Sometimes, I feel that Dwarfism is a forbidden topic when it comes to Miniature horse Owners/Breeders. I kind of bothers me since I'm such an open person when it comes to my horses (3 out of 7 are dwarves) and dwarves are a big part of me. We started breeding in 2006 and had a dwarf that very year. We had one in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. Not very good odds. But in those early days we didn't know much about them. Anything to be honest. We didn't know that the parents were causing it so we kept breeding.
It wasn't until recently that we started to actually learn about dwarfism. Since then I've been a sort of advocate when it comes to them on another forum, since I openly had a dwarf filly born. That filly wasn't supposed to be born. Her sire was a dwarf carrier, and her dam a possible dwarf. It wasn't supposed to happen but a family member put the stallion out with the dam. Separation doesn't work when a family member lets them out together.
On that forum, I guess you could say that I'm the "Dwarf Girl". I'm very vocal about my dwarves and any topic on dwarfism. I post lots of pictures of my dwarves. Everybody knows about them.
I was saying how I was completely honest about my herd. I am. I outed my own stallion and mares on here, my own website, and another the other forum. On my website its very clear to see that I am very open about them. I have all three of my dwarves on my website. I also have a page dedicated to dwarfism with a speech that I wrote for FFA Public Speaking this past year. I don't see too many websites with dwarves on them.
I'll be completely honest. I started this thread in hopes to talk about sometimes that I feel the need to just ask your guys' opinions on dwarves, not in anything big, but in general. Like, would you put them on your website? Would you embrace them in public in front of other mini owners/breeders or would you hide them? Would you stand up for them if somebody insulted them? Would you be honest about the number of dwarves you've produced? The parents of them? Whether or not you kept the foal or not?
I don't expect you guys to answer the above questions. I don't want you guys too. I'd be fearful that I might hinder your reputations.
I understand that dwarves are not to be promoted, but part of me thinks that dwarves should be in a way. Not in the way that would make people want them. But, I think that this type of promotion would be the way of just being honest and proud of them. How could you not be proud of them? I have a 9 month old dwarf filly. She turned 9 months old today. I thank God everyday for her. I am proud of her. Why? Because she's changed so many lives. Mine. My parents'. My classmates' and teachers'. Even the Life Skills class. Would you believe me if I embrace the name Tractor for her? I do. Why? Because a boy in that class named my filly Tractor. He was smiling the entire time.
To me, I feel that dwarfism is a huge controversy for many reasons. I also feel that the controversy needs to be abolished. We need to take the steps of making our breed better. I believe that the very first step of doing so would be to be honest to yourself and the people around you. Self critique your herd. Critique the offspring, and say, "Its obvious that this beautiful angel is a dwarf. Now I need to make sure that this doesn't happen again." I know that it would be hard for somebody to geld a winning stallion or retire a broodmare who has outproduced herself and the sire. But even you should be able to understand that underneath that conformation is an animal not of breeding quality. I know that this may ruffle some feathers.
I think, that with our breed that we need to add another MUST for our breeding stock, in front of conformation and disposition. Genetics. Of course, we won't be able to fully comprehend this until the day that John Eberths is able to release the genetic testing for dwarfism. But, I think we all know that there are some of us out there who know full well the minimal genetics that our breeding stock possess. We know that in whether or not the mare and stallion have produced a dwarf.
I would like to hope that each and every breeder/owner would be in line waiting for the tests to test ALL of their breeding stock. I would also hope that you guys would make it known what the tests prove. I would. Guess what. I already did.
As a community of breeders, owners, and enthusiasts I believe that to first better our breed that we must first tell the truth and know the truth. Afterwards, afterwards we take those great leaps to better our breed genetically however we must.
I am truly sorry if I did ruffle any feathers, but I am truly devoted to my horses and I hope to make a difference somehow. Dwarfism has been apart of my life since I was eleven and here I am at nearly sixteen trying to better my herd. As my first act of bettering my herd I was able to convince my parents that our horses weren't breeding quality. Now, my goal is to stray away from the breeding life and into the showing world. My mare Bow just entered into her first 2011 heat. I am beyond ecstatic. Why? Because I know that she won't be bred; ever. Just knowing that she's in heat and there isn't a single intact male near here is enough for me to sleep happy.
I think that we all know that we may never be able to rid dwarfism from our breed because of the backyard breeders or other narrow minded people, but maybe just maybe we'll be able to re-invent our breed into a whole new one with the inclusion of more Shetland and UK blood. We can't keep breeding for size for too much longer. There will come a time that if we don't stop breeding for size we'll have to resort to C-sections for every foaling. We need to breed for a safer miniature horse both genetically and physically yet also manageable in size. If we don't fix our breed then we'll only be left with dwarves 50/50 or even 100% of the time.
Your foals are the future. Their genetics are the future. People may not remember your horses but they'll remember what deep down inside in each and every cell and molecule.
I would like to leave this saying, Good luck in the future years of breeding. I'll be in the sidelines watching.
It wasn't until recently that we started to actually learn about dwarfism. Since then I've been a sort of advocate when it comes to them on another forum, since I openly had a dwarf filly born. That filly wasn't supposed to be born. Her sire was a dwarf carrier, and her dam a possible dwarf. It wasn't supposed to happen but a family member put the stallion out with the dam. Separation doesn't work when a family member lets them out together.
On that forum, I guess you could say that I'm the "Dwarf Girl". I'm very vocal about my dwarves and any topic on dwarfism. I post lots of pictures of my dwarves. Everybody knows about them.
I was saying how I was completely honest about my herd. I am. I outed my own stallion and mares on here, my own website, and another the other forum. On my website its very clear to see that I am very open about them. I have all three of my dwarves on my website. I also have a page dedicated to dwarfism with a speech that I wrote for FFA Public Speaking this past year. I don't see too many websites with dwarves on them.
I'll be completely honest. I started this thread in hopes to talk about sometimes that I feel the need to just ask your guys' opinions on dwarves, not in anything big, but in general. Like, would you put them on your website? Would you embrace them in public in front of other mini owners/breeders or would you hide them? Would you stand up for them if somebody insulted them? Would you be honest about the number of dwarves you've produced? The parents of them? Whether or not you kept the foal or not?
I don't expect you guys to answer the above questions. I don't want you guys too. I'd be fearful that I might hinder your reputations.
I understand that dwarves are not to be promoted, but part of me thinks that dwarves should be in a way. Not in the way that would make people want them. But, I think that this type of promotion would be the way of just being honest and proud of them. How could you not be proud of them? I have a 9 month old dwarf filly. She turned 9 months old today. I thank God everyday for her. I am proud of her. Why? Because she's changed so many lives. Mine. My parents'. My classmates' and teachers'. Even the Life Skills class. Would you believe me if I embrace the name Tractor for her? I do. Why? Because a boy in that class named my filly Tractor. He was smiling the entire time.
To me, I feel that dwarfism is a huge controversy for many reasons. I also feel that the controversy needs to be abolished. We need to take the steps of making our breed better. I believe that the very first step of doing so would be to be honest to yourself and the people around you. Self critique your herd. Critique the offspring, and say, "Its obvious that this beautiful angel is a dwarf. Now I need to make sure that this doesn't happen again." I know that it would be hard for somebody to geld a winning stallion or retire a broodmare who has outproduced herself and the sire. But even you should be able to understand that underneath that conformation is an animal not of breeding quality. I know that this may ruffle some feathers.
I think, that with our breed that we need to add another MUST for our breeding stock, in front of conformation and disposition. Genetics. Of course, we won't be able to fully comprehend this until the day that John Eberths is able to release the genetic testing for dwarfism. But, I think we all know that there are some of us out there who know full well the minimal genetics that our breeding stock possess. We know that in whether or not the mare and stallion have produced a dwarf.
I would like to hope that each and every breeder/owner would be in line waiting for the tests to test ALL of their breeding stock. I would also hope that you guys would make it known what the tests prove. I would. Guess what. I already did.
As a community of breeders, owners, and enthusiasts I believe that to first better our breed that we must first tell the truth and know the truth. Afterwards, afterwards we take those great leaps to better our breed genetically however we must.
I am truly sorry if I did ruffle any feathers, but I am truly devoted to my horses and I hope to make a difference somehow. Dwarfism has been apart of my life since I was eleven and here I am at nearly sixteen trying to better my herd. As my first act of bettering my herd I was able to convince my parents that our horses weren't breeding quality. Now, my goal is to stray away from the breeding life and into the showing world. My mare Bow just entered into her first 2011 heat. I am beyond ecstatic. Why? Because I know that she won't be bred; ever. Just knowing that she's in heat and there isn't a single intact male near here is enough for me to sleep happy.
I think that we all know that we may never be able to rid dwarfism from our breed because of the backyard breeders or other narrow minded people, but maybe just maybe we'll be able to re-invent our breed into a whole new one with the inclusion of more Shetland and UK blood. We can't keep breeding for size for too much longer. There will come a time that if we don't stop breeding for size we'll have to resort to C-sections for every foaling. We need to breed for a safer miniature horse both genetically and physically yet also manageable in size. If we don't fix our breed then we'll only be left with dwarves 50/50 or even 100% of the time.
Your foals are the future. Their genetics are the future. People may not remember your horses but they'll remember what deep down inside in each and every cell and molecule.
I would like to leave this saying, Good luck in the future years of breeding. I'll be in the sidelines watching.
