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Thinking about buying a mare in foal, but...

6K views 25 replies 11 participants last post by  dbarabians 
#1 ·
Just bouncing this off the community as this is-for the moment anyway-hypothetical until I get some more information. Sorry for the novel, but I'm trying ot give you folks all the info you need to make suggestions.

There is a mare I am thinking about buying. The mare is in foal to a stud with many championships with a late Jan 2014 due date so it's not like a backyard breeding thing. I don't want the foal as I am really not interested in raising or training one, mostly because I haven't the experience. I wouldn't normally look twice at a mare in foal to buy but this mare seems to be everything I am looking for in my next horse, nice temperament, well rounded, lightly shown and well trained.

Now, the seller did tell me she would consider taking the foal back, with a corresponding drop in the sale price for this mare. My trainer is quite experienced at breeding/foaling out and she assures me that really it wouldn't be that hard. She stands her own stud and has four on the ground already this year. In fact my trainer thinks I should consider keeping the foal given the quality breeding to either raise or sell myself...I'm not sure on that point yet. Bottom line is that I have a place with experienced people to foal out the mare and help me along the way.

Anyway, I'm sure other people here have done something similar. How have you worked that out? I know we'd need a decent contract and insurance on the horse but should the mare go back to the seller to foal out (so that any imprinting, etc would be done by them) or did you folks foal them out and then make the exchange once the foal was weaned. How about costs, who should cover what vet bills? Also, any general advice would be appreciated.

Note: I'd rather not give out too much info on the mare because she isn't mine but the stud can be found here:

http://www.stormyacresappaloosas.com/sa1200/Stallion.htm

I don't do halter, but the stud seems to be rather well campaigned and I would think if I kept the foal he/she would be rather easy to sell, again my trainer/best buddy is very experienced at that and would be helping me out should I decide to just buy her outright. But I do worry about that, given how soft the market is right now and I don't see that improving anytime soon.
 
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#2 ·
Just remember that you can talk about it logically now, but keep in mind that after the foal is born it will be around for at least 4 months till it is weaned, and you are going to get mighty attached to it...:wink:
 
#6 ·
Isn't that true. It didn't take me very long to get 2 horses. Thats the dangerous part with opportunities that fall in your lap.


Well that's true enough LOL, but honestly I haven't the skill nor the time to put into one that young.
Raising a good foal is not difficult if you are willing to invest time and work into it AND ask for help or use advice of someone who knows how to raise a well rounded horse.

Owning a green horse, stallion or horse with difficult behaviour is a different story. You definitely need the training and experience for that.
 
#3 ·
Well that's true enough LOL, but honestly I haven't the skill nor the time to put into one that young. The gal who is selling has decided to keep the mare at my trainer's place for a month's brushing up so I will get a really good opportunity to get to know her. I'm sure I'll know rather quickly whether or not the mare will be worth the hassle.
 
#4 ·
Probably not much help here, as I've not experienced this - I'm sure many have, however! My thought is to go with your absolute gut feeling about the situation, and yes, a very good idea to have a contract written. I can't help but to ask, (thinking of what Jan. is like up here), but is the breeder also located in MI? Maybe you guys are further south... The very best of luck in your decision - sounds exciting for you! :)
 
#5 ·
I say if you really want the mare then go for it.

in the sales you can always have that if you do decide to sell the foal then you will go to the mares owner first before selling. that way you have an out. it wont just be youre giving the foal back with not options and you have a potential home if you do decide not to keep it.
 
#8 ·
in the sales you can always have that if you do decide to sell the foal then you will go to the mares owner first before selling. that way you have an out. it wont just be youre giving the foal back with not options and you have a potential home if you do decide not to keep it.
Hmm, almost a "first right of refusal"contract-that has possibilities I like it.
 
#9 ·
most mares have no issues foaling and foals do not take that much time until they are trained under saddle. Most training sessions with a foal should be short 15-30 minutes . Their attention span is not very long.
if you want the mare and the foal is that well bred why not buy the mare and sell the foal as a weanling?
The market is improving in the horse industry and a good foal at a reasonable price that is marketed as such should find a good home. I have never had a problem selling a good horse.
Good luck . Shalom
 
#23 ·
most mares have no issues foaling and foals do not take that much time until they are trained under saddle. Most training sessions with a foal should be short 15-30 minutes . Their attention span is not very long.
if you want the mare and the foal is that well bred why not buy the mare and sell the foal as a weanling?
The market is improving in the horse industry and a good foal at a reasonable price that is marketed as such should find a good home. I have never had a problem selling a good horse.
Good luck . Shalom
I see so many foals that are not handled and not fed and wormed properly. Good care can make a big difference in what a halter foal will look like and it would be harder for a no name person to sell than the breeder.
 
#10 ·
Well, the mare arrives at my trainer's barn today so I will get to see her and watch others work with her-I'm still limited physically as I'm only 3 weeks out from having my knee replaced so I'm sidelined for a few weeks yet.

Thanks to all for the replies!
 
#12 ·
I worry about that too Gaminggrrl. The best idea may be that I just buy her outright, with the condition that the former owner gets first chance at the foal for a set price. Hmm, much to think about.
 
#13 ·
If you really want the mare, sit down with the owner and discuss the issues and then put it in writing. Whether you wait until after the foal is born or weaned before you take ownership of the mare or you take ownership now and then what to do with the foal. Go thru any and all scenarios and come to an agreement on what would happen for each. Then get it in writing.

Here's my reasoning on the deal. Whomever has ownership, they are really responsible for the vet bills. If you buy the mare now, the foal is yours unless you agree to give it back. Maybe you could put in the agreement, if you are giving the foal back, to split the vet bills.

If it was me and I liked and wanted the mare, I would buy her outright. After the foal is born, you can decide then to keep or sell. A foal is going to take some looking after but the mare will do most of that. I'm not big on imprinting. If that's what you want to do, great. I don't think it has to be done. About the only thing you should do with a foal is to get them used to being handled or touched. It would be easier to halter break them or at least get used to the halter but that can wait too. If you can lead the mare, the foal will follow.

That's just my 2 cents since I haven't dealt with a truly newborn. The youngest I have dealt with, so far since we have one due very soon, was about 3weeks old. We had someone halter break her but we didn't do much else besides grooming and hooves for the first year.
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#14 ·
Well as I said, I wouldn't be taking on foaling out and training by myself I do have someone who is very experienced to help me out. I'm realistic though as far as being pretty firm about not keeping the colt and growing it up-I'm getting close to 50 years old and just had one knee replaced (rueful laugh)-not an ideal situation for taking on my first youngster. I'm at that phase in my riding career to just ride a nicely trained packer :)

I'll know more once the mare gets to my trainer's place today. Of course her pictures/pedigree/show records and video look nice but I need to spend some time watching her and see her being worked before I leap into this. Can't ride yet, I can't even drive until maybe next week...sigh.
 
#16 ·
I hear ya. I too am getting closer to that age, just turned 43. Each time I get thrown off I wonder if it will be a my first broken bone. At least it would be the first that I know of. Actually, I may have broken my pinky toe recently. I don't go to doctors so I don't know if I did or not, but it does hurt. Stupid horse stepping on it!

I enjoy working with horses. Especially the green ones and problem ones. I get a kick out of the break through moments when they get it. So it doesn't bother me too much knowing there's a chance of me coming off. It's just the sudden stop hitting the ground I'm becoming not to fond of! LOL

One of these days, my body will convince my mind that I'm not 25 still.
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#18 ·
Update, the mare is sweet, well mannered and did fairly well undersaddle. I say fairly well because the person that has her quite frankly doesn't know how to correctly cue her. You could see just how well trained she is but was confused by the constant barrage of bad cues. My trainer is laid up with a knee injury too (go figure right) so the owner rode her.

The mare was patient and really tried hard to understand what was being asked of her. The owner put her green as grass spouse on her, and the mare tried so hard to understand what is was he wanted-he was direct reining her in a grazing bit and her confusion was evident. I finally stood up and suggested he neck rein her and try riding from his seat rather than yanking and booting -yes I was nicer than that. The mare smoothed out after that and has a nice little pitty pat trot and a decent canter.

I so wish I was able to get on her to ride! But my DH threatened divorce if I tried, even though we figured I could haul myself up onto the truck bed and get on her from there. She's kissing 16 hands LOL and I knew I could get up on her...down was the issue ;). We have permission to ride her again, and I will arrange for my trainer and her little protege (great youth rider) to work her in the next few days.

The owner really wants this foal, her love is halter horses and the stud she is bred to is very popular and a halter champion. So, I think if she passes the vetting and we can arrive at a price I might just have a new horse.
 
#25 ·
I think you have all things sorted on the 'what ifs' and the new home for the foal once weaned. The current owner buying it back is a good idea - but you should keep a record of all your costs to that date unless you don't mind being out of pocket
You also need to consider that she might eventually not want the foal for some reason so you need to factor in the cost of keeping it until you can sell and having a place for it to live as an independent horse once its weaned
 
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