[CJnBucksMom]

I try LOL Maybe I should let my husband start doing the talking instead. He has a way of talking so even if he told someone to go jump off a bridge they'd say thank you LOL I hate him for it but it could be a good business asset LOL

[ACCphotography]

Oh most definitely... I use mine for that as often as possible.

[CJnBucksMom]

I guess they have to give us SOME reason to keep them around LMAO!!!

[ACCphotography]

Oh Lord help me... I'm going to hurt myself laughing tonight.

[DirtyHorseRanch]

I'm a draft person, and you bet!!!

[HorseGeek]

You should absolutely turn away poor quality mares - a bad foal will be a bad reflection on your stallion.

[taliacristianna]

Originally Posted by CJnBucksMom

Would you turn away a mare that YOU personally felt did not compliment your stallions conformation or movement??

Absolutely. The foal is going to be a walking advertisement for my stallion - and I would never knowingly participate in the production a "destined to be sub-standard" animal.

Originally Posted by CJnBucksMom

Would you turn away a mare whose bloodlines and performance thus far are geared toward something completely opposite of your stallion (ex. barrel lines to pleasure lines)?

No. If the conformation and movement is complimentary and I feel the foal is going to be of high quality then this becomes a bit of a moot point. I have seen many many examples of horses that were bred for one discipline but obviously have the potential to do well in others. Most horses are limited to a single discipline because that is their owner's PREFERENCE - not because the horse is physically incapable of anything else.

Originally Posted by CJnBucksMom

Would you turn away a mare owner who might not express interest in showing the foals at anything more than a local level???

Absolutely not. Showing isn't everyone's cup of tea. You don't have to be into showing in order to have the ability to recognize, appreciate and BE DESERVING of a high-quality horse. The majority of horse owners never set foot in a show ring - by taking that stance you would be drastically reducing your market and uneccisarily denying many EXCELLENT horsepeople the opportunity to enjoy your stallion's foals.

There are other ways to get your stallion's foals shown. Offer discounts to proven show homes, create your own incentive program. (I have seen breeders offer cash prizes to foal owners that pursue a successful show career.)

Originally Posted by CJnBucksMom

Would you turn away a mare owner who did not have an idea of exactly what event they were breeding for or what they wanted the foal to be competitive in???

That depends. If they are breeding just to breed and their only plans for the foal are to turn it loose into a 400 acre pasture or something I'll probably turn them away.

I don't know of any responsible horse owners that would put the money, time, and risk into producing a foal without having SOME idea of what they want the foal to do.

Even if the owner is considering a few different paths for the foal - as long as the mare is of the desired quality and as long as the mare owner seems the type that will give the foal a good home then I don't see any real problems.

I ride dressage, do some jumping and trail ride. I'd like to try eventing and foxhunting someday. I'd also like to try cutting some day.

I like my horses to be quite versatile. I like participating in different disciplines. I don't feel like I have to pick "just one". I wouldn't expect that of anyone else either.

[Snaffle Bit]

Originally Posted by taliacristianna

Absolutely. The foal is going to be a walking advertisement for my stallion - and I would never knowingly participate in the production a "destined to be sub-standard" animal.

100% agree. I would want every foal my stallion sired to be a high-quality animal.

Originally Posted by taliacristianna

No. If the conformation and movement is complimentary and I feel the foal is going to be of high quality then this becomes a bit of a moot point. I have seen many many examples of horses that were bred for one discipline but obviously have the potential to do well in others. Most horses are limited to a single discipline because that is their owner's PREFERENCE - not because the horse is physically incapable of anything else.

I also agree. If everything else 'fit', I wouldn't worry much about the particular bloodlines. There are very, very few horses whose pedigree is made-up of horses who can only do a single thing. Also, horses can often do well in more than one event. Look at SBR Formula One (as an on forum example). He can do a lot of things very well. There's no reason a mare and/or foal can't do the same if everything else matches well.

Originally Posted by taliacristianna

Absolutely not. Showing isn't everyone's cup of tea. You don't have to be into showing in order to have the ability to recognize, appreciate and BE DESERVING of a high-quality horse. The majority of horse owners never set foot in a show ring - by taking that stance you would be drastically reducing your market and uneccisarily denying many EXCELLENT horsepeople the opportunity to enjoy your stallion's foals.

There are other ways to get your stallion's foals shown. Offer discounts to proven show homes, create your own incentive program. (I have seen breeders offer cash prizes to foal owners that pursue a successful show career.)

I also agree. Many people don't want to, or can't afford to show at higher levels. However, the horse world is pretty small. If your stallion sires a nice local foal, I would bet that word would get around, at least a little. Professionals get around don't they? And I agree, I would offer discounts for show homes, show mares, proven producers, and maybe even a 'payback program' for my stallion's foals winning in recognized shows, etc.

Still, I would rather produce an impressive 'backyard trail horse' than a bunch of low-quality, sub-standard foals that might very well end up selling for $100 at a bad auction.

Originally Posted by taliacristianna

That depends. If they are breeding just to breed and their only plans for the foal are to turn it loose into a 400 acre pasture or something I'll probably turn them away.

I don't know of any responsible horse owners that would put the money, time, and risk into producing a foal without having SOME idea of what they want the foal to do.

Even if the owner is considering a few different paths for the foal - as long as the mare is of the desired quality and as long as the mare owner seems the type that will give the foal a good home then I don't see any real problems.

I ride dressage, do some jumping and trail ride. I'd like to try eventing and foxhunting someday. I'd also like to try cutting some day.

I like my horses to be quite versatile. I like participating in different disciplines. I don't feel like I have to pick "just one". I wouldn't expect that of anyone else either.

I also agree. I would be a little hesitant to breed to someone who 'demanded' the foal be perfectly suited to one specific event to be honest. No one can guarantee that. Even the best bred lines don't always end up producing exactly what is desired/expected. So what happens to the foal if they just had to have a cutter, but it ended up a reiner? That might be bad publicity in a way if they decide to bad-mouth your stallion. You want happy customers, right?

However, if they were more flexible and willing to try a few things to find the foal's talents, they would be more likely to be happy with whatever they got. If the foal did well at something, it would help your stallion to look better.

[taliacristianna]

Originally Posted by Snaffle Bit

If your stallion sires a nice local foal, I would bet that world would get around, at least a little.

Yes, I can attest to that. If I see a horse being ridden in a casual setting and I like what I see I am certainly going to ask the owner about the pedigree. I'm sure that's a very common habit among breeders.

Originally Posted by Snaffle Bit

Still, I would rather produce an impressive 'backyard trail horse' than a bunch of low-quality, sub-standard foals that might very well end up selling for $100 at a bad auction.

My main concern is that the foals I produce or help produce live happy, healthy, productive lives. Show experience is nice and it is very good for business but it's not my main concern. Then again, I am well aware of the fact that horses are a part-time job for me. If horses were my main source of income my take on the subject would be different I'm sure.

If one of my foals spends 35 years bringing his owner joy as a weekend trail horse - happy, healthy and well cared for in a big pasture - then I think that is absolutely wonderful. Mission accomplished. That horse is happy as can be and I guarantee he isn't mournfully longing for the show ring while he ambles leisurely down the trail - and neither is his owner.

[Snaffle Bit]

Originally Posted by taliacristianna

Yes, I can attest to that. If I see a horse being ridden in a casual setting and I like what I see I am certainly going to ask the owner about the pedigree. I'm sure that's a very common habit among breeders.



My main concern is that the foals I produce or help produce live happy, healthy, productive lives. Show experience is nice and it is very good for business but it's not my main concern. Then again, I am well aware of the fact that horses are a part-time job for me. If horses were my main source of income my take on the subject would be different I'm sure.

If one of my foals spends 35 years bringing his owner joy as a weekend trail horse - happy, healthy and well cared for in a big pasture - then I think that is absolutely wonderful. Mission accomplished. That horse is happy as can be and I guarantee he isn't mournfully longing for the show ring while he ambles leisurely down the trail - and neither is his owner.

I have to agree with that. I would rather produce a foal that was kept in a 'forever home' from birth than a horse that passes from hand-to-hand and ends up in a bad situation.