to breed for personal keeps...?

[gingerchance]

Hi, i'm having a small quandry at the moment. its rather long winded so please bear with me I bred my first welsh cob foal this year to bring on and possibly sell. i also have a 3yo cob stallion and hope to eventually have a small stud. i also have a 7/8 TB mare who is my absolute darling, i've owned her for 9 1/2 years and love her to bits. She doesn't have to do anything to earn her keep and is playing the role of happy hacker with a novice rider at the minute. She has nice paces and tremendous scope but her limbs don't seem to be strong enough to deal with the hard work required to jump BSJA, she did a couple of months at BN level and got quite a few clears, was jumping about 1.10 - 1.15 at home, but as i said, she keeps getting ligament trouble at this level, she is now completely sound again. she will 13yo in the spring, i would love a foal off her for me to ride that i would keep forever and a day as it would be an extension of her. BUT i realise that it is irresponsible to breed from substandard mares, has anyone else ever had the same question buzzing in their heads?? put a piccy on of her so u can see her overall conformation

[/IMG]

 

[millitiger]

i wouldn't ever breed from a mare who had soundness issues when only jumping 1.10m unless caused by an accident as opposed to a weakness in the leg (can't really see her front leg conformation with the wraps on )

also, as much as people breed to keep imo unless you can guarantee a home for the next 25+ years it's not realistic.

I know people do breed from horses with lameness issues but imo it is such an expensive and emotional game to play to end up with another horse with the same problem.

 

[eventrider23]

I do personally love the look of the mare (although would like to see front legs) but as said already I would first ascertain what the soundness issues are caused by....injury or inherent weakness.

 

[vicijp]

I think she's a nice type of mare. How long have you had her? You will never know what her unsoundness is caused by so I wouldn't worry about it if everything else is adding up.
Is the plan to put her to the cob? If so I wouldn't hesitate at all, but tread carefully if going to a TB stallion.

 

[gingerchance]

Hi guys, thanks for replying i would be planning to keep the foal for the whole of its natural and as im only 25, unless something dreadful happens, a home for 25+ years is feasible. i can try and find a pic of her without boots to show u guys, she also has a twist on her hoof that i neglected to mention and in my opinion (oh that sounds big headed dont it) i think that is what weakens her leg as i said this little mare owes me nothing, she helped me after i was in a road accident with my pony at 15 yrs and without her i would not have horses at all now i'll prob chicken out anyway, shes just so special

 

[Kao]

I knew a mare who was broken 3 times because of a twist in her leg that eventually tore her tendon.
As sentimental as a breeding can be, and even though you can give the foal a home for life, it's just not really fair on the foal. Especially if you were breeding for another sport horse to compete to a substantial level.

Just my opinion, but obviously a lot of people breed these finer horses to cobs and drafts to get a thicker set horse with better legs and other good traits you wouldn't otherwise get from a hotblood.
IMO, I wouldn't breed from her unless you where breeding a for a light working horse or allrounder if she where crossed with a heavier horse.

 

[cruiseline]

Hi guys, thanks for replying i would be planning to keep the foal for the whole of its natural and as im only 25, unless something dreadful happens, a home for 25+ years is feasible. i can try and find a pic of her without boots to show u guys, she also has a twist on her hoof that i neglected to mention and in my opinion (oh that sounds big headed dont it) i think that is what weakens her leg as i said this little mare owes me nothing, she helped me after i was in a road accident with my pony at 15 yrs and without her i would not have horses at all now i'll prob chicken out anyway, shes just so special

A twisted foot would most definitely put pressure on the structures of a horses leg, that is for sure. But a twisted foot in a horse is not necessarily an inherited fault, it can be environmentally induced too (nature v nurture) and lack of correct and regular foot trimming when young (first 8 months are crucial) as apposed to a hereditary fault. All breeders need to be diligent with their foals foot care programs, in order to avoid this exact same thing happening. I am not saying this is what has caused it, but it is quite possible, lack of professional foot care is the #1 cause of a twisted foot.

I think it is unfair to say that this mare WILL pass on a weakness, no-one knows that for sure, just as no-one knows if a horse will not pass on a weakness even when none are evident. That is what makes breeding so interesting, you just never know.

I would suggest you critic your mare as honestly as you can, then find a stallion that is strong where she is weak. This will hopefully lower the odds of getting a weakness coming through, but there are no guarantees, even with the 'best' mare and the 'best' stallion, it is all a gamble, a throw of the dice.

Good luck with her, she looks like a nice type to me and obviously means the world to you, that is how it should be, regardless of strengths or weaknesses.

 

[warbank]

I'd go for it, you have said you will keep the foal, no matter what, plenty of people have 'pets', just because they love them, if you were selling on as a competition foal then she's probably not the best broodmare, but whats wrong with breeding from a cherished mare that you love.
I have known plenty of quality mares, put to fantastic stallions that have produced sub-standard foals, and also outgrown ponies that go on to have super foals that do very well, breeding is always a gamble, you never know what your going to get......

It is very important when choosing the stallion that you take into account all her weaknesses, conformation, temperament, ability, and try to enhance the foals chances to improve them, after all soundness is a major issue, sometimes it is difficult to be objective when you love her so, ask someone you trust to find the faults, then pick a stallion to compliment her.
Personally I always put temperament at the top of my list, you are keeping this foal for life, it needs to be a nice person, and not flatten you all the time.

Good Luck on whatever you decide.

 

[bj_cardiff]

She's a nice looking mare, I think I would breed from her but as another poster said, with the cob or an ID/ISH rather than a wamblood/TB type, ideally something who's strengths might balance out her weaker points.

I think people place far to much emphasis on breeding for to keep forever, who knows if you'll get on with the horse under saddle, you could have a fantastic foal with the best of both parents but equaly you could end up with the worst points of each too. Its a gamble, if you can afford to raise a foal why not!