Conformation question

gratifite · 05-17-2005, 06:46 AM

I don't breed - never have and don't intend to - but have a question. A friend of mine says a friend of hers breeds. She has a really ugly mare - very poor conformation. Now, aren't some of those undesirable characteristics bound to show up in the offspring? Is it wise to use this mare? I always assumed that you'd want a well built mare that would pass down characteristics that you find desirable. Just wondering. Thanks

CowGirlUp1833 · 05-17-2005, 07:04 AM

You are correct. Ideally you want high quality stock, both in the mare and stud. Goes back to the old addage "Garbage in = Garbage out".....now could it thro a decent foal? Yes...it could. But, your chances of it are far less then starting out with higher quality breeding stock.

gratifite · 05-17-2005, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowGirlUp1833

You are correct. Ideally you want high quality stock, both in the mare and stud. Goes back to the old addage "Garbage in = Garbage out".....now could it thro a decent foal? Yes...it could. But, your chances of it are far less then starting out with higher quality breeding stock.

That's pretty much what I thought...that's why I was so surprised to hear that she used such a poor mare...a lot from the sounds of it. Makes me wonder if people that are buying from her are aware.

Dancinglite · 05-17-2005, 07:20 AM

No horse is perfect and while ugly is in itself not a conformation fault, this and any major faults will show up in either a minor way or major way. Small faults can be overcome by breeding to a stallion exceptional in that area where the mare is weaker. We should not however fall into the thinking that if you pick a stallion that is good with straight legs ( because your mare is weak here) that the goose rump that stallion has will not show up.

Overall you pick a stallion that will compliment you mare, improve her weak areas and at least maintain her good areas.

Now if the mare is conformationaly challenged then you have a serious problem that is unlikely to improve with breeding to even the most exceptional stallion.

SkipaJo Cowgirl · 05-17-2005, 09:54 AM

I like to get people thinking about this question prior to breeding..."would I be happy with the foal if my mare threw no better than a carbon copy of herself?"

Cool Time 84 · 05-17-2005, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkipaJo Cowgirl

I like to get people thinking about this question prior to breeding..."would I be happy with the foal if my mare threw no better than a carbon copy of herself?"

Very good question... basically what I asked myself when I decided to breed Cool.. fact is, I'd love to have a Carbon Copy of my mare.. I find her lovely, and the conformation faults she has doesnt affect her usability at all.

SweetIron · 05-17-2005, 11:30 AM

I think that if we choose to breed, we have the obligation to give that future foal, the best possible chance of leading a long life. And I am sure that the best way to do this, is to avoid breeding "ugly" mares and studs that will probably produce ugly foals. I am talking about pretty major flaws, such as a pronounced roman nose, horrid temperament, etc. If the offspring of these ugly unions are no longer wanted by you, who will end up with them? My point is, if your mare throws a foal that's going to end up having little to offer its potential owners in the looks and temperament departments, I see it probably ending up unwanted by anyone.
I admire people who keep their ugly foals throughout their lives! My friend has a funny looking mare with a horrid roman nose, who really should have looked fine if you consider her lineage. But my friend keeps her.

Appylvr · 05-17-2005, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkipaJo Cowgirl

I like to get people thinking about this question prior to breeding..."would I be happy with the foal if my mare threw no better than a carbon copy of herself?"

That's exactly why I bred my mare! I wanted a foal that came out just like her, just maybe a different color ( I was hoping for a buckskin). I should have done my color research BEFORE the foal was born and not AFTER like I did!!!

Or I would have known the chances of getting a buckskin out of that stud were next to nil! Oh well, I love my little palomino! The only reason I didn't want a Paly is because they're so hard to keep clean, but I'm surviving!

I'm suprised your friend is breeding a mare with such bad conformation. Maybe they don't know about stuff like that? I have a NSH mare that has long-sloping pasterns, crooked legs and turned out toes in the back, and is really small for her breed. Ever since she's been breeding age I've said I would never breed her because of these things....

julie&chico · 05-17-2005, 02:48 PM

Even if you pick a stallion with "stong" points that should compliment your mare, you are never gaurenteed that outcome. I think people far to non-chalant about breeding their MARES and STUDS, never mind the conformation flaws but what about what is going to happen to them when they are ten years down road???? Far to risky for my liking. JMO

05-17-2005, 06:46 AM	#1
gratifite Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 455 Images: 2	Conformation question I don't breed - never have and don't intend to - but have a question. A friend of mine says a friend of hers breeds. She has a really ugly mare - very poor conformation. Now, aren't some of those undesirable characteristics bound to show up in the offspring? Is it wise to use this mare? I always assumed that you'd want a well built mare that would pass down characteristics that you find desirable. Just wondering. Thanks __________________ If you can't be good, be good at it

05-17-2005, 07:04 AM	#2
CowGirlUp1833 Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Holland Lake Shore, West Michigan Posts: 16,437 Images: 400 Blog Entries: 35	You are correct. Ideally you want high quality stock, both in the mare and stud. Goes back to the old addage "Garbage in = Garbage out".....now could it thro a decent foal? Yes...it could. But, your chances of it are far less then starting out with higher quality breeding stock. __________________ www.Equine-Endeavors.com

05-17-2005, 09:54 AM	#5
SkipaJo Cowgirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,660 Images: 31	I like to get people thinking about this question prior to breeding..."would I be happy with the foal if my mare threw no better than a carbon copy of herself?" __________________ Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security deserve neither and will loose both. - Benjamin Franklin

05-17-2005, 11:30 AM	#7
SweetIron Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ARCADE, NY Posts: 1,965 Images: 143	I think that if we choose to breed, we have the obligation to give that future foal, the best possible chance of leading a long life. And I am sure that the best way to do this, is to avoid breeding "ugly" mares and studs that will probably produce ugly foals. I am talking about pretty major flaws, such as a pronounced roman nose, horrid temperament, etc. If the offspring of these ugly unions are no longer wanted by you, who will end up with them? My point is, if your mare throws a foal that's going to end up having little to offer its potential owners in the looks and temperament departments, I see it probably ending up unwanted by anyone. I admire people who keep their ugly foals throughout their lives! My friend has a funny looking mare with a horrid roman nose, who really should have looked fine if you consider her lineage. But my friend keeps her. __________________ -Jen- and.. Cuesta 1999 solid APHA.. gotta register her.. a DocBar granddaughter.. Emma 1999 Tovero mare; as misunderstood as me..

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05-17-2005, 07:20 AM	#4
Dancinglite Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,972 Blog Entries: 13	No horse is perfect and while ugly is in itself not a conformation fault, this and any major faults will show up in either a minor way or major way. Small faults can be overcome by breeding to a stallion exceptional in that area where the mare is weaker. We should not however fall into the thinking that if you pick a stallion that is good with straight legs ( because your mare is weak here) that the goose rump that stallion has will not show up. Overall you pick a stallion that will compliment you mare, improve her weak areas and at least maintain her good areas. Now if the mare is conformationaly challenged then you have a serious problem that is unlikely to improve with breeding to even the most exceptional stallion.

05-17-2005, 02:48 PM	#9
julie&chico Banned Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 953	Even if you pick a stallion with "stong" points that should compliment your mare, you are never gaurenteed that outcome. I think people far to non-chalant about breeding their MARES and STUDS, never mind the conformation flaws but what about what is going to happen to them when they are ten years down road???? Far to risky for my liking. JMO