Why do you breed the horses you breed?

What a super thread, thanks for starting it, Volatis! I've really enjoyed reading everyone's stories. Personally, I have not done any breeding yet, but have been planning for quite a while--when I move back to the U.S., I'll be able to actually do something about it! In the meantime, I will continue to gain experience with others' horses and learn as much as I can.

My hope is to eventually breed (on a very small scale) dressage and H/J circuit horses which are sound, smart, sane, and athletic--the magic formula that everyone aims for! Probably not world class, but ideally horses which can compete and be successful at a regional or national level with good youth and amateur riders. At some point I will likely be looking to infuse some Arabian blood into the mix, but the specifics, of course, all hinge on what mares I will have to begin with. Hopefully the terrible U.S. market will work in my favour and I'll be able to get a couple of good, well-bred mares on loan to start with.
 
I always loved to gallop about the countryside jumping anything on just about anything but an illness put pay to that and for a few years walking was very difficult so I had time to think. I had a young TB mare I had purchased as a yearling to event, she is a very nice type with a good temperament for a TB but I quickly came to terms with my new found limitations and looked for something to breed her to that I could handle and ride. In the meantime I rode my old write off Cleveland Gelding for a while and made the milestone of doing a Hunter Trial with him when he was 24. Sadly he passed away aged 28 this year, but now I am very happy not to jump!

The stallion I chose for my new venture was an American import western horse. The Appaloosa breed had always appealed to me when on a visit to the Calgary stampede I watched a lovely black blanket spot working as a pick up mount for the bronc riders. I was impressed by his attitude, controlled speed and agility, so that had always stuck with me. My mare is largely sprint bred and is short coupled with a good back end so she compliments the western breeds. I was not disappointed with my first foal, though he had no spots! That’s what started off the study into the inheritance of the appaloosa coat patterns.

All her foals so far by 3 appaloosa stallions have been wonderful temperaments, good bone and very much people persons so much so that they are happy to be away from the herd learning new things with just a human for company. They are easy to handle and good height 15.1 – 15.2 hh. The second foal by a working cow horse is a really exciting prospect for me to ride. I also have a ½ sister of hers imported from Canada by the same stallion and really well related. She is a Western trained mare who is a lovely ride and has given me a lot of confidence, her filly is destined for better things being by a World Champion Appaloosa reining horse hopefully and with luck and a talented rider might make the British Team in the not too distant future.

Me I am a total convert to Western riding and its way of training. The versatility and aptitude of the Appaloosa means I can do that but equally my foals can do a bit of just about anything. I always breed for conformation primarily but of course there is the added excitement of what colour and pattern will it be and end up!!
 
I bred Curly to be my next horse to ride. The horse i currently have and ride is 15 now and is likely to need to be retired within the next 4 years due to old injuries, etc. We bought Chika (Curly's dam) as a companion for Tango and Doodle (husband's horse), but she ended up being far to nice a horse to ride to just use as a companion. when we finally got her passport through after buying her we saw her breeding and thought that if we were going to breed, then she was an excellent choice to breed from - lovely ride, nicely put together and superb temperament. The posh breeding only featured as, if for some reason we could no longer afford to keep Curly, then she would be easier to sell with good breeding. What I wanted as my next horse was basically Chika, maybe a bit taller and a bit more bone.

So then we put Chika to Its Without Doubt and ended up with a smashing foal (Curly) who will be mine to ride in about 4 years time and i am very much looking forward to working with a blank canvas over the years to come. Curly should be more than capable of what i want to do - school up to medium level, maybe do a PN event, hack and have fun on (mind you, shouldn't any horse be capable of that!).

bye!
 
Cookie was bred to be my daughters first horse. As with many of you this was a purely financial decision - I knew I wouldn't be able to afford the potential value and hopefully the ability too, of the type I've bred. As she will be aged 14-15 (daughter-not Cookie!!) when we start to break her, I wanted to breed a horse light enough in frame and bone for her to be able to ride but also versatile to be able to turn her hoof to a variety of options including showing/eventing and general riding. She (daughter) is showing a strong interest in eventing which is just as well as Cookie is very brave, has a good gallop and would rather do anything than trot.
If and when she develops her mothers trot too I hope I'll be very happy as she is turning into a lovely animal to have around.

Needless to say, only time will tell if the hours of research have produced what I planned.
I'm now thinking about the next foal. I am still undecided what I want and whether this one will be for keeps or sale. These will be the key factors which will determine the type I'll be aiming for next as some of the more 'commercial' stallions would produce a bigger type than I would choose for either myself or my daughter to ride.
 
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