Comments from the Editor and Guest opinions

FROM JOE CASSEL OWNER OF CASA CASSEL ARABIANS, TYLER TEXAS

NOVEMBER 1, 2000

DEAR ANSEL:

THE LETTER I WROTE TO ABA IS ENCLOSED. ALSO,  ALTHOUGH  I HAVE NOT READ IT All YET, I  AM SENDING YOU A COPY OF ALAN KIRSHNER'S LETTER TO THE EDITOR THAT WAS IN THE ARABIAN HORSE WORLD.  I SKIMMED IT AND IT TAKES A LITTLE DIFFERENT SLANT.

LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH !

SINCERELY

TO:

ARABIAN BREEDERS ASSOCIATION

P.O. BOX 43

MILLVILLE, CALIFORNIA 96062               530-547-4030

DEAR FELLOW ARABIAN BREEDERS:

I HAVE JUST RECEIVED THE AMA BREEDERS HANDBOOK AND COMPLIMENT THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING ALL THE HELPFUL MATERIAL AND INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN COMPILED AND PRINTED IN IT.

RECENTLY, I HEARD THAT THE ARABIAN HORSE TRUST IS CLOSING AND THAT THE INTERNATIONAL ARABIAN HORSE ASSOCIATION IS IN A STATE OF DISARRAY. THEREFORE, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EXCELLENT TIME TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH, BACK OFF AND LOOK AT OUR INDUSTRY.

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1999, ACCORDING TO THE STATE OWNERSHIP REPORT ISSUED BY THE ARABIAN HORSE REGISTRY OF AMERICA, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HORSES REGISTERED WAS 384,167 HORSES, OWNED BY 169,929 INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF HORSES OWNED PER OWNER IS 2.26 HORSES. NOW, THAT SHOULD ALERT US TO THE FACT THAT NOT TOO MANY OWNERS ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF BREEDING HORSES FOR A LIVING  OR FOR THAT MATTER, REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE BREED AS SOME OF US ARE.

THE ARABIAN HOUSE REGISTRY OF AMERICA, AT MY REQUEST, COMPILED THE NUMBER OF OWNER (SHIP)S THAT HAVE 10 OR MORE HORSES.  4,789 OWNER (SHIP)S, (2.8% OF ALL OWNERS) OWN 94,182 HORSES (24.5% OF ALL REGISTERED ARABIANS - AN AVERAGE OF 19.667 HORSES PER OWNER (SHIP). THESE ARE THE BREEDERS, THE CREATORS IF YOU WILL, OF THE ARABIAN HORSES NOW AND IN THE FUTURE IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND MEXICO.

THE TREND IN NUMBER OF HORSES REGISTERED AND IN THE NUMBER OF OWNERS IS DOWNWARD AND IS THE LOWEST IN 10 YEARS. (I HAVE BEEN KEEPING THESE RECORDS SINCE 1972) THE NUMBER OF HORSES FOR SALE SEEMS TO BE INCREASING BUT DEMAND APPEARS TO BE DECREASING, JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF HORSES FOR SALE. ALSO, THE QUALITY IS ALSO LOWERING. THESE ARE NOT DESIRABLE TRENDS FOR OUR INDUSTRY.

IMMEDIATELY THE QUESTION ARISES AS TO THE CAUSES FOR THESE DEVELOPMENTS. THERE SEEM TO BE SEVERAL. ONE IS THAT THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF HORSES OWNED PER OWNER (2.26 HORSES) MEANS THAT FEW ARE IN THIS AS A BUSINESS. ONLY 2.8% (4,789) OF OWNERS OWN MORE THAN 10 HORSES.

ANOTHER IS THE LONG TIME, 5 TO 7 YEARS, IT TAKES AN ARABIAN HORSE TO REACH MATURITY. EDUCATION IS AN ON­GOING REQUIREMENT TO PRODUCE QUALITY AND MANY LOOK AT OWNING HORSES AS ENTERTAINMENT. NOT WORK.

THE DECREASE IN QUALITY CAN BE DIRECTLY CREDITED TO TWO THINGS: IGNORANCE OF GENETICS ON THE PART OF OWNERS AND USING THE SHOW RING JUDGING DECISIONS TO SELECT THE INDIVIDUALS TO MATE.

WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE EXCITED NEW OWNER TAKE THEIR WONDERFUL OLD MARE (THAT WAS PRACTICALLY GIVEN TO THEM AND WHOSE PEDIGREE IS COMPOSED OF HORSES THAT NO ONE HAS HEARD OF) TO A STALLION WHO HAS JUST WON HIS FIRST SHOW AND EXPECT A NATIONAL CHAMPION.

GENETICS JUST DO NOT OPERATE THAT WAY. THAT IS WHY THERE ARE SO MANY DISAPPOINTMENTS IN BREEDINGS EXPERIENCED BY THOSE TYPE OF OWNERS.

FIRST, THE MARE CONTRIBUTES 60% TO 70% OF THE PHYSICAL. GENETIC AND ATHLETIC TRAITS THAT THE FOAL INHERITS. YET FEW OWNERS SEEM TO BE AWARE OF THIS FACT. THEIR SELECTION CENTERS ON THE STALLION AND HIS SHOW WIN RECORD.

THE SECOND ERROR MADE IS TO IGNORE A BASIC FACT THAT THE FOAL INHERITS ONLY 32 GENES FROM A TOTAL OF 64 FROM ITS PARENTS. THIS RESULTS IN ALL KIND OF COMBINATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS IN THE FOAL. ONE THEN HAS TO REMEMBER THAT EACH PARENT MAY HAVE 64 SEPARATE GENES FROM ITS PARENTS OF A TOTAL OF 128 FROM WHICH THE FOAL ONLY CAN SELECT 32. AD INFINITUM! THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHY LINE BREEDING IS THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE A CHANCE TO REPRODUCE CONSISTENTLY THE CHARACTERISTICS ONE DESIRES IN THE FOAL. EVEN SO, IT IS NOT A 100% GUARANTEE.

THROUGH THE YEARS I HAVE ATTENDED MANY IAHA CONVENTIONS, SHOWED IN MANY SHOWS , OBSERVED MANY JUDGINGS OF ARABIAN HORSES, AND OBSERVED A FEW RACES. WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS IN THE SHOW RING. THE ONLY OBJECTIVE JUDGING I HAVE OBSERVED IS IN RACING, ENDURANCE AND COMPETITIVE TRAIL RIDING, WHERE THE FINISH LINE IS ALWAYS OBJECTIVE AND CONSISTENT, TIME AFTER TIME.

SHOW RING JUDGING IS INCONSISTENT, SUBJECTIVE, SUBJECT TO THE JUDGE'S LIKES AND DISLIKES AND BASED ON THE WRONG CHARACTERISTICS. MUCH OF SHOW RING JUDGING TODAY AND FOR THAT MATTER. IN THE RECENT PAST HAS BEEN OF THE SIX CHARACTERISTICS UNIQUE TO THE ARABIAN HORSE: (1) HEAD COMPARATIVELY SMALL; (2) PROFILE STRAIGHT OR PREFERABLY SLIGHTLY CONCAVE BELOW THE EYES; (3) COMPARATIVELY SHORT DISTANCE BETWEEN EYE AND MUZZLE; (4) DEEP JOWL, SMALL MUZZLE, LARGE NOSTRILS; (4) ARCHED NECK; (5) CROUP COMPARATIVELY HORIZONTAL; (6) NATURALLY HIGH TAIL CARRIAGE. GRANTED THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE  DESIRABLE BUT ONLY AFTER IT IS DETERMINED THE HORSE HAS THE 17 OTHER CHARACTERISTICS COMMON TO ALL WELL BRED RIDING HORSES.

TO VERIFY THIS, ONE HAS ONLY TO LOOK AT ANY HALTER CLASS BEING JUDGED TO SEE HORSES WITH THE SIX CHARACTERISTICS OR TO LOOK AT THE WINNER'S PICTURE IN OUR MAGAZINES TO SEE STRAIGHT SHOULDERS AND PASTERNS (THEY GO TOGETHER. YOU KNOW) WITH THE RESULTING LONG BACK, SHALLOW GIRTH. FINE BONE, CROOKED LEGS AND LACK OF SUBSTANCE. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE NOT GOOD HORSES TO BEGIN WITH.

YET THESE ARE THE STALLIONS BEING SELECTED TO PRODUCE THE NEXT FOAL CROPS. HOW MANY NATIONAL CHAMPION STALLIONS HAVE CONSISTENTLY PRODUCED NATIONAL CHAMPIONS? IN OTHER WORDS, WINNING IN A SHOW RING IS NO BASIS FOR SELECTION OF A BREEDING STALLION. IN MY OPINION, YOU CANNOT HAVE A GOOD ARABIAN HORSE WITHOUT IT FIRST BEING A GOOD HORSE THEN HAVING THE SIX CHARACTERISTICS ADDED.

REMEMBER, THE ARABIAN HORSE DID NOT GAIN ITS RECOGNITION FROM ITS LOOKS BUT WHAT IT WAS PHYSICALLY ABLE TO DO. WE SHOULD STILL GIVE THAT TOP PRIORITY IF WE WISH TO PRESERVE THE TRUE ARABIAN HORSE.

THREE ARABIAN STALLIONS, THE GODOLPHIN BARB, THE DARLEY ARABIAN AND THE BYERLY TURK ARE CREDITED WITH THE CREATION OF ALL THE LIGHT HORSE BREEDS WE HAVE TODAY WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF A COUPLE OF BREEDS WHOSE LINEAGE HAS NOT BEEN TRACEABLE. ALL WERE SELECTED BECAUSE OF THEIR ABILITY TO PRODUCE SUPERIOR ATHLETES, NOT JUST BEAUTY. NOW, IN OUR INFINITE WISDOM, DO WE REALLY WANT TO ELIMINATE ATHLETIC ABILITY AS THE PRIMARY CONSIDERATION IN THE PERPETUATION OF THE ARABIAN HORSE ? I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT !!!

THE HALTER CLASSES FOR ARABIANS SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE IT IS DOING TO THE BREED OR THE JUDGING SHOULD BE CHANGED TO JUDGE FIRST FOR A PROPERLY CONFORMED LIGHT HORSE OF ANY BREED AND THEN FOR THE SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ARABIAN, IN THAT ORDER. A LOT OF MAMMAS AND PAPAS ARE GOING TO CRY "FOUL" BUT WE ARE IN A CRITICAL PERIOD FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE ARABIAN HORSE AS IT WAS GIVEN TO US 50 YEARS AGO. THOSE SIX CHARACTERISTICS DO NOT A GOOD ARABIAN HORSE MAKE !!

IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT NO DRUGS SHOULD BE GIVEN A HORSE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SHOWING IT UNDER SADDLE OR ALLOWING IT TO BE JUDGED IN HAND. ANYONE DOING SO SHOULD BE PROHIBITED PERMANENTLY FROM SHOWING OR RACING. THE FUTURE OF THE BREED IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE FEELINGS OF ONE PERSON WHO HAS BROKEN RULES DESIGNED TO PRESERVE THE ARABIAN HORSE FOR THE FUTURE.

I ATTENDED THE CONVENTION IN SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA WHEN THE SWEEPSTAKES WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO IAHA. THE SMALL OWNERS WHO HAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY TO SPEND ON THEIR HORSES AND THE LEAST CHANCE OF WINNING IN THE SHOW RINGS COLLECTIVELY PUT UP MOST OF THE MONEY. I WAS AGAINST IT THEN AND I STILL SEE NO REASON TO CHANGE.

FOR TWENTY YEARS I HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT THE ARABIAN HORSE LEADERSHIP SHOULD REVIEW WHAT THE AMERICAN QUARTERHORSE ASSOCIATION HAS DONE TO SELL THEIR PRODUCT. THEY HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE OWNERS TO ENJOY THEIR HORSES WITH ONE DAY OR WEEKEND EVENTS AND WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK TO ENTER THE CLASSES. THIS IS WHERE 97.2% OF OUR ARABIAN OWNERS EXIST ! AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO GET TOGETHER AND ENJOY THEIR HORSES WITH FELLOW OWNERS AT A REASONABLE COST. HENCE, THE GROWTH IN ENDURANCE AND COMPETITIVE TRAIL RIDING. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE AT THE TOP TO HELP THEM DO THAT.

IF ONE WILL BACK OFF AND LOOK AT OUR INDUSTRY, IF WE CAN CALL IT THAT, WE ARE MADE UP OF ONE AND TWO HORSE OWNERS WHO ARE CONCERNED PRIMARILY ABOUT ONLY THE PLEASURE SIDE OF THIS EQUATION. THEY ARE THE MARKET FOR THE PRODUCT CREATED BY US 2.8% BREEDERS.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BREEDERS TO PRODUCE THE BEST POSSIBLE PRODUCT FOR THE 97.2% OF THE CURRENT OWNERS AND TO CREATE THE BEST POSSIBLE ATMOSPHERE WITHIN WHICH THEY CAN ENJOY WHAT WE HAVE PRODUCED AND HAVE TO SELL TO THEM.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS BREEDERS AND WHAT THE REMAINING 97.2% NEED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS ARE TWO SEPARATE REQUIREMENTS. EACH REQUIREMENT MUST BE ADDRESSED SEPARATELY. THIS IS WHY THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH DISAGREEMENT- THE NEEDS ARE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE.

WITH THE FORMATION OF THE ARABIAN BREEDERS ASSOCIATION, THESE NEEDS CAN BE ADDRESSED SEPARATELY AND ALL CAN HAVE THEIR NEEDS AND DESIRES MET BUT NOT UNDER THE SAME RULES AND REGULATIONS. FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE BEEN MIXING APPLES AND ORANGES.

ONE THING THAT WE AS BREEDERS NEED TO ADDRESS IS THE PRICING OF THE OFFSPRING WE PRODUCE. PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO SPEND MANY DOLLARS IN TRAINING, TRAVEL, ENTRY FEES. VEHICLES AND TRAILERS BUT DO NOT WANT TO PAY A REASONABLE AMOUNT FOR THE FOUNDATION AROUND WHICH THOSE EXPENSES ARE INCURRED. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT WE AS PRODUCERS DON'T DEMAND A REASONABLE AMOUNT FOR THE FOUNDATION OF THE INDUSTRY - THE HORSE WE HAVE PRODUCED.

AS AN EXAMPLE, A HORSE WILL COST A MINIMUM OF $250.00 PER MONTH TO STABLE, FEED, DOCTOR, AND TRIM FEET - A TOTAL OF $3,000.00. TRAINING AND SHOWING EXPENSES CAN BE ADDED TO THAT OF, SAY $750.00 PER MONTH OR $9,000.00 PER YEAR - A TOTAL OF 12,000.00 PER YEAR.

BUT THE BUYERS DO NOT WANT TO PAY $12,000.00, LET'S SAY, FOR A HORSE WHOSE COST IS $100.00 PER MONTH ($12,000.00 DIVIDED BY 120 MONTHS OF USEFULNESS) OR $1,200.00 PER YEAR FOR A HORSE ON WHICH THEY COULD SPEND $12,000.00 PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS OR $120.000.00.

AS I SEE IT, WE. AS BREEDERS, ARE GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK. EVERY ONE ELSE IN THE CHAIN OF ACTIVITIES INVOLVED GETS THEIR MONEY FOR THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES. WHY CANNOT THE CREATORS OF THE BASIC INGREDIENT GET PAID SUFFICIENTLY TO COVER AT LEAST THEIR COSTS? THIS ASSUMES OUR PRODUCE IS; GOOD AND WILL SERVE THE CUSTOMER WELL.           

ONE REASON COULD BE THE REQUIREMENT TO PAY FOR THE HORSE UP FRONT RATHER THAN SPREAD THE PAYMENTS OVER ITS LIFE. MANY SELLERS ALLOW BUYERS TO PAY OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD. COULD THIS BE ADDRESSED BY THE CREATION OF A FINANCING PLAN WITH A FINANCIAL LENDING INSTITUTION ?

4

ANOTHER COULD BE THE LACK OF QUALITY IN THE HORSE BEING PURCHASED. A THIRD COULD BE THE NUMBER OF HORSES OF THE SAME QUALITY BEING OFFERED AT THE SAME TIME. THE FOURTH AND PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IS THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE BY THE BUYER OF WHAT CONSTITUTES QUALITY.

MANY OF TODAY'S BUYERS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THE HORSE IS JUST SOMETHING THAT SEEMS LIKE FUN TO BE INVOLVED WITH FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND THEN WHEN THEY GO TO COLLEGE, THE HORSE CAN BE DISCARDED LIKE OLD SHOES.

THE REASON TO POINT OUT OUR DIFFERENCES IS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THEM AND AGREE ON A COMMON SOLUTION BENEFICIAL TO ALL. PREFERABLY. IT WOULD BE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE BEST QUALITIES OF THE ATHLETIC ARABIAN HORSE.

THE ARABIAN BREEDERS ASSOCIATION IS IN POSITION TO TAKE THE LEAD IN ADDRESSING THESE PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME. CERTAINLY, THE REGISTRY WAS NOT ORGANIZED FOR THAT PURPOSE AND IS NOT STRUCTURED TO SOLVE SUCH PROBLEMS. THE IAHA IS IN DISARRAY BECAUSE IT HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN GROWING FOR 20 YEARS OR MORE. (COME TO THINK ABOUT IT, I MADE MY FIRST IAHA MEETING IN 1959 OR 1960 IN OKLAHOMA CITY WHEN IVAN ROWE WAS PRESIDENT).

THE INDUSTRY NEEDS A FOCAL POINT TO WORK TOWARD. ARE WE IN THIS ACTIVITY BECAUSE WE LOVE THE ARABIAN HORSE AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS AND WANT TO PERPETUATE IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS ? I HOPE SO! BUT I FEEL WE MAY BE IN THE MINORITY. IF SO, THEN LETS ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE AND WORK TO REACH OUR GOAL! THIS WILL FREE US OF THOSE WITH DIFFERENT AGENDAS WHICH ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH OUR DESIRE TO PERPETUATE THE ATHLETIC ARABIAN HORSE THAT. INCIDENTALLY, IS ALSO BEAUTIFUL AND VERY LOVING

WHEN I STARTED THIS LETTER. IT WAS NOT THE INTENTION TO WRITE ONE SO LENGTHY. HOWEVER, ONE THOUGHT BROUGHT ON ANOTHER AND THE CURRENT BIG PICTURE, WHICH IS NOT PRETTY, BEGAN TO BREAK ITSELF DOWN INTO COMPONENTS WHICH CAN BE DEALT WITH SUCCESSFULLY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ABA ADOPT A MODEL OF WHAT A GOOD ATHLETIC ARABIAN HORSE SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND PUT AT THE FRONT OF THE HANDBOOK. I HAVE NOT FOUND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE EARLY DRAWINGS AND DESCRIPTIONS BY GLADYS BROWN EDWARDS, WHICH I AM ENCLOSING. THIS WILL ALLOW ALL OF US TO WORK TOWARD THE SAME GOAL IN OUR BREEDING PROGRAMS.

THE CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT SHOULD BE STRESSED AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY. THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT TO SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMING THE TASK OF PRESERVING THE ARABIAN HORSE.           

THE ABA HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS THAT THE INDUSTRY IS IN TODAY. THIS CAN BE DONE SIMPLY BY DOING WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE PREAMBLE AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED IN THE AFFAIRS OF OTHERS.

EARLY ON, IAHA BECAME POLITICAL AND DEALT MORE WITH THE FEELING AND AMBITIONS OF THE PEOPLE THAN WITH THE WELFARE OF THE ARABIAN HORSE. THEY WERE MORE INTERESTED IN WINNING IN THE SHOW RING AT WHATEVER COST THAN IN THE HORSE. NOT ONLY WERE THE POLITICALLY OPERATIVE MOTHERS THERE BUT MANY OF THE TRAINERS HELPED THEM ALONG. IT LOST ITS PURPORTED PURPOSE MANY YEARS AGO AND I DO NOT BELIEVE IT CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT A COMPLETE OVERHAUL WHICH IS NOT LIKELY TO OCCUR.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE RACE TRACK AS A WAY TO TEST THE ATHLETIC ABILITY OF YOUR BREEDING STOCK. THE POLISH BREEDERS USED THE RACE TRACK WITH GREAT SUCCESS AS A TEST OF PHYSICAL ABILITY AND FITNESS OF THEIR HORSES. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE HORSES ARE BETTER TREATED THAN MANY IN THE SHOW WORLD.

IN ADDITION TO THE PHYSICAL TESTS NECESSARY TO PROVE ATHLETIC ABILITY. RACING IS THE ONLY ACTIVITY AVAILABLE WHERE THE SPECTATORS, INSTEAD OF THE OWNERS, PAY THE COST OF SEEING THEM PERFORM. MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, SOME THINGS NEED TO BE CORRECTED IN THE RACING ARENA, A CARRY-OVER FROM SOME PRACTICES IN THE SHOW WORLD, BUT THEY ARE MINOR IN COMPARISON.

ALSO, I THINK TRAINERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE SHOW RING, AND THOSE FROM THE TRACK, MUST BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST. THEY OWE IT TO THE BREED.

IN LIKE MANNER, THE BREEDERS AND OWNERS MUST ACCEPT THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAS AND IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE ARABIAN HORSE IN THE FUTURE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO TURN THAT RESPONSIBILITY OVER TO NON-OWNERS WHO ARE NOT FOOTING THE BILLS.

SINCERELY

JOE CASSEL

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