* El OwRah Arabians *

                            by Ray Hill
Often, I’ve wondered how any membership driven “Association” can grow in strength when the welcome mat isn’t put out for the whole body to offer input on major issues. After all, it’s the membership that feeds and supports… It’s the membership that gives strength to the entire foundation.

Therefore, I want to stop, and take the time to say how very much all members and associates of this website are appreciated. It’s been a long road, hours of communications… and you’ve also shared with friends and a variety of contacts.

Thank you so much.

Folks with interest of support may join us here free:
http://www.elowrah.com/home-page/subscribe-for-updates/

With your help, varied assistance, and perseverance: This website now has contact with over 21 countries. Here are a few of them:

Australia, Canada, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kuwait, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Spain, United Kingdom, United States…

Across these countries, 13 different languages are spoken… and within those thirteen languages, eleven speak English as a second language.

Why would so many people of other countries care about information at this website”

The answer is simple.

They are interested in how the Americans horsemen will deal with the NAIS issue, and to verify a deep question. They want to know if American truly is a democracy… does freedom live here, and if so: Is it about to be confiscated by the USDA and its NAIS program?

We have Arabian horsemen contacts at this website, from every State in the U.S. They are standing up and speaking out against the push and shove tactics of USDA-NAIS intentions, and the behind closed door meetings.

Where’s the sunshine?

Eighty-four Percent (84) of our membership is USA based. That’s a good thing… It’s a good thing, because NAIS is not a battle for many of our members and associates in other countries, but they support our efforts against NAIS, because they know something very similar could soon arrive at their shores.

(In some areas, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) already has… and many regret it.)

A HUGE thank you to all who have been supportive, communicated delicate information, and spread the word… You realize NAIS will not only have a disastrous impact across our homeland, but worldwide!

Your actions are of greater meaning and worth than anyone will ever know… unless NAIS is successful. At that point, the world will know you were right, but unfortunately they will know much too late.

As one of our members stated: The CLOCK IS TICKING!

If NAIS does succeed, there will not be room for repeals of extremely complicated laws that will be imbedded as a way of Federal and State life… and like a virus, it will spread worldwide.

But, where are we now?

Many have expressed their dislike towards the USDA-NAIS plan to other Arabian horse owners as well as directly to the Arabian Horse Association. We listen to each other, but for the most part (and for some unknown reason) AHA and some of its associates decided member input was not needed, nor an option to be considered.

As spoken by an AHA advisor, -members should just trust the veterinarians and the government to make the right decision for them.

That statement was probably well intended, but it was poorly phrased advise: According to a recent report from a respected Arabian horse breeder and member of this website, things have changed.

The report is that the Arabian Horse Association is under a siege of phone calls and emails! The demand has overwhelmed AHA staff.

Do I care? I do.

But, I also know all of this could have been avoided if AHA would have/could have respected and appreciated caring and paying members enough to have simply polled for a consensus and other input on such an important issue.

Members and associates of this website, other “NO NAIS” sites, and folks on the farm, now have the attention of the AHA. If they listen, it could save AHA and keep our Arabian horses moving into the future.

You have all set an example for other breed equine owners as well. They are watching you, and our Arabian Horse Association.

What weight does that carry?

Your example of strength, and the Arabian Horse Associations responsive actions is a role model that can make a difference to many other members and Associations: National Cutting Horse, American Paint Horse, American Quarter Horse, American Miniature Horse, Friesian Horse of North America, Buckskin Association, United Mountain Horse, Peruvian Horse, American Saddle Horse, Andalusia, American Morgan Horse, Icelandic Horse, Draft and Mule… many, many more.

Our efforts can make the difference for all livestock owners. We are not standing against USDA-NAIS alone.

Consider the statement below, as a statement closer to the truth, than most dare allow themselves to believe.

“Our natural, inalienable rights are now considered to be a dispensation from government, and freedom has never been so fragile, so close to slipping from our grasp as it is at this moment.”
-  Ronald Reagan

We have the attention of the Arabian Horse Association. This is the time: Phone or email. They are listening.

Arabian Horse Association
Phone: 303-696-4500
Email: http://www.arabianhorses.org/home/contact.asp

NAIS deception Within Our Ranks?

Yes, it’s true, but don’t be surprised. It’s an age old war tactic, as well as a human trait. Today, it’s better known as Counter Intelligence.

The Co-Chair of Equine Species Working Group (ESWG) is held by Dr. Marvin Beeman, DVM. People would think that to be a good thing: Intelligence, experience, a pulse on the farm and livestock community… Perfect for Counter Intelligence!

We should trust, or is it: Trust no one?

Dr. Beeman has awards and accomplishments of a lifetime, and as you read forward, you’ll find that he has extreme respect across the equine world, but not necessarily with those of us that might be deemed just ordinary folks.

Dr. Beeman is no ordinary man.

He is exceptional. So exceptional that he and his (independent) council of study of Equine needs according to NAIS is officially recognized by NAIS and the USDA as a man to listen to.

Here, is an excerpt from an interview that Judith McGeary of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance had with Dr. Beeman… a few words that illuminate Dr. Beeman’s wisdom.

It was published in the October 2006 issue of Horse Gazette.
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The interview with Dr. Beeman revealed the view of the ESWG toward regular horse owners.

He repeatedly stated that he did not understand how people could say that they hadn’t had a voice in the process, because the major horse organizations were involved.

Dr. Beeman apparently was not concerned that these organizations didn’t include their individual horse-owning members in the process.

I told him my first-hand experience as a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, which did not fully inform its members of what NAIS was and certainly never asked our opinions about the program. Yet my real-life experience made no impression on Dr. Beeman. Rather, he again insisted that everyone had had a voice.
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… and this is a man that the Arabian Horse Association respectfully quotes on their website. But, as the reader can see, it’s not only the Arabian Horse Association that insisted on leaving members out of the loop. It was the same trickery used by AQHA.

To reiterate what I have stated in a multitude of articles: NAIS is not just about horsemen. It will have serious effects on all livestock and pet owners, and erode freedoms that are much to lengthy to list.

If the USDA has its way with the NAIS program, every citizen in this country will have a multitude of constitutional rights missing when they wake up the morning after.

Dr. Beeman is not the Lone Ranger in the fight to lock NAIS into private lives. He’s only one commander of thousands of Special Forces working to gain illegal control over a country that believes freedoms cannot be removed.

Each individual owes it to her or himself to learn and do more to remain free: Research NAIS information and take action against it.

Dr. Beeman is selling deception, and doing a fine job of it, but at times he makes statements that might make an alert person wonder… such as:

… getting angry when he is interviewed, and responding: That average animal owners should not put themselves “on par” with those who have “dedicated themselves to animal health.”

Apparently, he has missed the fact that those of us who own horses dedicate ourselves to animal health every single day as we take care of our horses. His attitude is that we simply need to trust those in charge, whether vets or the government.

Whoa. Many of us have evidence to the contrary!

During the last several months, I’ve contacted the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) a multitude of times, and politely requested the official AHA position on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

I was ignored, and I imagine hundreds of others who wanted to know, where not responded to.

As a long standing member and breeder of Arabian horses for 40-years, getting no response from AHA certainly sent a message. It told me that members had no right to know, and that certain people in AHA were working behind closed doors on the NAIS-USDA intentions… but with who?

It was clear that AHA believed that the NAIS issue should not be discussed, or brought to any forum that included common members.

Did they ever poll for member input?

It appears AHA is once again quite capable of making major decisions about what’s best for members and their horses without asking. But it seems they had no problem meeting with NAIS agents and the USDA and let them fortify a present and projected future for you, your horses, and your premises.

Oh, it’s all been well thought out by AHA, it all appears to be in your best interest, for the good of your horses and your farm… and of course it lays future negative actions on other agencies. But, the truth is AHA is supporting NAIS and the USDA, and even worse: The poison to be slowly injected lies between the lines of the AHA statement which has just recently been released to me within the last few hours.

Read it and weep, because your AHA has put a highly polished spin on their release, that would make the best of politicians weep with envy, or was the draft actually constructed by a politician…

You’ll find the latest release below, you’ll find it all very much in tune with the NAIS and USDA song and dance, and basically a gearing up routine for a change in pace and quick partner shift in the future, and that partner won’t be AHA members… at least not common members that unknowingly fund AHA secret actions and decisions.

Here’s the AHA recent release:

NAIS Defined:

The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is a voluntary program intended to identify premises and livestock, and to record certain livestock movements for the purpose of disease management and control. The program’s ultimate goal is to protect the health of U.S. livestock, as well as our ability to move and market animals, through a State-Federal-Industry partnership.

(My Comment): This is a standard definition given by NAIS-USDA… and there are plenty of examples about, what the USDA actually means by voluntary: It’s not what you think.
Specific benefits of Equine Identification:
• Reduce potential effect and enhance control of equine disease outbreaks.
• Maintain equine commerce and movement of horses in the case of a disease outbreak.
• Assist equestrian events in ensuring a healthy environment for participating horses.
• Expedite recovery and identification of horses lost due to natural disaster, theft, or accident.
• Facilitate import and export of equine.
• Uphold the horse industry as a responsible member of the livestock community.

(My Comment): You are getting sold out again. This is all NAIS and USDA puppet talk!

Important Questions:
Q: Does AHA plan to require members to use the USDA’s 14-digit animal identification number to enter or maintain animals in your registry? And do you plan to require members to use the State’s or USDA’s premises registration system in order to obtain a breed registration number?

(My Comment): This is a convenient question, purposely as a set up!
A: No. AHA has no plans to require animal or premise identification in order to register, transfer ownership or conduct any registration-related business with AHA.

(My Comment): There maybe no officials plans on the table at this time, but there’s no guarantee that there are no future plans for requirement. And if so, it is very likely that members will be once again notified after the fact.

Q: What is the Equine Species Working Group (ESWG)?

(My Comment): This is another convenient set-up question, and as you see, just popped out of no where.

A: Equine Species Working Group (ESWG) is the task force officially recognized by the USDA to evaluate the concept of the National Animal Identification System and its application to the equine industry. The group’s responsibility is to develop recommendations for a national equine identification plan that is in the best interests of, and protects the rights of, horse owners and breeders. The ESWG has submitted comments and continuously updated recommendations to USDA that distinguish the horse industry from other livestock, pointing out the unique characteristics of the industry and outlining our positions and concerns with a national ID program.

(My Comment): This not a definition by AHA. It was taken directly from the ESWG website.

ESWG was registered July 14, 2006.

Their IP address is in Canada.

They tell you on their website, that the ESWG is not a committee of the American Horse Council… …. But why is it that their website is owned by the American Horse Council?

Want to know who the ESWG is working for? I’ll give you their website address at the bottom of the page.

Q: Why is the ESWG reviewing any plan to include equines in the NAIS?

(My Comment): Another leading question.
A: The ESWG is engaged because if the horse industry does not participate in the program’s evaluation and development, a national system could be implemented without its input. The purpose of the NAIS is to protect the livestock industry in case there is an outbreak of potentially catastrophic animal disease or an attack of bio-terrorism. Either scenario could result in a significant loss to the horse industry and seriously limit a horse owner’s ability to move ore export horses. There is strong support for NAIS and USDA, in Congress, with the state animal health authorities and within the livestock industry. The ESWG believes that it is in the best interest of the horse industry to work with those instituting NAIS to be sure that our industry’s specific concerns are understood and considered.

(My Comment): WHOSE CONCERNS? Read the above again very carefully. You’ll see that a national system will be implemented, that the above contains NAIS/USDA common language, that ESWG supports NAIS/USDA… and while your thinking about that, you should realize that AHA supports ESWG, which simply means in plain language, that AHA supports NAIS/USDA intentions as well!

Of course there is strong support for NAIS and USDA, in Congress… it worth Billions of $$$ to the system, large corporations, and veterinarians.

Q: Is it the intention of NAIS to forcibly track the movement of horses?

(My Comment): Another self serving lead to purposely cause your guard to be dropped!

A: No. “The recommendation not to report any equine movements was one that went through much discussion, and one that we feel is very important,” says ESWG Co-Chair Dr. Marvin Beeman. “Although it may not achieve the ideal goal of the NAIS, the current practices will cover those horses at the greatest risk. It is the most practical solution at this time, as there will be no additional burden placed on horse owners or premises owners and managers,” Dr. Beeman added.

(My Comment): This statement is not by AHA, but by Dr. Marvin Beeman, who co-chairs ESWG… but who AHA supports. Dr, Beeman is from Colorado, not far from our very own AHA. He’s quite skilled at spinning a statement. In a couple of days, I’ll guide you to a closer view of just who Dr. Beeman is, and what he truly represents. You’ll clearly see that it’s not the average horse owner, because it appears he has little respect for such. You’ll later see that his statements here, are in conflict with statements at other locations.

Q: What horses should be officially identified?

(My Comment): Whew, how self serving!

A: The ESWG has recommended official identification when a horse is transported to any premises where a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), Brand Inspection, VS-127 permit, or International CVI is required. For the most part, this would exclude those horses participating in recreational activities, weekend ropings, trail rides, and other small gatherings of horses.

(My Comment): Shame, Shame: Soon, in the Beeman article. You’ll see what the goal of ESWG truly is and what monstrosities AHA is backing. It has much to do with Vet-Link. After all, Dr. Beeman is a veterinarian and he knows best, even if Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) does produce cancer!

Q: Is the NAIS going to be mandatory in 2008?

(My Comment): As soon as they can!

A: The NAIS is a voluntary program. There are no regulations being developed at this time for the NAIS to be a nationally-mandated program. The ESWG has recommended that the plan not apply to the horse industry until 2010. There are a few states, such as Wisconsin with mandatory premises registration, that are developing their own legislation on certain components of the NAIS. It is recommended that you check with your state Department of Agriculture to learn more on how your state is currently implementing the NAIS and what its future plans are for the program’s implementation.

(My Comment): It’s true, NAIS is voluntary (at this time) at the National-Federal level, but look about. It’s the STATE level where owners will be mandated!

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The Arabian Horse Association has taken it’s stance. It has issued the above statements as theirs… but unfortunately it all shadows NAIS-USDA, and ESWG. In essence, if you don’t wish to have your horses tagged or chipped, and your premises registered… don’t look for support from AHA. After all, it’s evident they never have been interested in your concerns about the NAIS program and USDA intentions… if so, they would have asked you.

It’s sad, that in a time when it’s so important to work together for the good of the Arabian horse, that the AHA believes they can speak for all of us.

Go here and draw your own conclusion about the Equine Species Working Group:

www.equinespeciesworkinggroup.com