Annual post about breeding....

[Crossbuck Farms]

Well I have 6 mares due this year. I have ecxact due dates if it happens I doubt it. I also breed goats and lost one the other day. I picked up the dead kid and put it in the ground. Breeding is not for the faint of heart.

Well said Karen, I feel I've come along way.

 

[Magic]

I also think that miniatures have more foaling problems than big horses. One of my brothers-in-law raises registered Paint horses and he doesn't have camera systems or an Equipage, or stay at home watching obsessively when a mare is due to foal, and he rarely loses a foal. So far, I haven't lost a full term foal (*knock on wood*!) but my life goes "on hold" when aa mare is ready to foal-- I WILL be there. I've foaled out mares for friends who were worried about their mares, some with good reason: one had a red bag and one was a maiden whose foal was badly stuck. But when you are right there and have studied what to do, and have experience, the great majority of problems are solvable. Unfortunately, though, some are not.

I also agree that if one doesn't have the ability to KEEP the foals one breeds for (if they don't sell), then one shouldn't be breeding. I really hate to see a bunch of "last year's colts" sent off to auction or sold cheaply to "make room for this year's foal crop". If they aren't worth finding a good home for, then why are more being bred?

Every single one of us that breeds, whether it be for one foal or forty, has a responsibility to make sure that these horses we are producing are WANTED. JMO

 

[Little Wee Horse Farm]

I was going to put this in my original post, but couldn't figure out how to fit it in. It's just something I go thru emotionally sometimes when I'm at a horse/tack auction. There's a tack auction right down the road from us. They usually don't have any minis, but when they do.....it's usually a sad thing.

Sometimes I'll see a neglected little mini -- overgrown feet, dirty, parasite overload. I always find myself asking the little sweet one "How did you end up here?" They look with their big brown eyes & I see they wonder too. I just can't take them home & feel bad about that every time. My instinct is to take them all home, but that's not too practical.

I think, then, of the possible day they were born............how everyone was so glad they had arrived. how the kids were happy. how the adults were joyous. How everyone said how beautiful they are & how special.

But then, they ended up here, available to anyone who wants them at any price for any reason...........how sad sad sad. Can't help it. I've seen it too many times & I'm almost sure some person planned that foal.........but not it's future. Sorry, I go thru this just about every time I see one there.

This isn't to say there aren't wonderful miniature horse auctions put on by people who care with buyers who just can't wait to find a little horse to treasure.......but there is the other side too. Just please think before you breed.

I know this is fftopic: but, hey, it's my topic!

 

[Candleliteranch]

"Breeding horses, especially minis, is not for the faint of heart. I'm no one's teacher or leader, just someone who has been doing this a long time............

Karen, I must disagree with you on this one! You ARE most certainly someones teacher/leader! I have lost couont of how many times I have come to you with questions and for your advice. You've been there for me to share the victories as well as the heartbreaking losses. When I talked with you last night, I meant to ask you if it was time for your annual breeding post!

I recently sold a filly to a family near me. They were thinking "maybe" they would breed her in the future. Right as they were thinking that is when we found our premature aborted wee one in the pasture. I told them to be very sure they wanted to do this with the tears streaming down my face. They have decided to train the little mare for to drive instead.

As always Karen, the very best of luck to you and your little mares this breeding season

:

 

[Little Wee Horse Farm]

: Thanks, Lisa.........{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}

 

[Loren&Rocky]

[SIZE=12pt]Is Spaying mini fillies and mares an option for some? I know they do it on big horses, but it is a big deal. Some dogs are bigger than some minis so maybe it would not be so bad. I know a lot of people sell colts that have a geld insentive or are gelded before they are sold. Why not fillies and mares? [/SIZE]

 

[Miniv]

Karen,

What a wonderful post. I think it should be saved and pinned somewhere on Little Beginnings....perhaps even in the Information Page.

Jane (Rabbit) made a good observation. So often people who get into minis, look at them like "doggie-horsies" and think....wouldn't it be nice to have a baby......just as one would have puppies! Sadly, the end result in both is unwanted dogs at shelters....and unwanted little horses at the auctions.

No, breeding is not for the faint of heart. We have a well-to-do couple who boards their minis with us and visits or takes them home on weekends. It was on one of those weekends they allowed their little stallion to breed their young mare.....We ended up foaling the maiden mare out -- (I was a basket case!) But all went well, thank heaven......

HOWEVER, the lady was here on two occasions last season when all was NOT going well -- the first was when my favorite mare had had an abortion and was literally ASKING me to "fix it!" And the second time was when our special little Bridget had to be put down with a twisted gut, leaving an orphan foal behind........The lady and her husband decided they would NOT breed their minis again. (YES - THANK YOU!)

In addition to that, Larry and I have agreed to NOT breed a large number of our mares this year. Not only is this wise for US and our sanity, but it is wise for the breed in general, in my opinion. Yes, we have quality foals -- but right now there are quality horses being flushed through junk auctions as well!!!!

Okay.....I better stop and catch my breath......

: Sorry for such a long post.......

MA

 

[ClickMini]

Even if you are experienced, even if you do everything right, even if your mare is under a 24 hour watch at a barn 10 minutes from a top veterinary hospital...you can still lose a foal. And your mare can become very ill. This happened to me last year, and after 4 days of intensive care in the hospital for my foal, and a week and a half for my mare, I have no baby and $8k + in vet bills. I very gratefully still have my mare.

Even with all of the assurances I have received about breeding back my mare, I can't bring myself to do it. I have a herd of the top bloodlines in the country, very top individuals. I am just not one bit sure I am going to proceed with breeding anymore. I can't take the heartache, I can't take the risk exposure to my financial future, because I KNOW that I can't quit when there is a chance. I might have it a little easier if it happened again, but I might not. Then I read on this forum about all of the problems, and I am so happy that I am not chancing it this year.

OH how I love foals, and I am very good with them. I am very careful about their futures. I will miss having foals if I decide not to pursue this further. But I will also miss out on the potential for the extreme heartache I had last year.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

Rabbit I agree there are new people who breed big horses or buy a mare in foal however to me the HUGE difference is that they buy A big mare in foal not 4 or 5 in foal and a stallion ready to breed for next year before even having any foals period.

I dont know what the answer is however I do know to many people breed to keep breeding. Keep the resulting foals sell the resulting foals the end result is usually the same those foals being bred to be bred.

I try VERY hard and harder every year with the help of long term mentors to truly see my horses for what they are beyond there color, or show record. TO see that it takes more then a nice horse to equal a horse made for a lifetime of being a broodmare or herdsire. If one is unable to truly see that no matter who you are and how long you have been breeding now matter how many ribbons you have bottom line- statistics will be less then half of your foals (many times much less) are truly the top 10 percent of the entire breed and should be breeding stock and come up with a plan other then breeding these foals the problem will continue. it takes 10-20 sometimes 50+ foals to end up with a truly exceptional foal even in the best of breeding programs. I dont have the answer for everyone I do have the answer for myself, breed less mares and really be BRUTALLY honest about what I see in front of me ribbons and or titles aside, love and attachment aside and be able to say without a doubt if any of the horses I currently own could never be bred again I would have no doubts about keeping them a part of my herd and be perfectly happy with them- and then following that up by realizing I am part of the problem and can preach all I want but if I dont take some action it means nothing. I have made the decision to breed no more then 2-4 mares a year and am very ok with having more years like this one with no foals expected

and by knowing I cant better the breed with sheer volume

 

[Little Wee Horse Farm]

:new_multi: :new_multi: I hope y'all don't mind, but I'm just bumping this up for those who may have missed it yesterday. It was well read & I feel, important. Sorry for any inconvenience.

:new_multi:

 

[targetsmom]

Well, this topic sure got my attention. We are new to minis ourselves, having bought the first one 2 years ago. That was a gelding to be a companion for our "big horse" (in the avatar). We now have 6 minis and do plan to breed. Now, we have a business plan, a goal to breed double registed AMHA and PtHA minis, and I have college degrees in Animal Science and Animal Diseases and 45 years experience with horses, including one foal. I got lots of experience in college delivering lambs, and the joke at that time was that I would be good sheep obstetrition. But I am STILL so nervous about this whole breeding idea that we are going very slowly (we think). We don't feel ready yet to buy a bred mare or foal one out ourselves, but we are planning to breed two of our mares this year. In the meantime, we are showing the fillies and mares to get them some kind of show records and not just in halter. We are convinced that it will take more than a pretty face, and are selecting and training for performance too. We are already trying to develop a market for our future babies as show horses, therapy horses, driving horses, and pets. We are giving ourselves another year to pack our foaling kit and set up the foaling stall. I sure hope we will feel ready in 2007!

 

[Cathy_H]

Breeding is not for the faint of heart.

----- Nor for those that don't bother to check on the mare nor provide it a safe clean foaling environment. Have heard numerous stories of foals dying after being lucky enough to be born alive (got through the fence, drowned in a mud puddle, soaked from freezing rain or overheated from the sun etc). Sad!

 

[Barbie]

Thanks for your post - I am a very small breeder of minis - hardly even call myself that as I only have three mares. Three years ago we had our first colt born - early, but no problems. Two years ago we had one colt born - even more early, lots of diarrhea, but he is fine. Last year was a killer. We had two mares pregnant. First Gypsy, the mother of our first two colts, red bagged 10 weeks early. Unfortunately, after 4 hours of trying to get the baby out (we knew it was dead) the baby had to be taken out in pieces (sorry, I don't know the medical term). Thank God my vet was willing to give it one last try as the last time was the charm. About six weeks later, Peanut went into labor and little Red Dawn was born. A lot of you here on the forum know of her as we had her story on here - born with a dislocated hip and fractured femur, she had surgery when she was 3 1/2 days old and weighed just 16 lbs. Needless to say, I am very thankful I have a husband who couldn't stand the thought of putting Dawn down and breaking Peanut's and my heart. It was a long road with my baby Dawn - worth every short night of sleep and every dollar spent (trust me, there were a lot of dollars spent as those who have gone to an emergency hospital know). Breeding is not for the faint of heart - another year like last year would put me out of the breeding business as if I can't afford to take care of my girls/babies I will not be doing it and there is always a chance there will be a problem. Last year definitely took a toll emotionally too. I love little Dawn (will post a pic soon) - in fact she'll be having her first birthday soon - and would do it all again. If you want to breed horses, you have to make a big commitment.

Best of luck to all this year!!!!!

Barbie

 

[Marty]

Thank you for your annual post. It's very kind of you.

I will shortly be posting my broodmare poem for all too.

I foaled out three quarter horse foals that I kept for their lifetime. It all went well.

I must admit when I first came to this forum I never in my wildest dreams considered breeding at all, when there were so many Angel foals posted. It broke my heart and I said I would never.....

It took me years and years to decide that I do in fact want to breed. It was because I have learned so much from the breeders here on the forum who are always here for me to teach and guide me as they have, and from watching the 7 Acres foal cam each year that changed my mind. I do want to experience the miracle of birth and yes, I do have every business having a foal.

I have had to make some changes in my stock to follow through accordingly. Although my stock hasn't competed, which remains my personal choice, it does not reflect any lesser on their quality, confirmation, or bloodlines at all and has no bearing about what I will be striving to produce here. People that have visited and met the Prancers in person realize that they are more than the backyard pet quality that they had conceived them to be. I have very lovely mares and I am very enthusiastic that my stallion, has very many qualities that I am proud to be passing along to his get.

However I am faint of heart unfortunately. But I can't see for me anyhow, that I should curl up in a hole over it and not continue striving towards that dream of ours.

All I can do is ask God to protect my mares from harm and crisis and trust Him to guide me and do my best which is really all anyone can honestly do. There are Angels in my barn and I have to believe that.

 

[Hosscrazy]

Excellent post - thank you!!! I am currently looking at a mare I bought who was living with a stallion last year. :no: The last thing I want is for this mare to be pregnant - she is a wonderful pet quality maiden mare. And now - 8 months later, I am looking at either a fat mare, or a pregnant mare. Nothing fun about a pregnant pet quality maiden mare... :no:

Liz R.