Knowing it is so hard not to resist.

[midnight star stables]

I am one of those who have bought.

I "bought" a breeding a few years ago, which finally resulted in a foal. It was going to be a keeper, no matter what the results were, but BOY was I ECSTATIC when it was a FILLY. I love my mares.

I also bought a weanling colt to geld and show. He was of some of my favorite bloodlines, and will make a nice "Nitro" replacement in a number of years.

That now puts me at 6 minis and 4 large horses (two riding horses, two 20+ year old companions). This puts us beyond maximum capacity, in a barn of 7 stalls. Our budget has been stretched so far that something has to give. The minis aren't a real problem, but those big guys eat so darn much! So, I know we have to cut back on some of those biggies and get back down to two... but it is very hard to do it.

There are other things my family would like to spend money on (House jobs, horse shows, new trailers, etc) but the money and time isn't there.

When the money and time is there, I would like to add a very special and grand Getitia filly and a Stacy Prince filly. It likely won't be until two big horses go and some older show horses retire... But I am still looking to add those two horses to my herd. Then one day, that LWO+ stallion, and then THAT would be the perfect mini herd for me.

That said, I am thrilled to bits with each mini I currently have. They never seem to disappoint me, and only seem to improve! All in all, I'm finally happy with where I am!

 

[wingnut]

We now have 6 and I still can't believe it. I wasn't looking when our two newest girls showed up in a Craigslist ad looking for "free to a good home". I had a really good handle on taking care of four. Six has pushed me to my absolute limit. I simply could not care for any more horses than what I have now. If we had a different setup, that might be a different story but as things stand 6 is almost too many. Unfortunately for my husband, I haven't reach that level of horse ownership were I can think with my head and not my heart. I probably should find a way to re-home two of our 6, but I can no sooner do that than re-home one of my dogs. I have a deep attachment to 5 of our 6 girls. My husband and son have an attachment to the 6th (the hard keeper). So, no one is going anywhere. I don't mean any offense to those who have sold/re-homed their horses. It may be the very thing that keeps me from ever breeding. I know that I will likely become too attached to ever let go and then where will I be?

And let's not even talk about expenses!!

 

[chandab]

We now have 6 and I still can't believe it. I wasn't looking when our two newest girls showed up in a Craigslist ad looking for "free to a good home". I had a really good handle on taking care of four. Six has pushed me to my absolute limit. I simply could not care for any more horses than what I have now. If we had a different setup, that might be a different story but as things stand 6 is almost too many. Unfortunately for my husband, I haven't reach that level of horse ownership were I can think with my head and not my heart. I probably should find a way to re-home two of our 6, but I can no sooner do that than re-home one of my dogs. I have a deep attachment to 5 of our 6 girls. My husband and son have an attachment to the 6th (the hard keeper). So, no one is going anywhere. I don't mean any offense to those who have sold/re-homed their horses. It may be the very thing that keeps me from ever breeding. I know that I will likely become too attached to ever let go and then where will I be?

And let's not even talk about expenses!!

Not quite the same, but my hubby is always telling me I have too many, and I should sell someone. Guess which one I could sell? Yep, the only one he really likes, so she has to stay.

 

[targetsmom]

Well, I was certainly NOT shopping this year, since my husband got laid off in March and is likely to stay out of work until Social Security kicks in next year. But our dream mini came on the market and I could not say no. Not only was she everything I wanted, from a highly reputable breeder, and at a good price, but I had had my eye on her since she was born 3 years ago! So not only do I have no regrets, my husband is totally smitten with her and wants to claim her as his own - after thinking I should have my head examined for wanting to buy her in the first place!

We did breed for next year, but only having one live foal remaining after 5 years of breeding (a gelding, still here) I don't think we are adding too much to the overpopulation. And Max showed us that our foals can compete with the best of the best. We are not making any long range breeding plans though - and plan to do a lot of showing next year!

 

[Flying minis]

So I was in a little different boat this year - my hubby told me to go buy more !

I don't breed, had 2 show minis only, that have done really well this year. Hubby saw how I liked it, and how well we were doing, and said "maybe you should get a couple more". Idea being to work and show and eventually sell them as "finished" - not to make money, but just to have fun and maybe recoup a little show expense. If they sell to good homes as youth or ammy horses or whatever, great, if not, then I'll keep them. If they sell, I'll replace them and start over. It's just a hobby though, and I keep it where I can afford it financially, although I'm at 5 now, and I think that's one too many for me to physically handle with my MS.

Anyway, I've gotten really nice horses at a great price, buying during this market. But at this point, no more buying unless I also sell and no net increase in numbers.

 

[Joanne]

I strongly agree with both these people's quotes:

"Some very good horses have been lost to the breed, having been sold at auction. Also, tons of poor quality horses purchased at auction, find their way into the homes of those wannabe breeders, who breed on, horses with major conformation flaws.

Lizzie "

" I'm not in this, at all, to make money, but I am in this to make good horses. That is the reward for me, to try an do the crosses right to improve upon (parent) horses that are outstanding in their own right by choosing crosses well.

Jill "

I will continue to buy and have continued to sell. We have bred some incredible foals and have had a strong following of buyers both nationally and internationally for many years. We only occaisionaly offer mares for sale and these are normally snapped up.

The breeding programs that have a clear direction will always be fine tuning their herd. As Jill said, a breeder's goal is to improve the horse. Those that are breeding right are producing the kind of horse that benefits the breed.

There are still people out there that want to buy quality horses, some of these people will never breed, but they want something in their pasture that is outstanding to look at and has great conformation.They want something they are proud to own.

Many horses should just be companion horses "pets". Nothing wrong with that. In fact it should be encouraged.

Those people that recognize a good horse at a great value will be scoring great horses now. It is certainly the time to buy now if you can afford to.

 

[wpsellwood]

Does it count that I traded? If so yes I got another one!!! My number is he same we are small I have 12. I actually have done well we sold 4 horses this yr.

Our hay has increased thanks to Tx drought. I would say the price has almost doubled. That doesnt help with sales either. I have possible 4 mares in foal.

 

[topnotchminis]

I am also one who has purchased. Last summer we bought my dream colt Sky and this year I was able to purchase my dream show horse Tank. I am so thankful I was able to purchase both of these horse, but for now I am done purchasing.

 

[Maple Hollow Farm]

I will admit to buying

and selling , I think I bought a total of 8 (maybe more) horses last year plus a few this year

. But yes we still have a select group of horses we are offering for sale, mainly of our own breeding or a couple that just dont fit in our program anymore since we are trying to stick with our 34" and under A/R horses. It is definitely a buyers market and some great deals to be had, however I am still seeing plenty of higher priced horses selling and feel that the market is improving slightly from the last couple years. We are breeders but we also strive to cross top mares and stallions in the attempt to produce even better foals and obviously dont expect to make any money at this "business" LOL! Its more of an expensive hobby to me! As for feed costs, hay is still fairly reasonable here, about $6/small square alfalfa/grass mix, so that doesnt affect us much except for sales to people in those states that were affected. Hope I didnt go too far off topic here

!

 

[jegray21]

I am thinking about buying another...I have wanted him for a year and his price finally has dropped! I need to get rid of a large pony first to keep my numbers the same...Hubby thinks going down in size is a good thing! Unfortunately I can't even give this pony away yet! Maybe get the new boy and promise to get rid of the pony with in the year