Barn Blind!
March 8, 2008 by patchworkfibers
“Barn blind” is a Southern term for loving something so much you are blind to its faults.
It’s why we are certain that our children are the smartest, most beautiful children in the world. (and, yes, Alina is the most wonderful daughter in the world ) It’s why I know there was never a horse like Blaze, or a dog like Rima.
Sometimes I see pictures of Jacob Sheep where the owner swears this is the most beautiful Jacob in the world. Ofttimes I am not quite in total agreement. Hmm - not really sure I like that horn sweep, those facial markings, that “something” that just doesn’t appeal to me. It goes both ways - I think one of my yearling ewes with the slipped eye patch is quite elegant and can’t imagine that anyone that saw her wouldn’t think she was just wonderful. Lots of breeders shy away from slipped eye patches. Honest - if you saw her in person, her presence would blow you away.
When I raised and showed Quarter Horses, the term “barn blind” was a bad thing.
Diversity is a big part of our rare breed. What one breeder sees as a fault may be quite different from what another breeder defines as a fault. Within the standard, maybe barn blind isn’t such a bad thing. The different preferences of individual breeders is what keeps our breed diverse. And the barn blindness of breeders just may be important to keep us from overly standardizing our breed.
