To many close minded people who think that grades are peices of crap, when they can be better horses that registered ones! Anyone go to 4H shows recently? there are PLENTy of grade horses showing that win and the registered horses crash and burN!
-this is very contradictory
the horse's status as registered or grade is irrelevant.
I do not consider the papers when I look at my horses, because ALL my horses are registered. I have a wide variety of quality, not so much now as I have had, and all my horses qualities ranged from "pet quality" as in beautiful temperament yet NOT breeding potential, to "show and breeding quality" which also qualifies them as pets, IMO, just ones with more versatility.
An ideal world, all horses produced would be suitable for every task, but the ones that do not show potential for breeding because of conformational shortcomings (THIS IS MY criteria, far more than papers or colors etc. etc.), temperament, or just plain watered down market, then they end up being more of a pleasure or pet type horse.
There are not any more closed-minded people here than anywhere else. I see by this quote that you yourself have closed your mind the other way, that registered horses are less desirable. You made a blanket statement.
Anyway, papers are nothing to look at when thinking breeding, not til last. Registration DOES add value to a horse for the fact that they can then participate in the benefits offered by their registry (or registries), not the least of which is the enjoyment of shows and keeping track of their status (which also lies with the owner).
Good proportion, correct conformation, and good temperament as well as an overall good, robust health are my factors. My horses just happen to be papered. One mare, the dam of the horse in my avatar, was unregistered, or "Grade" and I paid to have her hardshipped. Her foals have sold for at least 10X what I could have sold them for had I not bothered. Just my observation of 11-12 years of observing the Miniature horse market in my region as well as from a distance around the country, and knowing horses in general for 20+.
If a horse was truly better, I would not look away or flinch at a lack of registered status, or "grade".
I would then look at if he was truly better than the ones that are, and if he had something unique and new to offer (or she).
My two mares to me are equal in their appeal, for different reasons, though one of them has a long papered history, and the other has mostly "unknown" (even though through my research I do know her ancestors). I don't consider myself closed-minded and I know MANY breeders on here that feel the same and think the same.
Noone closed their mind, except the OP, when they heard something that did not suit their ideals. I know it's human nature because it happens to me.
Most reasonable people will not just leave and walk away, they will look around take a second and third look and learn and decide if they will indeed change their way of thinking, or go on thinking the way they did (having validated their reasons, or not!).
This is a great place, whether you choose to just read and not post, or share your observations. I welcome all of them, even if you don't like my horse, I am always interested in hearing why (whether I agree or not).
I post links to my pages because I don't mind anyone looking at my horses. They may not like them, and if they want to tell me, I will decide to listen or not. I will NOT make my choices based on anyone's opinions. I WILL change my thoughts based on people whose opinions I respect, with much consideration on my part.
In short, be mature, grow a set, and choose to listen, learn, share, or not. I am always interested in opinions and others' experiences.
Liz M.
