[Finallyownhorse]

I am curious what made people get into breeding?

How did you select your breed?

Since hubby convinced me to get rid of all my parrot breeding stuff, after 18 years, I have been thinking about being a HOBBY breeder, not backyard breeder of horses.

But I am not even sure that is feasible this late in the game. I am new to horses and although I have money to pay for vet care, feeding, etc. I don't have knowledge of what is "good" or "bad". I also only have 5 acres.

If I did get a "quality" mare, she would have to double as a family riding horse too. (when she was able)

My neighbor up the road is much older than me, and he got into breeding a few years ago. But I don't know what his base knowledge was. Plus, they have 75 acres. They only breed one to two mares a year.

With the market the way it is, its a HORRIBLE time to start breeding. But its a GREAT time to pick up a quality horse reasonable. Especially broodmares right now. The actual breeding could wait until the market turns. The market always turns, its just a matter of how long.

I have a ton more questions, but if too many are asked in one post, they get missed. LOL

One more question though, how old is too old to be broke to ride and still be a trustworthy mount? I see herd thinnings with the market the way it is, but I NEED her to be a riding horse too. Especially since this hobby wouldn't be started anytime soon, if ever.

[bnttyra]

Well, I consider us hobby breeders. We have planned this over the last 10 years. It has taken us that long to find the right stallion and mares plus get a good barn/breeding facility up and going. We only breed to 2-4 mares a year, nothing outside other than family horses. We not only picked AQHA and APHA horses because that is what I am familiar with but because in my area, that is what is popular and what people are using. We then went on to find horses with pedigrees that are in reining/cutting/performance horses. Those are disciplines that seem to be holding some value right now. But in our case, we are not in it for the money, especially right now, but are thinking of more in the next couple of years. We have gotten a herd of young mares, all that are or will be broke to ride and/or be shown before breeding. So we have lots of work ahead of us in regards to training and showing them. I just purchased 3 very nice young mares this weekend, all have something big in regards to reining in their pedigree (Hesa Smart Chic/Doc'c Hickory/Grays Starlight/Doc Bar/Reminic are just a few on their papers). If you can afford to buy, now is the time because quality horses are pretty cheap. I have already gotten an offer on the 2 yr old I just bought, doubling my money, and I don't even have her home yet!

Do your research and take your time in finding the right horses. I have purchased and sold several that just didn't make the cut, lucky for me, I have made a little bit of money off the sales. But I think it is most definitely possible to find good horses that are not only brood mares but good riding mares as well.