decisions decisions

CastlelackSportHorses

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Hey everyone!
I have a beautiful mare who is rising 7 on Friday (Happy birthday :D)
I bought her untouched at 3 because she's a half sister to my 130/3* homebred heart horse.
I initially hoped she would be my next 120 horse but alas these things never work out, and I accept that.
She is happy jumping her meter tracks, fun riding, low level eventing and just being a really fun, sensible all rounder that anyone can ride(as well as being utterly gorgeous)

My 130 horse has turned 15years old this year, and I never wanted to breed a foal from her for fear something may happen to her, so I put the thought of getting a foal from here out of my head.

Now Im thinking why not breed from the younger mare, my older horse is still happily competing at a decent level(hopefully for the next 10 years fingers crossed)

I would love any info/experience on Embryo transfers! Or if I would be better off just breeding the young mare to a stallion I like? Or do I breed at all and just resign myself to the younger all rounder being my next horse when the older girl retires!
How long would it take to get her back into ridden work after foaling, How long into pregnancy can she be ridden?
I don't know much regards breeding!

So many decisions!

Pics of her cause she's too beautiful :D
 

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ET from the older mare into the younger is possible, but at 15 she is considered reproductively old so your chances of conception reduces, and the ET always reduces it again. You can try to do it with just 1 recip mare (I have done that successfully twice) but you need an excellent vet who does a lot of ETs to get it spot on.

Otherwise, why not sell the younger mare, as she probably is worth a fair chunk of money, and out that money towards a really smart young horse?
 
ET from the older mare into the younger is possible, but at 15 she is considered reproductively old so your chances of conception reduces, and the ET always reduces it again. You can try to do it with just 1 recip mare (I have done that successfully twice) but you need an excellent vet who does a lot of ETs to get it spot on.

Otherwise, why not sell the younger mare, as she probably is worth a fair chunk of money, and out that money towards a really smart young horse?
I had thought of selling but the market doesn't seem to want her sort, they would want her jumping 110 and I just dont have it in me to push the horse if its not for her!
And I am mad about her!

Do you know what sort of money the ETs cost roughly(I am in ireland so I know its probably very different)
 
Mine worked first time so that was a significant saving- the syncing of the recips, embryo flush and actual transfer process are not especially expensive, but it adds up if you need to do it multiple times. Mine was about 1k on top of the normal cost of AI
 
Mine worked first time so that was a significant saving- the syncing of the recips, embryo flush and actual transfer process are not especially expensive, but it adds up if you need to do it multiple times. Mine was about 1k on top of the normal cost of AI
Ok ok, so not outrageous! Thank you!
 
I had thought of selling but the market doesn't seem to want her sort, they would want her jumping 110 and I just dont have it in me to push the horse if its not for her!
And I am mad about her!

The market for nice sane all rounders is very high. If she can be ridden round a metre course by a competent amateur and hacks out and is a nice person etc then its 15k+ for that sort of horse and people snap them up straight away as there's so few around.
 
The market for nice sane all rounders is very high. If she can be ridden round a metre course by a competent amateur and hacks out and is a nice person etc then its 15k+ for that sort of horse and people snap them up straight away as there's so few around.
Agree 100 per cent.
 
The market for nice sane all rounders is very high. If she can be ridden round a metre course by a competent amateur and hacks out and is a nice person etc then its 15k+ for that sort of horse and people snap them up straight away as there's so few around.
Seems to be none in Ireland looking for this type.
They all want 110 horses .
 
Breeding is a lottery. So as long as you are prepared to pay ££ and still not end up with exactly what you want then go for it.

In your shoes id try and ET from your 15 year old mare, and find a recipient. Id sell the younger mare as shes not going to get you to the tracks you want.

If no demand in ireland, send her to a recommended sales livery over here. Then use the £15k from her towards your ET ambitions. ET isnt always straight forward a friend of mine tried it and after spending thousands gave up. Mind you things have moved on from then.

Or sell the younger mare and use the funds to purchase another quality youngster and hope that one achieves what you want. Just check the damline on horsetelex. That will tell you what the dam throws


Good luck !
 
You would be inundated in the UK if she were up for sale. Is there a reason she won't jump higher? Is it conformation or just doesn't enjoy it?
She is bred for showjumping Cavalier royale and Quidam de Revel on either side. Her sire jumped to 145 and her dam to 160.
No doubt with a professional she would jump much higher, I just don't have the heart to convince her! I guess she's my baby and I don't want to scare or upset her.
Conformationally she's perfect!
 
She's gorgeous, exactly the type of thing I was looking for last year. Would she do 110 with consistency or is 100 her limit for a reason? Not going to lie a horse of that calibre maxing out at 100 would massively put me off, it's not a reach so I'd be very suspicious. I'd also ask what the point of breeding her would be? She's not proven and it sounds like you're just doing it because you don't want to sell her?

I think if I were you I'd get her on a boat to her UK and sell her here, she'd fetch 16-20k no problem with a few BS under her belt.
 
What about a good and kind pro having her for a month for schooling and assessing her? With homebreds you can kind of get stuck in the "my little baby pony" mindset, understandably. But the right person might find the extra jump? Or at least tell you one way or another.
This is a great Idea and surely worth a try, especially as you mention above that maybe with someone else she would and you don't want to push her. Maybe seeing someone else get a little more out of her will give you the confidence to do the same, If not you know you're totally right and Its not for her.
 
What about a good and kind pro having her for a month for schooling and assessing her? With homebreds you can kind of get stuck in the "my little baby pony" mindset, understandably. But the right person might find the extra jump? Or at least tell you one way or another.
How do you find these good and kind pros?They do exist,I know,I have one now but they are very thin on the ground in my experience
 
I could name 4 or 5 in my wider area. Its easier if you can send the horse away as then location doesnt restrict you
 
She's gorgeous, exactly the type of thing I was looking for last year. Would she do 110 with consistency or is 100 her limit for a reason? Not going to lie a horse of that calibre maxing out at 100 would massively put me off, it's not a reach so I'd be very suspicious. I'd also ask what the point of breeding her would be? She's not proven and it sounds like you're just doing it because you don't want to sell her?

I think if I were you I'd get her on a boat to her UK and sell her here, she'd fetch 16-20k no problem with a few BS under her belt.
I think with a Pro rider yes she would jump a 110 with ease as she schools through grids of 110/120 at home.
I just am overly cautious with her as shes my baby :(
 
What about a good and kind pro having her for a month for schooling and assessing her? With homebreds you can kind of get stuck in the "my little baby pony" mindset, understandably. But the right person might find the extra jump? Or at least tell you one way or another.
Yes I 100% agree with this and its my next plan! I have gotten her to the 1m and I dont want to ruin her by making a balls of a 110 track so I will ask one of the pros near me to take her for a fortnight, He is a beautiful kind rider and gets a serious tune out of a horse!
Im just spoiled as her half sister I have jumps 120/130 and shes like a machine, I just point and hold on!
 
If I went to breed from that mare would use a decent Anglo Arab, with quidam x 2 it must come out somewhere

He was 5000 fee at some point

The Arab bit for soundness so whatever you get its starting from a good basis and pretty fixed whereas the old warmbloods are so gene diverse who knows what comes out till 4 years and ridden

Also if you sell at any point that type is great for eventing

I have horses bred like this and could sell to offers all the time, they are very smart, elegant, work horses not often seen who can turn hoof to a lot of sports and the perfect size 16. 16.1. 16. 2. . Ish power houses with a top quality look about them
 
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