Once again I am going to be absent for several days. I am off to Sydney to do my talk for the AHSA. I decided to leave you with something to ponder so I have put up part one of my article ‘Where’s the Fire?’
Part 2 will go up when I return next week….

Where’s the Fire by Carmel Rowley – Part 1
Adapted from an article written by Carmel Rowley for The Arabian Horse Express June – July 2004

Why is it that these days everyone seems to be in a hurry? A recent report tells of sleep deprivation suffered by people, who are apparently so busy, they no longer have time to sleep.

It’s a difficult concept to imagine, especially for people who know life is to be lived as much for the present as the future. Horse owners often appear to cheat themselves out of each day to day experience in the downhill hurry to breed a foal, show a youngster, or rush to compete with a saddle horse.
Shouldn’t owners of Arabian horses take the time to savour the beauty of a superior breed?

All would agree that time spent admiring and looking after Arabian horses is like food for the soul, so why are so many people in such a hurry, causing activity to become confused progress?

Are we becoming a selfish and impatient society?
Preparation and research are two cornerstone’s of any successful endeavour and many people associated with the varied facets of Arabian horsemanship rise to immediate fame only to fail in under a decade due to lack of study, patience and understanding.

Research is a vital tool for the success of any business but never more so when associated with breeding and owning horses.
How long does it take to recognize and establish a family of top class individuals? The personal satisfaction of learning something new and exciting about Arabian horses should be easy and enjoyable but when talking to a large number of Arabian owner’s one thing becomes abundantly clear. The large majority are in too much of a hurry to bother to learn who, what and where about Arabian horses. Mistakes could be reduced by thinking about how to identify, establish and evaluate a breeding program.

Identify what it is you truly want from the Arabian breed. Think carefully. What is your plan? What is your dream? What type of Arabian horse do you love? Establish the best collection of horses you can possibly afford. Study the breeding programs you most admire. Understand all the costs. Honestly evaluate each generation and know what you want to achieve ten years from now.