Newsgroups: rec.equestrian

Greetings!
Could the kind horsey souls of the net please review and criticize
this proposal? I have been thinking of it for a few years now and I
think technology has caught up with us so that this would make
sense. All comments welcome! Maybe this same set of arguments would
be useful for different breeds?

Happy Holidays!!

thanks ! 

Donna "donning flame proof coat" G.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Analysis of "Equal  Opportunity  for Mares"  proposal for Arabian Horse
Registry

Note:  The Arabian Horse Registry already requires bloodtyping for both
mare and stallion and resulting  foal.  It already  allows AI and semen
transport for stallions. ( The related issue of egg and/or embryo transport
will be addressed at a later date.)

Proposal
Decision: Should  Arabian  Purebred  Mares be allowed to have more than
	  one foal  that  can be  registered  with  the  Arabian  Horse
	  Registry per calender year?

(Presumably via a special permit embryo transfer arrangement)



Objectives:
      Priority  Objective

      Must	Save quality Mare lines (which we are losing fast)


      Must	Improve genetic variability of breed
 		Decrease inbreeding
	 	Preserve  various gene pools	
              

      Must  Improve overall "quality" of breed



      Want	Generate revenue for registry

		Increase public interest in breed

	Support breeders requests

	Balance current practices with stallions



Alternative #1

DO Nothing.

Benefits: less hassle and expense

Risks: Loss of important mare lines degeneration of breed quality
possible loss of revenue. Bad PR to breeding public due to
backwards policies.


Alternative #2

Approve each mare with a permit individually.

Benefits: Allows at least some mare lines to be perpetuated

Risks: Perception of unfairness and arbitrary decision making.
Whatever criteria will never make all members happy.

Alternative #3

Allow any mare that owner desires to be perpetuated with purchase
of permit similar to semen transport for stallions.

Benefits:  Immediate  gain of revenue thru permit  sales.  Preserve old
aging  mare  lines.  Satisfy  hundreds  of  preservationist   and  show
breeders.  Positive  image to public,and  encourage  breeding of gentle
tempered good performing type traits.  Allow breeders more flexibility,
and dilute effects of already  overbred "Fad"  stallions, some of which
already have hundreds and even 1000 foals.

                         a) better quality overall
                         b) More interest in some lines
                         c) More high quality mare lines   
                         d) more breeding== more registration== $$


Risk: Possible increased fraud, could be curtailed by use of DNA
typing in addition to blood  typing used  currently.  Added  hassle and
expense of more  administration.  Some people  might try  "foal-mills",
one mare  contributing  disproportionately,  although a mare may not be
able to produce  the  quantity  of  offspring  a stallion  could it may
unbalance the breed. (however, since we already have this issue
with many stallions, it is not a new problem)



Recommendation:

Alternative #3

Allow any mare that owner desires to be perpetuated with purchase
of permit similar to semen transport for stallions.

Benefits:  Immediate  gain of revenue thru permit  sales.  Preserve old
aging  mare  lines.  Satisfy  hundreds  of  preservationist   and  show
breeders.  Positive  image to public,and  encourage  breeding of gentle
tempered good performing type traits.  Allow breeders more flexibility,
and dilute effects of already  overbred "Fad"  stallions, some of which
already have hundreds and even 1000 foals.

                         a) better quality overall
                         b) More interest in some lines
                         c) More high quality mare lines   
                         d) more breeding== more registration== $$


Risk: Possible increased fraud, could be curtailed by use of DNA
typing in addition to blood  typing used  currently.  Added  hassle and
expense of more  administration.  Some people  might try  "foal-mills",
one mare  contributing  disproportionately,  although a mare may not be
able to produce  the  quantity  of  offspring  a stallion  could it may
unbalance the breed. (however, since we already have this issue
with many stallions, it is not a new problem)
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts