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To Breed or Not To Breed? That is the Question!

4K views 17 replies 10 participants last post by  lilruffian 
#1 ·
Ok, so i've had several years experience with breeding, & have had 2 foals out of my own older Welsh, QH cross mare in 2008 & 2009 at the age of 16 & 17. I wasn't too worried about it, because she was in good condition & had had 2 foals in the past before i owned her.
My aunt also has a couple older broodmares who are still producing healthy foals, but again, they have experience.
What i'm thinking is that i would love to breed my Arabian mare to a particular Friesian stallion possibly next spring. I would like a foal out of her before she's way too old & don't want to cross a horse that gorgous with my new mare (not that she doesn;t have great looks herself, but she's not my desired cross to this stud).
Chico is a wonderful riding horse with alot of spirit & she's healthy, however she will be 17 next year & i have no clue whether she's ever been bred. The chances are good, but who knows? Im trying to get ahold of her previous owners to find out.
What i want opinions on is whether i should try for next year:-|
The foal will be for me (i've always wanted a friesian or friesian cross but it's too expensive to go out & buy one!)
I would get Chico vet checked beforehand of course to see what they say...
Here's a pic of her & of the stud:wink:
 

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#4 ·
I want a horse that's pretty of course (although not necessary :lol:. I simply lucked out with both of mine) but mostly one that is sensible & not too flighty. I love the stallion for several reasons; hes my 2nd favorite breed, hes gorgeous & according to the owners very well mannered, plus he lives near me & the fee is $800.00.
The mare is one of the best horses i've owned. She's pretty, though i know her confo. is not perfect but that could potentially be bred out of her. I also love her disposition. She's not spooky at all, has a lovely gait & carries herself really well. She's also smart (although rather impatient!:-p) and puts up with anything!
Black is also my favorite color & both are completely solids (my mare does have 1 white sock, however). This isn't a must, however.
 
#7 ·
Oh i know im just concerned because it may be her first... I'll have to ask the vet next spring before i make any decisions & then contact the breeders maybe :D
 
#9 ·
My aunt has a 25 year old TB mare (she's owned her for 3 years) who's been a broodmare since she was 5! She looks it though. Practically no muscle left on her topline & is quiet swayed from carrying foals but i think this year was her last year.
Last summer, one of my favorite mares on the ranch; a paint mare we called Sweetheart, passed away within ours after foaling. She believe something must have tore during the birth & she had internal bleeding. She was 20 ;(
The baby survived though. Very pretty little girl!
This would be the worst case for me, but i'm beginning to really think we will be fine lol
 
#12 ·
OOooo I think it'll be a beautiful cross! I'm hoping to buy a FriesianxMorgan in-utero soon. The parents are a amazing with confo and temperament, I gotta find out how big the foal will mature out to be, otherwise I'm looking for something else.

The stallion here is...$250 if you breed this year, if I remember correctly. He's more of a sport type though, AND unshown (his babies are awesome though).
 
#13 ·
I love friesians :) this one's big though, which isn't necessarily my preference as i'm short, but i think if it's crossed with my mare (15 hh) i should have a chance lol
 
#15 ·
Its kinda like people....As we get older things will stretch out but not goe back were it origianally started. :wink:As things age the calogen in the skin depletes. Older mares have a higher chance of not carring to full term and if you have an older maiden, the bones might not open up as good causing a difficult birth. Age does this. Tearing is also very more probable in an older mare than a younger one.

Colic is also higher in older mares after birthing and can be a death sentence leaving you an orphan foal. I believe in keeping their system full of dry hay and give them all they can eat to keep the intestines from twisting when giving birth.

Breeding is a crap shoot and any of us that breed are taking a chance of loosing one or both. Even with the best of vet care this can happen. I'm also a fan of breeding big mares to small stallions. Draft breeds will have big heads and large shoulders and can make giving birth to a maiden light mare difficult.

Chris
 
#16 ·
Well it's still under consideration lol. If i do decided to go ahead with it i'll definitely have the vet check her first.
 
#18 ·
Yes that is always another thing to keep in mind. I would really love to breed my mare (this one in particular) but i know that if i don't & still really want a foal from the stud i could bug my aunt into letting me use one of her mares lol! They're all Paints, though...
 
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