I had posted this blog entry last month, but removed it, due to some rather unhappy emails from some fellow breeders. I feel that maybe I really was saying something important if I stirred up enough emotion to receive those, so I am reposting the entry.
Breeding Ethics
I have a feeling this type of post might happen a few times on here. I'm starting to really feel upset over my local fellow breeders and many of their choices or doings. Almost any I speak with or even look at their sites, are selling rabbits under eight weeks of age, breeding rabbits simply to sell them (to pet stores or privately, or both) and lastly, breeders over breeding their poor does and/or breeding a doe very young (under or just 6 months of age), and lastly, ditching a doe that no longer produces live litters.
My does have one to three litters a year, with several months of rest between them. They are pets first, above all else. Some of my does are five to seven years of age, I think if they are happy and can have one litter, then thats wonderful, if not, they get to laze around. My litters are carefully planned and are done in hopes of producing the nicest show quality babies I can. I understand this isn't so much the norm but I just wish that care, health and happiness of the bunnies was put before someone trying to profit from a hobby that really has zero profit. (It is possible to make a profit, at the expense of the bunnies though. Sometimes I think people forget that the amount of time and money you put into a hobby, is simply only returned by the joy you get from your hobby).
Anyhow, after reviewing some sites and some other breeders practices, I'm getting worried about the "norm" of what breeders do. Some of these breeders are weaning babies at 4 to 5 weeks of age, and rebreeding the doe right then, or exactly when they wean (some breeders still wait for 6 to 8 weeks to wean). The does get no time to rest and be......just bunnies. They are baby making machines! I've been really upset by the entire deal, caught between anger and sadness. I didn't realize that bunnies were not always considered to be cute, wonderful pets by a vast majority of breeders (I thought a lot of us did this out of love for the breed). And worse off, if the doe makes it through a life of being bred like this, she is then not even retired but often just resold to someone new, sent to auction, or better yet, they try to "pet" her out (because I've never even heard of anyone adopting a bunny over the age of five, or heck..really over four).
If a doe gives a breeder years of wonderful babies (geeze, even a year since they are getting around 6 litters a year from her), they better darn well give the doe a nice retirement to live out her days as well. I have two elder Holland here, one eleven and one nine. They have been retired for years and they still love their treats, hay, toys and beds. And I have more that will retire this year and the next, and still get to live here and be...bunnies. I think part of this might be why some people are in shock when I tell them I normally have my bunnies live to be eleven to fourteen years of age.
I'm sorry this posting is really just a vent for me. I've been up in tears the past few days after hearing about where some of my bunnies have ended up and the type of breeders that now own them.
On the flipside, I've also had a good laugh from a few, as some of these breeders sometimes try to sell the bunnies bred by me for more than they paid for them (and no, nothing changed between the time, no show legs or anything). Often times, it is a proven doe, that simply is not happy with her living conditions and is not producing as many babies as the breeder wants (after seeing some of these rabbitries, I wouldn't be a happy rabbit either). Lesson one to me, be far more careful in whom my bunnies are going to.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
New camera, new clarity, ...new life!
Hooray! I purchased a new camera. I went with a Canon Powershot S5 IS. My old one, mentioned in a few posts before, finally met a very timely death. At 3am in the barn, a horse knocked it onto the concrete isle floor and it finally gave up the ghost.
And why, at 3am was I in the barn? On April 20th, at 1:30 am, my mare Allie foaled a beautiful filly. After three weeks of sleepless nights, she finally had her little angel from hell. Seeing as though, the baby was born during a full moon and outside under the full moon, I've named her Luna. Not very original but I like it and well, its cute. It's a bit like me naming a tortoiseshell Holland lop, Pancakes. It is just cute, above all else. (Oh yes, and that is me in the photos with Luna, at 7am, with 2 hours of sleep, so please forgive my look).
Luna is an American Warmblood. Her sire is an Oldenburg, a grandson of a Olympic horse actually and several other show horses. Luna's dam, is my lovely American Spotted draft mare I purchased this past winter. Luna was already "in the oven" when I found her dam for sale. Because of the drastic hay storage last fall, her owner needed to sell several horses and by happen stance, I came across her and got her home to Massachusetts from Virgina.
As foals go, this little tike, is just..well, not little. My veternarian was out to do blood tests and check over momma and do a full health exam on the baby at 18 hours of age. Well, this little filly is the size of a almost two month old baby! She is just a huge little girl and also, quite an Aries. She already tries to kick and her aim is getting better. She has an opinion and it generally does not agree with mine, which is a bit of a conflict.
For right now, we're learning basic baby skills. Such as being held, brushed, scratched, kissed and hugged. She's also had a bath and is learning to do basic horse things. She's worn a blanket and wears a fly mask outside daily. And she has her feet picked up daily. Until she is a few months old, she will not be lead or trained for a halter, as the pressure can injure their neck development and bone structure.
I'm so very excited to see how she matures and am just hoping for the best. If she turns out like I think she may, she'll end up being my eventing horse with a side of dressage. I'll try to ad photos and updates of her often. If you are local, you are more than welcome to come visit my little hell angel as well. Oh, and don't worry, I have plenty of ponies and horses that will sniff out or beg for cookies while you're here.
And why, at 3am was I in the barn? On April 20th, at 1:30 am, my mare Allie foaled a beautiful filly. After three weeks of sleepless nights, she finally had her little angel from hell. Seeing as though, the baby was born during a full moon and outside under the full moon, I've named her Luna. Not very original but I like it and well, its cute. It's a bit like me naming a tortoiseshell Holland lop, Pancakes. It is just cute, above all else. (Oh yes, and that is me in the photos with Luna, at 7am, with 2 hours of sleep, so please forgive my look).
Luna is an American Warmblood. Her sire is an Oldenburg, a grandson of a Olympic horse actually and several other show horses. Luna's dam, is my lovely American Spotted draft mare I purchased this past winter. Luna was already "in the oven" when I found her dam for sale. Because of the drastic hay storage last fall, her owner needed to sell several horses and by happen stance, I came across her and got her home to Massachusetts from Virgina.
As foals go, this little tike, is just..well, not little. My veternarian was out to do blood tests and check over momma and do a full health exam on the baby at 18 hours of age. Well, this little filly is the size of a almost two month old baby! She is just a huge little girl and also, quite an Aries. She already tries to kick and her aim is getting better. She has an opinion and it generally does not agree with mine, which is a bit of a conflict.
For right now, we're learning basic baby skills. Such as being held, brushed, scratched, kissed and hugged. She's also had a bath and is learning to do basic horse things. She's worn a blanket and wears a fly mask outside daily. And she has her feet picked up daily. Until she is a few months old, she will not be lead or trained for a halter, as the pressure can injure their neck development and bone structure.
I'm so very excited to see how she matures and am just hoping for the best. If she turns out like I think she may, she'll end up being my eventing horse with a side of dressage. I'll try to ad photos and updates of her often. If you are local, you are more than welcome to come visit my little hell angel as well. Oh, and don't worry, I have plenty of ponies and horses that will sniff out or beg for cookies while you're here.
Marketing a pony, but with concern
I'm beginning to believe it does not matter how much time or planning you put into marketing a horse and screening potential buyers, before they come out and waste several hours of your time.
Let me start by saying, I have a fantastic pony. I mean, truly a fantastic pony. She is well mannered, overly cute, very well trained and has lots of potential. I love my pony, but she is 13.1 hands tall and I am 5'8" tall. All laws of physics continue to tell me that a tall person, just can not ride a short pony. Above all else, my pony, loves to have a job. She loves to work and be doing something. She gets bored, and then gets into trouble, just standing around.
I've had Ilsa since she was 4 months old. She is turning six this month. I've trained and worked with her as much as I really can, short of doing much under saddle work. She is target trained, trick trained and both lunges and long lines. Because of this, I ended up leasing her out a few times to young kids. All of which, she packed around on trails, in the ring and at shows. She's safe, darn near bomb proof. She'll go through anything or jump over it. She's just a fantastic little pony. All her ground manners are excellent. She does everything a pony should, she ties, leads, clips, loads, and goodness knows, anything else asked of her. Over all, she is just a joy of a little Fjord (her breed), she also carries lovely bloodlines and a rare color within the breed, so she is valuable from that standpoint to boot.
I finally decided my lovely pony is just going to go to waste here. I have no plans to breed Fjords and can not think of a use for her at this time, other than being a cute lawn decoration. I love her dearly and would only send her to the very best home anyhow, but decided it would be a good idea to start marketing her. She would love to have her very own kid too!
So, fast forward. Nearly three months ago, a professor from Maine contacts me about needing a small Fjord. Tells me about herself and her 10 year old daughter. I explain in detail everything I can about Ilsa. I sent numerous photos and other information along to them. It sounded like perhaps, it would be a good match. The mother is 5'1" and the daughter 4'11". Nice small people and slender built, so the perfect size for the pony (keep this part in mind, she is a pony..). The daughter was said to be a total beginner, which is perfect, Ilsa loves to pack around young ins and take care of them.
After those three months, they finally visit this last Friday. Which is fine, they canceled visits over the past few weeks that were already planned, but things happen in life of course, so we finally got a time together that worked. First off, they show up very late, understandable if they were coming from Maine, but they were in CT, only about 40 minutes away. I think it should have been a sign.
Anyhow, they arrive. They are exactly as described, which was nice. They brought their friend along that lives in CT with them (I assume they were visiting her and that was the reason for being so tardy?). Either way, their friend, although about the same height as they were, had an added 90 to 120 pounds. She was dressed in riding clothing as well. Now, horses in general, have a weight limit, and no doubt, this lady would need a larger horse.
So they see the pony, they brush her, her adore her, they pat and play with her. They want to see her move and be ridden. They asked me to ride her first, which was fine. I can understand someone asking another person to ride their horse first (although it is something I've never done, as I would want to get a full feel of the horse myself, not after they are "warmed up"). I mount the pony by asking her to bow (a trick I trained her) and ride her around for them, walk - trot - canter - halt. They love her, have only good things to say. Then the daughter hops on, no problems. The daughter is overly scared and nervous. Extremely tense. Ilsa, just as she would, does what the girl asks and never even bats an eye, despite the crowd of dirtbikes and quads my neighbors boys are riding around on. The larger lady, stays in the backquietly and doesn't say a word, as I mentioned several times since they arrived that even myself, at 135lbs, was pushing the ponies weight limit.
So one would think all is going well, right? I'm standing next to the girls mother chatting with her, watching her daughter ride. Then, she earns the mother of the year award. She says "Well if my daughter can ride her, anyone can". I nearly bit my tongue. What type of mother would say that about her daughter?
Well then the mother wants to ride and I get another eye opener. Not only do these people already own a horse (another Fjord...pony), but I hear "Well I've ridden 12 times in the last 6 years". Huh? Obviously it must be a lie, but I digress. She rides the pony around. She is tense and scared as well, but Ilsa packs them around no trouble. The daughter is standing next to me, smiling and chatting and saying how much she likes the pony. Then the mother rides over, done from her test ride. I next, get the shock of my life, this woman blurts out "She has pony gaits". I tried so hard to contain myself from laughing. I just replied with a "well she is a pony". For the next ten minutes, all I hear about is how she is too small and too pony like. Honestly, it could have been expected, except for the few months prior to their visit, she made it very clear to me that they needed a small pony, safe for beginners. Now she's, too small? Very silly.
I'm sad they wasted my time, but the stress over these people upset me more. It became very clear that because I told them the truth about this pony in every and all angles, they had nothing to say that was not bad. In fact, they could only say good things. They praised her training and her light aids up the whazooe.
It just makes me wonder if all people that sell and market horses have these issues. I know many fudge, or "forget" aspects of the animal for sale (heck, every one I purchased had some skeletons in the closet, but I figure that to be true of all sale horses). I guess these people just had no idea what to do with a horse that was exactly as advertised. I think a lot of it was, they had no leverage to lower her price, and perhaps, although they knew all this prior, were looking at a pony out of their price range. A good safe pony, is incredibly valuable and they rarely go for sale.
It'll take me a long time to finally decide what to do with Ilsa. More than likely, she will continue to stay with me and be my little adorable pony, which might be just fine. The unfortunate side is that I do have to pick three horses to market this summer, and she is one of them. My other, is another favorite as well, sometimes things are just a little too hard and require more sleep though.
Let me start by saying, I have a fantastic pony. I mean, truly a fantastic pony. She is well mannered, overly cute, very well trained and has lots of potential. I love my pony, but she is 13.1 hands tall and I am 5'8" tall. All laws of physics continue to tell me that a tall person, just can not ride a short pony. Above all else, my pony, loves to have a job. She loves to work and be doing something. She gets bored, and then gets into trouble, just standing around.
I've had Ilsa since she was 4 months old. She is turning six this month. I've trained and worked with her as much as I really can, short of doing much under saddle work. She is target trained, trick trained and both lunges and long lines. Because of this, I ended up leasing her out a few times to young kids. All of which, she packed around on trails, in the ring and at shows. She's safe, darn near bomb proof. She'll go through anything or jump over it. She's just a fantastic little pony. All her ground manners are excellent. She does everything a pony should, she ties, leads, clips, loads, and goodness knows, anything else asked of her. Over all, she is just a joy of a little Fjord (her breed), she also carries lovely bloodlines and a rare color within the breed, so she is valuable from that standpoint to boot.
I finally decided my lovely pony is just going to go to waste here. I have no plans to breed Fjords and can not think of a use for her at this time, other than being a cute lawn decoration. I love her dearly and would only send her to the very best home anyhow, but decided it would be a good idea to start marketing her. She would love to have her very own kid too!
So, fast forward. Nearly three months ago, a professor from Maine contacts me about needing a small Fjord. Tells me about herself and her 10 year old daughter. I explain in detail everything I can about Ilsa. I sent numerous photos and other information along to them. It sounded like perhaps, it would be a good match. The mother is 5'1" and the daughter 4'11". Nice small people and slender built, so the perfect size for the pony (keep this part in mind, she is a pony..). The daughter was said to be a total beginner, which is perfect, Ilsa loves to pack around young ins and take care of them.
After those three months, they finally visit this last Friday. Which is fine, they canceled visits over the past few weeks that were already planned, but things happen in life of course, so we finally got a time together that worked. First off, they show up very late, understandable if they were coming from Maine, but they were in CT, only about 40 minutes away. I think it should have been a sign.
Anyhow, they arrive. They are exactly as described, which was nice. They brought their friend along that lives in CT with them (I assume they were visiting her and that was the reason for being so tardy?). Either way, their friend, although about the same height as they were, had an added 90 to 120 pounds. She was dressed in riding clothing as well. Now, horses in general, have a weight limit, and no doubt, this lady would need a larger horse.
So they see the pony, they brush her, her adore her, they pat and play with her. They want to see her move and be ridden. They asked me to ride her first, which was fine. I can understand someone asking another person to ride their horse first (although it is something I've never done, as I would want to get a full feel of the horse myself, not after they are "warmed up"). I mount the pony by asking her to bow (a trick I trained her) and ride her around for them, walk - trot - canter - halt. They love her, have only good things to say. Then the daughter hops on, no problems. The daughter is overly scared and nervous. Extremely tense. Ilsa, just as she would, does what the girl asks and never even bats an eye, despite the crowd of dirtbikes and quads my neighbors boys are riding around on. The larger lady, stays in the backquietly and doesn't say a word, as I mentioned several times since they arrived that even myself, at 135lbs, was pushing the ponies weight limit.
So one would think all is going well, right? I'm standing next to the girls mother chatting with her, watching her daughter ride. Then, she earns the mother of the year award. She says "Well if my daughter can ride her, anyone can". I nearly bit my tongue. What type of mother would say that about her daughter?
Well then the mother wants to ride and I get another eye opener. Not only do these people already own a horse (another Fjord...pony), but I hear "Well I've ridden 12 times in the last 6 years". Huh? Obviously it must be a lie, but I digress. She rides the pony around. She is tense and scared as well, but Ilsa packs them around no trouble. The daughter is standing next to me, smiling and chatting and saying how much she likes the pony. Then the mother rides over, done from her test ride. I next, get the shock of my life, this woman blurts out "She has pony gaits". I tried so hard to contain myself from laughing. I just replied with a "well she is a pony". For the next ten minutes, all I hear about is how she is too small and too pony like. Honestly, it could have been expected, except for the few months prior to their visit, she made it very clear to me that they needed a small pony, safe for beginners. Now she's, too small? Very silly.
I'm sad they wasted my time, but the stress over these people upset me more. It became very clear that because I told them the truth about this pony in every and all angles, they had nothing to say that was not bad. In fact, they could only say good things. They praised her training and her light aids up the whazooe.
It just makes me wonder if all people that sell and market horses have these issues. I know many fudge, or "forget" aspects of the animal for sale (heck, every one I purchased had some skeletons in the closet, but I figure that to be true of all sale horses). I guess these people just had no idea what to do with a horse that was exactly as advertised. I think a lot of it was, they had no leverage to lower her price, and perhaps, although they knew all this prior, were looking at a pony out of their price range. A good safe pony, is incredibly valuable and they rarely go for sale.
It'll take me a long time to finally decide what to do with Ilsa. More than likely, she will continue to stay with me and be my little adorable pony, which might be just fine. The unfortunate side is that I do have to pick three horses to market this summer, and she is one of them. My other, is another favorite as well, sometimes things are just a little too hard and require more sleep though.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Feed price woes and worries
Last Thursday I went to pick up another load of bunny feed bags. Prices have, once again gone up. In September '07 I was purchasing 50lbs of feed for $11 a bag, it is now $15 a bag. Up $1 from last week alone and they expect it to go up again. Argh!
I understand why it keeps going up, but when food, fuel (home heating fuel is $4 a gallon this week, car fuel isn't much better) and the general cost of living increases without the salary of the person increasing at the same pace, it is a bit disturbing. I've been making choices that most twenty four year olds are likely not. I do not go to movies, I do not eat out, I do not purchase things I do not need. Anything I buy has to be on-sale, unless it is desperately needed.
Last month I decided that I would limit myself to spending only $50 a month for myself on items I would like to have (whether that be some candy, a movie, maybe eating out as a treat or some new clothing). Has anyone else made changes in their daily life? I'm sure I'm not alone.
With the warmer weather, I've also added on to driving a LOT less and combine multiple stops into one trip. I drive physical therapy and to stores for large items or stores to far away otherwise to get to.
On the other hand, the library is only 5 miles away (Libraries are a gold mine really! Did you know you can rent movies for free? DVD's, including new releases). Along with the library is a small Rite Aid and a IGA Food store. 5 miles isn't far, it is easy by bike, but I plan to run there once the weather warms up a bit more. The running won't hurt me either. I can run to them, pick up some items and walk home. I can also run to my work, which is within a few miles as well, but I may just take my bike there. Anyhow, back to feeding animals.
Hay is another story all together. Hay is expected to be several more dollars a bale this season. The cost of fertilizer, seeds and diesel fuel have all skyrocketed, so farmers will be charging more. Plus the drought last year sent the entire country into a hay shortage. Then you have the farmers replacing hay with corn or other products, because of the higher income from fuel and such. Heck, even shavings have gone up at least a $1 a bag, if not more. The lumber industry is not doing so well right now.
I suppose hay won't be too much of an issue for most rabbitries. I always fed my rabbits more hay than most people I know. I think it is cute to watch them chew on it and they enjoy it. Hay for the rabbits isn't too much of a problem. They munch through about two 60lbs bales a week but the main concern is I also have nine horses, and when you are purchasing 1500 bales or more a year, a few cents or dollars makes a very large difference. I won't even mention the prices that have skyrocketed horse feed.
It's just becoming harder and harder to own and raise animals and even think of braking even. I think I have been in the red with rabbits for the last ten years anyhow though. I've always spent more to purchase stock, supplies and of course care items then I have sold. Any rabbit I purchased I always asked for less than I purchased it for. I never really understood that. I often see breeders asking much higher price tags than the original purchase price. Even with bunnies I have sold, suddenly their price is $25 to $100 more???? It doesn't make sense to me. If the rabbit was shown and earned more legs, or was a proven producer, maybe, but I've seen some proven does I've sold last year posted for sale for more than they were purchased for, but nothing changed. Boggles me. Are they trying to profit? I think it is fine if they want charge any amount they desire of course, it just tends to make me laugh a bit.
Oh well. My own feed price issues seem to be very small in the big picture. The world global food shortage is getting worse, prices in grocery stores are getting higher (thanks to fuel and well...less food and our dying economy) and in the overall, I'm probably just ranting on life and scared of watching how our country is really hitting a hard time. So, I would like to suggest everyone and anyone play this game. http://www.freerice.com/
You play the word games and earn free rice for people in starving countries. It is fantastic for younger kids and even adults to brush up on words and meanings. At the same time you are helping to feed people. Did you know the global price of rice is up 70%? We are truly blessed to live in a country where food is not our main concern and for the most part, we seem to have no problem consuming it.
In times of gas being a problem (I can make this bunny related, to go to shows or to pick up new bunnies you need gas too! hehe) try this http://www.gasbuddy.com/gives the lowest and the highest prices on fuel in the USA and Canada, for your state and area, so hopefully you can choose the best price as well.
Sorry for such a depressing post. I've just been feeling a bit down. Watching CNN and the news in the evening has really downed some of my thoughts. I'm worried with the upcoming elections, I'm worried about our country, our economy and how or if people raising animals or farming will even make it by.
I understand why it keeps going up, but when food, fuel (home heating fuel is $4 a gallon this week, car fuel isn't much better) and the general cost of living increases without the salary of the person increasing at the same pace, it is a bit disturbing. I've been making choices that most twenty four year olds are likely not. I do not go to movies, I do not eat out, I do not purchase things I do not need. Anything I buy has to be on-sale, unless it is desperately needed.
Last month I decided that I would limit myself to spending only $50 a month for myself on items I would like to have (whether that be some candy, a movie, maybe eating out as a treat or some new clothing). Has anyone else made changes in their daily life? I'm sure I'm not alone.
With the warmer weather, I've also added on to driving a LOT less and combine multiple stops into one trip. I drive physical therapy and to stores for large items or stores to far away otherwise to get to.
On the other hand, the library is only 5 miles away (Libraries are a gold mine really! Did you know you can rent movies for free? DVD's, including new releases). Along with the library is a small Rite Aid and a IGA Food store. 5 miles isn't far, it is easy by bike, but I plan to run there once the weather warms up a bit more. The running won't hurt me either. I can run to them, pick up some items and walk home. I can also run to my work, which is within a few miles as well, but I may just take my bike there. Anyhow, back to feeding animals.
Hay is another story all together. Hay is expected to be several more dollars a bale this season. The cost of fertilizer, seeds and diesel fuel have all skyrocketed, so farmers will be charging more. Plus the drought last year sent the entire country into a hay shortage. Then you have the farmers replacing hay with corn or other products, because of the higher income from fuel and such. Heck, even shavings have gone up at least a $1 a bag, if not more. The lumber industry is not doing so well right now.
I suppose hay won't be too much of an issue for most rabbitries. I always fed my rabbits more hay than most people I know. I think it is cute to watch them chew on it and they enjoy it. Hay for the rabbits isn't too much of a problem. They munch through about two 60lbs bales a week but the main concern is I also have nine horses, and when you are purchasing 1500 bales or more a year, a few cents or dollars makes a very large difference. I won't even mention the prices that have skyrocketed horse feed.
It's just becoming harder and harder to own and raise animals and even think of braking even. I think I have been in the red with rabbits for the last ten years anyhow though. I've always spent more to purchase stock, supplies and of course care items then I have sold. Any rabbit I purchased I always asked for less than I purchased it for. I never really understood that. I often see breeders asking much higher price tags than the original purchase price. Even with bunnies I have sold, suddenly their price is $25 to $100 more???? It doesn't make sense to me. If the rabbit was shown and earned more legs, or was a proven producer, maybe, but I've seen some proven does I've sold last year posted for sale for more than they were purchased for, but nothing changed. Boggles me. Are they trying to profit? I think it is fine if they want charge any amount they desire of course, it just tends to make me laugh a bit.
Oh well. My own feed price issues seem to be very small in the big picture. The world global food shortage is getting worse, prices in grocery stores are getting higher (thanks to fuel and well...less food and our dying economy) and in the overall, I'm probably just ranting on life and scared of watching how our country is really hitting a hard time. So, I would like to suggest everyone and anyone play this game. http://www.freerice.com/
You play the word games and earn free rice for people in starving countries. It is fantastic for younger kids and even adults to brush up on words and meanings. At the same time you are helping to feed people. Did you know the global price of rice is up 70%? We are truly blessed to live in a country where food is not our main concern and for the most part, we seem to have no problem consuming it.
In times of gas being a problem (I can make this bunny related, to go to shows or to pick up new bunnies you need gas too! hehe) try this http://www.gasbuddy.com/gives the lowest and the highest prices on fuel in the USA and Canada, for your state and area, so hopefully you can choose the best price as well.
Sorry for such a depressing post. I've just been feeling a bit down. Watching CNN and the news in the evening has really downed some of my thoughts. I'm worried with the upcoming elections, I'm worried about our country, our economy and how or if people raising animals or farming will even make it by.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Camera death is slowly painful
I need to finally realize that my poor little Canon IX500 is just not going to work for much longer. As of now, it has a few heart attacks once in a while, but a swift whack seems to wake it back up for a bit.
The photo's it takes, have become blurred or the focus is very off from the subject (as you can tell from my bunny photos, the background is quite clear, but...not the bunny). Anyone have any suggestions? I've been reading up on new cameras and well, I'm stumped. I wanted one with a good zoom, but I don't care for digital zoom, only optical. A fast shutter speed would be ideal, as that will help with moving bunnies (and maybe horses?). But I'm boggled otherwise, and my budget is a little lower than I wished, because of a few horse items. You never can seem to have too many horse things. Plus, vet bills are going to be hefty when the baby is born and then two more mares are bred AI. Oh gosh! Of course, all totally planned for, but extra expenses such as a new snazzy camera are just going to be a far fetch maybe.
Sometimes the camera stops working (I swear, she's a bit temperamental for a camera and heart attacks happen often), but if I drop it on a hard floor, it springs back to life. Who ever said beating an electronic did no good? Made me feel better too actually.
The photo's it takes, have become blurred or the focus is very off from the subject (as you can tell from my bunny photos, the background is quite clear, but...not the bunny). Anyone have any suggestions? I've been reading up on new cameras and well, I'm stumped. I wanted one with a good zoom, but I don't care for digital zoom, only optical. A fast shutter speed would be ideal, as that will help with moving bunnies (and maybe horses?). But I'm boggled otherwise, and my budget is a little lower than I wished, because of a few horse items. You never can seem to have too many horse things. Plus, vet bills are going to be hefty when the baby is born and then two more mares are bred AI. Oh gosh! Of course, all totally planned for, but extra expenses such as a new snazzy camera are just going to be a far fetch maybe.
Adian, being a goof
Suggestions would be great. My current camera only does well with sunlight, hence my outside photo's, which also means, the weather must be nice for photo's. I don't use the flash.Sometimes the camera stops working (I swear, she's a bit temperamental for a camera and heart attacks happen often), but if I drop it on a hard floor, it springs back to life. Who ever said beating an electronic did no good? Made me feel better too actually.
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