Should you breed your mare?

Heavenly Jumper · 03-03-2006, 09:00 AM

Should I breed my mare?

If you can answer yes to these questions, then yes. Go for it because you know the risks and you are ready.

Does my mare represent a good example of the breed?
Is she free of major conformation and temperament flaws?
Do you know whether or not she has any genetic flaws that she could pass on?
Do I have the knowledge to choose a stallion who will compliment her?
Will the resulting foal be bettering the breed?
Do I want to have my mare pregnant and out of work?
Do I have the facilities to have a foal born safely?
Do I have the financial means to pay for:
- Stud Fees AND mare care
- Feed and Supplements for my mare AND foal
- The many standard veterinary bills during the pregnancy
- Unexpected emergency vet bills
- The costs of raising that foal to ride-able age (feed, vet, farrier)
- The costs of training for the foal
Do I have 3-4 years to wait for the foal to be born and grow to trainable/ride-able age?
Am I prepared to risk my mares death?
In the event that she dies or rejects the foal, do I have the knowledge and means to care for the orphaned foal?
Am I prepared to risk losing the foal?
Am I prepared to risk losing them both?
Am I experienced in handling and training a young foal?
Do I have a plan for the foal if I can no longer care for it properly?
Do I have an intended purpose for the resulting foal?
After all this, am I willing to risk that the foal doesn't live up to my expectations?

My point is this: Look at the list above, they are the realistic responsibilities of breeding. If you said no to some of them, then you are better off saving the money, possible heartache, or whatever it is that turned you off from breeding and buy the horse that you want. I am not being mean or rude, just showing plainly things that need to be considered when lives are being created.

NeighNeigh · 03-03-2006, 10:14 AM

^Well, stated HJ.

My answer is "no" to pretty much all of the above in regards to my mare.

Cara · 03-03-2006, 12:41 PM

excellent questions...

shell · 03-03-2006, 12:49 PM

Yes.

Too bad if you think otherwise. I got 2 babies out of her already.

Friesiangirl · 03-03-2006, 12:56 PM

nope lol plus i have no interest in breeding at the moment

Commanderkins · 03-03-2006, 01:05 PM

This should be a sticky......

Shannon · 03-03-2006, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commanderkins

This should be a sticky......

Ditto. It would save us from a lot of arguements

Great post Heather

bay_blnd jmpr07 · 03-03-2006, 02:24 PM

I'm not going to get into the whole "risking your mare's life and/or foal's life" but I can say yes to all those questions...

Chester · 03-03-2006, 03:04 PM

Heavenly Jumper · 03-03-2006, 10:51 PM

Glad that this can be helpful...

03-03-2006, 09:00 AM	#1
Heavenly Jumper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Yokosuka, Japan Posts: 17,065 Images: 1328 Blog Entries: 323	Should you breed your mare? Should I breed my mare? If you can answer yes to these questions, then yes. Go for it because you know the risks and you are ready. Does my mare represent a good example of the breed? Is she free of major conformation and temperament flaws? Do you know whether or not she has any genetic flaws that she could pass on? Do I have the knowledge to choose a stallion who will compliment her? Will the resulting foal be bettering the breed? Do I want to have my mare pregnant and out of work? Do I have the facilities to have a foal born safely? Do I have the financial means to pay for: Stud Fees AND mare care Feed and Supplements for my mare AND foal The many standard veterinary bills during the pregnancy Unexpected emergency vet bills The costs of raising that foal to ride-able age (feed, vet, farrier) The costs of training for the foal Do I have 3-4 years to wait for the foal to be born and grow to trainable/ride-able age? Am I prepared to risk my mares death? In the event that she dies or rejects the foal, do I have the knowledge and means to care for the orphaned foal? Am I prepared to risk losing the foal? Am I prepared to risk losing them both? Am I experienced in handling and training a young foal? Do I have a plan for the foal if I can no longer care for it properly? Do I have an intended purpose for the resulting foal? After all this, am I willing to risk that the foal doesn't live up to my expectations? My point is this: Look at the list above, they are the realistic responsibilities of breeding. If you said no to some of them, then you are better off saving the money, possible heartache, or whatever it is that turned you off from breeding and buy the horse that you want. I am not being mean or rude, just showing plainly things that need to be considered when lives are being created. __________________ SUSHI SUSHI nom nom nom Every time I look at my avatar I get HUNGRY!! Last edited by Heavenly Jumper; 03-03-2006 at 09:35 AM.

03-03-2006, 12:41 PM	#3
Cara Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 4,156 Images: 27	excellent questions... __________________ ~It Depends~ Cara

03-03-2006, 12:49 PM	#4
shell Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The Great North West Posts: 9,536 Images: 298 Blog Entries: 12	Yes. Too bad if you think otherwise. I got 2 babies out of her already. __________________ “Look, what a horse should have he did not lack, save a proud rider on so proud back.” -Shakespear Keep track of Denali: Journey of a doomed horse http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com/horse-forums/journals/shell.html

03-03-2006, 12:56 PM	#5
Friesiangirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 9,846 Images: 226 Blog Entries: 22	nope lol plus i have no interest in breeding at the moment __________________ A ruthlessly condensed training only leads to a general superficiality, to travesties of the movements, and to a premature unsoundness of the horse. Nature cannot be violated. Colonel Alois Podhajsky

03-03-2006, 02:24 PM	#8
bay_blnd jmpr07 Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: N. Granby, CT Posts: 11,634 Images: 425	I'm not going to get into the whole "risking your mare's life and/or foal's life" but I can say yes to all those questions... __________________ Semper Paratus

03-03-2006, 10:14 AM	#2
NeighNeigh Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: So Cali Posts: 1,667 Images: 206	^Well, stated HJ. My answer is "no" to pretty much all of the above in regards to my mare.

03-03-2006, 01:05 PM	#6
Commanderkins Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: I'm Canadian, So right on Eh! Posts: 2,668 Images: 40	This should be a sticky......

03-03-2006, 03:04 PM	#9
Chester Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: inland of the coral sea Posts: 13,479 Images: 869	__________________ Aussie Aussie Aussie OI OI OI Senior Australian Correspondent Is it full moon time again? Did the cereal truck overturn and fruitloops got spilt? Thanks for your time,then you can thank me for mine, after that's said, forget it. Rodriguouz

03-03-2006, 10:51 PM	#10
Heavenly Jumper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Yokosuka, Japan Posts: 17,065 Images: 1328 Blog Entries: 323	Glad that this can be helpful... __________________ SUSHI SUSHI nom nom nom Every time I look at my avatar I get HUNGRY!!

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