Should I breed again?

[_daisy_]

I bred my first foal last year and am thinking about putting my mare back in foal next spring. Problem is I dont know whether to or not and if I do who to use.

So who would you put her to if she was yours?
16.2hh 13yo IDxTB (sire D'arcy Dancer) done ODE, SJ, XC. Very good jumper. Shes short coupled but has good confo. Shes very wick but that doesnt bother me. Shes been a great mum and bred a gorgeous foal last year (sire Primitive Star)

 

[AmyMay]

I think the first question I would be asking myself is - has she bred a nice foal?, and the second is - can I afford to keep three horses?

Which stallion did you use last time??

 

[magic104]

I saw Primitive Star on Tuesday he is with a dressage rider now nr Crick. Can you post some photo's then we can see the mare & foal, easier to advise. But Amyway is correct in asking if you can afford 3, or are you breeding to sell?

 

[_daisy_]

HI A_M,
I think shes bred a nice foal and a lot of people on here thought she has. At the mo ive got 4 horses and there is the possibility we may have to sell the foal if we breed again but id like to keep it. There is any problem with the cost of keeping the foal. She went to Primitive Star last time

 

[_daisy_]

Magic - ill PM you the photos (long storry ill tell you in the PM)

There is a chance we may have to sell the foal but im planning on keeping it to compete later on. I have 4 at the mo so another one isnt much of a problem.

 

[AmyMay]

Well go for it. It's gone well once, and she's proved herself to be a good mum etc.

Mmmm now what to choose.

Sports horse type or spefic discipline??

 

[_daisy_]

I dont know thats what ive been thinking myself. Do I go for a ID, WB (though ive heard ISH xWB doesnt always mix that well) or go for a TB?
If I get to keep it then I would really like it to event

 

[_jetset_]

Han is IDxTB, and Troy's sire is WB...

They have really produced a cracking little foal in my opinion (but then I am biased) and I would certainly breed her to a WB again in the future

But only after I have put Grace to Jazz

 

[_daisy_]

Troy is a cracking foal and you arent just being a biased mummy. Hes just lovely. I just dont know whether its going a bit far with the breeds? oh I dont know. Maybe like Magic has said, Shes bred a cracking foal to Primitive Star so I should stay with him? Maybe I could have a mini me no.2

well you know my thoughts on the girls. I would love breed from the big girlie but thats going to be way way down the line - she needs to do some bloody work first and proove herself. Have been thinking about stallions for her too - really liking Sandro Hit but his fees are abit too much.

 

[_jetset_]

Sandro is my choice I think for Han next time (or something like Krack C that looks a bit finer)

 

[_daisy_]

yes both are nice, just the £2k+ figure that puts me off

 

[_jetset_]

I have definitely decided that if I was to breed Grace, Jazz if my 1st choice. I think he would really compliment her. And the way things are going, she might be put into foal sooner than I had planned

 

[_daisy_]

dont say that Becki. have you thought about gel pads in her front shoes? or shall I whisper it ***barefoot*** worked for my girly - shes 100% sound now and back in work!

 

[_jetset_]

Grace used to be barefoot before I got her, but with the amount of competing we do and the work I do with her, they soon started cracking and looking dreadful which is why I put shoes on her. My farrier was concerned because one crack was heading straight to her coronet band

 

[_daisy_]

how odd, mine have all gone loads better, even so Ebis are not cracking, splitting or anything. I do have a barefoot trimmer rather than a farrier doing it so maybe thats the difference?!?

 

[magic104]

That is the key to going barefoot, you need them trimmed in a slightly different way to when they are being shod. I never had a problem when we were in Congerstone the farrier there specialised in barefoot trimming (though shod as well). Down here it has not been so easy to find a barefoot farrier.

 

[_daisy_]

thats what I have found. I dont think my trimmer has actually had to cut anything away from my horses feet. The main thing is the rasping to shape. Not so that they dont grow lots of foot but they wear it down like theyre supposed to do.
Shame you cant find a barefoot trimmer as easily where you are. - I only found mine by chance