[Triplechick]

This is an open and interesting question I think, and have read debates on it in other articles and forums, many folks say they have a mrae, so they want to breed her...instead of buying another horse, I'll just breed my mare...etc...so, that being said, here it is...

Why did you, or why are you going to breed your mare?

(Reputable breeders don't necessarily need to answer, because you are, or should already be "bettering the breed.")

(My opinion is (but doesn't normally matter! ha!), unless you are going to better the breed, why put another horse on the face of the earth when there are so many unwanted ones out there. )

[Miss Thunder]

I agree with you, TC. I absolutely hate it when people breed a mare because she's a mare. Or "to have a piece of her for when she's gone"... my mare is 13 years old right now, she still has a LONG time left in her! LOL.

I would breed to better the breed, or create the "perfect horse for me". Or attempt to. I plan on breeding Redie EVENTUALLY, but things change and in the future I may not. It's still 50/50 right now. If I find a baby within the time before I breed her that is everything I want in a horse, then I'll buy it and save the breeding. So for me, breeding is to create the "perfect riding/companion horse".

Overall, I believe someone should breed to better the breed or create safe, rideable horses with good personalities and atleast half decent conformation.

[crazi4horses]

Well, I was plannig on it, but I dont know what I was thinking.I'm only 14(15 in january) nd will have plenty of other opportunities to breed. I am happy with my mare, so why not just enjoy the time I have with her? I was lucky enough to get her, why push for more? If you breed your mare for good reasons, I have nothing wrong with it, but the excuse "she wants a baby" I don't agree with. I eventually want to get into breeding warmbloods(hanoverians, dutch warmbloods, or oldenburgs I think) but that will be part of my living, I want to be a reputable breeder, not a backyard breeder. My goal will be to better the breed, and I believe "breed the best to the best to get the best baby possible" I love my mare to death, and I think that not breeding her is more responsible as an owner, than me breeding her. Yes, I would LOVE to have her little baby, or any baby at all for that matter, but thats just it..why does it have to be out of my mare? Even though I love her to death, why not get another foal out there that doesnt have a home, or who needs a new home. If you breed your mare for "not so good reasons" I don't have anything against you, I just would REALLY think about it if you are just planning to breed your mare, and haven't done it already

[SyntheticTrust]

I bred so that I could always have a part of Blackie with me, even when she dies...

[Miss Thunder]

crazi4horses, you said that so well... I totally agree!

[crazi4horses]

Originally Posted by Miss.Thunder

crazi4horses, you said that so well... I totally agree!

thank you

[riding_reaper]

in the fuuture I am going to but Sage is too young and I dont want to ruin her. I want one because, well, FOALS ARE SO CUTE!!! lol. And I think my mare will be a good momma.

[Debralynb]

Well, I didn't breed McKenna and if given the choice I probably wouldn't have (major attitude problem, poor comfo. - I love her anyway) She was preggers when we got her and I couldn't be happier with Mystic. I just hope she got a decent termperament and good confo. from dad - she looks pretty good so far.

Deb

[Lou3]

blah - it was an accident! little madam jumped the fence into the field the colt was in when she was in season. Someone forgot to keep her in the stable during her seasons when i was away. Luckily Jess is a very high quality mare anyway and while i would not necessarily have chosen that particular colt to mate her to i was planning on breeding her and she has produced a very nice colt who wins a lot of working hunter and showjumping classes from a mating along similar lines in the past. I already have a buyer for the foal!
Lou

[Lucky Duck]

I'm planning on breeding my mare because she is a foundation-bred QH and I want to keep the foundation QH lines "alive". Because of this, I'm going to have to be quite picky about the stud! I will probably only breed her once...