A
Horse,
of Course
with
Don Blazer |  |
IT'S TIME TO QUIT COMPLAIN' AND START DOIN'
AQHA just released the results of a survey the association
did on what is termed a "downturn" in the
economy. Summary of the survey: all negatives; one complaint
after another about the increasing cost of everything
related to horses except the "never increasing"
selling price.
Well, complainers, thank you very much... you've gotten
exactly what you've asked for.
If the cost of hay has soared, don't blame the drought.
There are always droughts somewhere just as there is
always plenty of rain somewhere else. The cost of hay
is up because the cost of transport is up, the cost
of land is up, the cost of labor is up, the cost of
store rental, taxes and insurance are up.
You can't ship hay without paying for fuel, and the
cost of fuel is up because we are extravagant wasters.
The complainers are driving over-powered, over-hyped,
over-rated trucks and SUVs. But they aren't complaining
about that; they're bragging on it. They can't afford
to feed the horse, but they can feed their ego.
Land and home prices are plummeting as the credit
crunch catches up to those who thought there was a way
to get something for nothing. You have to pay for what
you get, so if you can't pay the price of horse ownership,
don't get a horse. (Unfortunately those who didn't "over-buy"
are going to have to pay for those who did in the form
of government bailouts.)
Local tack and feed stores are struggling to make
a profit, while the big lot purchasers (who never have
in stock what you need) are getting property tax breaks
from city, county and federal government... the biggest
money wasters of all. But no one is complaining; they're
just asking for more government services.
AQHA, an association established to preserve the breed,
is now so focused sponsorships, big events, merchandise
and image, that it forces horse owners to "join"
in order to "transfer ownership records."
A service fee for the administrative costs is one thing
forced membership is another.
Has the cost of horse ownership gone up more than
the costs of other things?
Has the cost of horse ownership soared with housing
prices, truck and car prices, gasoline and diesel prices,
cell phones and flat screen HD television?
Face the facts, if you're complaining about the cost
of horse ownership, you can do something about it.
Don't own a horse, that's an option.
Now according to some who responded to AQHA's survey,
horses are being sold for as little as $5 per head,
or being turned loose on government owned land, which
is supposed to prove there are a lot of unwanted horses.
Well, there are unwanted horses, but it's the complainers
who caused it, breeding low quality stock, approving
AI and shipped seamen, registering and encouraging the
breeding of anything and everything, closing slaughter
plants and having no plan for the care and future of
the horse.
Horse rescue operations are even a contributor to
the unwanted horse problem. Once a charity is started,
it will be overrun by "welfare" cases. Horse
rescues are going to have to change their thinking--remove
the emotion, and add responsibility--if they are going
to help horses.
And the price of horses isn't down, it's the same
as it always is.
I just attended two major horse auctions. Good horses
sold for good prices and the purchasers were not complaining
about the cost of horse ownership.
The horses that sold cheap, were cheap, and will probably
suffer at the hands of the complainers who are creating
just what they are complaining about.
If you really want to help horses, it's time to stop
complain' and start doin'.
Don Blazer has worked
with horses for the past 30 years. We hope you enjoyed
his column and will drop him an email
with your questions or suggestions for other columns.
You can visit his website at http://www.donblazer.com.
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