is breeding worth it anymore?

classic_astra

classic_astra

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just wondering you guys think breeding is worth it these days? i have pie in the sky plans of breeding some showjumpers, im quite good with bloodlines etc so quite confident on paper i could produce something special BUT obviously doing it is another story. i know that you cant guarantee to produce a good jumper but it would be nice to try!

is it financially worth it anymore with the cost of living etc?
 
Financially worth it, probably not, especially starting up from small. It's completely a numbers game.
If you are land rich and fairly agricultural in your attitude and have access to good cheap production jockeys then yes there is a good business to be had - but it isn't all roses and butterflies and you would need to be fairly cut throat in some decisions.

Is it worth it for reasons not solely financial - imo yes
 
classic_astra said:
i did think maybe i could have 2 well bred mares an start from there but i would ideally need my own land, which is something im working towards regardless!
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Not only do you need well bred (there are lots of well bred mares out there, but it doesn't necessarily make them good broodmares) - but you also want them well conformed and proven. People are getting out of breeding left right and centre, so there are mares to pick up - but the really good ones who produce commercial offspring, will still have a fair bit of value in them.
 
i’ve just been talking about this with my non-horsey bf as he asked if i’d ever put either of mine in foal! short answer no it’s not worth it, i’d spend all that money and might not like what i got, i could spend less and buy a foal i do like🤣

when i just had lily we were on an ex stud yard, with same owners, so i could’ve got a foal off her very cheap as i wouldn’t need to send her away to stud - other livery also bred, so i wouldnt be short of experienced people to ask!

now, unless you have the land and knowledge i dont think its worth it.
 
TheMule said:
Breeding for yourself, if you’re willing to risk heartbreak and bankruptcy, definitely worth it!
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I don't think I could ever do it - if I had a mare I liked SO much I wanted a foal from her, I'd be too afraid to risk her! I'd end up buying a foal with the same bloodlines instead....after someone else has taken the financial and possibly emotional risk.
 
Widgeon said:
I don't think I could ever do it - if I had a mare I liked SO much I wanted a foal from her, I'd be too afraid to risk her! I'd end up buying a foal with the same bloodlines instead....after someone else has taken the financial and possibly emotional risk.
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I did ET from my precious mare but lost the resulting offspring as a yearling. I then bred from her properly once she retired from competition and got the most wonderful horse who is now 8 and my absolute world
 
Widgeon said:
I don't think I could ever do it - if I had a mare I liked SO much I wanted a foal from her, I'd be too afraid to risk her! I'd end up buying a foal with the same bloodlines instead....after someone else has taken the financial and possibly emotional risk.
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It’s always a risk, but buying in isn’t the same. It’s weird, when I have seen my foals just born, yes they are cute, but it’s the rush of love for the mare that always catches me out. And then to see the foal pick up the mare’s character is really special.
But completely, I’m sure the guilt and heartbreak if you loose the mare is enough to make anyone think twice!
 
ihatework said:
It’s always a risk, but buying in isn’t the same. It’s weird, when I have seen my foals just born, yes they are cute, but it’s the rush of love for the mare that always catches me out. And then to see the foal pick up the mare’s character is really special.
But completely, I’m sure the guilt and heartbreak if you loose the mare is enough to make anyone think twice!
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I lost my mare in foal, and I have lost a fair amount of horses over the years, and it took me longer to get over. If you buy well in money terms it can be less, in angst terms its a lot less.
 
If you have a really good mare yes

Then you need to blend that with a really good stallion, something with top class breeding and a little different, so the foal stands out, but must be commercial in the sense of looks like has huge potential.

Then of course it will not get sold and you will keep it because it is unique

And would cost a fortune if you had to buy it, that's if the owner would sell it, which they wouldn't

Its complex
 
Financially, absolutely not.

Emotionally, yes. I can't describe how I feel when I look at my little herd of homebreds. How I feel when I walk around the field with them, or sit in the stable with them. How it feels to go to a show and someone comment on your homebred baby.

Am I soft? Absolutely

Is it my income. Far from it.
 
in an ideal world it would be amazing to breed a couple of mares and sell one and keep the other to produce, not in the sense of making money but at least covering some of my costs. theres some very nice stallions around at the moment, ermatige kalone being one, and j-nius being another interesting up and coming stallion.
 
classic_astra said:
in an ideal world it would be amazing to breed a couple of mares and sell one and keep the other to produce, not in the sense of making money but at least covering some of my costs. theres some very nice stallions around at the moment, ermatige kalone being one, and j-nius being another interesting up and coming stallion.
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I've never heard of this horse but just had a quick Google, as you do, and he looks very nice. Plus he also looks to have a good temperament, it seems to me. Wow, imagine having two mares in foal to one stallion and seeing them grow up together.
 
classic_astra said:
in an ideal world it would be amazing to breed a couple of mares and sell one and keep the other to produce, not in the sense of making money but at least covering some of my costs. theres some very nice stallions around at the moment, ermatige kalone being one, and j-nius being another interesting up and coming stallion.
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Don’t worry, there are going to be 100s of Ermitage Kalones born next year!
 
We have some very nice mares and have bred horses we could never afford to buy as adults, its fun (and quite addictive) but its not cheap. Vets fees, expensive stud fees, more vet fees when things go wrong, keep, training etc etc. Its worth it though. I think of it as buying them in instalments.
 
lme said:
We have some very nice mares and have bred horses we could never afford to buy as adults, its fun (and quite addictive) but its not cheap. Vets fees, expensive stud fees, more vet fees when things go wrong, keep, training etc etc. Its worth it though. I think of it as buying them in instalments.
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That’s completely how I see it. But with the caveat you might end up with something you wouldn’t necessarily have wanted to buy!
 
ihatework said:
That’s completely how I see it. But with the caveat you might end up with something you wouldn’t necessarily have wanted to buy!
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I see the 9 month old I bought in the same way - as a nice riding horse being paid for in instalments. Except that as others have said if you buy a baby you already know the basics of what you're getting....if you breed one you run the risk you've described!
 
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