PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
Or too small...
No need to bother with 'experts' that might not tell you what you want to hear, or, God forbid, charge you for the priviledge of their many many years of experience. I have an innate understanding of exactly what you need to hear to assuage any creeping feeling of doubt or guilt.
Here's a question I received earlier;
"Dear PF,
I've got a 20 year-old mare whom I've owned for 16 years. She's jumped grade A and produced several wonderful foals. I now think she's getting on a bit; a bit creaky and her supplements cost a bomb. I don't want to have to fork out for her to end her days peacefully in a field, loved and pampered, rewarded for many years of service. Can I sell her on as a broodie? I think someone can squeeze a couple of foals out of her and then I can make a bit of money on her and not have to be out of pocket for her retirement.
I'manidiot"
Dear I'manidiot
Yes, of course you should sell her on. There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't make a few bob after all the money you've spent on her over the years. Vaccinations, shoes, worming, hay/feed, rugs, tack... all add up over the years and if she ends up with someone who doesn't want to fork out for veteran care and she ends up in neglected, abused or starved and she gets traced back to you, you can always write a book about what a wonderful horse she was and how you love her so much.
Result!!
Another letter from a concerned onwer;
"Dear PF,
My 17hh gelding has recurrent lameness issues, in fact he hasn't been sound for over a year. The vet says he should have scans, but I haven't got insurance and can't afford it. Also he's getting thin and I I'm a bit worried about my feed bill over the winter. What can I do? I don't want to sell him as he's lame, can he go as a companion?
Shouldn'townahorse"
Dear Should'ntownahorse
Yes, of course he can. No matter that small, young ponies that live on air are going for pennies at market, SOMEONE will want to take on your huge poor-doer as a companion and won't mind paying for the extra feed and rugs he'll need coming into winter. I know some people will tell you that some unscrupulous people will bute him up and sell him on before you even have time to blow your nose and wipe that single tear off your cheek, but don't listen to them. That hardly EVER happens.
One more;
"Dear PF
My mare rushes fences with her head in the air. The fences are about 20cms. She's been like this for 4 years (was like this with her previous owner) and her only speed is warp. What can I do to slow her down? Can I use draw-reins? I've been riding for 2 weeks and can almost do rising trot.
Speeddemon"
Dear Speeddemon
Yes, definitely use draw reins and also the strongest bit you can find; a pelham with just one rein (bottom ring!) should do the trick. If you can put it on upside down, it's even more effective. Don't forget to strap her mouth shut with a flash or grakle, fitted just above the nostrils and use a standing martingale. Attach the martingale to the flash (bottom strap) for maximum effect.
Last one for now;
"Dear PF,
I've got a 15 year-old mare who is unsound and dangerous. Her previous owner was a very experienced rider who had taken her on as a project she but gave up when the mare bolted into traffic and threw her into the path of a car, breaking both legs, 4 ribs, her collarbone and sustaining a hairline fracture of the skull. She has to be stabled because she jumps out of every field she's in and is costing me a fortune in fence repairs and boredom toys. She's got no papers and has never so much as caught a glimpse of a showground but she can obviously jump, right? Should I breed from her?
WTFamIthinking"
Dear WTFamIthinking,
Yes! Definitely breed from her. I'm sure you could make a few bob from a foal. Since she's not got any papers herself, I wouldn't bother getting a registered stallion. Just get a coloured stally as coloureds are very popular at the moment!! I know established breeders are struggling to sell beautiful, well-mannered, papered youngstock at the moment, but clearly your mare is SUPER talented and you'll sell the foal easily. Don't worry about her temperament; anyone who knows about horses will overlook the 'quirkiness' in favour of the super-talent your foal will inevitably have, and he might not inherit the soundness issues, so I wouldn't worry about that either.
Also, although breeding CAN be expensive, if you find a young, unregistered stallion it'll cost almost nothing at all and there's no need for scans or the vet during pregnancy or foaling; She'll pop it out no worries at all.
Anyone wanting advice need only ask
Satisfaction guaranteed
No need to bother with 'experts' that might not tell you what you want to hear, or, God forbid, charge you for the priviledge of their many many years of experience. I have an innate understanding of exactly what you need to hear to assuage any creeping feeling of doubt or guilt.
Here's a question I received earlier;
"Dear PF,
I've got a 20 year-old mare whom I've owned for 16 years. She's jumped grade A and produced several wonderful foals. I now think she's getting on a bit; a bit creaky and her supplements cost a bomb. I don't want to have to fork out for her to end her days peacefully in a field, loved and pampered, rewarded for many years of service. Can I sell her on as a broodie? I think someone can squeeze a couple of foals out of her and then I can make a bit of money on her and not have to be out of pocket for her retirement.
I'manidiot"
Dear I'manidiot
Yes, of course you should sell her on. There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't make a few bob after all the money you've spent on her over the years. Vaccinations, shoes, worming, hay/feed, rugs, tack... all add up over the years and if she ends up with someone who doesn't want to fork out for veteran care and she ends up in neglected, abused or starved and she gets traced back to you, you can always write a book about what a wonderful horse she was and how you love her so much.
Result!!
Another letter from a concerned onwer;
"Dear PF,
My 17hh gelding has recurrent lameness issues, in fact he hasn't been sound for over a year. The vet says he should have scans, but I haven't got insurance and can't afford it. Also he's getting thin and I I'm a bit worried about my feed bill over the winter. What can I do? I don't want to sell him as he's lame, can he go as a companion?
Shouldn'townahorse"
Dear Should'ntownahorse
Yes, of course he can. No matter that small, young ponies that live on air are going for pennies at market, SOMEONE will want to take on your huge poor-doer as a companion and won't mind paying for the extra feed and rugs he'll need coming into winter. I know some people will tell you that some unscrupulous people will bute him up and sell him on before you even have time to blow your nose and wipe that single tear off your cheek, but don't listen to them. That hardly EVER happens.
One more;
"Dear PF
My mare rushes fences with her head in the air. The fences are about 20cms. She's been like this for 4 years (was like this with her previous owner) and her only speed is warp. What can I do to slow her down? Can I use draw-reins? I've been riding for 2 weeks and can almost do rising trot.
Speeddemon"
Dear Speeddemon
Yes, definitely use draw reins and also the strongest bit you can find; a pelham with just one rein (bottom ring!) should do the trick. If you can put it on upside down, it's even more effective. Don't forget to strap her mouth shut with a flash or grakle, fitted just above the nostrils and use a standing martingale. Attach the martingale to the flash (bottom strap) for maximum effect.
Last one for now;
"Dear PF,
I've got a 15 year-old mare who is unsound and dangerous. Her previous owner was a very experienced rider who had taken her on as a project she but gave up when the mare bolted into traffic and threw her into the path of a car, breaking both legs, 4 ribs, her collarbone and sustaining a hairline fracture of the skull. She has to be stabled because she jumps out of every field she's in and is costing me a fortune in fence repairs and boredom toys. She's got no papers and has never so much as caught a glimpse of a showground but she can obviously jump, right? Should I breed from her?
WTFamIthinking"
Dear WTFamIthinking,
Yes! Definitely breed from her. I'm sure you could make a few bob from a foal. Since she's not got any papers herself, I wouldn't bother getting a registered stallion. Just get a coloured stally as coloureds are very popular at the moment!! I know established breeders are struggling to sell beautiful, well-mannered, papered youngstock at the moment, but clearly your mare is SUPER talented and you'll sell the foal easily. Don't worry about her temperament; anyone who knows about horses will overlook the 'quirkiness' in favour of the super-talent your foal will inevitably have, and he might not inherit the soundness issues, so I wouldn't worry about that either.
Also, although breeding CAN be expensive, if you find a young, unregistered stallion it'll cost almost nothing at all and there's no need for scans or the vet during pregnancy or foaling; She'll pop it out no worries at all.
Anyone wanting advice need only ask
Satisfaction guaranteed
