Is your aim to breed your own horse of a lifetime?

[Harthill]

Last year, William Micklem wrote that 80% of breeders breed horses for a maximum of 10% of people. But is it possible to breed a horse for all riders? Do you think we give enough thought as breeders to what we are really wanting to breed? The type and temperament we need? Are we breeding our horse of a lifetime or in 5 years’ time will we be at the stage where we need to build in the option that this foal may be destined for a career with a professional? What do you think about your own forward planning?

 

[Scarlett]

I certainly set out to breed my one in a million. I pretty much knew this would be my one and only chance to do it and I had access to a fantastic stallion that, I believe, would help produce a talented but rideable horse for me to bring on 5 years down the line. I agonized for months over stallions, I looked into all the eventing 'names' but I was wary of breeding something that I wouldn't be able to ride one side of in 5 years. I see beautifully bred horses for sale from amateur homes where they have just been too much horse for their owners and didn't want that for myself.

As it is my lovely mare produced a fantastic filly who shares the stamp of both parents and I hope will be a super eventer/allrounder that, should the worst happen and she ever need to be sold, be suitable for a competent amateur to fulfill their ambitions in style but never be over horsed.

From the time I spent stallion and youngstock window shopping there are too many 'potential 4*/Grand Prix/whatever' horses out there and not enough good, athletic but rideable, tough, mid-level amateur horses, hence why I tried to breed one.

 

[AdorableAlice]

I am fortunate in that I have had my horse of a lifetime. The horse I have just bred is a steady forgiving type for me to enjoy my riding into old age. Yes the stallion was very carefully selected to compliment the mare, to ensure a correct type in both conformation and temperament.

 

[Harthill]

I certainly set out to breed my one in a million. I pretty much knew this would be my one and only chance to do it and I had access to a fantastic stallion that, I believe, would help produce a talented but rideable horse for me to bring on 5 years down the line. I agonized for months over stallions, I looked into all the eventing 'names' but I was wary of breeding something that I wouldn't be able to ride one side of in 5 years. I see beautifully bred horses for sale from amateur homes where they have just been too much horse for their owners and didn't want that for myself.

As it is my lovely mare produced a fantastic filly who shares the stamp of both parents and I hope will be a super eventer/allrounder that, should the worst happen and she ever need to be sold, be suitable for a competent amateur to fulfill their ambitions in style but never be over horsed.

From the time I spent stallion and youngstock window shopping there are too many 'potential 4*/Grand Prix/whatever' horses out there and not enough good, athletic but rideable, tough, mid-level amateur horses, hence why I tried to breed one.

It seems that the UK does have it's fair share of non commercial breeders who are getting it right, your post is full of sense. Do you think it's the commercial breeders that aren't really creating the right foals for the UK market?

 

[Tiddlypom]

I bred my 2 year old filly to be my own horse of a lifetime, but to equally be suitable for any 'decent average' rider to enjoy if I am too old and creaky to ride by then and I have to sell her on.

The sire is renowned for passing his correct conformation and sensible temperament onto his progeny, and is still sound and competing in his 20's. I viewed him at his own yard, standing happily in his stable with just a chain across the doorway although there were mares in the nearby stables. He was shortly going out for a hack where he was to nanny a youngster.

The dam is similarly a very trainable talented mare. My filly is a lovely type, though if I am picky I would prefer her (for my own use) to be a bit chunkier (like Dad).

There are many, many riders who just want a calm, sensible, enjoyable horse to have fun with. There don't seem to be enough of them to go around.

 

[amy_b]

I bred my filly for myself going against the typical eventing 'names' and chose a stallion to suit my mare.
With regard to people breeding horses with a 'professionals temperament' I actually think the responsibility lies somewhat with the stallions owner to inform the mare owner if the stallion is abit 'quick'. I know of certain lines that I wouldn't touch with a barge pole through experience but I don't think temperament/rideability is something you can easily get the truth about.
If the stallion has competed at the Olympics, his offspring are all winning and you met him once and he was lovely how are you to kn

 

[AdorableAlice]

It seems that the UK does have it's fair share of non commercial breeders who are getting it right, your post is full of sense. Do you think it's the commercial breeders that aren't really creating the right foals for the UK market?

Possibly, but equally many pleasure riders/breeders over estimate what they want or can cope with and use the wrong stallions or breed from mares not really worthy of breeding from. Put the best mare to the best stallion and put the best rider on. For mere mortals like myself, I opted for a sensible ID stallion to produce a general riding horse/hunter stamp to look after me in the slow lane.

Perhaps pleasure horse breeders don't study the temperament traits of certain stallions. If you look at the racing world it is common knowledge Montjur produced hot heads.

Britain has wonderful native breeds, but it seems a rarity to see the classic cross of TB x large native anymore. I am currently looking for 2 horses. A top quality (Hoys standard) middleweight hunter, put a wanted out and had lots of replies and inundated with warmblood weeds. Where are the british hunters. Also want a 16h chunky gelding, few of those about but they are all cow coloured.

 

[TheMule]

I'm breeding purely for myself, going all out and doing embryo transfer from my very precious mare. I picked a young jumping stallion whose conformation complements hers perfectly and who has all of the qualities I hope for in my foal. If the foal comes out like its mother I'll be thrilled and if it takes more from the sire I'll be equally thrilled.
I spent a huge amount of time looking for the perfect stallion for her and everything else I looked at would have been a compromise.

It should be saleable should circumstances dramatically change as both parents are proven in performance to keep a mid- high level amateur like me happy.

Many forget that pros in England dont often buy foals, they buy horses ready to produce and go for talent over specific bloodlines or young horse credentials. The problem is, if you breed to sell and your produce are not quite talented enough and have a slightly dodgy temperament, what is the future for the horse?

 

[amy_b]

I bred my filly for myself going against the typical eventing 'names' and chose a stallion to suit my mare and I couldn't be happier with the results at this stage. Eventing is proving near impossible to breed for 5 years down the line anyway because today's 5/6 year olds were bred where dressage was too influential and now we (not all!! Some!) don't have enough blood. In 5/6 years they could decide to bring roads and tracks back in, in which case we would be screwed!!
With regard to people breeding horses with a 'professionals temperament' I actually think the responsibility lies somewhat with the stallions owner to inform the mare owner if the stallion is abit 'quick'. I know of certain lines that I wouldn't touch with a barge pole through experience but I don't think temperament/rideability is something you can easily get the truth about.
If the stallion has competed at the Olympics, his offspring are all winning and you met him once and he was lovely how are you to know if he is a professionals ride? You can ask, the owner might play it down.
But I quite disagree with not using stallions purely because they are ridden by pro's, why shouldn't/couldn't you breed a horse for yourself that breeding wise could go to the Olympics if you so wished? However unlikely it might be, if we breed for the top there are going to be plenty that fall short for us commoners so why breed something specifically for it..? I don't understand. And there is no way that I, as an amateur wouldn't buy something by Uthopia out of Farouche. (If I won the lottery!!!!)

 

[Rollin]

Yes. My Olympic showjumper!!! Out of a much loved CB mare and by our own Shagya stallion.

 

[Rollin]

Possibly, but equally many pleasure riders/breeders over estimate what they want or can cope with and use the wrong stallions or breed from mares not really worthy of breeding from. Put the best mare to the best stallion and put the best rider on. For mere mortals like myself, I opted for a sensible ID stallion to produce a general riding horse/hunter stamp to look after me in the slow lane.

Perhaps pleasure horse breeders don't study the temperament traits of certain stallions. If you look at the racing world it is common knowledge Montjur produced hot heads.

Britain has wonderful native breeds, but it seems a rarity to see the classic cross of TB x large native anymore. I am currently looking for 2 horses. A top quality (Hoys standard) middleweight hunter, put a wanted out and had lots of replies and inundated with warmblood weeds. Where are the british hunters. Also want a 16h chunky gelding, few of those about but they are all cow coloured.

You are right about the TBxnative.

Two Olympic SJ were by Lord Fairfax(CB) xTB mare of unknown breeding. Ditto John of Gaunt who won Burley CBxTB mare.

At this weeks RIHS 1st and 6th place went to part-bred CBs. (mw Hunter) Oathill Take the Biscuit went of to win the championship (25%). Another pure bred CB has qualified for HOYS as a middle weight hunter.

 

[JC1]

When looking for my last horse to ride I struggled to find a nice young horse for me to produce (very much the amateur!) to hunt and for top end riding club activities. I decided to start breeding my own!
My first I sold to riding club friend and she is just breaking her in. She is going to be a very talented all rounder if she continues as she has started.
I have made it my aim to breed top quality all rounders that average riders can cope with - mostly sticking to ID x TBs.
Time will tell if my plans are working but I am very pleased with the 2 year olds and yearlings I have!
I have several friends that have chosen top class eventing stallions and have bred very beautiful babies - not sure how many will actually be able to ride these sharp babies themselves!

 

[JanetGeorge]

I have made it my aim to breed top quality all rounders that average riders can cope with - mostly sticking to ID x TBs.
Time will tell if my plans are working but I am very pleased with the 2 year olds and yearlings I have!

That's very close to my aim - although mine is accompanied by my obsession with the pure-bred ID. Sadly, in the current market, the BIG problem is that it's hard to sell them until they are backed and riding nicely - so I have FAR too many 2 year olds and yearlings I KNOW I'll still have at backing time!

I confess I've just started having a little play with something 'different' - and have 2 lovely foals this year by H Tobago - out of sport horse mares who've previously always been to my RID stallion. And this year I've put one of those - AND an RID mare - to H Tobago, and an AID mare to the stunning Trak. stallion, Latin King.

My one problem with IDs at present is the obsession of the graders with 'type' - and not enough (IMHO) with movement! When my buyers are generally FAR more interested in movement and trainability!

 

[lme]

I find this discussion fascinating. I already have what I think is my 'horse of a lifetime'. A home bred, opinionated alpha mare who is tough, cheap to run, athletic, versalle and clever enough to keep us on our toes. She's just come back from a successful week @ pony club camp with 14yo who'd scarcely ever ridden her before & (if all goes to plan) will spend the rest of the summer doing dressage, SJ & polocrosse and a bit of XC . We were going to breed from her this year but, as 14yo has decided to continue riding her on a long term basis, breeding plans are on hold. When we do breed from her, we will probably go for a top end SJ or dressage stallion (depending on which family member the foal is for) rather than try and breed another all rounder. I've found that, as they get older, my kids have either wanted to focus on one discipline or have become occasional riders.

 

[magnum2010]

You are right about the TBxnative.

Two Olympic SJ were by Lord Fairfax(CB) xTB mare of unknown breeding. Ditto John of Gaunt who won Burley CBxTB mare.

At this weeks RIHS 1st and 6th place went to part-bred CBs. (mw Hunter) Oathill Take the Biscuit went of to win the championship (25%). Another pure bred CB has qualified for HOYS as a middle weight hunter.

love to know the name and breeding of the pure bred if anyone has its name that would be great

 

[Harthill]

I find this discussion fascinating. I already have what I think is my 'horse of a lifetime'. A home bred, opinionated alpha mare who is tough, cheap to run, athletic, versalle and clever enough to keep us on our toes. She's just come back from a successful week @ pony club camp with 14yo who'd scarcely ever ridden her before & (if all goes to plan) will spend the rest of the summer doing dressage, SJ & polocrosse and a bit of XC . We were going to breed from her this year but, as 14yo has decided to continue riding her on a long term basis, breeding plans are on hold. When we do breed from her, we will probably go for a top end SJ or dressage stallion (depending on which family member the foal is for) rather than try and breed another all rounder. I've found that, as they get older, my kids have either wanted to focus on one discipline or have become occasional riders.

Your mare sounds like a super mare to breed from, when or if you decide to put her in foal, and you have decided to go towards SJ or Dressage will you look for a proven sire, or would you take a gamble with a young stallion who's stock are not yet known very well?

 

[Casey76]

I really do hope to breed a foal or two in the future, not only for me, but to help protect and preserve the breed as Mérens are still a very rare breed (just coming back from almost extinction in the 1970s).

The bloodline side of things I find incredibly fascinating, and obviously with such a small number of approved stallions it's quite illuminating to see how various studs are propogating thier lines.

My now 2-yo has absolutely top of the line breeding (national and international champions for conformation and movement on both sides), and I still have occasional passing regrets at gelding him, however I really couldn't offer him the lifestyle he deserves as an entire. He has two younger full sisters, but both of them take more after their dam, while Blitz is almost the spitting image of his sire.

Also within the breed there have been significant changes over the past fore years, so the breed is evolving. I.e. in the 1990s the Mérens were removed from the pony register, and now the breed standard height is 145 - 155cm, though being under or over height won't be disqualifying if the rest of the standard is adhered too. This is becasue traditionally bred mountain horses are generally smaller and stockier than thier "plains" bred brothers and sisters, due to the value of the nutrition available at birth.

And there I go again... I am passionate about this breed, and it is something I could harp on about for hours - and i keep forgetting that not everyone is as interested as I am lol

Sorry :/

 

[no_no_nanette]

I really do hope to breed a foal or two in the future, not only for me, but to help protect and preserve the breed as Mérens are still a very rare breed (just coming back from almost extinction in the 1970s).

The bloodline side of things I find incredibly fascinating, and obviously with such a small number of approved stallions it's quite illuminating to see how various studs are propogating thier lines.

My now 2-yo has absolutely top of the line breeding (national and international champions for conformation and movement on both sides), and I still have occasional passing regrets at gelding him, however I really couldn't offer him the lifestyle he deserves as an entire. He has two younger full sisters, but both of them take more after their dam, while Blitz is almost the spitting image of his sire.

Also within the breed there have been significant changes over the past fore years, so the breed is evolving. I.e. in the 1990s the Mérens were removed from the pony register, and now the breed standard height is 145 - 155cm, though being under or over height won't be disqualifying if the rest of the standard is adhered too. This is becasue traditionally bred mountain horses are generally smaller and stockier than thier "plains" bred brothers and sisters, due to the value of the nutrition available at birth.

And there I go again... I am passionate about this breed, and it is something I could harp on about for hours - and i keep forgetting that not everyone is as interested as I am lol

Sorry :/

I came across the breed when we holidayed in the Pyrenees a few years ago, staying at a B&B which was run by a (?Dutch I think?) family who bred Merens horses and Newfoundland dogs. We loved what we saw of the breed, although I seem to remember that when my daughter and her friend were offered rides they found them quite exciting to manage!

 

[ChestnutTinker]

I'd love to breed my own horse, don't know when or what breed though

 

[Rollin]

I really do hope to breed a foal or two in the future, not only for me, but to help protect and preserve the breed as Mérens are still a very rare breed (just coming back from almost extinction in the 1970s).

The bloodline side of things I find incredibly fascinating, and obviously with such a small number of approved stallions it's quite illuminating to see how various studs are propogating thier lines.

My now 2-yo has absolutely top of the line breeding (national and international champions for conformation and movement on both sides), and I still have occasional passing regrets at gelding him, however I really couldn't offer him the lifestyle he deserves as an entire. He has two younger full sisters, but both of them take more after their dam, while Blitz is almost the spitting image of his sire.

Also within the breed there have been significant changes over the past fore years, so the breed is evolving. I.e. in the 1990s the Mérens were removed from the pony register, and now the breed standard height is 145 - 155cm, though being under or over height won't be disqualifying if the rest of the standard is adhered too. This is becasue traditionally bred mountain horses are generally smaller and stockier than thier "plains" bred brothers and sisters, due to the value of the nutrition available at birth.

And there I go again... I am passionate about this breed, and it is something I could harp on about for hours - and i keep forgetting that not everyone is as interested as I am lol

Sorry :/

I am so pleased to find another rare breed enthusiast on this forum. The French have done a wonderful job in preserving this breed and bringing it back from the brink. We watched a wonderful ridden display at EquitLyon two years ago.

Would that we could learn from them!! Only 20 pure bred Cleveland Bays last year and it looks like even fewer this year.

 

[Foxford]

My next horse will be bred for me. I'm hoping to use a mare with my geldings bloodlines and put her in foal to an ID stallion (as yet undecided!). I already have my horse of a lifetime and so I'm cheating by trying to replicate him, and take a chance at producing another superstar before I hang up my boots!

 

[GinnieRedwings]

It seems that the UK does have it's fair share of non commercial breeders who are getting it right, your post is full of sense. Do you think it's the commercial breeders that aren't really creating the right foals for the UK market?

I'm not sure any of us can say for certain that this is the case across the board. There are at least 2 commercial breeders that I know of on this forum (HenryHorn & JanetGeorge - I hope they won't mind me naming them) who breed horses that are sound and sane and who, given the right rider and training, could very well go up the ranks, but will not be a complete thorn in the side of the less ambitious rider. And those are the horses we need more of. Because when you look at the for sale ads, the "sane, sensible, rideable by all" horses tend to be gypsy cob types and the odd hunter type imported from Ireland. The former is not what most people who want to do a bit of competing aspire to own, and the latter is not necessarily a reliable option in view of the proportion of "broken down" animals that reach us due to various factors associated with the production of young horses in Ireland.

I also know of non-commercial breeders (and I'll have to, sadly and regretably, but you live and learn, include myself in that statement) who have a half decent mare and think they might strike lucky by using a top stallion and breed a world beater... and end up with a youngster who fits in the category described by Scarlett in the first part of the statement below:

From the time I spent stallion and youngstock window shopping there are too many 'potential 4*/Grand Prix/whatever' horses out there and not enough good, athletic but rideable, tough, mid-level amateur horses, hence why I tried to breed one.

The second half of her statement regarding not enough mid-level amateur horses is also spot on.

The thing is those "good, athletic but rideable, tough, mid-level amateur horses" are not bought and sold as foals or even youngsters. They are bought and sold as 7 to 10 year olds, well schooled and sound. Gold dust & hen's teeth spring to mind. That market is not relevant to breeders: What commercial breeder can afford to bring their foals to that stage before selling them? Add to that the incidence of OCD and other developmental diseases in the Warmblood population, buying a young horse is a seriously risky business.

Fashion has a lot to answer for. When I first came to England 20 years ago, there was only one sort of horse to have and that was a TBxID imported from Ireland. Hundreds of small dealers started made the trip and coming back with lorryloads and the supply became (in my opinion) about quantity rather than quality. Lots of broken down, screwed up animals started making their way from dodgy dealer to pillar to post. Then the Warmblood obsession came along. How many petrified 16 year old girls on prancing shiny animals snorting like dragons have you seen at local shows in the last few years? The dealers trips are now to Holland and Germany, where big breeders are happy to offload their rejects onto us. Does it make any sense that you can buy an impeccably bred KWPN 4 year old, under saddle and loose jumping 1.40 x 1.40 oxers in style for less than it costs for me (as a one-mare owner) to get a very well bred foal on the ground? Admitedly, I haven't seen those youngsters' x-rays... The point is, the only people making money are the people who can buy youngsters for a pittance off breeders and produce them to a decent standard to 7 years old.

I lost my thread a bit in the above rant. Sorry about that. There are a lot of professionals out there, stallion owners, commercial breeders, even to a certain extent the bef, who by taking an elitist stance on breeding are pushing non-commercial breeders to produce animals they can never sell, if they don't want them to end up in Tesco burgers, the many "'potential 4*/Grand Prix/whatever' horses" Scarlett is talking about. "Breed the best to the best" is unfortunately looking very narrowly at high level competition success - which doesn't necessarily mean anything that will ever be useful to the average rider, or 90% of the horse-buying publc.

 

[no_no_nanette]

Completely agree. And "the best" is very widely interpreted. Best in terms of having top-level potential? Or best in terms of producing the sort of sane, robust and sufficiently talented horse for an amateur to enjoy and take up the ranks .... but probably not to the top? With our very large leisure market in the UK that's where the numbers are. But then there are few leisure riders who want to take on an unbroken or very green youngster, and even fewer who are willing to pay the actual cost of breeding and producing them, let alone for the breeder to expect to make a profit .....

 

[Foxford]

It sounds as though we almost need two streams of professional breeding: world class horses and competitive amateur horses.

I would buy and produce the latter (and have done) but I'm under no illusions about my talent as a rider! The former "stream" of horse would destroy my confidence and my finances! I'm a competitive amateur and I'm lucky that I've found a type of horse that suits me. If I won the euro millions I'd be setting up a stud to breed nice native crosses. The amount of people I know who spend more time with their horse injured than they do riding it is astounding. With the price of livery as it is, I can't afford to be without my horse for months on end! These are also the kind of riders who will never get to the limit of the horses scope or ability because they don't want to compete at that high a level. I guess it's about people being realistic of their own ambitions and finding a horse that will match them.

 

[lme]

Your mare sounds like a super mare to breed from, when or if you decide to put her in foal, and you have decided to go towards SJ or Dressage will you look for a proven sire, or would you take a gamble with a young stallion who's stock are not yet known very well?

Yes, if he complemented my mare, was a nice person and I liked his bloodlines. We were going to breed from her this year and the stallions in our shortlist included one with no stock above the age of 3. Ideally, I'd want to have at least seen foals by a stallion.

 

[volatis]

You can aim to breed a high level performance horse without sacrifcing soundness or trainability.
Just means you might be to sacrifice fashion.
If you aim to breed an athletic horse from proven performance stock, and dont compromise on the tranability or soundness, then there is no reason your average amateur competitor cannot have a lot of fun on that horse at the lower and medium levels of their chosen sport.
If you aim to only breed average, what happens if the foal is less than you expected.

And in addition, many horses advertising as 'world class' bloodlines, destined for the top, etc, are not. They just happen to have an element of sport horse breeding, and probably a few great grand fathers that are well known. This does not mean they were carefully bred with an international career in mind.

 

[Lgd]

Yes. My first foal was bred as a 'one-off' with the aim of producing something rideable for an experienced amateur who has to work full time (me ) but still has the potential for GP dressage. I did a lot of homework and took a long time with my stallion shopping. The dam is my retired advanced dressage horse who competed to Inter I and worked at GP level. It was either baby or GP and decided on baby as my gut feeling was that I would break her going for competitive GP. Stallion was competing small tour and about to go big tour when I put her in foal.
The foal took reserve champion at her KWPN keuring and is now under saddle. She is proving to be incredibly talented and despite being backed late as a 5yo she is already comfortably working at medium level and shows great potential for the higher level work.

My one-off turned into 3 from that mare as I repeated the breeding twice. Sadly lost the best of the three at 9 weeks old, but have the middle one who is now 3yo and looking to be as good as his big sister.

I have also bred one from another mare with the intention to sell. He has sold to an amateur and has beautiful movement and temperament to die for. His dam has competed to PSG but is so laid back we call her the hangover pony and his similarity to her is what made him so saleable.

Another reason I bred the first one because I could not find something of the quality I wanted that wasn't going to kill me at a sensible price at the time. It is all well and good professional breeders aiming to produce an olympic horse but that leaves a big gap in the market for the ambitious amateur.

 

[Asha]

Another reason I bred the first one because I could not find something of the quality I wanted that wasn't going to kill me at a sensible price at the time. It is all well and good professional breeders aiming to produce an olympic horse but that leaves a big gap in the market for the ambitious amateur.

This is why i bred from my mare. A few years ago, a few of us where chatting about the lack of quality, sensible allrounders about 15.2-16hds for ladies just like us. We had all been through the mill with horses who where not as described and personally had had enough of being lied too. So thought i would try and breed my next one, for when my lovely mare finally retired. I chose the stallion based on what i wanted to improve on my mare. Which was simple, something with longer legs. Everyone laughed at her good, but short pony like legs! A friend of mine has a large stud, so i went along and met her stallions. I went with her recommendation. He was lighter in bone, long legs and a fabulous temperament to match my mares.Did i get what i wanted, err no. The stallion really stamps his stock, so have ended up with a (potentially) talented SJ. He still has his mums wonderful temperament, but may have enough potential to do more than i need. I hadnt thought of that, just expected another version of her. Hes been at a pros yard who will compete him for me. ( seriously excited about that). So bred from her again, this time with a bit more insight, picked a different sire, and now have what i wanted. She is her mothers daughter, with longer legs and a temperament to die for. so i now have 3 horses of a lifetime !!

 

[chaps89]

There are at least 2 commercial breeders that I know of on this forum (HenryHorn & JanetGeorge - I hope they won't mind me naming them) who breed horses that are sound and sane and who, given the right rider and training, could very well go up the ranks, but will not be a complete thorn in the side of the less ambitious rider. And those are the horses we need more of. Because when you look at the for sale ads, the "sane, sensible, rideable by all" horses tend to be gypsy cob types and the odd hunter type imported from Ireland. The former is not what most people who want to do a bit of competing aspire to own, and the latter is not necessarily a reliable option in view of the proportion of "broken down" animals that reach us due to various factors associated with the production of young horses in Ireland.

This. As some-one who has been selectively horse hunting for a while now & without 'contacts' in the industry to rely on sourcing something without extortionate dealer prices I can safely say the above is spot on & could really do with changing.
Not only is there the high end of the breeding market with horses with potential but the other opposite end to consider also, the many backstreet breeders churning out utter cr*p (scuse my french & certainly no reflection on anyone on this board that I am aware of) who believe their horse to have 'HOYS potential' etc etc & sell foals for minimal cost to anyone & everyone.
It seems to me to be the middle ground that is missing out, yet due to the costs involved with breeding, such horses also seem to command relative price tags so maybe it isn't viable for the average small band amateur to produce such horses & make a profit? I know nothing of breeding so could possibly be widely missing the point but I do wonder if it is a contributing factor.

 

[hjsanders]

My 'once in a lifetime' popped out 2 months ago and is the love of my life. The reason I chose to breed now was due to opportunity just happening to arise. I was due to finish vet school in three years time and this tied in with potential foaly being ready to start playing around with when I graduated. I had a lot of friends around that I was able to call in favours off and support me whilst away so not being able to take the mare to uni with me wasn’t an issue. The mare was given to me on loan, an opinionated standard 'chestnut mare' British Warmblood by Wanniger x Dallas, whose breeding, movement and looks made up for her bad attitude. Spurs in her hocks put an early end to her dressage career so although bred for great things her true talent was never realised (although standing in a field for 18 months has suited her very well!) After shopping around looking at a lot of German stunners and contemplating completely blowing my budget on an 'oh if only!' dad, a friend turned round to me and gave me the best horsey advice I have ever received. She asked me 'Did I want to enjoy my horse or my horse's breeding?' and what she said made perfect sense. With a very hectic career ahead of me and not being blessed the talent or the finances to whiz a horse around Burghley, that question brought me back down to earth. I chose Old Leighlin (IDSH), recommended to me by hunting farmer old boy. Not fashionable or flashy, he was local, well mannered, put together and a good solid type. What swung it for me was the fact he was the same age as me and still going out hunting every season. An added bonus that he was well within price range. He was just a good allrounder reliable stallion, a type that seems to be getting harder to find.
So now I have my little bay colt who I can’t wait to have many an adventure on. It turns out now that after more research that he is half-brother to Minuteman, Rumpy Pumpy and Trefeinon Icon so maybe that eventing career isn’t out of the question!
Here's the man himself!