what would you do?

volatis

volatis

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www.volatis.co.uk
I have a mare that is 17 this year. I didnt breed her back last year as her foal was a late one and I wanted to start her earlier the following Spring. However in the meantime I decided I was desperate for a riding horse and the old girl came back into work and I am having a blast riding her. So I am now planning not to recover her till next year (09)

Now I am suddenly dithering a bit. She produces super foals, very saleable and maybe it is a bit foolish (when trying to make a living from breeding) to leave her empty for another year, especially s she is getting on a bit. I could still ride her for the first few months she is in foal.

But on the other hand she is being the most amazing nanny to the young horses I am bringing on, and if we can get out competing again it will be helpful for when I take her for her SHB grading this year, and she will be in good shape for that too.

I seem to be in a real dilemma over this, I so want to keep riding her all year (will have Elf to take over as main riding horse come next year) but is that a bit of a luxury when her main job is a broodmare?
 
I would put her back in foal. As you say you can keep riding her, but as you know you never can predict when these good mares will stop breeding and they are more scarce than you think. Plus having bred with her helps further choices.
We have an advanced mare who cant breed from now (we nearly lost her prolapsing) and seeing her three year old filly evolve I really wish we could have more.
 
Oooh get back on her, pop her in foal and keep her going till she needs to stop, that way you get a bit of fun and a baby from her!
 
ashbank - depends on how well we do under saddle this season, but probably not a lot as at 17 she's not likely to go Grand Prix in a season
smile.gif

her foals always attract buyers as they have a certain stamp about them and as she already does have a competition record I dont think adding to that competition record will change buyers minds much. I was hoping to get her looking really muscled up and fit for her grading though, and that wont be till September.
 
Well, this is it really then! You can play around with the youngsters, and use her as a broodmare. Light work in early pregnancy will maintain the condition and muscle required for the grading, and she can do her broodmare job at the same time.
 
Volatis, you could easily bring her back into work, have her covered, and then keep up her training after a couple of weeks. We had our De Niro mare in work while being covered in Germany last year, they just kept her ticking over lightly while she was being inseminated.
 
It does seem the sensible choice, I just would love to have a whole year competing her, she's the most fun I've had in ages, but from a financial point of view it is a bit daft to leave her empty.
Thanks to all for being a sounding board, once I had written it down it seemed a no brainer

Now to think about stallions for her!
 
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