[3WishesDun]

Thankyou Seaside----but I had no input WHATSOEVER in breeding my sisters mare. I am also only passing on what I remember her telling me about the stallion...as Dawn (my sister) was killed in 1996 by a drunk driver. She bred her mare...over 14 years ago- Have never seen the stud, do not even know his name. only second hand info. I have Jack now because, obviously, she cannot. So in that essence....he meets MY standard of performance and
makes something better....he eases the pain of losing her and brings me much joy every single day.

April

[Sandra-A1]

Speaking only for myself....
I have no problem with the breeding of grade mares but believe in "breeding up" when ever possible, if it is done.
If I had an exceptional grade mare, that met my conformational and performance standards...and was doing well in the local open shows and wanted to breed her I would.
However, I would be looking for a stallion that not only met my conformational, performance and quality of get standards, but also was registered with a registry that would allow me to be able to register the foal.
I call this "breeding up"...breeding to from an unregistered to a registered.
I enjoy participating in various activities and programs that some of the breed registries offer...even to their part/half bred registered horses.
So, naturally, I would want to produce a quality foal that would enable me to participate....if I chose to do so...and would be very competitive in these programs as well.

[Appylvr]

My neighbor is boarding a beautiful mustang mare right now... she WILL BE my neighbors horse to keep once the owner gets a mule baby out of her. This mare is gorgeous, my neighbor is even thinking of breeding her in the future. I've been thinking of studs for her I know someone with a GORGEOUS registered Quarter Horse stud. He's young, only 5 and the owner wants to train him before breeding, so he's got a year or two wait... His mom was a world or national champion in the IBHA....

[Circle C]

I have a grade mare that I have bred. She isn't just a grade mare though. She has about $10,000 in earnings under her belt. She is a consistant 1-D barrel and pole mare. She is very athletic and dependable. To me, any horse that proves themselves is worthy of breeding. The barrel horse industry is so large. No one cares if the horse they are buying is registered, as long as it can run a mean barrel pattern, who cares? Not me, that's for sure. My grade mare is the fav on the farm and is def right up there in her earnings.

[*BaRrEL_BaBE*]

Originally Posted by Circle C

The barrel horse industry is so large. No one cares if the horse they are buying is registered, as long as it can run a mean barrel pattern...

I disagree with this statement. I think that people care more than you might think.

As far as breeding a grade horse, I loved what Sandra A1 had to say about "breeding up" because there are many way to register a horse nowadays even if their parents might not have the popular papers. However, I do not know if I would personally breed a grade mare even if she was top-notch. I believe in putting forth horses with resale value because there might come a time in my life when I just will not be able to care for my horses and I want them to have the best bet at going to a great home and being shown at their full potential.

[Circle C]

I don't know about where you live, but in the NE, the barrel horse industry is booming....grade horse or not. I have sold MANY grade horses for a high dollar.....because they are good at what they do. Most of the horses I sell, grade or not, are geldings though. If I end up w/ a top-notch mare, I keep her. (for breeding purposes). Not that I have NEVER sold any mares, but I tend to keep them around. The geldings are usually the ones that sell first anyways.

Papers don't mean ****. Look at TB's for example......there are tons of TB's that are BRED OUT THE BUTT to race.....and they suck on the track. Then I end up w/ them and turn them into barrel horses. Papers don't garuntee a sale, OR how your horse will perform. Sure, papers are ni ce to look at, but they are the least of my worries. (not that I run a horsey-mill for unpapered horses or anything) I have a few unregistered animals on the farm and they are top-dollar animals.

[zorse]

I think it depends on the breed. I wouldn't want to mix in 3 breeds. If there was a talented Irish Draught/TB stud I would breed a TB mare to it to get a little more bone. Same with a mare..if I had a WB/TB mare I would breed her to a WB.

[Circle C]

It's just like an appendix QH. The cross of those two breeds are WONDERFUL for barrel racing. They have the QH brain, build and maturity and the TB height, withers and speed. A PERFECT cross IMO

Now, I wouldn't go crossing a QH with an Arab and then crossing the Quarab with a paso fino......

[westernarabians]

I really dont see a problem with breeding cross-breeds.
If you have a registered this breeding with a registerd that but they arent the same breed, your getting a crossbreed. Also with the unwated horse topic, I think a cross breed could get a home or not get a home as easily as a registered horse. They should be treated equally, one isnt better than the other.
Some horses are registered and thier conformation is horrible, I could even show you a cross-breed with better conformation than some.

[Moostang]

I have no problem with breeding grade, as long as you are looking to improve the horse. Scout is a wonder grade horse, as is another horse from the same ranch. The man bred bucking stock and his own stock for riding horses. They have awesome feet, wonderful temperment and talent out the ying yang, but he was serious and as Sandra said, he bred UP to create is own breed, not just to breed.
Think about it.. how do you think a lot of the modern breeds started as... grade horses, but people cared enough to breed quality and start the breed.