As many of you know we sent a letter to the ApHC director, Dena Raggio, with some concerns and ideas for change within our breed registry. We want to let you all know that she did respond and has been most receptive and communicative with us. We greatly appreciate her time and attention and would encourage any concerned member to put forth the effort to write or call your director. If your director does not have the time for you, call or write one of the other directors. We are all in this together! We received an email from Dena last evening. The context I cannot share with you as it is confidential but I will share with you our response. To Dena Raggio, ApHC Director: Good morning! Again, let us emphasize how pleased we are that a director took the time to listen to us. In speaking with other breeders, we sense a growing feeling of disconnect with the ApHC. Many breeders, as you are already aware, have silently bowed out and went to other breeds, stopped breeding altogether or have cut back drastically in their numbers. Many have grown older, tired and apathetic with few younger new breeders motivated to take over. Why would they? Members can buy Appaloosas cheaper than breeding for them! Further, most existing breeders have expressed to us the concern that they do not feel they have been represented well and the breeder’s committee has been ineffectual. In the past, rules that drastically effect the breeder’s life blood, are enacted under “show rules” without regard. In our opinion, this is a time for significant change in communication and movement forward to promote and preserve the breeder. As you are well aware Dena, the breeding decisions breeders are making now, effect the future of our association for many years down the road. No breeders- no horses. No horses- no members. No members- no ApHC. Right now across the country, breeders are making the decisions as to whether or not to breed their horses. We are in fear for the future of our association based on what were are hearing. For this reason, we would like to express our regard to the performance permit. While eliminating the performance permit on the App x App cross is a step in the right direction, it may be too little, too late. Our gene pool at this point is extremely limited and the number of breeders is dropping dramatically. To penalize ANYONE who breeds Appaloosas within ApHC breeding rules simply because they did not get characteristics is counter productive. These solid outcrosses are an asset to our association and should not be discouraged. They bring new blood into our association and hybrid vigor. Most importantly, they are then required to be crossed back on our regular papered horses- supporting our stallion owners and breeders who own characteristic horses. Also consider that some of the most vivid coat patterns in our Appaloosas were the result of a solid crossed on a regular papered horse. We have also heard ideas related to including grade horses with Appaloosa characteristics into our association. In talking with other long term breeders, we feel this is a final slap in the face to those who have developed programs and have abided by the rules all along. We feel it will not only devalue the market for our produce even further but will diminish our breed identity and credibility amongst the other stock breeds. Why would we consider grade horses an asset and be willing to welcome them into our association, yet penalize the breeder who happens to get a solid that did breed within the rules? Why would we want to dilute our already weak market and put those grade horses into direct competition with those the committed breeder has invested time and money into producing. Do we want to encourage backyard breeding? Encourage grade horses to be within our ranks? This move alone, would most likely be the straw that breaks the back of the few existing breeders that remain. I know that it will most likely be the case for us. We realize you or other directors may not agree with these sentiments. But you took the time to listen and that alone is progress. We appreciate your time and interest. John and Julie Kreider
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 14:13:21 +0000
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