[~Freedom Rider~]

So, I came up with this plan that i am going to get pictures of all the colts we are started, before they are conditioned for the sales, then pictures of them right before we take them to the sale. I think it will be kind of cool to see the difference that a little work and condition will do to these colts.

I also got pics of alot of the expecting mommas too.

First up are the riding colts:

P.J. (short for Porkchop Jr.)
Palomino, Coming 4 yr old, Gelding

Harry
Blue Roan, Coming 4 yr old Gelding

Expecting Mommas:

Scratch (she was range colt and attacked by a mountain lion as a baby, she has a large scar across her hip)
Bay roan, coming 3yr old, filly...(maybe expecting?)
She is mine, hopefully my future cow horse.

Madien mare

Missy
Dirty Buckskin, coming 4yr old, Filly

Madien Mare

Dolly
Palomino, coming 5yr old, mare

Madien Mare

Catty
Sorrel, Coming 5yr old, Mare

Madien Mare

Dunny
Dun, coming 7yr old, Mare

Twinkle
coming 4yr old, Filly

Madien Mare

Sarnes
Buckskin, coming 8-9yr, Mare
(Mom to Missy)

Blackie, Mare

Wart Nose
Red Dun, Mare

Cabby
Palomino, Mare

 

[ilovemymare]

Cutee!!

 

[ShutUpJoe]

That's A LOT of babies! Nice looking horses.

 

[HorsePoor_n_BigSky]

Nice looking horses but just curious why breeding such young horses? 3 and 4 is awfully young to be breeding especially not really having a career started that young.

 

[Appy Luvr]

What sale do you take them to?

 

[~Freedom Rider~]

That's A LOT of babies! Nice looking horses.

Yep. Lots of babies, and thats not all there is 14 due this year.

Nice looking horses but just curious why breeding such young horses? 3 and 4 is awfully young to be breeding especially not really having a career started that young.

Thank you. I agree that they are bred too early but i have no say. I work for a breeder, and his opinon is that he starts breeding them when they are 2yrs, if they become preggers, they are ready to be mommas and if not they aren't. I do not agree with this, but I don't own the horses.

What sale do you take them to?

We take the to catalog sales, the ones we are looking at for the riding colts are Corsica, SD and Verndale, MN.

 

[HorsePoor_n_BigSky]

Wow thats too bad. Understandable about not being about to say anything. Too bad gonna ruin nice horses. I'm assuming he doesn't do anything with these horses other than sell them.

 

[kevinshorses]

Wow thats too bad. Understandable about not being about to say anything. Too bad gonna ruin nice horses. I'm assuming he doesn't do anything with these horses other than sell them.

It's not going to ruin them at all. They have reached sexual maturity and can physically handle the foal. Most foals wiegh less than 100 lbs at birth so the mare is not really carrying too much extra. When you are in the business of producing horses you have to carefully manage the number of horses that you are feeding. By that I mean that if he wants 15 foals per year and he wants to sell horses at catalog sales then he needs 15 mares 15 foals 15 yealings and 15 two year olds. Thats 60 horses and he can't be feeding horses that are not making money so he can't just let the mares sit in the pasture until they are 6 or 7 years old.

 

[HorsePoor_n_BigSky]

3 years old is too young to be breeding. There are plenty respectable breeders that don't start out at 3 years old. He obviously isn't using them for anything other than selling them.

More power to him if he wants to breed young horses. I don't think it's a wise choice for anyone to do. The horse market isn't what it use to be and it won't be anywhere near it for many years to come.

 

[lacyloo]

he obviously isn't using them for anything other than selling them.

sooooo ?

 

[HorsePoor_n_BigSky]

Your absolutely right....its quantity and not quality. What was I thinking. That's typical these days.

 

[wild_spot]

The horse market isn't what it use to be and it won't be anywhere near it for many years to come.

He wouldn't be able to afford to keep that many horses, let alone breed them, if he wasn't having success in selling them.

 

[HorsePoor_n_BigSky]

I beg to differ. I've seen many backyard breeders that manage to breed and sell horses. I won't argue though. If he wants to breed unproven horses at a young age more power to him.

 

[EveningShadows]

Although I completely agree that breeding 2 year olds is careless, the OP already stated there's nothing they can do about that - not their mares. I think a breeder has to keep their mares pregnant to make money, but I'd have started by buying older broodmares...hope the breeder can afford possible vet bills having that many maiden mares. I'm assuming these are registered mares, if they're not proven performers, then the breeder must be after bloodlines...

 

[kevinshorses]

First, there are very few horses that have problems foaling on thier first foal or tenth foal. Backyard breeders don't have to manage 60 horses. These mares look like better than average quality and if the goal is to produce quality using horses then I would bet that he is very successful. At any rate I hope the OP will post some pictures of the horses when they foal and when they are sale ready.

 

[HorsePoor_n_BigSky]

Yes I understand it is a breeder that has decided this and I'm sure he's not running 60 horses either. I know of a ranch that breeds high quality quarter horses that doesn't breed their two year olds.

Its an opinion that he shouldn't be breeding such young horses. That is all. Like I said if he wants to breed unproven young horses more power to him. Even better if he gets good money for them.

I've seen backyard breeders with 40+ horses.

 

[kevinshorses]

I have seen backyard breeders with fantastic horses too.