Welcome to the Blue Eyed Horse Association, _inc. Or BEHA

  Blue Eyed Horse Information.  UPDATED  04/01/2008 
       FACTS for all members, potential members and viewers.

NEWS!!!!  Check out the October 2006 issue of the HORSE , article about BLUE EYED HORSES--featuring the BEHA!!!!!

The most commonly asked question, is WHY?  Why do we have a registry for blue-eyed horses.  First off, why not?  We are an Association of people that have chosen to get together to share our horses with similar traits and help educate potential buyers/owners the truth about these horses.  We enjoy exhibiting and competing with similar horses for prizes online.  Why does anyone chose to participate in any association or club? To be amongst people with similar interests.........be it horse clubs, dog clubs, gun clubs, archery clubs, music clubs, bowling leagues, cooking clubs,  etc........most people have some interest in which they Associate.

We are a registry that is promoting COLOR.  Other registries dealing with patterns or colors were started as a means for a horse that was not accepted by the orginal breed standards because of their different colors.  Many registries refused entry of these horses, based on their color or pattern.  Blue eyes fall into this category.  The BEHA accepts the color of blue in one or both eyes, NOT including injury or cataracts--Just as Paint and Pinto do not accept white marks caused by injury ...i.e. saddle rub marks.

FACT, it continues to amaze the BEHA staff and members, the scrutiny we fall under--as no one thinks twice about registering their horse based on the COLOR or PATTERN of their body!  Body color and pattern are illusive traits, that have been and continues to be studied.  In the mist of all that, everyone overlooked eye colors.  For those of you STILL shaking your head, have you ever registered your horse with the Palomino Horse Breeders Association?  Did you ever register a purebred quarter horse crop out with the American Paint Horse Association?  If you did register that first APHA horse........you did so based on color and old rules set forth by the American Quarter Horse Association.  Those of you registered with Palomino, did so to show off your palomino and show amongst others.  The Blue Eyed Horse Association is that--plain and simple.  HOWEVER, we are TOO fighting to educate the public about the eye colors; NO disease relations, no DEAF traits and NO loco traits--because of blue-eyes!  APHA and PHBA are only two examples, there are MANY examples of registries set out to track colors.

Another myth put upon horses with blue eyes is that they are less worthy because they are different.  FACT: Blue-eyed horses are horses with unique eye color.  Just like humans have many different eye colors, dogs, cats, etc.  It is merely a COLOR.  They are not blind because they have blue eyes.  They are not diseased because they have blue eyes.  They are not less trainable because they have blue eyes.  They are not disposable because they have blue eyes. 

It is true that some horses with excessive white on their faces are more prone to burning, that is why many prefer black eye rims.  Some claim that blue eyes make the horse more prone to cancer.  This is a FALSE statement.  FACT is that the pink skin is more prone to burning.....anyone that suffers repeated burning is prone to skin cancer.  It is not the eye that is causing cancer.  To ALIEVEATE some of this, there are vets and people that can tatoo a dark coloring on your horses eyes.  Another option is the put a UV protectant fly mask over their faces in the summer months.  There is also sun block lotions available for use too.  While you are applying block to your horse, apply some to yourself too--to help prevent subjecting yourself to these cancers.  Therefore you need not overlook a horse with blue eyes and light eye rims--it is a perfectly normal animal and this horse may not ever have problems!

REMINDER--any horse with brown eyes and lots of pink skin on the face is subject to this burning......they are also in need of preventative sun protection to help them from sun caused cancers!!! 

The statement that a blue eyed horse is untrainable, wild, spooky, or otherwise is FALSE!  There is no proof of this anywhere.  Logically speaking, we know people with blue eyes and we are sure they are no less educated or intelligent because they have blue eyes.  HOWEVER, situations lead people to false conclusions.  Horses that are unhandled, brown eyes, black eyes, green eyes, blue eyes, or marbled eyes, are not going to like people and they might take longer to understand.  Every animal deserves a fair shake and claming they are less trainable or able because of a color on their body is .......well BIAS.....call it COLORISTS?  Forming a judgement based on an animals color or pattern is unfounded and downright unfair to the animals.  Everyone has opinions and that is fine, but be sure not to let false statements rule your thinking.  Judge for yourself.  Shop around.  Many blue eyed horses are quite successful.

FACT:  Many breeders have come to think that their blue eyed horses are easier to read then a brown eyed horse.....WHY?  Because with a lighter colored eye, you can clearly see the pupil --THE WINDOW INTO YOUR HORSES SOUL-- large pupils can indicate scared or tired or unsure, small pupils indicate happy, relaxed, and easy going.  OBVIOUSLY--bright light will cause a reduction in the eye pupil, however...the pupil can still contract with moods.

The goal of the BEHA is not to steer anyone away from other colors, but to help everyone understand that the Blue Eyed Horse deserves a fair shake, like any animal.  Be cautious, do your homework, and ask questions.  Do not let false rumors shape your opinion.

Also the BEHA is not suggesting that ONLY blue-eyed horses should be used.  We are telling everyone that blue-eyes should not be the basis for your decision.  You should judge the potential animal based on your needs.  If you are looking for breeding stock, then you should look for a conformationally correct animal perhaps with a credible pedigree.  If you want a nice riding horse and are a beginner, then you need to shop for a horse that is well broke and "bomb proof".  There are many OUTSTANDING breeding horses that have blue eyes, as well as other colors.  There are many OUTSTANDING leading horses that have blue eyes. 

Recently the BEHA was asked if there should be a white hoof registry....they too are associated with rumors of being less then worthy.  PERHAPS there should be.  HOWEVER, the Blue Eyed Horse has suffered long enough.  Our goal is to track the blue eyed trait--shed some light on where the blue pops up, what breeds it is more incorporated and if we can find the common thread that links these horses together.  So if your breeding for blues or for no blues, you know. 

As for the white hooves...........well....we hope that you figure that is another wives tale and understand the goals.  Give any animal a fair shake.  Use your common judgement.  Remember any color horse, in body, eyes,  pattern, big or small, black hooves or white, could be the next greatest horse to hit the show ring, racing scene, jumping, or hauling your kid safely home.

Most recently a person compared the BEHA to a registry for cribbing horses.........let us point out that cribbing is a bad habit--not a trait, like blues eyes...so a registry for habits......might not go over as an association, but if enough people want to share that habit..then good luck!

Lets get back to the basics......... Remember when Mom or Dad, Grandma, or whomever raised you said  "NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER!"

What about the Blue Eyed Horse Association!?!?!  The BEHA is a  non profit association with goals set forth to educate people about the blue-eyed horse and promote the blue-eyed horse.

Our Non Profit ID is 20-5680796-- The BEHA is made up of a Board of Directors, consisting of three people and over 200 members from around the world.  When rules are added or concerns are brought up, the Board of Directors must hold a meeting to approve such changes.  We will have an annual meeting for members and directors, to be announced online through this website.

No one person profits from the BEHA.  We are an ASSOCIATION--every member and board member has a say in the BEHA.

The BEHA appears on Chase N It Farm website--as Cherie Lonas, owner of Chase N It, is the Executive Director that has donated web space and works numerous unpaid hours for the BEHA benefit.  At this time the BEHA has no paid employees.  All income from memberships has been used for legal expenses for the set up of the BEHA, postage, and exhibitions.  No income has been nor will be used for any personal use at all.  All prizes and web details have been donated to date--no BEHA funds have been spent on these.
 

THE BEHA BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Executive Director : Cherie Lonas  SD
Board Member and Secretary: Dawn Emerson KY
Board Member: Mike Hastings SD

Annual meeting of the board of directors is conducted at 10am Mountain time the second Tuesday in the month of February.

2007 Meeting was conducted with Mike Hastings and Cherie Lonas personally present and Dawn Emerson by phone.  It was discussed and voted YES that all legal fees for the BEHA be paid in full with membership and fund raiser dues.  The legal fees were paid to Stanton Anker, Attorney at Law Rapid City SD the fees of $1300 paid in full.
It was discussed and voted YES, that all member fees would remain the same for 2007.
It was discussed and left OPEN to further discussion regarding breeding stock regulations for 2007.

2008 Meeting was conducted with Cherie Lonas/Mike Hastings/ and Dawn Emerson in phone conference.  It was discussed and voted YES that all 2008 fees will remain the same.