Should i even consider breeding?

[classic_astra]

so, i have a 14.2 12 year old warmblood x welsh mare that is homebred, and i would love to have a foal from. the foal would be for me to keep and do a bit of everything with, mainly showjumping (nothing spectacular)
she is by Zesiro (olympic ferro) dam line was unknown but welsh d cob type. would like something a little bigger, and preferably good jumping lines.

but she has very mild arthritic changes in her spine, (not causing any issues so far) so it would have to be embryo transfer IF atall. she is an excellent alrounder, level headed and just a generally lovely person.

it would just be lovely to have her and her mums lines carry on, i had her mum for 17 years.

just pie in the sky at the moment really but just after some opinions

 

[Cortez]

Why would mild changes preclude her having a foal?

 

[Equi]

No.

 

[ycbm]

Is it safe to assume that the arthritis wasn't found by accidentally x raying the spine while looking for something else but as part of an exploration of lameness or performance issues?

It's a no from me sorry, but only because the offspring could end up not what you want or your circumstances might charge and it would need to be sold to someone else. I think it's risky but if you could guarantee it's for you for life that's your risk to take.
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[classic_astra]

she had an injury in the field a few years back and that resulted in some precautionary x rays. never had any performance issues, and is regularly checked by the physio. to be honest as long as its a nice personality and able to hack its not an issue if it jumps in the end or not. just a big bonus if it does. foal would be with me for life, as she was, and her mum before that.

 

[JBM]

If you are keeping the foal and prepared to pay thousands for embryo transfer then I don’t see issues as long as any issues aren’t inheritable

 

[Cortez]

It'll cost a fortune if you're wanting to do embryo transfer - and not sure why you want to do that, arthritis in the spine shouldn't preclude having a foal.

 

[TheMule]

If you’re breeding for yourself and have the right set up then why not? I bred one by ET, it wasn’t actually that more expensive- you can pick up a decent recip mare for free generally and a good repro vet can make it work with just 1 synched (worth sending the mares away to an expert if there isn’t one near you who can scan multiple times a day near ovulation)
Also maximize your chances with fresh semen or chilled by a skilled technician.

 

[ycbm]

she had an injury in the field a few years back and that resulted in some precautionary x rays. never had any performance issues, and is regularly checked by the physio. to be honest as long as its a nice personality and able to hack its not an issue if it jumps in the end or not. just a big bonus if it does. foal would be with me for life, as she was, and her mum before that.

Then I can't see why not if that's what you want. Friends have done it 3 times from 2 super mares and it was rewarding but didn't result in the horses they wanted. Two were sold after backing and the third was PTS at 7 with, probably DSLD/ESPA.
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[classic_astra]

It'll cost a fortune if you're wanting to do embryo transfer - and not sure why you want to do that, arthritis in the spine shouldn't preclude having a foal.

I don't mind paying the extra, I just want less risk for her as she's 12, and less pressure on her back.

 

[Cortez]

I don't mind paying the extra, I just want less risk for her as she's 12, and less pressure on her back.

As I said, I highly doubt that foaling will be any more of a problem for her than any other mare, and 12 is not especially old. I’ve foaled maiden mares at 21 - now that IS old - and another with a healed broken pelvis. She’s a small mare, I don’t see it as a problem.

 

[ihatework]

I wouldn’t be massively concerned about breeding from her due to her back. But equally if you have the money to do ET then go for it, especially if she is still in work and you want to keep riding, it’s done with competition horses all the time and whilst she isn’t of that kind of level the principal is still the same.

What I would say is she isn’t a commercial mare. The sensible advice would be just to go out and buy the young horse you want. BUT I get the sentiment of breeding from a mare you love and has done a good job for you. So as long as you are prepared that you will quite possibly get a foal not to your requirements, it will cost you a lot of money that you will likely never see any return on, there is a chance of complete heartbreak and importantly most livery yards are completely unsuitable for raising young horses (so you will need access to an appropriate set up) - then why not? I’ve found the 2 I have bred very rewarding.

What I would say is that due to your horses mixed unrecorded breeding and your aims being more allrounder then don’t go too flash on the stallion. A good well put together established TB that consistently throws good temperament and jump.