Broodmares

[Nudibranch]

I'm sure that this has been done before many times but it really bugs me.... why do people think that because their horse has become unrideable it makes ideal breeding stock? A horse with behaviour/temperament issues, or soundness problems, is by its very nature NOT an ideal broodmare because in many cases those problems may be inherited.

In fact thinking about it, it seems some people think that just because it has ovaries and a uterus, any horse is a good broodmare... someone on our yard is thinking about putting an ex-racer mare into foal; she has very poor conformation and even worse, he's actually considering it because there's a local 2 yo colt available to provide the service. I mean, wtf? Are there not enough poorly-bred, unwanted equines knocking about without adding to the problem?

Sorry, rant over now but it does really annoy me!

 

[Foxhunter49]

In many /most cases I wuld agree with you but there are always exceptions to the rule!

I have a TB mare here that was showing a lot of promise NH racing. Good money was turned down for her before she ran in her second race, she was brought down and ended up with a bone chip. This was removed but as soon as she came into faster work she was not sound. Arthritis had set in. So rather than put her down we have bred her. The unsoundness was injury related and so far she has bred two very nice foals.
One was sold as a yearling to go eventing and the other is running at foot with her.

 

[celia]

Irritates me too. I hate all the adverts you see saying 'would make a great broodmare' when the horse has terrible conformation and/or injuries that are probably due to a weakness that will just be passed on to any offspring. Mad. I don't agree with the people who say only proven performance horses should be bred from but there is no reason why even the most 'average' (not sure quite what else to call it - sorry if that sounds insulting!) horse shouldn't be bred from parents with decent conformation and nice temperaments. *sigh*

 

[AndySpooner]

As the mare contributes 50% of the genes to the foal I have to agree that poor quality mares should not be used as breeding stock.

Having said that breeding from animals which have had an unfortunate genuine accident is in my view ok.

 

[Spring Feather]

.... why do people think that because their horse has become unrideable it makes ideal breeding stock?

Because there is a market for these foals. Once buyers become a bit more discerning then the instances of breeding garbage horses should decline.

It makes no sense to me. I can't understand why anyone would go to the trouble and expense to breed a lower quality foal when the returns for it are so low. Proportionately it makes far more sense to breed a high quality mare to a high quality stallion and end up with a high quality foal particularly when ANY mare costs about the same to keep for 18 months.

Every broodmare of mine is rideable, 100% sound and conformationally nice. They wouldn't be my choice of broodmares if they weren't, but some people have different standards and don't have such stringent rules as me.