Do Hobby breeders get a look in??

[pinkypug1]

Is there the market for the ‘hobby breeder‘ to attract buyers without having that ‘big stud or producer name’ or do buyers of Young stock tend to buy from well known names?

 

[AdorableAlice]

A nicely bred and reared quality young horse will always find a market regardless of who/where it comes from. The frustrating bit is the purchaser will want to pay a fraction of the cost that it took to bred the mare and put the foal on the ground, feed and produce the foal to 4 year old and sell it.

 

[pinkypug1]

Thanks for your reply. Im
Lucky in one respect that I have lots of my own land to keep the horses on and have the ability to train and start under saddle without sending away. My own 2 Lovely mares (one I bred myself) they have recored TIH breeding but little competition record due to my own lack of real interest in competing regularly. In the hands of a another rider who wanted to compete im sure they would’ve excelled!! I’m sure this maybe a turn off for prospective buyers. To compensate do I use commercial/popular stallions to make offspring more appealing? I want to stick to TIH breeding where possible

 

[ihatework]

Are you talking youngstock as in foals-2, unbacked 3 or backed 3/4yos?

Ive got some thoughts not quick to articulate so will come back later

 

[pinkypug1]

Are you talking youngstock as in foals-2, unbacked 3 or backed 3/4yos?

Ive got some thoughts not quick to articulate so will come back later

Your input will be very much appreciated!

Tbh any age. I Would be in no panic to sell as weanlings or keep until lightly ridden at 4. just wondering if I tried to sell a foal at sales for instance would I be ‘invisible’ to the buyers as an unknown breeder with only 1 Or 2 foals despite how nice the foal was?? do the dam/sire names on a passport Or competition record mean more to a buyer than what you actually see Standing in-front of you?

I want to breed for my own pleasure and interest not as a money making scheme but still want to produce nice sellable stock

 

[pinkypug1]

My aim is to breed A few really nice, Well Mannered, quality sellable horses and I am open to breeding for any discipline. I don’t want to breed hot headed horses that look the part ballooning over a fence But can only be ridden safely by 10% of the market!!

Worst case scenario I’m in a great position that I could keep anything I breed (husband might divorce me lol) but he is very used to new heads popping up over the hedge! So I will never be forced into selling for peanuts or to a dodgy home just to get rid!!

 

[Orangehorse]

People buying youngsters are interested in bloodlines and potential. All buyers are interested in the temperament and soundness of the parents.

I think if you have the skills to produce a young horse, you would get a reputation for nice animals.

Its a hard one, isn't it. People look for masses of potential, but actually where there is a big gap is all rounder horses that won't make it to Grade A or big time eventing, or Grand Prix, but will be a nice all rounder.

 

[pinkypug1]

People buying youngsters are interested in bloodlines and potential. All buyers are interested in the temperament and soundness of the parents.

I think if you have the skills to produce a young horse, you would get a reputation for nice animals.

Its a hard one, isn't it. People look for masses of potential, but actually where there is a big gap is all rounder horses that won't make it to Grade A or big time eventing, or Grand Prix, but will be a nice all rounder.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

im thinking if breeding to sell as a foal it really needs the popular names in the pedigree and good Proven competition record of dam and/or sire whereas if I plan to keep and produce Until 4 ‘ ‘popular’ names or completion record of parents many not be as vital if the horse is able show the potential in their own right Under saddle

 

[GinaGeo]

I buy my horses from one such breeder.

She doesn't breed mega expensive, fancy horses. But she does breed really useful, sane all rounders that the average person can have plenty of fun on and they're smart looking types too.

She doesn't tend to advertise but when I was looking for another I contacted her and she told me she had one that would suit. We viewed, we liked, we bought and he's now four and I've just ridden him away.

I do think there is a lack of people breeding for the leisure horse industry. We just want sound, sane, useful horses that are nice to have around.

I am happy to buy them unbacked (it is my preference) but I figure many in this market would prefer to know what they are getting?

 

[gallopingby]

I think people look at pedigree and performance of offspring. Some combinations / mares produce a string of nice horses but you need to put the work in initially. Once you have produced / bred a few who have nice temperaments and are able to do the job you will have requests from potential buyers. The trick is in the marketing and production and then ability to sell as foals / yearlings. Failing this you won’t sell until 3/4 years old and by that time will have had to spend money you may not easily recoup unless the demand for nicely schooled safe sound horses at a realistic price continues.
Having said all that in some areas there is a distinct lack of suitable horses. Remember the saying tho ‘fools breed for wisemen to buy’.

 

[pinkypug1]

Thanks everyone. This isn’t a career as I already have one of those, It will be purely a hobby. always had an interest in breeding, bred a nice horse I’ve kept and would like to breed a few more. Thanks for all your advice

 

[Xmasha]

I assume by TIH, you are referring to ID or IDxTB CP x ID etc ? We bought a couple last year from Ireland. So i can tell you what we looked for. For us the foal had to come off quality breeding stock, so i researched the dams. I wanted out of Class 1/ RID mare, and also checked what the dam had produced before .The irish horse website is fab, as you can find siblings etc. Then i wanted a sire line which shouted rideability/temperament.
I didnt buy from a known stud , the important thing for me was the foal.

Good luck with your venture

 

[ycbm]

People buying youngsters are interested in bloodlines and potential.

I couldn't care less about breeding and I'm only looking for potential to be a nice all rounder. There are lots of buyers like me. I have a friend who breeds horses like this and she sells them as foals every year with no problem. My spotty came from a stud that breeds about 15 a year and again sell at £1500 - £2,500 into the all rounder market as foals with no problem.
.

 

[pinkypug1]

I assume by TIH, you are referring to ID or IDxTB CP x ID etc ? We bought a couple last year from Ireland. So i can tell you what we looked for. For us the foal had to come off quality breeding stock, so i researched the dams. I wanted out of Class 1/ RID mare, and also checked what the dam had produced before .The irish horse website is fab, as you can find siblings etc. Then i wanted a sire line which shouted rideability/temperament.
I didnt buy from a known stud , the important thing for me was the foal.

Good luck with your venture

Thanks for your response. Yes my mares are IDxTB one is 75%tb the other 60%. These will be the 1st and 2nd foals for these mares so will be a bit of a learning curve to see what they will produce which is exciting!

I’m like you and temperament and rideability are a priority. The stallion I have chosen for one mare this year is relatively unknown TB with few foals on the ground so a bit of a risk but he complimented my mare he is a sweetheart, damned handsome & takes everything new in his stride and easy to do in all ways so I’m excited to see what they produce.

 

[Xmasha]

Thanks for your response. Yes my mares are IDxTB one is 75%tb the other 60%. These will be the 1st and 2nd foals for these mares so will be a bit of a learning curve to see what they will produce which is exciting!

I’m like you and temperament and rideability are a priority. The stallion I have chosen for one mare this year is relatively unknown TB with few foals on the ground so a bit of a risk but he complimented my mare he is a sweetheart, damned handsome & takes everything new in his stride and easy to do in all ways so I’m excited to see what they produce.

I will watch out for your updates on these foals ! the lady i bought off used the most stunning TB stallion on a ID mare, im excited to see what he produces. I will have to have a look and see if i can find out his name. At some point i will cover my ID mare, and i cant decide whether to go for a full ID stallion or a TB. My issue being i know nothing about TB sires, so really dont know which ones to avoid .
Exciting times for you...

 

[pinkypug1]

Thanks Asha I’m very excited about the new arrival and Will hopefully breed a few more after that if all goes well. I went on some good recommendations and choose a stud with lots of nice stallions I could go have a look at in the flesh

 

[dogatemysalad]

A friend breeds 1-3 foals a year, primarily for her hunting/ eventing family, but has no problem in selling those that they don't keep, either as weanings or as lightly started 3/4 year olds. She's well known and well respected locally, so never advertises and the youngsters go to known or recommended homes.

 

[pinkypug1]

A friend breeds 1-3 foals a year, primarily for her hunting/ eventing family, but has no problem in selling those that they don't keep, either as weanings or as lightly started 3/4 year olds. She's well known and well respected locally, so never advertises and the youngsters go to known or recommended homes.

Hopefully I can breed some nice ones and I can enjoy watching them develop in good homes.

 

[Orangehorse]

I hope you have lots of nice foals - well not your personally of course!

 

[pinkypug1]

I hope you have lots of nice foals - well not your personally of course!

? I will look forward to sharing them and some stallion choices with you all!