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I'm looking into breeding my mare, good idea or not?

3K views 15 replies 13 participants last post by  Zexious 
#1 · (Edited)
I am looking into breeding my mare. The foal would most likely stay with us and I would train and start it. My mare is a registered Appaloosa. When I had a conformation critique on her I was told she has upright pasterns, and a bit of a long back. So I would be looking for a stallion to compliment/counteract her in those areas. I will post a few photos of her. I love this girl and am a bit worried about things going wrong? Of course things always can/will but how high of chances are they? She is 9 years old and has never been bred.

To register the foal, since my mare is a solid Appaloosa (no color), she would have to be bred to a colored Appaloosa. I would definitely want to register the foal. I have the time and space/money to raise a foal and would be working with my trainer.

I would probably breed her in 6 months (ish) so that the foal would be born in the spring. And most likely AI too. What are your ideas on AI vs. Natural breeding?

Anyways is this a good idea or not? Be as harsh as you'd like, I can take it. Here are a few photos of the mare for critiques.
 

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#2 ·
I wouldn't do it. That left fore looks pretty clubby, not just an upright pastern. She's also long in the back which is another issue, but not as big as the upright pasterns for me. She has no color ....... Is she a champion at something? Barrels? Hunter? Western Pleasure? If she's not a show horse and with her issues, I'd go looking for a foal, if you want an appy, with color and not the same confo faults as she's got.
 
#3 ·
Yeah to me that left fore foot looks a bit clubbed to me as well, I don't know if its just the picture or footing she's standing in or what, maybe a better picture would help?? I am also wondering if she has a show record or not, or what she's trained in. As for registering your foal I couldn't help you, I don't know how the appaloosa club works for that kinda stuff, I'm more of a AQHA/APHA kinda girl.

By the sounds of your original post you sound very attached to this girl and love her to bits, and rightfully so she's quite pretty, and your already afraid of something going wrong, and just going off of that I would look into buying a foal already on the ground to suit your needs, and hey if you go that route of buying a foal you don't have to put up with 11 months of moody pregnant mare issues :)
 
#4 ·
While I agree there are better prospects for breeding, if you genuinely want a foal out of *this* mare, I wouldn't start screaming. She is beautiful. I do think if you are just thinking of it for the sake of it to pass, while she has "good" confo I don't think it's breeding quality and the foot (and back) are concerns.
You need two horses with excellent conformation and the hope you get something decent out of it. Especially with color, you are not guaranteed a color foal either unless you look at homozygous studs. While maybe her color is throwing me off she doesn't seem to have Appaloosa "type" especially in the first picture I would expect her to be stockier.

So beautiful mare, but imo not breeding quality. If you do decide to breed her get a professional opinion on her foot and if that is something that could be passed on, and make sure to find the perfect stallion for her. Again, there are worse horses being bred, but I don't think "good enough" is a reason to breed.
Beauty only goes so far.
 
#5 ·
That is a very attractive mare.
her back concerns me a little but not much her front foot though really worries me.
I am a firm believer in the adage no foot no horse and any hoof or leg issues that are genetic would eliminate any horse from me breeding them.
Combine that with the long back and I would hesitate to even consider her.
if you do breed her find a stallion that does not share those faults and IMO is inbred somewhat to increase his ability to pass on his strengths.
I would want to see his sire and dam to make sure they did not have long backs and both had good legs and bone.
I would also breed her to a few spot appy to ensure you get spots. No need to have another solid appy on your hands.
If you do breed her good luck. I hope you get a spotted foal with a short back and as attractive as your mare. Shalom
 
#6 ·
Based on just a couple of pics I don't think she is as bad as all that:D Her foot does look like it could be clubby but I'd want to see other pics it could be footing & how she is standing. As for her back she isn't overly long. she is otherwise pretty nicely balance,good topline. Believe me have seen pics of much worse mares being bred:shock:
That said I Like a mare that has at least 1st generation proven pedigree, or herself been proven in show pen before i'd consider breeding :wink: Also some mares & stallions may not have show due to injury or whatever but prove themselves as" producers" through their offspring to me that is just as valuable if not more that one with show record:wink:
 
#7 ·
Really pretty mare. It is so tempting to breed a mare you love, but i think unless there is something outstanding about her, there is no good reason to breed,
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#8 ·
Thanks for the info guys! I am starting to think that I will just buy a foal when I'm ready and prepared, that way I can choose the color, breeding, etc. that I want without the risk of foaling. She is a good good mare, with an amazing temperment. She has a good pedigree too but hasn't been trained in anything specific. She was bred for endurance though. I don't think her foot is clubby, and I will get a picture while I'm out at the barn today to see what you guys think! I agree with what all of you said and thanks again:)
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#9 ·
She is a very pretty mare, but I will echo others and say go buy a baby instead of breeding her. Enjoy her for the horse she is and don't risk her, then you can go pick out a baby who you know has the qualities you want from the start :lol:

Very cute mare though, I'd take her any day.
 
#10 ·
I love this girl and am a bit worried about things going wrong? Of course things always can/will but how high of chances are they?
Here are the statistics:

- 96% of foalings are without problems.
- Of the 4% that have difficulties, 86% of the mares and 5% of the foals survive.

So, bottom line when breeding is that you have about .5% (5 in 1000) chance of losing the mare.
 
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#11 ·
I think your mare is lovely. I agree that it might be a better idea just to purchase a foal that has the bloodlines, looks etc... that you wish for. Breeding a horse is a large undertaking and often produce results that you are not so happy with. There is risk to the mare as well. Might be small but there is a risk. Why do it when there are so many youngsters to chose from. Also... it is often cheaper to buy then to breed.
 
#12 ·
I love this girl and am a bit worried about things going wrong? Of course things always can/will but how high of chances are they?
Glad to read that you are thinking of buying rather than breeding, that is a safer option.

As to the risks, actually quite small lets say 1 in 100 have an issue, but if your mare is that one, well it is a big price to pay.
 
#13 ·
Here are a few photos from today for comparison. It's getting chilly here so she is getting her coat in. And theres a picture of her left front, what do you think? There is mud on it that I couldn't get off. I have decided to buy a foal next summer. (Or a while later, who knows haha.)
 

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#16 ·
I want to start by saying that your mare is absolutely beautiful! <3 It is obvious from your posts and pictures that you are very fond of her.

That said, I agree with everyone else. Buy a foal that is exactly what you're looking for. It'll save you a lot of work and, in my opinion, breeding should only happen between pristine horses, and ones that have been proven.
 
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