The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Who should I breed to???

6K views 33 replies 19 participants last post by  dbarabians 
#1 ·
I have a 9-year old buckskin QH mare. She has had at least two foals already that I know of. I'm trying to decide which stud I would choose if I were to breed her. She is a very calm, quiet, and sweet mare. She's about 15 hands and very stock/muscular.

You can see pictures of her in my album:
http://www.horseforum.com/members/19579/album/honey-2195/

She is located in Arlington, Texas and I would like a stud that is not too expensive. Preferably under $200...

Please help with suggestions and tell me what you think!
 
#4 ·
I imagine you could find a ton of iffy quality studs for $200 and under. A decent stud would be much more than that.

You'd need to carefully jot down all her faults and where she needs help, and then find a stud who is rock solid when she lacks.

Certainly your stud selection might be governed by price, but if you can only afford $200, then maybe you can't afford to breed at all? Not trying to be snarky here, but breeding a mare and raising a foal, can be an incredibly expensive proposition.

Why do you want to breed her? Is it to keep the foal yourself, or to sell on? If it's to sell on, then I'd probably not breed her at all. Why risk her life? Tons of nice horses going unsold right now and ending up in the killer auctions.

She looks like a sweet girl.

Lizzie
 
#8 ·
I have also thought she was a dun but when I bought her, they said she was a buckskin so I just went with it.

In regards to breeding her, I wish to keep the foal for myself in hopes of having a more athletic version of my mare. She is a nice mare who was previously a roping horse but has also done many other things. She is currently being used for trails, lessons, and dressage. She has also begun training for jumping and I have plans of using her on barrels and poles in the future. She is capable of all these things, however, she is not very athletic and more stout.

In looking for a stud, I want more height and athleticism but with a laid-back attitude. She was previously bred to an Appaloosa stud before I bought her and the colt turned out gorgeous. He looked just like her and had an adorable personality.

Concerning the expenses, I am well aware of the cost and was just using that stud fee as a basis. When I bought her, she came as a package as she was in foal at the time. She was an abuse case; infested with worms and completely devoid of spirit. She looked horrible but I nursed her back to health in time for the foal to be born and everything turned out alright.

Thanks for all those who have provided feedback and I look forward to more of your advice.
 
#9 ·
For $200 you could buy a nice registered foal and be able to pick the color and gender. You could look around and find one with the right disposition and be able to handle it right away. If you breed to a $200 stud you will not get anything very good and you have to wait a year and then take what you can get. I had two studs and about 8 mares three years ago and now I have two mares and no studs. Nobody wants to breed much anymore and it has become much cheaper to buy horses than for most people to breed them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HanginH
#12 · (Edited)
I went to a QH auction about a year ago and all of their weanlings, yearlings and two year olds were ALL going for under $300. Most of them were halter broke, had their first trim, had a current vet record, had registrations paid for, had their coggins and some were even out of well known studs.

If you are going to breed the foal should be in demand. There are a TON of Quarter Horses out there. A TON of grullo, dun, dunskin, buckskin and palomino horses out there. If I were you I'd just buy something that is already on the ground. If I breed I'm going to do it for myself with the thought that if anything were to happen the foal would never end up at an auction going for ten dollars. Don't think it can happen? Amarea and Indyhorse just went to an auction where a number of the foals didn't sell or only went for $10.

AND I'd also like to ad that my little Appaloosa is a result of a $200 breeding. Even though he is a cute little horse he'll never be registered because the stallion owner didn't want to put the effort into filing a breeders report on a $200 breeding.
 
#13 ·
Someone I heard, just picked up 3 - yes THREE, Arabian yearlings, all from the same IRresonsible breeder, for $7.50!!

The entire equine industry, is in a dreadful situation. Many with top quality mares and stallions, are not breeding now. Only responsible breeding, will stem the tide of unwanted horses. Unfortunately, we are quickly following the puppy millers, who send millions of innocent lives, to the gas chambers each year.

Even owning many top quality mares and stallions, during the last 35 years in horses, our family has only produced 5 foals. We will maybe breed one mare in 2011.

In over 50 years showing dogs and finishing a ton of champions, I produced only about 10 litters. Several of our finished champions, were never bred. One lovely champion, was neutered because he failed his genetic testing as a two year old.

Responsibility when bringing new lives into the world, doesn't come easily. It is very easy to put two animals together with viable reproductive parts. Any idiot can do it. Resonsibility comes with evaluating carefully the stock we use to carry on the next generation, knowing well, those in the pedigree, knowing (if we plan to sell) that the animal will find the perfect home and making sure we have a buy-back guarantee. All our colts except one, has been sold gelded.

There are only two types of breeders. Responsible and irresponsible. It is always up to our own conscience, which we aspire to be.

Here is something I put together on our own website a few years ago.

Breeder Comparisons

I'll get off my soap-box now.

Lizzie
 
#14 ·
I don't know any specific studs but the fee is gonna be more than $200 for a good one. And to everyone else. Obviously if she's asking for a stud on this forum she's done her thinking and decided she wants a foal. In every single thread like this people always tell each other not to breed. Its her choice and if she intends to keep the baby just help her don't tell her its not smart and to go buy a baby. Some people want the joins of breeding their own baby.
 
#16 ·
I was just using $200 as basis, hoping in my unrealistic thinking thay just maybe someone might know a decent stud for that price. I am willing to pay more though...

Again, I was just pondering the thought. I appreciate the feedback but please keep in mind that it was just a simple question. In the end, I probably won't breed her or anytime soon anyways.
 
#17 ·
I wasn't trying to be snarky : ) I just want to be sure you aim for amazing and not just cause. If you know what I mean. I've been pondering breeding my Haflinger to a Vanner stallion for the past year. So not trying to be hypocritical. Just make sure if you do breed you don't base it on a $200 stud fee, that is why I said if you are going to spend $200 on a stud fee you might as well buy a foal that really needs a home that is already on the ground.
 
#19 ·
Also if you can, check to see how well that stallion crosses with a mare with your mares faults. Does he improve what those mares lack?

In all honesty I would get a foal, same joy of owning a foal, but less hazards to your mare. And you already know the color and temperament. lol I hate surprises!
 
#20 ·
What kind of stud were you hoping to breed to? Halter, reining, cutting, western pleasure... etc? If color is important to you, there is a wonderful sight that will calculate the possible foal colors that you may get breeding to a certain stallion: Color Calculator.

Also, just buying a foal is not a bad idea at all. Weanlings can be very cheap, even registered, nicely colored ones, and, as others have already said, you will be able to interact with the weanling and find out if it is what you want, in both mind and body. The important thing, however, is finding a weanling that hasn't been weaned too early and make sure he gets good nutrition when he comes home with you.
 
#21 · (Edited)
I would like to know how you came to choose the figure of $200.00 for a stud fee? Because if it has anything to do with your budget.....you need to think again.......you will also have shots and extra feed and minerals for your mare and you should put away a couple of thousand dollars for an emergency/ies.......our foal ended up costing us almost $4000.00 in emergency and after care costs.

Super Nova
 
#22 ·
You will have better chances of finding a stallion with a stud fee over 200$. You can find pretty nice build ones at 300 - 500 $. They will not be for sure proven studs but I think that you can find one with decent conformation. And one important thing is to choose for conformation first.
If the stud has great show results is a plus, but I don't think that it's a must if you just want a foal out of your mare.
I'm not great at conformation so I can't recommand you a stud, but you can try searching for it on equinenow or other sites like this.

And I won't judge your decision of wanting to breed your mare. It's useless to do it. If I wanted to breed my mare (I I had one) no one could make me change my mind if I already took the decision. But it's very helpful to read all the advices and to think twice before you do it.

Good luck
 
#23 ·
If all you are going to spend is $200 or under on a stud fee DO NOT BREED. You will not get a good stallion for that you will have more cost into getting the foal on the ground then the foal will be worth and if you did not get what you wanted you would have a very very hard time selling the foal. Just adding one more horse that has little chance of being a good productive member of the equine community which is already over populated with low end horses.
 
  • Like
Reactions: themacpack
#24 ·
An update if anyone is interested: I did not breed my mare and do not plan to anytime soon.

I agree with everyone's opinions and did take the advice of looking at foals already on the ground. I have not bought one, however.

Also, some had asked in regards to the $200 basis; that was the stud fee of the only local stallion I knew of. I've decided if I do breed, it will be way in the future and when I have a definite budget set so I can choose a good stud as many of you have said and provide the best of care for both mare and foal.

Thanks for all the previous feedback! :)
 
#26 ·
I know that when I was looking at studs for fun I looked on stallionsnow.com where there are a few actual nice ones there too. Dreamhorse.com or equine.com are excellent as well. Are you willing to do only live cover or ship semen? Local?
What kinds of disciplines are you wanting to do with your foal? I think I missed it though. I know you spoke of more athleticism.
 
#27 ·
Becca, if you want to breed in the future that is your business.
I agree with those who say look at studs good bloodlines that will enhance your mare.
I too live in north Texas and I know of a QH stallion that has a stud fee of 200. PM me and I will give you the # to the owner.
His fee is low because he is just starting out and he really is a very nice horse. He is correct and has a great temperament.
I'm sure the owners would not mind you coming out to take a look.
In fact I am taking a mare to him next month. Shalom
 
#29 ·
Just b/c a stud has a lower stud fee does not automatically mean they are unproven. I stand my stallion at $550 and that includes the first shipment of semen and he is a proven sire of all around horses. With a proven pedigree.

However I would say anything less thent that chances are you are not going to find a proven stallion with proven lines.

You just have to look around and really know pedigrees and such.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top