Hypothetical Question

[Shortpig]

My daughter really wants to breed Duckie. She is 37" tall and JPF Jimmy Dolittle is her Sire. If you owned this mare would you breed her and if so what would you look for in a stallion? Personally I care alot about temperament and Duckie is super sweet and gentle. Built to be a driving horse as is her sire and dam.

Any opinions will be greatly appreciated. I know you have all seen her before but here is her picture.

 

[targetsmom]

Here is my suggestion:

I would add up all the possible costs for breeding (stud fee, mare board, vet fees, extra feed for pregnant & nursing mare, cameras, foal buzzers, extra foaling supplies, etc., etc.) and then factor in the chance that the mare could die - or might require a huge vet/hospital fee to save her life - and then I would take that money and go shopping for a foal. You should be able to get something pretty nice for about $2,000. You can select the bloodlines, color, sex (colts will be cheaper of course), size range, registry, etc. You can even start shopping NOW and perhaps contact breeders to let them know you might be interested in the foal from a certain cross. Perhaps it will be on Mare Stare and you could watch the birth. Maybe you could find one close enough to visit and follow its growth until weaning.

If you think it won't cost close to $2,000 to breed your mare, you MIGHT be lucky, or you might have the kind of experiences we have had. In our case, I think $2,000 is a gross underestimate, and at that we only got one live foal out of 5 breedings over 3 years.

 

[Jill]

What are your daughter's hopes and plans for the foal? That would be a factor in whether or not I would say "if I were in your shoes, I'd breed her." If she's looking for a halter champion, that's one set of considerations. If she's looking for an in hand performance horse, a therapy animal, etc., that's another thing all together.

Something to remember (remind daughter?) is breeding is risky and even the best laid plans can turn out poorly. After planning it for years and years, in 2008 when our first mare went into foal, we ended up loosing both her and the baby and that was with cameras, a vet here quickly and working all night, etc. It was just heart wrenching and to this day I still think what a great horse "Goldie" was to have around -- a nice show horse, a nice driving horse, and a nice pet. If I hadn't decided she had to have foals, too, she'd still be alive.

 

[Ellen]

I think if I were to breed her, I would go for a thin boned stallion. I think every comment made is right on. My vet once told me, "never breed pets" All of my mares are loved, but it can be even more heartbreaking if it is you absolute favorite. I will say I am sucker for a youngster. PM me and I will see if I can help.

 

[Farina]

I have to agree with all postings.

If I were in your shoes I only breed her if you want to keep that foal.

Breeding is risky and expensive, but it is a whole different thing to buy a weanling than having the foal the first day of his life. I think that selling that foal wouldn't bring the expenses back. And there are a lot of horses out there who needs a nice home.

On the other hand I think every day in a horse's life could be dangerous. Last year we lost a self breed two-year-old mare in an accident. She was dead the time I arrived her (I was 50 m away)... So if her time has come nothing is going to save her, but if she is old and you have a foal of her something is still living on.

 

[Shortpig]

Thanks everyone, I will pass all this along to my daughter. It isn't that I haven't ever bred before, Duckie is from my mare and stallion. Koda is from my mare and stallion as were several others. I was looking more at her conformation and build and what would be a good match for her. I really believe it is best to just drive her and enjoy her. I think my daughter just wanted a foal from her. But I will always have the final say.

Marie

 

[txminipinto]

I agree with everyone else. However, if I were to consider a stallion for this mare, I would look for one that has less steep angles to its shoulder and hips, straight legs, short back, and an attractive head.

 

[~Lisa~]

You know it is a hard question one one both my daughter and I now ask ourselves are we willing to risk losing this mare to have a foal. Harsh yes and of course when it goes right (and most of the time it does) it is wonderful but when it goes wrong there is always that nagging question of was it worth losing my mare.

 

[ClickMini]

Marie, I would drive her and enjoy her. If you breed her you will lose AT LEAST a year of driving. She is a fun mare from what I gather. To be totally honest, I don't believe her to be a breeding quality horse. There are WAY too many mini foals being bred right now. I look at my horses with a very critical eye, and even my Ally, with a HOF in halter and a successful driving horse, I will probably not breed again. She is not what is winning in the breed arena, and unless a market sprang up for ADS-type horses, I just don't see her fitting into a program. JMHO, please don't take offense. I have spent quite a few years of my life caring for castoff animals. Not saying that Ducky's foal would be in that category AT ALL, but it is a reality that there are just too many animals being produced. Since horses can live 30+ years, that is a HUGE commitment.

 

[Shortpig]

Thanks everyone. No offense taken. I'm just going to say no and make sure The Duck is happy healthy and driven. Honestly I have a severe tendency to see the soul of a horse way more than the outside of the animal. And boy does this girl have soul. She has the warmest deepest eyes. But then so does her Dam and Sire. She is all about attention and loving on someone. For me that's what really counts.

 

[Katiean]

I think I would also pass on breeding her and look for a yearling that has more hip and a better shoulder. She is a nice mare but, to get just what you want you should buy. Or Look for a stud with more hip and a better shoulder and a bit lighter bone. I would not accept pictures of the stud either. I would go look at him in person. Pictures can be (not intentionally) misleading.

 

[krissy3]

Here is my suggestion:
I would add up all the possible costs for breeding (stud fee, mare board, vet fees, extra feed for pregnant & nursing mare, cameras, foal buzzers, extra foaling supplies, etc., etc.) and then factor in the chance that the mare could die - or might require a huge vet/hospital fee to save her life - and then I would take that money and go shopping for a foal. You should be able to get something pretty nice for about $2,000. You can select the bloodlines, color, sex (colts will be cheaper of course), size range, registry, etc. You can even start shopping NOW and perhaps contact breeders to let them know you might be interested in the foal from a certain cross. Perhaps it will be on Mare Stare and you could watch the birth. Maybe you could find one close enough to visit and follow its growth until weaning.

If you think it won't cost close to $2,000 to breed your mare, you MIGHT be lucky, or you might have the kind of experiences we have had. In our case, I think $2,000 is a gross underestimate, and at that we only got one live foal out of 5 breedings over 3 years.

I have to say this is about the most intelligent thing I have read in a long time.

Leave the breeding to the professionals that are willing to take the risk, and buy a beautiful show filly or colt, that is your dream horse. Write down all the "what ifs" what if its a dwarf, has problems with the legs, feet, stiffel, there are so many risks , not to mention the risk of the mare. I have a mare too that I adore and would love to breed her because she is so wonderful...but i decided to be happy with just having and enjoying her... There are beautiful show horses out there for reasonable prices. If we all support the professional breeders that are breeding quality horses ,then maybe , the bad breeders will stop breeding so much. I do like your mare though.

It would be a hard decision for me to make too.

 

[targetsmom]

Here is my suggestion:
I would add up all the possible costs for breeding (stud fee, mare board, vet fees, extra feed for pregnant & nursing mare, cameras, foal buzzers, extra foaling supplies, etc., etc.) and then factor in the chance that the mare could die - or might require a huge vet/hospital fee to save her life - and then I would take that money and go shopping for a foal. You should be able to get something pretty nice for about $2,000. You can select the bloodlines, color, sex (colts will be cheaper of course), size range, registry, etc. You can even start shopping NOW and perhaps contact breeders to let them know you might be interested in the foal from a certain cross. Perhaps it will be on Mare Stare and you could watch the birth. Maybe you could find one close enough to visit and follow its growth until weaning.

If you think it won't cost close to $2,000 to breed your mare, you MIGHT be lucky, or you might have the kind of experiences we have had. In our case, I think $2,000 is a gross underestimate, and at that we only got one live foal out of 5 breedings over 3 years.

I have to say this is about the most intelligent thing I have read in a long time.

Leave the breeding to the professionals that are willing to take the risk, and buy a beautiful show filly or colt, that is your dream horse. Write down all the "what ifs" what if its a dwarf, has problems with the legs, feet, stiffel, there are so many risks , not to mention the risk of the mare. I have a mare too that I adore and would love to breed her because she is so wonderful...but i decided to be happy with just having and enjoying her... There are beautiful show horses out there for reasonable prices. If we all support the professional breeders that are breeding quality horses ,then maybe , the bad breeders will stop breeding so much.

Krissy-

Thank you!! I meant my comments to be in general, not specific to the OPs question. I have to add that we have been thinking about this ourselves over the weekend and WE HAVE DECIDED NOT TO BREED OUR OWN FAVORITE MARE!! In our case, we consider ourselves breeders, having carefully selected our mares and stallion, and finally producing a foal we can be exceedingly proud of (Max). The mare we decided not to breed (Aloha Acres Fashion By Magic) is one that friends are just about begging us to breed. But she is our much-loved, do everything show mare and we would be devastated if we lost her. When we consider our horrible foaling luck so far, we feel good about this decision. We have other - proven - mares to breed.