[nickernnod]

The fees for breeders are getting quite outrageous. I will outline for you what we have to pay to get one baby on the ground.

First- you must be a member of the AQHA-we are life members $400- or if you want a 12mos. membership-$35, or 36mos.$70
We paid for and Ameteur card too, so we can show our horses $40
To register each foal before they turn 7 mos. $25 per foal, we registered 16 last year.
Transfer of ownership fee $15- we usually pay this for our customers, since we turn in the transfer.
Stalliong Breeding Report per stallion- $10 plus $3 per mare he is exposed to.
DNA testing- Now required for each mare and stallion owned to be bred $35 per horse- We have 2 stallions and 20 mares all have been DNA typed

So, when you add all of this up- $88 just to register one foal. Not on top of your membership. But just if you were a member for one year, it adds up to $123. That's about what babies going thru the sale barn are averaging right now, or less around these parts. What more do you want breeders to pay??

We had our boys gelded and one stitched up too, so on top of the $123, we paid $70 for his stitch job, and $40 for the castration for 6 of them.

[Reyven]

Blistering Winds- I am serious about something being done, and about my idea, but just because I like my idea, doen't mean there isn't some other idea that is better than mine, as I'm sure there are many-such as what you mentioned.
Good luck with being heard by your rep

nickernnod- I didn't know that breeding was already so expensive for one foal. Thank you for letting me know! The price does sound pretty high already....I like learning something new, now I won't go around as ignorant saying breeding needs to be more expensive...I know I'd never be able to afford it

[Blistering Winds]

I'm not trying to offend you. But ideas that are throw out NEED to be looked at, picked apart, and this forum, as wide based as it is...is a perfect place for it.

Because what I consider acceptable (Animal ID), Others like Sandra and Top Dun would strangle me to death with. Because they feel it is taking away their rights and such...

SO any idea that gets mentioned, needs to be picked apart and seen where we can adjust, if possible, to make the 'majority' happy at least.

[nickernnod]

Actually you need to tack on another $35 to that $123, I only figured one of the pair of horses to be DNA typed. so you can figure about $150 to just get one registered. We also have to Coggins test them if going out of state, have health papers done to go over the state line , and we give them a 3-way, rabies and thier first West Nile shot. It's closer to $200 for each one of our foals before they leave here.

[PeggySue]

Hey NN don't forget the upkeep of hte mare for the year and the stud fees or upkeep.. plus mare shots and all that extra... when my baby hit the ground I had his levels checked that was over 100 plus you normally have them about 5 to 6 months of feed to figure in... nobody is really making money even off of a 500 baby ..

[nickernnod]

Not to mention property taxes for the ground to put them on...and the fence we built to keep them in. or our time... my goodness Time is money you know. Can't count how many hours we have put into these yearlings already. My mother just paid $200 for a Cat!!! And I can't get that for our yearlings!! CRAZY!!

[PeggySue]

NN if I had the money and space I would proudly own one of those babies

[nickernnod]

Thanks PeggySue! It's too bad really, it takes a long time to establish your business,(customer base) build your reputation, and prove your stock. We're just starting to do all of that, and it looks like we're going to have to fold it all up, and just keep a few riding horses around for ourselves. It saddens me deeply, because we have opened our home and business to help college and high school students learn how a breeding facility really works. They have had so much fun out here working with the younger horses and are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new foals.

[Reyven]

I'm not trying to offend you. But ideas that are throw out NEED to be looked at, picked apart, and this forum, as wide based as it is...is a perfect place for it.

You have not offended me in the least. But you're right, ideas need to be looked at, and that's what I do like about this forum!! It's a perfect place for discussions and debates