The future of Commercial Breeding.

[Wot_u_c]

Is there a future? Are there those who attempting to earn a living from the breeding of equines, are holding their heads above water and/or are they earning enough to support a business, which would include perhaps a family? Are there those who have balance sheets which will stand inspection? It would surprise me if there are many. Equally, it would surprise me to hear that there were those who weren't supporting their breeding programmes without secondary incomes!

If we accept that this isn't a recession any longer, but the way that our lives are, then perhaps those who are waiting for an upturn in the economy, whilst storing foals born now in the hope of suitable sales in 4 or 5 years time, may well end up in financial failure, I predict.

I see back-able youngsters being sold now, and apparently made of the right stuff, only to be offered for little more than the cost of their stud fee.

With this decline in the "industry", if that's what it's ever been, is it a good thing that those mares which are of lesser commercial value (thinking racing here), are being pensioned off, or put down? Are we in need of this apparent purging?

Can anyone see light at the end of the tunnel, without it being a bank manager with a torch, hunting them down?

 

[Rollin]

For us not a business at all and no the balance sheet will not stand inspection.


We breed to preserve two rare breeds. We don't breed more than we can afford to run on. I have actually turned down a good offer for a 3 year old shagya filly and I have another prospective purchaser.

We are retired and breeding is our retirement hobby not a money making venture.

I do know that most of the VERY few pure bred Cleveland Bays foaled this year are already sold. A case of supply and demand? There was a time when people wanting a pure bred CB placed an order and joined a waiting list before the foal was born.