Slidewater Intemporelle

In 2024, during her first linear appraisal as a yearling, Intemporelle (“Tempo”) was an awkward doe who was not at all happy about the appraisal process. She was restless and unwilling to stand still, and both the appraiser and I were visibly frustrated with her.

It’s important to note—as can be seen in her photos—that Tempo has a significant number of moon spots. These randomly placed markings can sometimes create optical illusions, making parts of the animal appear distorted. In Tempo’s case, the markings on her front legs can give the appearance of misalignment from certain angles.

This led to a discussion between the appraiser and I regarding carpal hyperextension (CH). It is my belief, that during this discussion, the appraiser mistakenly marked Code 24 on his tablet. I want to be very clear: Tempo has never exhibited any signs of CH or leg issues at any stage of her development. Photos of her as a yearling and from her 2025 appraisal clearly show a doe with strong, properly aligned front legs. In fact, at her most recent appraisal, Tempo was awarded an E in front legs and received an impressive final score of EEEE 92.

I was not aware of the CH code until I received the email with her 2024 appraisal scores. When I inquired, I was told that miscellaneous codes are "informational" and not part of the permanent record. However, I just recently discovered that the code is visible on ADGA Genetics and ADGA NG and it is part of her permanent record.

I take full responsibility for not following up on this more urgently at the time. But once I realized the code’s visibility, I immediately reached out to ADGA’s Performance Program Manager. After numerous attempts, I eventually received a reply stating that my request had been sent to the Linear Appraisal Committee Chairs for input, but in the past, they had not removed codes entered by appraisers.

I responded that I was still respectfully requesting the removal of the code from Tempo’s 2024 appraisal, so her official record accurately reflects her conformation and quality. I also emphasized that a diagnosis as serious as carpal hyperextension—or any other medical condition—should be made by a qualified veterinarian, not an appraiser in the field. I have yet to hear anything further from ADGA.

It is distressing that a misapplied code could cast a shadow over a moment of great pride. This doe deserves to be celebrated for the beautiful, productive animal she truly is. I can only hope that her official record will someday reflect that too.