I too think a trail program would be great. It would allow those of us who love our Hafy's every bit as much as the show folks, but are mostly trail riders a way to feel included.
Suzy
----- Original Message -----
From: susiebk1
To: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 10:02 AM
Subject: [haflingerfriends] Re: Into the fold
Peggy and Suzy,
I too have nothing in common with the professional show horse types. I see their purpose, but it is not mine. My haffie is my trail companion. That is his only purpose. He keeps me safe, and lets me have fun. He isn't an "old-style" drafty horse, but he isn't the thinner-more sporthorse/arab type either....he's in between. While he's a little bit hotter than I wanted and expected, we have worked to reach a happy partnership.
I joined the National registry and my local state haffy group when I first bought Win. But as the years progressed I found less and less in common with both groups. For the past few years I have joined several local trail clubs and the local saddle club instead of sending the money to the national or state clubs.
Its the same story with my daughter's morgan gelding. At 24 years old, he's had his time in the show ring, and is now a trusted trail mount. He does not resemble the current show morgans in any way-he's a "foundation" morgan (yes-there is a group for that now). He looks more like the morgan Justin Morgan bred than the horses gracing the show ring today.
And our German Shepherd dogs? For the past 20 years our German Shepherds have always been imported from Germany, or be 100% German lines. Why? Because the American German shepherds are a shadow of what they should be, both in conformation and temperment. However, if I ever tried to show these dogs at an AKC show there is NO way I would place or get any points towards championship. They are just too different, and German vs. American German Shepherds do not even look like the same breed anymore.
The problems brought up with the breed these past few days are not limited to Haflingers, as I have seen with both our morgan horse and our German Shepherds. People tend to take things to the extreme, and not value the original as much.
I would really like the Haflinger club to have a trail program like the AQHA has. That would definitely bring me back.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Susie K in freezing IL
susiebk1@yahoo.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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