Inappropriate questions to breeder?

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stuurmandressage

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Hello everyone,
I was emailing a breeder again the other day asking questions about one of their stallions. I have been emailing them a lot, wanting to know about characteristics he threw, what the offspring are up to, etc.

When I eventually asked them how his hooves, and teeth were; and if he had been ill or lame during his career I was asked why I required all of the information and told that those questions had no baring on his abilities as a good sire.

Was I out of place? Asking about his health and general well being? I'm trying to find the best stallion for my mare and I was a little confused on why my questions were being taken as invasive and the answers were so closed.

How does one respond?

...and if I was out of place what are the questions a mare owner MUST ask a stallion owner or stud?

Thanks again for the help!
 
Don't worry I always ask for a concession when I contact owners about their stallion for my graded mare, I don't see what his teeth have to do with the stallions performance or ability to sire good foals (I suppose if you want to know if he had a parrot mouth) but I think you should be able to ask stallion owners whatever you like. At the end of the day if you don't ask you don't get
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I would always encourage a mare owner to come and see my boy in the flesh, I know this is not always possible but I would not be worried about any questions asked by them.
Everyone has differant ideas of what they are looking for in a stallion, and for many it may be the only time they breed from their mare and want to make sure that they breed the best , therefore will want to ask all sorts of questions and IMHO there is nothing wrong with that at all.
When a mare owner rings me I always ask them to make a list of things they want to know, and bring it with them when they come so nothing gets forgotten.
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I'm afraid I always go and see for myself.They could just tell you what you want to hear, but its up to you to do the legwork.I'd agree totally about the feet, you know the old saying, and as I use TB mares, feet are a big consideration.
 
if you have been emailing them a lot, could it be your email was just another in a long line of emails and they could see no end in sight lol

It might be better to think of all your questions and then put them in one email

I think all questions re a stallion's health etc are valid, but maybe not an endless number of emails perhaps
 
Here here well said Breezes Mum, we all like to talk about our boys and help you get the right breeding choice, as stud owners we do get time wasters people who book an appt to see your boy and dont turn up or people who come for a day out in the country! I had an old bat in slippers turn up out of the blue and then starrted talking to me infront of a customer but we need to know you are really not just wasting our time as we all get this happening every stud season, and it takes our time away from genuine customers whos mares we care about I had one customer who use to text me repeatedly asking me if it was raining and other silly questions so try to bear with us.
I would follow the advise above.good luck
 
I agree with Breeze_mum and angrove, you also might not be the only person doing this, so the owner might have several emails to answer everyday.

But I do think a stallion owner should be able to answer any and all questions concerning their horse.
 
Providing all questions are directly related to the possible outcome of a match between your mare and the stallion then I dont think any questions are inappropriate. I do think mare owners should try to ask all questions in one or two emails though and not constantly be sending emails every other day. Find out what you need to find out and make the decision. I wonder if the stallion owner is starting to think you are a timewaster?
 
Unfortunately I am unable at the moment to go and take a trip to where the stallion is located. (Although I would love to.) The distance also hinders me from being updated in what is going on in the show ring or with the young stock that is growing up.

I am also VERY new to the breeding of warmbloods which makes me uncertain about things that I was never uncertain about before in my previous experiences. So far the warmblood performance system has been educational, and useful.

I completely agree about the email thing, although I'm not sure if I would count myself in the group of "time waster" just yet. I surely do not email them every day. Let alone text them!!! That is a scary thought. I have sent out 8 emails over the course of two months. Most of my questions I had answered in the first and second email. The last few questions I had, came to me after I had some time to think and contemplate the information I had been given. At this point I am very sure on my decision, and don't see any other questions along the line of the stallion or who I would ship semen through.
 
As a stallion owner I am happy to answer questions posed by mare owners, and encourage them to come and see him. I appreciate that travelling is sometimes not posible and therefore the only way a mare owner can obtain a good understanding of the stallion is to ask Q's. I am sure we have all thought after the event, I wish I had asked.......such and such!
 
Do stallion owners make up a dvd for those mare owners that cannot visit the stallions?? I would do this. Perhaps this should be another post?? If someone couldn't visit but would like to see him on a dvd that could be arranged, for individual needs, some would like to see close up or in the stable (manners) etc.

What does anyone think? probably be done and sorry if it has.
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simster i would definately want to see the horse on a dvd if i couldn't see it in the flesh. this is how i picked ellies dad. i am sure a lot of people would be interested in see the horse on dvd if not in the flesh
 
Well you never gave us one. Must be time for a visit anyway. Now that the weather is thawing! Looking forward to the flooding (NOT)!
 
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