energy,
> > > motivation, ideas and passion for the Haflinger breed. We are
> > > always struggling to find people willing to volunteer their time, write
> > > quality articles for the magazine, take good photos to share, put time in on
> > > various clerical tasks the office can no longer handle, without expecting a
> > > reward of free ads or other incentives.
> > > Anyone who is interested in putting in the time and effort to keep a healthy
> > > registry alive and well should contact President Bill Jameson at
> > > bjameson7448@ as he will put you in touch with the committee
> > > chair person who needs your skills.
> > >
> > > Emily
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 11:30 AM, <haflingerhorse@> wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Emily and John,
> > > > I have to say I agree with John on this one for the most part. And in all
> > > > honesty to Emily, we had six foals born this year, and we seriously
> > > > considered not registering them all (we did however) Four years ago that
> > > > would never have been a consideration.
> > > > Everyone says the economy is tough, but you know what, there are ways to
> > > > make it work. You say that AHR membership fees are the same as other
> > > > registries, ok, but are the AHR BENEFITS the same as these other
> > > > registries?? Absolutely not. I just read in the Equine Journal that the
> > > > National Cutting Horse Association had their LARGEST membership year last
> > > > year at 20,255 members, in this 'down' economy and they managed to pay out
> > > > premiums of over 10 million dollars. (The Triple Crown pays out 4 million.)
> > > > Besides the discounts for transfer, or registering a Haflinger, oh, and a
> > > > magazine that has very little content, you don't have to be a AHR member to
> > > > show at the National Show, you don't have to be a AHR member to consign a
> > > > horse to the AHR sale, you don't have to be a AHR member to have a horse
> > > > inspected. At least, you didn't use to have to be a member, perhaps this
> > > > changed.
> > > > AHR wants the membership money, but it has been made pretty clear by many
> > > > AHR directors that AHR's job is to register and transfer Haflingers, that's
> > > > it. So, if you don't sell privately, and you don't breed, why plunk down $65
> > > > a year???? You can still sell a horse at the auction, you can still show at
> > > > the National and other private Registered Haflinger Shows. There isn't a
> > > > year end awards that is actually celebrated, banquet, or even a 'Thank you'
> > > > or 'welcome' dinner or something. Heck, even the little local groups have
> > > > more things offered.
> > > > We, like many others have put a lot of time and money into the Haflinger
> > > > breed, National Show, Futurities, SIP program and Inspections etc and this
> > > > was the first year we honestly thought about NOT renewing our membership.
> > > > Since we show and train Haflingers, the open shows we go to don't care if we
> > > > have registered Haflingers or not, they have never asked to see our papers.
> > > > As far as that goes, besides the National Show, there are very few all
> > > > registered Haflinger Shows, and the draft shows usually don't ask for
> > > > registration papers to begin with.
> > > > You have to start with the little guys like John has said, make it worth
> > > > their while. The recreational points program is a great idea, it needs
> > > > developed more, those people who particpate would love to see the miles
> > > > accumulated in the magazine, with pictures and a short story about their
> > > > horse. Same with Inspection. There wasn't one thing in the magazine that
> > > > showed pictures of who inspected Silver. I understand that the magazine
> > > > doesn't have professional writers who are paid, but make something worth
> > > > while to those who do participate. Let's say for every 5 articles that are
> > > > written and used in the magazine, or events covered, the writer gets a 1/2
> > > > page black and white ad, thank you, or congrats ad. Have a foal announcement
> > > > page with pictures for $10 a picture, a youth page, a farm page and charge
> > > > $50 to get a one story page about your haflinger farm. After the National
> > > > Show, make a 'National Show Special' that you can put a picture and
> > > > 'congrats' line in for $$$?? Have people write about different places to
> > > > camp, drive, or parades. And, history articles on the breed, how it evolved
> > > > in the US etc. I understand it takes a committee to put this stuff together,
> > > > and that is another issue, AHR has the same people on the same committee
> > > > year after year, no new people are asked to be on, nothing new is
> > > > accomplished, same old same old. There are new people out there who have
> > > > ideas, who want to be a part, but they are pretty much shut down by the
> > > > others who have been on the committees for years and years. It needs to be
> > > > changed up, rolled over, new people and ideas to get on these committees who
> > > > actually want to do something and improve, not just have their name on a
> > > > list. After three years, I have declined to be on any AHR committee for
> > > > 2010, that opens up three positions, as I was on three committees, do you
> > > > think there will be new people put in those positions, or the same people
> > > > from the same little group?
> > > >
> > > > Jumping down from the box now, to much snow, not enough riding I suppose is
> > > > the reason for the long post.
> > > >
> > > > Jacque in Ohio
> > > > www.hfbhaflingers.com
>
------------------------------------
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