Giving up on our dream to raise minis

[Carolyn R]

I am so sorry to hear about your long string of unfortunate events. I grew up with and shared a good many adult years with large horses and was fortunate for them to have lived long uneventful lives. In recent years the past two big horses I had, which were for pleasure only, were medical nightmares. Both chosen for their hardiness and ease of keeping assotiated with the breed, both ended up with heartbreak and THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS in vet bills, stress, and many many sleepless nights, vet visits, and trips to the animal hospital . So now I am sticking strictly with the minis, even sold my BH trailer and got a mini trailer, just to stay within my boundries (can't transport them, can't be tempted to bring one home).

My point is, sometimes no matter how hard we try and how well we take care of them, things go wrong. It happens to everyone, if someone says they have never had any issues with their animals, they shouldn't break their arm patting themselves on their back, they should just consider themselves EXTREMELY BLESSED. Sometimes we pull ourselves up and shuffle on, sometimes we need to step back and take a breath, only you can make that choice, but when many say they understand, they really do, many have been there.

Whatever you choose, just know my heart goes out to you.

 

[Shari]

<HUGS>

I gave up breeding mini's for the same reason. I love seeing the foals when things go right but so many mini's have problems foaling and it is just to heart breaking for me.

You need to do what is best for you.

There is nothing wrong with having mini's and not breeding them. It is more fun to just enjoy having them around.

 

[muffntuf]

Breeding is tough. Just this past Tuesday I had one of my broodmares with a 2 month old foal on her side, have a horrible accident - thought she broke her hip or dislocated it. I do know that she is hurt - we are just waiting to see how badly. This is the first time I have had this bad of an accident on my farm - to the point of planning for her to be comfortable for another 10 days and then putting her down as the foal will be old enough to be on her own.

Yesterday I came home from a horse show to my mare out in the smallest paddock, walking - slowly - around nibbling grass. Her foal is happily running around in the freedom of the paddock.

I still don't know if she will be okay, there is still the outside chance she needs to be sent home - but for now, I am happy with her progress.

She will never be bred again though.

Before you make rash decisions in time of stress, give yourself a chance to work through this stressor. Maybe even take a long breather and just wait......BUT take care of yourself and your 4 legged friends, enjoy them.

 

[mama 'n me minis]

As many here have said...I have been there too. I started breeding mini's in 2004 and have had some foals but this year is the first year I would say has been a success. It has been very stressful and I would not have been able to do it if my mother was not my partner in the minis. One of us has been on the farm for the last 8 weeks with the beeper and watching the cameras. We had 5 mares in foal and have 4 foals so far. Only one more to go... I will say that if we had not been present for the foaling we would have lost 3 of the 4 foals and most likely one mare. Not good odds at all. Last year was horrible. We bred 5 mares to our stallion and had 2 dwarf colts, one still born filly, one colt lost to a septic joint after his mom stepped on him and cracked a hoof, and one normal colt. Lots of vet bills later...we gelded our stallion and sold him at a big loss. I was ready to quit. We really had to think on it. We stepped back and rested.

We leased a stallion and are having some nice foals this year. We took our time and found a great stallion from another forum member. We are already awaiting next years foals from our new stallion. Things are starting to look up but I do not kid myself. I could have another year like last year. There may come a time when I decide that it is too stressful. I just think that when it becomes more work and heartbreak than happiness you need to redirect. What ever you decide don't be too quick or make decisions when you are upset. Thinking of you.

 

[Miniv]

Breeding/Foaling is ROUGH.........We've been through more than one year in a row of tough losses.......MANY times. And yes, we have pulled back a bit and regrouped but we never really totally quit.

About three years ago, I was VERY close to "throwing in the towel". We had lost two of our ADULT minis that we had had for many years. I went hysterical on my poor hubby.......We sold a couple of our special girls to FRIENDS for very little because I wanted them in the best homes......(We are still doing that because I'm still cutting back.) But I'm not so hysterical that they are leaving the place without any deposit! Yes, I did that.......Don't slay me.......)

I am also at the pulling back stage AGAIN (for many reasons) right now.

Whatever you decide to do with these wonder small equines, do it with love......(That's my 2 cents.) And I believe that is your goal.......or you wouldn't be in so much pain. I am so very sorry you're getting hit so hard with the CRAP.

To put it all rather coldly.......Breeding is not only a love but it is also dealing with STATISTICS. Unfortunately for some, they (like you) get hit immediately with those "STATS".........No matter how careful you are, something will happen..... I have tried to warn folks........Breeding is tough.

 

[Equuisize]

I respect your decision and how you arrived at it. I would be on the same page under

the same circumstances.

We just had this conversation with our vet on Friday when she came to do shots.

Fortunately, we've had 4 healthy babies out of 4 pregnancies, since 2004.

Our vet said it is a game of statistics, the more mares you breed and the more years

you participate, the chance of the tragedies rises.

I know, out the gate, I do not do dead and often feel we should quit while our statistics

are good.

I haven't even reached the stage of being able to sell ours, after spending weeks rocking

them, it's to personal.

But as others have suggested, take your time to determine if it's is your only answer.

I wish you well, whatever your decision.

 

[sedeh]

Mary I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your foal.

I was so hoping this year would be a good one for you. I know you and Princess have been doing great showing and I hope you keep having fun with the minis. I don't blame you for wanting to call it quits with the breeding aspect with the bad outcomes you've had. I lost a full term foal this year and it was really hard on me but at least I've had the joy of the successful foalings to compensate....which is an awesome experience. As others have said.....step back from it for a while and see if you want to try again at some point. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

 

[basshorse]

I was going to quit teaching about 5 years ago, when one of my beloved students passed away after a valiant two year fight against cancer. I'd lost 11 people at my school in a 10 year period of time. If anyone had told me I'd attend so many funerals for young children, I would have never believed it....but, I did. It was this one particular student's parents who talked me into continuing to teach, at least for awhile. I still have hard days, but I am so glad I didn't make any big decisions when my emotions were so raw. Of course, I'd give anything to have Caitlin back, but her passing has made me a better teacher...hopefully, a better person. I appreciate the little things with my kids now and don't stress about high stakes testing anymore.

Hugs and prayers to you during this difficult time. I'm very sorry for your losses.

 

[Matt73]

Awww. So sorry. I'd do the same. Minis aren't just for breeding, as you're well aware. Just enjoy the horses you decide to keep

 

[targetsmom]

Thank you all. I am really touched and somewhat overwhelmed by your responses. You are all so caring and understanding.

Just to set the record straight, I am not considering getting out of minis. We have several that we will be showing this year, starting with Princess who should have earned the Pinto points last week that she needs for her Legion of Merit. I think we will keep on showing her to her Pinto Supreme Championship, which not too many minis have ever achieved. We are just getting into CDE, where she also shows potential. Princess, for sure, is not going anywhere !!! We have several other minis that either drive or are in training, and we have plans to show our stallion, gelding, and one other mare this year. Besides, our big horse Target (age 23 and 2 colic surgeries) would have something to say about this!!! He adores the minis from his side of the fence. And I have had horses for almost 50 years, so I can't imagine not having any.

The only action (or inaction) we have taken so far is to not tease or breed the mare (Fizz) we had been breeding last week. She is our biggest mare (34") and a proven broodmare, so if she is bred we will not interfere. We have wanted to see this cross for a long time. We also have some interest in our breeding stock, so maybe we can work something out that will be mutually beneficial (and not too traumatic for anyone). We keep saying that if we ever get a live foal we will feel differently. We knew there would be hard times, but it is the lack of ANY live foals that is getting us down.

 

[ClickMini]

Well I am also changing direction with my minis, and I did have two live, healthy foals this year. Unlike the one previous time I bought a pregnant mare and had a bad dystocia and lost my foal after a 4-day fight for life in the Neo-Natal ICU. I have spent years buying the best stock I could get my hands on. I now have five beautiful mares that I had planned for breeding. However, I now realize that I can't work full-time, raise my 2yo granddaughter, take care of all the horses, and do a perfect job of mare-staring also. So the breeding will go. I will continue to adore and show the minis that I have. I have sold one of my good broodmares already, and may sell a few more horses in order to lighten the load. I love to show and drive my minis. I compete in breed shows and CDE. That is enough of an obsession for me, I don't need to have breeding added in to the mix, LOL! I am keeping my two foals from this year.

Best to you, sounds like you have also built a very fine herd and will continue to show and enjoy your minis.

Sending big hugs to you on your losses, I know how it rips a person apart.

 

[txminipinto]

The only advice I can offer up is a saying that I was told many moons ago....horses are the only species on earth that will try to commit suicide and take you with them. Regardless if it's foaling, trailering, showing, or just standing in a pasture, owning horses is asking for a vet bill. The more you own, the better your chances of something happening. Horses are not reproductively sound animals. How they even got this far without human intervention is beyond me at times! Throw in the minis small size and other issues, and its any wonder that this breed ever became established.

I learned at a very early age that to own horses is to be physically and emotionally tough. Sometimes, it seems like it's never going to work and you're wasting your time. Take a step back, evaluate, and then decide if you're tough enough to continue the risk of heart ache. And some horses aren't meant to be bred, no matter how special they are.

 

[keely2682]

sorry for your losses

i own and show gweldings for that reason

i dont think u should get out of breeding if thats ur dream

maybe just change the way you do it

IF i were to breed i would -

send horses to someone to be foaled out (save yourself the stress and responsibility)

i think having experianced people foaling out ur mares is priceless (cheaper than moniters for just a few)

fully insure your bred mares (surgical, medical, ect) so if u have a problem its covered

u can breed without the marestare stress

 

[HGFarm]

Dont give up!

About the first three years I was into the Minis mine sounded about like what you have explained. I lost my first foal in the sack. I leased a mare who was a chronic aborter. No one knew, she was young, and never did carry a foal. She would carry til just about the END, and the third and last one, the foal was born about two weeks early, and would have probably been ok, but was VERY thin and weak, as I guess things were already going wrong inside. After a huge vet bill and watching her go down hill over the next couple of days, she was put to sleep because she was dying. During those three years, I also had a dystocia.

We NEVER had these problems with the big horses and it just broke my heart. I was going to hang it up. But.... things started to get better about the 4th year and on the whole, have had mostly good years since then.

Hang in there!!!!

 

[yankee_minis]

Mary,

I'm so sorry for your losses. It can be very discouraging to lose a four legged life. Well discouraging doesn't cover it some times. I wish you good luck!

Tracy