So ... I found my mare's dam on craigslist -- and she's cheap.

katydid · 10-29-2009, 12:24 PM

Shoot. I really don't want to collect my mare's extended family. But, if I had access to her dam I could get my mare blood typed and my WB registry options would really expand.

Here's the quick background. My mare. I really love her. Pretty much everyone who meets her really loves her -- she moves cute, jumps cute, and has an A-1 personality -- totally ammy friendly and super calm as a five-year-old. Works just as well off-site as on, etc. Bottom line, I've wanted to breed her since I realized how nice she is (this sounds funny, but when I got her she was ribby and undeveloped and had zero training, but boy has she bloomed).

But, my registry options were somewhat limited because -- while I know where dad is (a registered Hanoverian but one that has not undergone the breeding approval process), I couldn't find dam. Dam is a TB approved for breeding by AHS -- her JC papers have the AHS stamp on them, I've been told by multiple people now.

So, I am browsing craigslist (hi, my name is kathryn, and I have a problem with craigslist) and I see this ad title and have the weirdest gut feeling ... I pop it open and it's like my mare is staring back at me. Mare is priced at $1200 OBO (keep in mind, my trainer just told me this week that prior to a show record, she would price my mare at 25K because of her movement, jump, and mind). Some little indicators like age (17) and barn name (Summer) made me think it was her. Long story short, I start e-mailing and now I am 99% convinced this is the mare.

What do I do?? I am definitely going to go see her, my trainer says I only need a piece of mane to get Gemma DNA typed. But I kind of want to buy her! If I could breed her 1-2 times, I could have another baby like Gemma (and keep in mind, I adore Gemma and riding her so much, I am slightly afraid to breed her -- because of possible harm to her or affecting her ability as a riding horse) without having to actually breed Gemma, who is my sole riding horse. Also, since mare is AHS approved I should be able to get full Hano babies out of her, right?

But I really don't need the bills for 2 horses! And I can't afford to keep them both at the show barn where Gemma lives. Now, trainer is so keen on the bloodlines and Gemma, that I might be able to get some discounted board/help in exchange for a baby ... maybe.

I know I need to go see her (and pull mane, lol) but I'm afraid if she's in bad condition I'm going to be compelled to buy her ... although she may not be, the pictures I've received have shown her looking pretty darn good.

Advise me please!

What would you guys do?? I am so conflicted!

rwinksters · 10-29-2009, 12:37 PM

I would completely convince myself not to buy her. Why would you want to put yourself in a situation that would take away from your current horse? I think buying her could really mess things up.. Whereas now, they seem like they're going pretty good.

Martini! · 10-29-2009, 01:16 PM

Well...while it may not be the best financially, I too would prefer to breed this mare rather than Gemma. I'm with you on the worry about breeding Gemma...who knows how it would go and like you said she's your riding horse! I would want to be focusing on Gemma's career as a show horse and not a breeding horse. If you can find somewhere affordable to keep the new mare and possibly breed her instead, that's what I would do.

Of course, I don't know how long you're wanting to wait before breeding either...if you're talking years and years down the road, that's different.

katydid · 10-29-2009, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwinksters

I would completely convince myself not to buy her. Why would you want to put yourself in a situation that would take away from your current horse? I think buying her could really mess things up.. Whereas now, they seem like they're going pretty good.

Definitely wise advice

I suspect it's always wise NOT to add another one to my long list of pets.

But, I don't think it would take away from the mare I have now. I should probably be more clear -- I could pay for both of them to be at this barn, but I don't want to pay full care/training/board on two because it would really affect my discretionary income -- so, unless something horrific happened like I lost my job (which, let's face it, I'm pretty much screwed NMW in that case), I wouldn't ever be faced with a situation where I'd have to let Gemma go or take her out of training or anything like that.

You are right, though -- things *are* pretty good right now. I guess I like the idea of breeding, but I am scared to breed Gemma, because she's my baby girl and a darned good riding horse for me -- and at this point, I know how hard it can be to find a riding horse I really click with.

katydid · 10-29-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martini!

Well...while it may not be the best financially, I too would prefer to breed this mare rather than Gemma. I'm with you on the worry about breeding Gemma...who knows how it would go and like you said she's your riding horse! I would want to be focusing on Gemma's career as a show horse and not a breeding horse. If you can find somewhere affordable to keep the new mare and possibly breed her instead, that's what I would do.

Of course, I don't know how long you're wanting to wait before breeding either...if you're talking years and years down the road, that's different.

Yeah ... that's kind of what I'm playing around with -- a pasture board situation. No, I wouldn't want to wait *that* long to breed ... I had been toying with the idea of getting G her baby green year and then breeding her sometime after that ... I don't know though.

QHGirl · 10-29-2009, 02:47 PM

I am bad... I say go see her and if you like her get her, pasture board her... and breed her.

But I am one of those "friends".

The one you take with you to talk you INTO it.

Think of me as the lil devil on your shoulder!

Martini! · 10-29-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katydid

Yeah ... that's kind of what I'm playing around with -- a pasture board situation. No, I wouldn't want to wait *that* long to breed ... I had been toying with the idea of getting G her baby green year and then breeding her sometime after that ... I don't know though.

Once you really get Gemma going, do you really want to take that much time off riding her though?

FeatheredFeet · 10-29-2009, 03:33 PM

I can understand your dilemma here, but if you do decide to buy her, could she quite easily not turn out to be the dam of your mare after DNA is done? That places you in a position of maybe trying to rehome the mare again. Difficult position to be in. I suppose, if you were lucky, you could DNA the mare to discover for certain if she's Gemma's dam and then buy the mare. But during that time of course, someone quite well might have purchased her.
If that happened, maybe you could find out where she went and who purchased her from this seller and one day in the future, purchase a foal from her.

rwinksters · 10-29-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katydid

Definitely wise advice

I suspect it's always wise NOT to add another one to my long list of pets.

But, I don't think it would take away from the mare I have now. I should probably be more clear -- I could pay for both of them to be at this barn, but I don't want to pay full care/training/board on two because it would really affect my discretionary income -- so, unless something horrific happened like I lost my job (which, let's face it, I'm pretty much screwed NMW in that case), I wouldn't ever be faced with a situation where I'd have to let Gemma go or take her out of training or anything like that.

You are right, though -- things *are* pretty good right now. I guess I like the idea of breeding, but I am scared to breed Gemma, because she's my baby girl and a darned good riding horse for me -- and at this point, I know how hard it can be to find a riding horse I really click with.

Well since you CAN afford it... I think you should go for it. If I were you, I'd do the pasture board situation and just have fun. Things might be tight, but if it's something you want and are willing to live without some stuff... Have at her!

luvmyride · 10-29-2009, 04:49 PM

I would go for it. I would try and talk them down in price just in case she isn't Gemma's mother, but if she is, you just got a gold mine for cheap. Worst case scenario, she isn't Gemme's mother, and you sell her.

10-29-2009, 12:24 PM	#1
katydid Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 639	So ... I found my mare's dam on craigslist -- and she's cheap. Shoot. I really don't want to collect my mare's extended family. But, if I had access to her dam I could get my mare blood typed and my WB registry options would really expand. Here's the quick background. My mare. I really love her. Pretty much everyone who meets her really loves her -- she moves cute, jumps cute, and has an A-1 personality -- totally ammy friendly and super calm as a five-year-old. Works just as well off-site as on, etc. Bottom line, I've wanted to breed her since I realized how nice she is (this sounds funny, but when I got her she was ribby and undeveloped and had zero training, but boy has she bloomed). But, my registry options were somewhat limited because -- while I know where dad is (a registered Hanoverian but one that has not undergone the breeding approval process), I couldn't find dam. Dam is a TB approved for breeding by AHS -- her JC papers have the AHS stamp on them, I've been told by multiple people now. So, I am browsing craigslist (hi, my name is kathryn, and I have a problem with craigslist) and I see this ad title and have the weirdest gut feeling ... I pop it open and it's like my mare is staring back at me. Mare is priced at $1200 OBO (keep in mind, my trainer just told me this week that prior to a show record, she would price my mare at 25K because of her movement, jump, and mind). Some little indicators like age (17) and barn name (Summer) made me think it was her. Long story short, I start e-mailing and now I am 99% convinced this is the mare. What do I do?? I am definitely going to go see her, my trainer says I only need a piece of mane to get Gemma DNA typed. But I kind of want to buy her! If I could breed her 1-2 times, I could have another baby like Gemma (and keep in mind, I adore Gemma and riding her so much, I am slightly afraid to breed her -- because of possible harm to her or affecting her ability as a riding horse) without having to actually breed Gemma, who is my sole riding horse. Also, since mare is AHS approved I should be able to get full Hano babies out of her, right? But I really don't need the bills for 2 horses! And I can't afford to keep them both at the show barn where Gemma lives. Now, trainer is so keen on the bloodlines and Gemma, that I might be able to get some discounted board/help in exchange for a baby ... maybe. I know I need to go see her (and pull mane, lol) but I'm afraid if she's in bad condition I'm going to be compelled to buy her ... although she may not be, the pictures I've received have shown her looking pretty darn good. Advise me please! What would you guys do?? I am so conflicted!

10-29-2009, 01:16 PM	#3
Martini! Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,305 Images: 17	Well...while it may not be the best financially, I too would prefer to breed this mare rather than Gemma. I'm with you on the worry about breeding Gemma...who knows how it would go and like you said she's your riding horse! I would want to be focusing on Gemma's career as a show horse and not a breeding horse. If you can find somewhere affordable to keep the new mare and possibly breed her instead, that's what I would do. Of course, I don't know how long you're wanting to wait before breeding either...if you're talking years and years down the road, that's different. __________________ The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism by those who don't have it.

10-29-2009, 02:47 PM	#6
QHGirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 7,710 Images: 368	I am bad... I say go see her and if you like her get her, pasture board her... and breed her. But I am one of those "friends". The one you take with you to talk you INTO it. Think of me as the lil devil on your shoulder! __________________ I must not forget to thank the difficult horses, who made my life miserable, but who were better teachers than the well-behaved school horses who raised no problems. -Alois Podhaisky Sexy by Christmas Challenge-r!! Start: 0 lbs LOST / Goal: 10 lbs LOST / CURRENT: 0 lbs LOST

10-29-2009, 04:49 PM	#10
luvmyride Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: By the sea side, CA Posts: 1,193 Images: 66	I would go for it. I would try and talk them down in price just in case she isn't Gemma's mother, but if she is, you just got a gold mine for cheap. Worst case scenario, she isn't Gemme's mother, and you sell her. __________________ I had to have my appendix taken out, so I bought one to replace it. ~What the American Quarter Horse should be, SBR Formula One~

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10-29-2009, 12:37 PM	#2
rwinksters Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Quantico, Virginia. Posts: 1,282 Images: 18	I would completely convince myself not to buy her. Why would you want to put yourself in a situation that would take away from your current horse? I think buying her could really mess things up.. Whereas now, they seem like they're going pretty good.

10-29-2009, 03:33 PM	#8
FeatheredFeet Full Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 82 Images: 6	I can understand your dilemma here, but if you do decide to buy her, could she quite easily not turn out to be the dam of your mare after DNA is done? That places you in a position of maybe trying to rehome the mare again. Difficult position to be in. I suppose, if you were lucky, you could DNA the mare to discover for certain if she's Gemma's dam and then buy the mare. But during that time of course, someone quite well might have purchased her. If that happened, maybe you could find out where she went and who purchased her from this seller and one day in the future, purchase a foal from her.