Conondrum

[Willow1306]

Hi.
I currently have a mare out on loan who has had some problems over the years with intermittent soundness. This has previously been put down to back problems and a few months ago she went through various treatments for a sacroilliac problem. She did improve afterwards and her loanee followed a strict fitness programme but recently she became uncomfortable again. Her loanee decided to investigate the possibility of it being 'season' related and took her to the vets to be scanned. Although they found no problem with her ovaries nerve blocks revealed that the lameness was in her hock and x-rays showed minor changes (djd- though the vet was not concerned about this.) The diagnosis ultimately was that the problem is PSD and she is to have 4 weeks boxrest with weekly shockwave therapy sessions. The prognosis is that she should make a very good recovery, enough to compete at RC level in the future.
However, because there have been a series of issues over the past 2 years it has been suggested that putting her in foal this season and giving her a decent year off to try and aid a full recovery could work. She is well bred, well put together and had a short but succesful BSJA career and has turned her hoof to anything else asked of her. Her temperament is fantastic and it has now been suggested that any temperament issues we have had with her whilst being ridden in the past has been down to this hock/back problem. I did regularly have vets and back people to her throughout the issues - they were not just ignored btw. Before i bought her she was heavily jumped and it is believed that this is what has caused the injury. Her loanee has expressed interest in breeding from her before but there are the obvious breeding related issues to consider - time, money, resources etc.
At this point it is early days and no rash decisions will be made but any opinions on what may be a good route to go down are very much appreciated. Thankfully her loanee adores her and does not want to part with her which is such a relief as i am doing 5 months work experience abroad this Summer. Does anybody else have any other ideas on this? Any possible solutions?
Thanks in advance,
Charlie Xx

 

[DuckToller]

As long as the vets don't think the extra weight of carrying a foal would be problematic for her hocks, and you or the loanee want a youngster to keep and bring on, then I would say it's a good idea. But there are plenty of reasonably well bred, homebred youngsters out there so not so good if you intend to breed in the hope of selling on.

My friend bred from her mare and decided to sell the yearling but didn't have one single phone call. She is now keeping him and going to produce him herself, which is sensible.

I bred from my mare (similar problems, had a very hard competitive early life and hocks had wear and tear), and it was a fantastic experience, one I value hugely. There is nothing quite like having your own foal, but the resulting offspring is not quite what I was hoping for, in either size, temperament or attitude! Plus it cost me more than it would have done to just go and buy a decent three-year-old. He has a home for life here and I am glad I did it once, but I would not breed again. So just be sure the foal is going to be good enough and the hock problem not a hereditary weakness, and that you or the loanee have the facilities.

 

[Willow1306]

Thanks Llewelyn.
I think the biggest problem at the moment, provided the hock issue is not hereditary, about breeding from her would be stabling arrangements. My loanee has her own little yard with fairly good turnout but it is not suitable for foaling so she would have to move yards - this has not been looked into yet but i know there is at least one fairly local stud to her so im sure there would be possibilties, though they would be another added expense.
I've always wanted to breed from my mare as i think she has the necessary qualities - conformation, temperament, jumping ability, good paces and good breeding. Breeding is something i am interested in generally. I am going to work at a stud this Summer to get experience in this area. So in that respect, if it were feasible in terms of my own personal fundage and capacity to maintain her i would be interested in having a foal from her for myself, bred so that it could be sold on depending on circumstances. I'm not sure whether my loanee would be breeding to keep or sell as we havent spoken at any great length it as we are at the stage of thinking of options to talk about at a later date.
We are obviously still just toying with ideas but having a foal from her is def. a possibility.