[RiddleMeThis]

Originally Posted by lilrider

But most of those you pay whether you breed your horse or not so they don't really count. The breeding fees yes but the others.... they are ALWAYS there. So I guess I just don't see the point

I was told that it is was all of the cost of the mare and foal from breeding to weaning. The additional everything. IT was orginally started from someone complainign about paying 10k for a quality weanling and how it shouldnt cost that much. So Spindletop put together a list of all costs associated with the mare from breeding to foaling.

The farm labor is the cost for extra services like foal watch. Spindletop is quite a large farm.

[lilrider]

Originally Posted by RiddleMeThis

I was told that it is was all of the cost of the mare and foal from breeding to weaning. The additional everything. IT was orginally started from someone complainign about paying 10k for a quality weanling and how it shouldnt cost that much. So Spindletop put together a list of all costs associated with the mare from breeding to foaling.

The farm labor is the cost for extra services like foal watch. Spindletop is quite a large farm.

Well I guess I could understand if its a large farm because if the mare is bred she wouldn't be good for much else such as showing and what not so if you wanted to show as well you would have to buy another horse to show while your mare is bred. But if you don't or you aren't a bigger farm then I don't think its quite the same.

I honestly think that even with JUST breeding costs included its a better idea to just buy a weanling when it comes to popular breeds like stock horses and such.

But say I had a nice Thoroughbred or warmblood mare and want a quality warmblood foal. It would be cheaper for me to in my area to breed for one. I have looked at the prices around here and the cheapest warmblood weanlings and yearlings of somewhat good quality is $7500. Now of course then theres all the risks like if the foal dies, the mare dies, the foal ends up being butt ugly or has something wrong with it etc etc. So its still questionable whether it would be a better idea to buy or breed. But if I was looking for a stock horse even of quality I would rather buy. There are many really nice quality stockhorse young stock around my area from very nice bloodlines and most are under $3,000.

[Blistering Winds]

Bodi...that is why I ask those questions. Not because I want the answers, but anyone breeding for ANYTHING must look at the big picture of "What if?...what if the baby is born counter to what I wanted? Will I keep it? Will I sell it? if I sell, COULD I sell it? Should I euthanize it instead???? (another controversial decision)

She wanted validation/reality check. I'm just helping her in that process look at the "darker" side of things.

Course that also includes losing the mare/foal/both.

Racking up GASTLY amount of vet bills with nothing to show but a broken heart.

Or breeding and getting what you wanted, only to find out it isn't what you wanted. (another reason some people 'sell' foals that they wanted in the first place)

I've seen people so PICKY, that the foal didn't hit the ground COLOR or GENDER and immediately sell. (a breeding deal I have been considering myself included that stipulation....) Some racing breeders have similar deals. Especially on "test" runs.

Secretariate was one of them. I think it was the mare owner that got "first dibs" on the foal that hit the ground. That person chose not to take Secretariate, and the other partner in that deal took him. The next foal was to be kept by the first owner, regardless. (or sold, whatever). But it was the first owner's decision.

Lots of different scenarios...and yes, ultimately it is up to the decision maker. No matter how hard we push, no matter how hard we lay it all out, educate, etc. It is still up to the owner of said mare and/or stallion.

But when they ask for opinions, knowledge, educate them.....I'm more than willing when others are putting some of the 'good' choices out...to throw out some of the BIG reality checks....death, heartbreak, not planned out in the mix....

[Haas Horse Farm]

Several years ago I spent over six thousand dollars trying to get two of my own mares bred to my own stallion... so yeah I know all about the heartache and vet bills.

[Finallyownhorse]

Geez, talk about a reality check.

I was watching Belle's baby on mare stare.

Before someone posted that draft babies are different I was watching that little one get worked on. I felt just ill.

I know people said on here that their is a chance your baby won't make it or the mother. I thought I could deal with it, but thought it probably wouldn't happen.

After watching Belle's baby I decided I don't think I could take the risk. I watched as the vet worked on it and the people stood around. I couldn't help but think I would be devastated if "my" baby died.

The vet bills we could handle, the risk the baby will be a snot or ugly I could handle. But watching the baby you waited for and waited for, die. I couldn't handle that.

Belle's baby is fine, if you read the thread called "They are working on belle's baby" you will see what I am talking about with drafts being different.

No, now the choices are buy a weanling or just get over the need for a baby.

[Haas Horse Farm]

Good luck to you... I worked at foaling accident last Sunday and they lost the offspring and had to put the mare down. (We called five vets and everyone was busy.) The vet could not get there for four or five hours.... so we had to shoot it. I just could not watch the mare lay there and suffer and longer waiting on the vet...

Unfortunately having foaling injuries and the possibility of loosing the mare or the foal is very real ... Good luck finding the perfect weanling... That is the cool thing because then you can choose exactly what you want.