breeding

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christy

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hello all, i am considering putting my mare into foal and i was just looking for a bit of advice really, she is a fantastic mare and has had a foal before i believe, however i do not know the full details of this. I am completley new to the breeding game and generally would gratefully recieve any information possible. many thanksxxxx
 
my mare is 14.3 h/w coloured cob she is fab in every way, i currently use her for pleasure hacking, in hand shows and ridden coloured classes, in the future i would like to continue in this type of line of work i am not particlary bothered about doing any big competitions just local shows. She has been my baby for the past 3 years.hope this helps many thanks for reply
 
I've seen a few of these posts and the general consensus has been "dont do it - it's too risky". I've never had a foal myself, but since being on this forum, it's amazing how many people have lost mares and foals as a result of breeding. As much as i would love a foal, i just couldn't risk any of my girls. It would break my heart and i'd blame myself if anything happened to them (or their foal). If i ever wanted a youngster, it would be easier (and cheaper) to go out and buy one ready-made!! Unless you have a fantastically-bred mare and stallion, you are unlikely to make your money back when (if) you sold the foal on.

For what reasons are you wanting to breed? And would you plan on keeping or selling the baby?

Lou. x

PS - welcome to the forum!
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i would plan to keep the foal for myself to keep a piece of my mare for a long time, i just feel that i have looked for horses for sale and i have just recently brought an idxtb 6yo gelding and im realising i miss the saftey side of owning a cob type. However my concerns were exactly what you said. I wold never want to harm my mare as she is my sweetheart, however i fear that finding another one is almost impossible!I just dont know what to do? I know she would be a fantastic mum but i would never forgive myself if ne thing was to go wrong!x
 
I Agree it would be lovely and so satifying to have a foal. But having watched Rollestone's foals born this year and knowing 2 of them died, it's just so sad. And Jags lost Sirrius. And Magic was put to sleep the other day. I know of a mare who lost her foal, then she colliced and died as well. It seems to be a lot more common than you'd have thought.
But as i said, i've no personnel experience with breeding, but there are plenty on here who are, so you're best off waiting for one of them to reply. Good luck with whatever you decide though.
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i know the decision soooo hard and i think the cons out weigh the pros!!! Thank you so much for your reply!!!! What sort of horses do u have and expereince hope yopu dont mind me asking but it good to know, incase evr need any sort of advice i have never used this sort of thing before but im finding it quite helpful xxxx
 
I'm usually the person saying don't but a foal, but cob types are pretty easy to breed from as a rule.
Yes things can go wrong, the last few years we've lost one foal to stillbirth, one to fertiliser poisoning (preventable I'm ashamed to say), ad one to joint ill, another dropped dead and it seemed had a faulty heart.
But we have bred lots and lots of healthy foals and I wouldn't use that as a reason to put you off. Saying you won't risk your mare is a bit daft, you risk them every time you ride down a road!
I would look carefully at what you want to breed, choose a stallion with a calm temperament and make the most of your mare's bad points by choosing one that doesn't have them.
You need to get her examined by your vet, swabbed for equine metritis and then decide if you want natural covering or AI.
Add into your costs vet's fees/keep/transport/scanning and worming.
Some studs offer an all in one policy.
If you want something similar go for a cob stallion, not a top competition horse.
so many people beed a horse that ultimately isn't for them due to their capabilities, at least with a cob you shouldn't get that..
Go and have a look at my latest blog and see some of our foals, we are breeding middle of the road types who should event up to Novice, do BSJA etc. www.narramorehorses.blogspot.com
The best of luck. Just be sure you can offer it a home for life before you start or it will be a type others want to buy, then you won't go wrong..Oh and calculate a cost of £3000 minimum to get it to a three year old...Sure you can't buy one instead?
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thank you for your reply it was very helpful, my meaning of not risky my mare i meant putting added preasurre ob her by putting her into foal! I am new to this forum, and the amount of response i have had seems to be warning me of the dangers. The reason i wanted to breed her was so that i could keep a part of her forever!!I have also looked into buying a youngster however this is not the same as having one of your own!! I will take a look at you r link thanks for you advcie xxxx
 
I can understand why you want to breed from her - and when it goes right breeding is the most wonderfully rewarding thing in the world - but when it goes wrong it goes horribly wrong. We lost 2 foals this year at 12 days and 6 weks and my friend lost one at a week old so there is absolutely no guarentee of getting a foal. The same friend lost her beloved mare leaving her with an orphan foal to rear 2 years ago.

Someone said to me once when I investigated breeding my much loved mare years ago, she said that every time you bred a mare you had to face the very real possibilty you may lose her - of course this doesn't happen every time but the risk is there, and it is a real risk.

Good luck if you do decide to - and keep us posted!
 
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