Equestrian Fashion
Member
So guys I was wondering what you look for in a stallion when picking for your mare and what stallions you have used in the past or ones that you are thinking about using in the future? 
Picking a fella for your lady?
- Thread starter Equestrian Fashion
- Start date
Neburu
Well-Known Member
I would look at my mares conformation and see what needs 'improving' for example straight shoulder and long backed.
So I would look for a stallion that didn't have a straight shoulder or a long back.
I would also be looking at the current progeny of the stallion and how they have turned out.
It would have to be registered etc to know I was breeding a good quality foal that I could enjoy throughout its life.
Personally I wouldn't breed with so many unwanted horses around at the moment you could pick up a lovely foal cheap and without the added expensive of stud fees and the stress of the mares pregnancy.
So I would look for a stallion that didn't have a straight shoulder or a long back.
I would also be looking at the current progeny of the stallion and how they have turned out.
It would have to be registered etc to know I was breeding a good quality foal that I could enjoy throughout its life.
Personally I wouldn't breed with so many unwanted horses around at the moment you could pick up a lovely foal cheap and without the added expensive of stud fees and the stress of the mares pregnancy.
HBM1
Well-Known Member
Quality, temperament, preferably foals already on the ground and if not young - a competition record. I don't match section for section, but I look at the overall horse in front of me.
Equilibrium Ireland
Well-Known Member
I just had a big huge response typed and it got eaten. Grrrrrrr!
Try and scale down. Be totally honest in your assesment of your mare. Being barn blind is no help. Be honest in what you hope to breed. Even if you want to keep the foal for you think about what people want. If you feel you can buck the trend and breed an UL horse you need these things plus luck. A mareline that says foal has that potential. Not the stallion's ability. Or you spend the money to raise, start, and compete said horse to show people what you have. While you should never breed for mediocracy, most horses need to be able to take a joke. Over sensitive hot messes don't find homes easily. A stallion can not fix everything but they are seemingly supposed to. Just because you love a stallion, he must be compatible with your mare. No point in having the worst offspring by a popular stallion. So obviously the conformation and soundness comes into play. Temperament as well. Don't breed a ratty mean mare who never put her best foot forward because it might "settle" her. Chances are her fillies will be the same. Same way as a nice quiet temperament on a stallion can't just fix the baby. Trust me I deal with offspring that when people ask me my honest opinion I say can't rush, needs patience, lovely boy but you have to really work with more than others. I've lost count of the clients saying, yeah the mare was really difficult but she could really jump so we went to so and so to tone her down. Really jump was loose and never competed because she was a loon or just couldn't handle competing.
At any rate good luck
Terri
Try and scale down. Be totally honest in your assesment of your mare. Being barn blind is no help. Be honest in what you hope to breed. Even if you want to keep the foal for you think about what people want. If you feel you can buck the trend and breed an UL horse you need these things plus luck. A mareline that says foal has that potential. Not the stallion's ability. Or you spend the money to raise, start, and compete said horse to show people what you have. While you should never breed for mediocracy, most horses need to be able to take a joke. Over sensitive hot messes don't find homes easily. A stallion can not fix everything but they are seemingly supposed to. Just because you love a stallion, he must be compatible with your mare. No point in having the worst offspring by a popular stallion. So obviously the conformation and soundness comes into play. Temperament as well. Don't breed a ratty mean mare who never put her best foot forward because it might "settle" her. Chances are her fillies will be the same. Same way as a nice quiet temperament on a stallion can't just fix the baby. Trust me I deal with offspring that when people ask me my honest opinion I say can't rush, needs patience, lovely boy but you have to really work with more than others. I've lost count of the clients saying, yeah the mare was really difficult but she could really jump so we went to so and so to tone her down. Really jump was loose and never competed because she was a loon or just couldn't handle competing.
At any rate good luck
Terri