How many mares did you breed this year?

[wendyluvsminis]

I am not on the forum all the time, so I hope this isn't a repeat question. Even so, rather timely with the sales results and economic woes. I had three foals born this year. I am keeping two of them, and not selling the third, until I can determine if he is going to outgrow his R papers and become an american show pony (BIG BOY...)I have a new stallion this year, and I bred him to seven mares. However, four of the mares have sold. So I have 3 mares bred to him and one to a very nice outside stallion. And I am buying a 3 in 1 package, planning on keeping the colt at side, and if she has a filly, could be a keeper too!

 

[RobinRTrueJoy]

I did not breed any mares last year. But this year I have 2 confirmed in foal and will have the 3rd ultrasounded this week.

Robin

 

[Magic]

Last year we had eight mares bred, with six foals that lived (first time we've ever lost more or less full-term foals). Two of those foals we kept.

This year we bred six mares for 2010, and have sold one of those. We may not have even bred that many if we didn't have the new stallion.

We do have 18 breeding-age mares -- we consider that to be three years old or older, but not counting our 25 year old mare -- so we're only breeding 1/3 of what we *could* be breeding. We've been in the miniatures for well over a decade and a half now, and the plan was to be having more foals each year by now, but we won't be unless/until the market picks up.

 

[wildoak]

We only had one foal this year, that from a nice mare I had sold years ago and ended up getting back. I have five bred for next year, more than I would have done given the economy but had a couple of one time opportunities to stallions that I didn't want to pass up. I have 15 breedable mares, some of which I'll never breed again just in the interest of breeding less and being very selective. I will likely not breed more than one or two - if that - for 2011, but I have a nice colt this year who will get to prove himself down the road a few years.

Jan

 

[Kim~Crayonboxminiatures]

I bred 3 mares last year, sold one mare in foal. I had two foals this year, and both of them sold, but I in the spring I had 2 yearlings from the previous year that were up for sale, so I was at my limit for keeping. They all sold by July, but it was too late for me to breed, and due to the economy and needing a break, I didn't breed anyone for next year. I plan to do training and "fun" things for a year, and I might breed a mare or two for 2011 foals, just not sure yet. I will miss foals, but not the lack of sleep.

 

[Little Wolf Ranch]

Personally, 2009 was my first year breeding. I should have three mares bred, all by three different stallions - they will be getting tested in December. 2009 also came with the purchase of Ranger, Missy, Sassy and Taffy and I must say that I am thrilled. I plan on keeping whatever my 26 y/o mare produces be it colt or filly as it will most likely be her last unless she tolerates everything VERY well. Fiance doesn't know it yet but I plan on keeping ATLEAST one filly. . .so there may be no selling of foals in 2010 

 

[Field-of-Dreams]

Out of fifteeen or so breeding age mares, we bred three. We also have two mares that are owned by friends of ours bred to our stallions. That's it. We had five live foals this year, one is sold. We were going to keep the cremello filly, but she looks like she's going to be too small for our breeding program, so, all of the rest will (hopefully) get sold.

Lucy

 

[eagles ring farm]

We had 3 bred mares last year

lost 2 foals (was a terrible year)

1 we bought in foal and foal was full term but breech - mare is fine

1 foal lost was a bad hip lock could not get out in time - mare is fine

we are thankful we did not loose or have problems with either mare

1 live foal - silver buckskin pinto filly - she is sold and in her new home

----------------------------------------------------------

We have 3 mares comfirmed for 2010 and 1 bred but not confirmed yet

so 3 maybe 4

 

[minimule]

I had bred 4 mares last year out of 6 breedable mares but 2 aborted and then one mare died post-partum. We had 2 live foals and both of them just sold to the same person. I covered 2 mares this year but it doesn't look like either of them settled. I did purchase a mare that was exposed but it doesn't look like she took either. The scary one is the yearling I bought is the only one that looks preggars. I'm hoping she isn't for SO many reasons.

I think my animals knew something was up for next year. I offered 3 mares to Kilroy and he never turns down the opportunity to breed. He refused all of them even though they were more than willing. We're planning the big move next year and this way, I won't have to worry about trying to move pregnant mares.

 

[Lucky-C-Acres-Minis]

We bred 5 mares for 2009, only ended up with 3 live foals, lost one colt a month-2 months premature and one mare came up open.. We exposed 4 mares to our new boy, but unfortunately down to 2 of the 4 possibly bred, mare who lost her colt never settled and the one mare that came up open this year ended up with a persistent CL so is now open (will be doing cultures etc. on her in the spring).. Also have our appy mare exposed to our app stallion, she was sold, breed back purchased, down payment in place etc. but buyer kept giving us ridiculous excuses, not paying payments on time, so finally I said enough was enough.. Hoping she's not bred and my two in foal to our pinto boy are

 

[Southern_Heart]

Only had one foal this year and not breeding any more. As a matter a fact I am thinking hard about tossing in the towel and getting out of horses. Maybe keep 1 or 2 geldings for showing and thats it.

 

[wpsellwood]

Bred 2 mares, Lyte ~ Calvins mother, and Marzipan bred to Calvin. One confirmed one not. No foals this year.

 

[MindyLee]

1 this year

expecting 3 next yr

possibly will be taking a break from breeding for awhile after that...

 

[JMS Miniatures]

This year we had no babies, didn't breed anybody. This year we bred one, but she is also bred to our stallion that died so this one will be very special and this mare is also 17 and just got her. The other mare I just got might be bred but I'm hoping she isn't cause I would like to show her and breed her to something very nice next year.

 

[Matt73]

Bred one last year (my only mare) and have a beautiful little filly which I'm keeping. It was her first foal. It's nice to have her not in foal. It's nice to know that I won't lose any sleep next Spring/Summer. It's also nice to not have to rush weaning. Briar is now 4 months old and Lexus looks amazing! I may wean her next month or wait until even December. We'll see how much more Lex tolerates

. I didn't breed her back. Next year I may

 

[minimomNC]

I had one foal this year by a Res World Grand Champion and out of my Res Champion mare, I am keeping him until he grows up some to see if he is what I am looking for in the show ring. I have two mares in foal for early next year, one here that is for sale and one already gone but I retained the foal. I have one mare to breed for a very well planned breeding and thats it. I currently have a stallion in the barn that is now a World Champion but he probably won't be breeding anything at all, he is here to show not breed. We have three weanling colts to also show next year, one will be kept a stallion again just to show and the other two will be gelded again because I want to show them. I am down to 7 total horses and very happy with that number.