Tony, i really appreciate your input on this subject. Yes, it is a FARM NAME.
I hate it when people buy a horse based on a farm name alone, or they only identify its "bloodlines" by the farm name, because as we all know, not EVERY horse produced by a farm is fabulously perfect or whatever the "standard" for that farm name may be. I am NOT putting anyone down, just trying to ease a hype for the buyer unaware.
My farm name for example, as small as it is. I have produced about 15 foals in my career. Of those, I would say half are outstanding and of the caliber I want to be remembered for. Half are ranging from one with dwarfism signs (and some would argue, but I call it like I see it, even when it's MINE) to just plain "average" and unsuitable for refining the breed, so were culled from the breeding barn as pets/pleasure animals. Maybe that's a bad comparison, as likely the majority of the industry has not heard of my farm name, but even the biggest farm in business now has horses they produce which are unsuitable for whatever reason, yet they retain the farm name...and anyone that would deny it is fooling themselves, and that's quite the sin, IMO.
In this industry/hobby/pursuit, one must maintain a certain objectiveness and not get caught up in an egotistic attitude of invincibility or over-inflated values.
I have one horse on my property right now that has "Arenosa" in the lines (going to Winnie the Pooh) and while he's pretty (he's the boy in my avatar), he is not necessarily better than my breeding stock (he is a gelding) which has more desirable traits to pass on. It isn't the farm name, the pedigree, the color that makes the horse this or that, it is the horse itself and one has to be very critical and assess their goals carefully.
I've seen bad examples of horses that had the Arenosa in their pedigree considering them 100%, but then that's nothing bad, I just don't know that it's ok to make blanket statements that they are automatically better for whatever reason. If that horse is indeed better, then they deserve all the kudos and admiration, but don't say it's because of the name of their sire, their breeder, etc. Take it all away and if you still have an outstanding horse, then brag away!
Hope noone's offended, I just hate to see people jump on a bandwagon/fad and part ways with a lot of money for something inferior based on a name, etc. etc. when all it takes is a good eye for correctness (first and foremost), and then to be able to see that extra something.
Liz M.