first time for everything.....

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Hemirjtm

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hello!

As title says 'first time for everything' here is the situation!!! A riding instructor said to me 'please dont be angry with me, and dont make a decision on what i am telling you now but, if you want to advance i would sell your horse and buy a youngster'...... im not ready for a youngster (confidence, i think im a rubbish rider...etc!!)....and am not ready to sell Hemir after just 1 year! We have got a mare that can't be ridden (numerous reasons!) but, apparently, she would be able to have a foal, she is a fantastic mover and has massif jump, but is standing in the field doing nothing at the moment
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We were thinking that, if we put her to foal i would be able to do everything myself (within reason....initial backing...etc!), and learn the ins and outs at an early age and then when it came to riding it i wouldnt have to pick up where someone else has left off!!

Im only 15 (16 in August!), my mum has over 30yrs experience of horses but we dont have the best support system around us...but its growing!! We now know a lady who has nearly 50 yrs experience and has bred, broken...been there done that sort of woman! She is teaching me for free as well as helping out if we need it...etc!

What is better AI or Natural? When is the best time to put her to stud? Any info about breeding?

We dont know how old she is exactly or wether she has had a foal before but if she hasnt is 10yrs old (ish) ok to have a first foal?

thankyou very much.....

once i have got the info i need just have to ask daddy if its ok to spend his money?!
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bye
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It is more difficult for a mare to get in foal the older she is, and the more likely problems with the foaling. However, my brother's mare had her first foal at 16 and has now had 5 foals. She is retiring from breeding this year. Having a horse from foal and knowing exactly what environment it has been in is the best thing ever. If you have the time and patience it's incredibly rewarding.
 
Well first of all its VERY expensive to breed so be warned! My 2 unborn foals have cost £2,100 so far and thats without livery as they are kept at home, farrier, worming, etc although you'd be paying that anyway. My 2 mares are 15 and 16 and are maiden mares, so 10 should be absolutely fine.
Natural is of course better but AI has a very high success rate and could be cheaper if you want to use a stallion from far away. Plus you could keep your mare at home if you have a good AI vet.
What breeding is the mare? Do you have any stallions in mind at the moment? What would you like the outcome to be?
 
I am NO expert but that strikes me as rather odd advice your instructor has given you? From your previous posts I was under the impression that you were struggling with Hemir and that your problems were made worse by the fact you didn't have enough experience around you?
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Also find this rather odd. If you dont feel confident with a youngster (which one would assume has at least been started), why would you go down the road of breeding?

What are the reasons the instructor has given you for selling the current horse? Lack of talent? If so, a youngster isnt the only option you have open to you and given your lack of experience, I'd say you'd be much better with a school master that perhaps works at a higher level (if thats the issue)
 
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I am NO expert but that strikes me as rather odd advice your instructor has given you? From your previous posts I was under the impression that you were struggling with Hemir and that your problems were made worse by the fact you didn't have enough experience around you?
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That has mostly been sotred now and have had a few lessons...i think he was just getting bored so taking it out on me!! We didnt have when i posted that but i also posted a few things on French (english speaking websites) and have found that there are a lot of people around me that are willing to help!! We have now got a WONDERFUL lady to help me and my confidences is growing day buy day and last time I hacked out on Hemir I was in complete control and I had a fantastic time, although a few bucks we are doing well!!
 
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Also find this rather odd. If you dont feel confident with a youngster (which one would assume has at least been started), why would you go down the road of breeding?

What are the reasons the instructor has given you for selling the current horse? Lack of talent? If so, a youngster isnt the only option you have open to you and given your lack of experience, I'd say you'd be much better with a school master that perhaps works at a higher level (if thats the issue)

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because he is french trotter and doesnt have the right conformation to go very far, he is at his limit now
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I do not want a school master, they are boring (sorry to anyone who that offends) I have always been given difficult horses, the ones that buck, tank off with you etc....I know i had a bad time with Hemir but that has nothing to do with the fact that i couldnt cope with it i just because i was going through a really tough time, i was really ill and the docs didnt know what was wrong with me
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I really dont have the money to buy what i need
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My instructor thinks i should also challenge myself, as im not reaching my 'potential'...... If you mean my lack of experience, as in, my non confidence? then yer i agree but i am a completely different person when i ride, or when i am with a horse....i told someone i had no confidence in myself and she told be to stop being so stupid
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Well first of all its VERY expensive to breed so be warned! My 2 unborn foals have cost £2,100 so far and thats without livery as they are kept at home, farrier, worming, etc although you'd be paying that anyway. My 2 mares are 15 and 16 and are maiden mares, so 10 should be absolutely fine.
Natural is of course better but AI has a very high success rate and could be cheaper if you want to use a stallion from far away. Plus you could keep your mare at home if you have a good AI vet.
What breeding is the mare? Do you have any stallions in mind at the moment? What would you like the outcome to be?

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Thankyou, yep we know about the costs, have been researching for the past few days! We dont know what breed she is, yep we have a couple of stallions in mind, they are not well known as we dont want anything too much at the moment, I would ideally like an allrounder. The one we are really interested in is about an hour away from us!
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Why can the mare not be ridden?! Personally I wouldnt breed just for the sake of breeding which is what this sounds like to me. As Claire has pointed out, by the time you have forked out for breeding, you may as well have gone out and brought a yearling that actually has the qualities as oppose to breed something that may have the qualities you look for. Also, from what you have previously posted, I don't think you would have th knowlegde or experience to bring up a baby, and give it the eduaction it requires. Why not buy something a bit older that is maybe a bit quirky, but you know could do the job!?
 
We are not just doing it for the sake of breeding, we have got plans for the futur
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Although I am being slated here, we are going to put her to stud, and we do understand all the problems that they can have, the complications, the price...etc.

I came on here for advice, not discouragements

I did want some opinions on some of the stallions that i have found, but im not sure what you will all say
 
You aren't being slated, it just seems strange
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Your instructor says you need a youngster (for whatever reason) but you say you dont want one because of a lack of confidence, but would happily breed one - it's just a bit confusing
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Anyway, it is, at the end of the day, upto you what you choose to do.

You asked for advice, but that swings both ways. Advice doesn't mean people will automatically agree with you
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Personally I agree with Kat and think you'd be better looking for something a bit older, but quirkier if thats what you like. What is it you're aiming for anyway? That will of course effect what you decide to buy or the stallion you choose for the mare.
 
Are you planning on furthering your education? Foals take up a lot of time and yours would be ready for beaking while you were doing your a-levels. And if you went to uni you might have to go and leave you young horse at the time it needs you most...
 
Sorry didnt mean to sound harsh, but IMO there are too many horses being bred unnecessarily when there are people who do a very good job of breeding animals as their livliehood who know the business well, and yet struggle to sell because more and more people are obsessed by having "their own superstar" I personally don't see the need for it, when you can go and buy a baby with all the features you desire. Sorry, will remove myself from my soapbox, and good luck with what you decide to do
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sorry for my response it was unessesary....i shouldnt have taken it so badly. I do understand about the people breeding unnecisaraly because people want their own superstar, i would actually like to go into the breeding, possibly a riding school and competing.....i havn't decided,

metalmare: I live in France and its a little different, for the next 3 years i will probably board but i can take my horse with me for not much extra cost, if not i will be living at home. I will have done my major exam by the time the foal needs breaking


and i need to learn to listen and not take things to personal, i understand where you all are coming from
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That's good. I had to sell my foal when I went to uni. I thought it was unusual you had a French Trotter! Don't see many of those around where I live. Do you have gorgeous countryside to hack in?
 
I'm still confused
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You have said that this has stemmed from your instructors advice- that you are prevented from progressing because of Hemir's conformation etc hence she has recommended getting a youngster...

I still find that confusing advice given that you don't have confidence in your riding ability but I've perhaps not understood the situation correctly... anyway- what confuses me most is that putting your mare in foal doesn't solve the problem your intructor highlighted? If you are being held back by Hemir then you are going to be held back even more by a foal that you aren't going to even be able to sit on for another 4 years from now? Surely, as other have suggested it would make more sense to spend the fortune it would cost (to bring a foal into the world and keep it for all those years) on a nice baby you can enjoy sooner?
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Good luck whatever you decide, as others have said no one is 'slating' you- far from it!
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I think you have received some really good advice but then, as I say- I'm not sure I have understood your situation exactly right hence my questions LOL!
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Ok firsty, school masters arent 'boring'. A school master isnt a boring plod, a true school master is an EXPERT in its field, somethimes the good school masters are far from novice rides!

Secondly how does buy a youngster help you advance? Buying a youngster makes you step back in your own riding as you have to concentrate on getting the youngster UP to where YOU are!

Thirdy, putting the mare in foal is going to give you a riding horse in about FIVE years time, so what do you do in the meantime, just not progress?

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