Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinehaven 
When I raised Morgan horses, the standard was dark horses (bay, black, brown, chestnut) with little to no white but when my bright red colt was born with rear stockings that ran above his hocks, a blaze that wrapped around his face and a 4 inch belly spot (he's one of the first double registered pinto morgans), I watched him grow, decided to put my horse where my mouth was and in the show ring he went.
The American Morgan Horse Association was open to all and though I was told that most Morgan judges wouldn't even look at my colorful colt, I was lucky enough to get a judge with an open mind and she looked beyond his color and saw the horse. Competing in a class against 5 bay, 2 yo stallions who had no white, my odd colored boy won reserve champion, than went on to win reserve showing against the winning weanlings, yearlings and 2 yo. stallions.
My point is that I was able to show my pinto morgan in an "A" rated Morgan show because the breed club was open to all. It makes me sad that I'm unable to have that same opportunity with my colorful AKC registered yorkies.
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Yes, a good mother should protect it's offspring but not reject a child because it is different from what they (or a group of people) perceive as being perfect or ideal. A breed club should be open for all to join and the show ring is where a dog should be judged.
We can all have our opinions of what a breed club should be. But, first and foremost they are the keeper of the Standard. The club bylaws, code of ethics/conduct were put forth long before you and I came into the picture.
As much as I'd like to join the the YTCA because I breed parti colored yorkies, I wouldn't have a chance at joining it. It wouldn't matter if I had the most perfect steel blue and tan dog, I'd be tarred and feathered before I could send in my membership application
Most breed clubs are pretty strict on how their clubs are operated and one is not able to just join. One must be invited and be sponsored by two members that have known you for a minimum of two years; with one having visited our home in the recent past. Each sponsor must fill out your application, you only fill in your personal information. The application is then passed onto the membership committee, who then reviews it and then puts it to the membership. If for any reason any member rejects your membership, their rejection is forwarded to the applicant to rebutal the rejection.
Even Regional Clubs have bylaws, do home inspections, and require sponsorship.
But, you are right, because you breed outside the standard, you probably won't be accepted. It's more than just the dark steel blue and tan......