I don't think FTFOTB has said ANYTHING other than she believes in the quality of her stallion. And even she admits he's not perfect - after all, no horse ever is.

Which is not always the be-all and end-all of a stallion prospect, btw... but when somebody with the experience and knowledge of Susan Larkin says she believes in a horse, I'm going to take a second look. I may or may not agree with her, but I'm going to slow down and go check it out.

If somebody like some of the butt-chancres I've seen featured on the FHOTD blog or Horsedopia say they believe in a horse... I generally say 'Right, and you also believe that there's still a Santa Claus and Elvis is still alive...' :lol

Now, that said, I believe that this thread (or any other thread for that matter!) doesn't need to focus any more on Susan and Berry Cool.

I think it's been discussed AD-FREAKIN-NAUSEUM, and we all either need to address our commentary to Susan directly regarding the quality of her stallion or give up the ghost.

Susan has done a good job in breeding only very good complimentary mares to Berry, and striving to put the foals in the proper hands to get them noticed and proven. You can at least give her that - she's NOT irresponsible.

I for one think it's GREAT that she has the balls to call out some of the industry leaders.

I think we ALL should want more out of our breeding stock, and I think that should start with an assessment of what's being produced in every demographic (hence the pictures taken off the internet), and what's selling for lots of money. It gives us a clue as to how to improve on the majority of faults, and where to go from a marketability standpoint.

And money shouldn't be the reason why you get into this business. I feel very strongly on that. While it's nice to be financially rewarded for your hard work, it shouldn't be the main reason you do this.

The horsemen and women I admire most are the ones that have quite literally turned chicken sh*t into chicken soup. The ones that have started from scratch with nothing but the love of the animal and have bred sparingly and responsibly, and from the heart.







A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.
Saul Bellow (1915 - 2005)