Contacting old owner/breeder -good or bad idea?

[soph15]

I’m very curious about my boys breeding and history as everywhere I take him people comment about him looking like a Lipizzaner/cross. He was brought from a dealers and has no detail in his passport apart from the first woman who passported him and I’m guessing bred him too.

Is it a good idea to contact an old owner or breeder for information as I’d love to see foal pictures etc but I’ve heard horror stories of some horses being stolen/sold without permission so I’m a bit worried I’ll end up stirring up a wasp nest if I contact the owner. As far as I’m aware he was sold in a horse auction in Ireland.

So is it good or bad to contact an owner?

Thanks in advance?

 

[meleeka]

I have a similar dilemma with mine. I think as you actually want Info you could try and find them on fb or send an email or letter, without giving too much away. If they don’t reply you haven’t really lost anything.

 

[ihatework]

I think most breeders would be delighted to hear from you.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I contacted the breeder of my Belgian Warmblood (in Belgium) and got a nice email about how he was home bred and ridden by mother and son and a couple of photos one of him as a foal which was nice. I guess there is always a risk but if you have the original passport he’s unlikely to have been stolen.

 

[Polos Mum]

Have you googled them first. If the owner had a horse stolen / taken to court fro cruelty / other horrible nasty situation it's likely to come up from a quick google. I'd do that first before pinging off an e-mail

 

[SEL]

I got in touch with the Appy's breeder and got her back story (orphan foal rumours confirmed). Haven't been able to track down the Ardennes sadly because I would love foal photos!

 

[Equi]

I contacted my mares breeder and they didn’t have a clue who she was cause they just banged them out and shipped them off. Which is sad cause I’d have loved to know more about her life in America.

 

[Green Bean]

I contacted my horse’s breeder as I needed to understand her temperament as she was becoming a bit tetchy. I had a nice email from him including saying she was a Diva even as a foal. This has allowed me to understand her and work with her with this in mind

 

[BBP]

I contacted the breeder of mine and she was thrilled to hear from me. She still has his dam 15 years on. She was going to send some photos and come to visit him but she had some family issues and has gone quiet so I don’t want to hassle her.

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

I had a good experience with contacting a breeder also. She sent me some lovely foal photos and we still loosely keep in touch over Facebook. My old boy has had a very boring life lol. He was bred less than 10 miles away from where he has lived for the past 10 years, and before that he was at a yard within that 10 mile radius. 4 homes in total (including me).

Our newbie came direct from the breeder, she keeps tabs on where all the offspring end up and more or less knows where all hers have ended up, with the exception of 1.

 

[Flyermc]

i contacted my boys breeder (stud) several times and they never even acknowledged me. i was going to ring, but decided against it in the end

http://www.stepolstud.co.uk/

 

[paddy555]

I've contacted several old owners and breeders by phone. One I tried to contact via e mail. Apart from 1 who denied ever knowing the horse but he had been part of a very acrimonious divorce settlement) they all were happy to speak to me.
Found out lots from them, just general discussion about the temperament of their stallion, odd snippets they came up with etc. All so useful and just gave an insight into why the horse was like he was.

I had one very difficult horse who was driving me mad. I phoned his 2 times previous owner. She was in the bath. She was delighted to enjoy her soak and tell me all about his exploits and why he had been sent back to his original owner.

My contact was by phone so they couldn't trace me but with some I gave more details. I have kept in touch with many of my horses previous owners/breeders if they've wanted to for the lifetime of the horse.

 

[vmac66]

I contacted all my mares old owners. Found them all on FB then messaged them. I just wanted to know what she'd done really but they were all very helpful and pleased to hear she was OK. I'm freinds on Facebook with one of them.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I tried to contact my horses breeder but heard no reply. I then posted about the stud (it had closed) on a Facebook page local to them and managed to find people who recognised my boy and some half siblings. It was lovely!

 

[Pippity]

I'd love to find out about my mare's history, but she was passported as a 5yo and the only name in there is Gerty Tynan.

Do a quick google on the name to make sure nothing horrific pops up, and then drop them a line without giving much information about you/where the horse is/etc.

 

[NinjaPony]

I got in touch with my Welsh’s original breeder and it was really positive. They were thrilled to hear how he was doing and that he’s in a home for life, and it was fascinating to hear about his parents and how he’s basically been troublesome from birth! They sent me some foal photos and pictures of his sire and dam. Really glad I did it.

 

[Red-1]

I have twice done this and both times had lovely baby photos for my trouble. Once they know where the horse is, I may email sporadically if something of note happens but we have not become FB friends or anything.

 

[Orangehorse]

Depends on whether it is good or bad! I contacted the breeder of one of my horses and I discovered that she had been the survivor of twins but that was about all they said.

But it did explain why she was very small for her breeding (Hanovarian x TB) and probably why she was sold at auction and why she was always a bit grumpy in the stable. I think she was bought at auction and broken in and then sold on again and I have to say that whoever broke her in did an absolutely splendid job, so was so good at all the loading/farrier/catching/ridden work/schooling, nice mouth, well behaved, that it over-ruled her suspicious and grumpy nature.

Generally I think that once a horse is sold, it is perhaps better to let them go with good wishes and not get in touch again.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

My Connie has a full history as his passport has been diligently transferred and he had a very illustrious showing career as a youngster and then went on to the PC home I bought him from. I’ve known DP’s history since he was a yearling as a friend owned him but I didn’t know his breeder and when it came to having his German chip registered to me I had to get in touch which them. Language difficulties aside they were interested to know he was now in England so I’m glad I spoke to them.

In both cases I am in touch with their previous owners.

 

[roz84]

I contacted my mare's breeder and he sent me some lovely photos of her as a foal with her mum as well as photos of her dad, grandsire and mum and grandmother. He was delighted to hear how she was doing

 

[honetpot]

I love it when people contact me, if I can I follow them on the internet, show results etc. I have been able to buy two back as they got older. One I have sold, through a friend, has completely disappeared which as I still have is registration papers for the breed society is surprising.

 

[Gloi]

Last time I contacted the breeder of a pony I bought without knowing his history I got a nice reply and some pictures of him as a foal

 

[oldie48]

I've always done that and had some lovely replies but do check first, Rose's breeder came up with something a bit worrying but I was contacted by the lady who bought her at an hour old who sent some lovely pics and came to see her and filled me in on her early life. Mr B was bred by the Langaller stud and they were helpful and another owner sent me a lovely pic of him when he was featured in the Puffa catalogue. I had a lovely email from the guy in Ireland who bred our Dun Connie (by Templebready fear Bui). I love to know as much as I can about my horses and tbh I've found that previous owners/breeder likes to know their horse/pony is in a decent kind home.

 

[EmmaC78]

I contacted my geldings old owner on FB and she was pleased to hear from me. We are now FB friends and she often writes comments when I post photos. I think most old owners would be happy to hear a horse was in a good home.

 

[ycbm]

I have contacted the breeder of two of my horses in the past and they were both very happy to hear that the horse was loved. I sent paper letters and waited to see if they contacted me, which they did.

.

 

[soph15]

Thank you for your replies everyone!

You’ve convinced me to get in contact with her and hopefully it will answer some questions (and get some very cute foal pictures with any luck?)

Now the difficult part of finding her on Facebook as sadly no phone number or details in passport!

 

[Frumpoon]

I've done this 4 times now. The first was a wonderful story and a warm response from people I am still friends with a decade later. The second I very sadly did not get a response, this made me sad for the horse who a soppy old thing and very much loved by us. The third time was a horrific experience and spoke volumes about how the horse had ended up in the state it did. The last one was a warm but brief response.

 

[splashgirl45]

i contacted my old mare's breeder and she invited me to her yard and i met my mares full brother and a couple of half siblings, she also gave me pics of her as a foal with her mum, then as a yearling and then being ridden. she was really pleased that she had a good home and we kept in touch for a while...

 

[Chinchilla]

I tried to contact Diva's and never got a response unfortunately. Would love to know more about her breeding though; she's such an odd looking horse, lol.

Good luck if you decide to do it though ?

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Mim is only four and has had one home other than her breeder so it was easy to track her down.

Her breeder and I chat often and I send photos. She’s absolutely lovely and is so proud of Mimosa.