To Breed or Not to Breed

Lucy's a smart girl. Here she is hoping for something. Food. An adventure. Maybe a boyfriend?

True, she's got Buddy to boss around. But perhaps she'd like somebody more studly. Like a real stud.

Lily has been dying to breed Lucy for several years. And now I wish we'd done it last year. At some point, Lily is going to want something fancier than Buddy. That could be Lucy, since Lucy is a lovely mover (though not fancy fancy). And she is as athletic as a cat, and way too smart. Lucy is 9, I think, and Buddy is 10. Or maybe they're both a year older. Lily is 13.

I don't know if I can or should convince Paul, but I'm looking into some of the studs in our area. Right now the leading contender is a lovely Hanoverian. Lucy is a nicely bred TB mare. I think this would make me a backyard breeder and on Fugly's bad list. Though breeding a registered, nice TB to an approved Hanoverian probably would keep me out of that category, though it still wouldn't mean I know what I'm doing. (I need to quit reading MiKael's blog or looking at all my neighbor's foals.)

My father, who would legitimately be on Fugly's bad side for all the mixed up horses he bred (and took care of and thought they were beautiful and useful, to his credit), said that having foals was one of the most fun things he remembers doing and what's wrong with us for not already having done it?

Paul ain't into extra horses. Vet bills. Random events, like taking a gamble on the gene pool and the birth process. He's also not into paying $$$ for a nice horse after Buddy has taken Lily as far as Buddy can go. So maybe there's hope for talking him into it.

It would be fun to raise a baby. I used to help my father. One of them was a cross between a Tennessee Walking Horse and a five-gaited mare. That horse was like a ten-speed. He could do any gait, though sometimes he got his feet tangled up. I made him walk, trot and canter (only) and taught him to jump. To my eyes he was a handsome thing. Here is one of the only photos I've got. Click to enlarge, if you wish. His name was Snuffy and he was a good sport. Because he was a mixed breed and wasn't at all delicate, he once stepped on a giant nail that went all the way up through his frog and the point stuck out above his pastern. He wasn't even lame. But back to the issue of breeding Lucy.

Lily has been forced to save money in a savings account since third grade that she can one day spend on something she really wants. She says this is what she really wants. I'm afraid the foal won't mature fast enough for her ambitions for it. And what if it's born with three legs? Fugly? Etc.?

I guess that would be a good life lesson.

And if we don't talk Paul into it? Well, there's always trickery. We simply don't know HOW Lucy got pregnant. Somebody must have hopped over the fence.

I would never do that. I don't think.

Comments

[Mud Ranch]

I believe that in today's market you better breed with the foal in mind and that you're prepared to keep it for the rest of it's life. With the economy being as bad as it is, hay and fuel prices being so high, I'd be wary of breeding for a foal myself. But! I have five horses and am looking to get down to two... If Lily wants a foal to raise and train, go for it! It is fun, and I don't think I'd call you a "backyard breeder" for breeding your mare. If you did it every year and produced many unwanted foals, then yes.

[risingrainbow]

I don't think that breeding your mare once to get a particular foal you have a plan for is a problem.

But then you should probably know that I don't agree with much of what those on fugly have to say. I think it's easy to sit back and criticize others for being part of a problem that you really don't totally understand in the first place.

While granted there are some people breeding some really poor quality horses and just cranking them out, that doesn't make every person who breeds something, those on fugly don't understand, irresponsible.

To me it's like our parents telling us to clean our plate because there are people starving in other places. Cleaning our plate didn't help those starving people at all.

It's no different with unwanted horses. If I stop breeding horses and you don't breed your mare that's not going to fix that problem. The problem of unwanted horses is a complex issue and can only be addressed by getting to the real root of the problem.

I think that your reason for wanting to breed your mare is totally valid. If you pick a really good stallion whose get you have been able to see so you know he passes on what you want, you have a very good chance of getting what you want.

Mud Ranch is right about the market. And as the prices fall you might be able to get a really great horse for not much money, but to be honest, I doubt it.

I also think that breeding the mare could be a good lesson for Lucy. Granted things can go wrong, but that's one of life's lessons isn't it. Also, there's that thing about teaching our children that they can reach for their dreams. Sure there might be problems along the way, but that doesn't make those dreams impossible only more valuable. If she has been responsible enough to save for this, worrying about what those on Fugly might say isn't a good reason to deny her.

[Beckz]

I love both of the horses we have bred, and raising them from foals is both educational and fun. It's also nice to raise your horses yourself so they come with the problems you cause not other peoples lol. If you breed a nice mare to a nice stallion chances are you will have a nice foal. Just make sure they both have good legs.

[Grey Horse Matters]

If it's really what you want to do and you are educated on how to raise and train a foal then I see no harm in it. If other people don't like or agree with your decision, too bad. I whole heartedly agree with everything MiKael had to say, she is one person who obviously knows what she is talking about, and she makes some valid points for you and your daughter to try it if that's what you really want to do.

[Kathy C]

Wow, went through all those questions last year when we were deciding to breed Classy. Which, obviously I did, and have the proof on the ground. I must say I am SO glad I did it. Emmett will be Shyla's horse when he matures. She wants to own horses her entire life, and this was the best way to get a good horse within our price range.

It sounds like she is being responsible about saving up the money, and lord knows shes as dedicated a girl as I have ever seen (or read about). I'm with the others who say find a stud who has a good mind and good legs and go for it.