As you've all followed my blogs, you know that JC (Buck Almighty) has had a good show season for a 3 year old. He is qualified for the 3 year old finals in Kansas City the week before Thanksgiving. Now, the decisions...do we take him? There is huge prize money, but no guarantee he will win. Do we show him at the Wisconsin Futurity Horse Show in 3 weeks or wait until the Mane Event horse show in October? If we wait until the Mane Event show, it gives him more time to get stronger and it is closer in time span to Kansas City. We are leaning towards that because we think we can make a more rational decision when there is only 4 weeks separating the two shows as opposed to 8 weeks. The other thought in going to Mane Event over the Wisconsin Futurity is the fact that I will have the cast off and be able to walk again. This is a positive for Mane Event.
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Sunday, August 31, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
It Must Have Been that Horse!
I recently broke my leg. That is not humorous, but the reaction I have gotten from people is. The first thing people have said to me is, "Oh my you fell off your horse," or "Oh my you got hurt by a horse." They immediately blame the horse. No, I did it putting my pants on. Horses have a reputation as being dangerous. I am not saying that there aren't horses who may not have the perfect temperament and that accidents on horses don't happen, but that quick reaction of it must have been the horses just cracked me up. read more
Friday, August 22, 2008
Considerations of Breeding Part V
Early Training
As the baby grows and develops into a yearling, they start to get much bigger. You have decisions to make at this point. First of all, you have to decide whether or not you are going to train the baby yourself in which case you are going to make sure you have all the equipment necessary for starting the training process. You will need a lead chain, lunge line and eventually the equipment to long line the colt. These are the beginning steps in training. You also have to make sure you have the riding apparel you will need such as jodphurs, boots, working gloves, and chaps. It would be beneficial to make sure you have a bull pen or a small area to start training in as babies will tend to pull you around a bit. read more
As the baby grows and develops into a yearling, they start to get much bigger. You have decisions to make at this point. First of all, you have to decide whether or not you are going to train the baby yourself in which case you are going to make sure you have all the equipment necessary for starting the training process. You will need a lead chain, lunge line and eventually the equipment to long line the colt. These are the beginning steps in training. You also have to make sure you have the riding apparel you will need such as jodphurs, boots, working gloves, and chaps. It would be beneficial to make sure you have a bull pen or a small area to start training in as babies will tend to pull you around a bit. read more
Monday, August 18, 2008
Considerations of Breeding Part IV
Other Considerations
When the foal reaches about 6 months old, the baby is going to have to be weaned from it's mother. Do you have enough room? How are you going to separate them? They will yell for each other. It is easier if you have had the mare and foal out with another mare and foal. This way you can turn the babies out with each other and the mares out together in a separate field. You are going to have to learn to ignore the noise. If it bothers you,get some ear plugs. read more
When the foal reaches about 6 months old, the baby is going to have to be weaned from it's mother. Do you have enough room? How are you going to separate them? They will yell for each other. It is easier if you have had the mare and foal out with another mare and foal. This way you can turn the babies out with each other and the mares out together in a separate field. You are going to have to learn to ignore the noise. If it bothers you,get some ear plugs. read more
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Considerations of Breeding Part III
The Baby
The filly pictured is 2 months old. She is Shilo. She is now changing colors. She began as a bright chestnut and is now turning liver like her mother. The only reason I was able to see her is because she ended up with Pneumonia and had to be shipped to the veterinary clinic. This clinic happens to be 2 miles from the barn that my horse's are at. As discussed in an earlier blog, the babies are kept at another farm. Another thing to think about when deciding whether or not to breed is what if the baby gets sick? Shilo has had to spend almost a month at the clinic. By the time she got there, she was so sick they didn't know if she was going to make it.
When you are a breeder, there are things you have no control over. Read More
The filly pictured is 2 months old. She is Shilo. She is now changing colors. She began as a bright chestnut and is now turning liver like her mother. The only reason I was able to see her is because she ended up with Pneumonia and had to be shipped to the veterinary clinic. This clinic happens to be 2 miles from the barn that my horse's are at. As discussed in an earlier blog, the babies are kept at another farm. Another thing to think about when deciding whether or not to breed is what if the baby gets sick? Shilo has had to spend almost a month at the clinic. By the time she got there, she was so sick they didn't know if she was going to make it.
When you are a breeder, there are things you have no control over. Read More
Friday, August 8, 2008
Considerations of Becoming a Horse Breeder- Part II
Foaling Time
Well, we've made it to about a month prior to the mare foaling. Now, how early or late she foals depends on her previous history. If she is a maiden mare, you won't know and will find out soon. You need to decide where you are going to have the mare foal. If you choose to have her foal on the farm, it is now time to get a foal alert. This is just like a human baby monitor. You put one part in the stall and the listening device by you so you can hear if anything is going on. You could also just get up every hour and check on the mare. You could decide, especially with a maiden mare, to have her foal at the equine hospital where you know there is someone there 24/7. There are the added costs of keeping the mare at the clinic. We tend to send ours about 2 weeks prior to foaling. A good indication of when she needs to be sent is either prior history or when the mare starts to bag up. If the mare has been pasture boarded only, this would be the time to start bringing her in at night.
Read Complete Article
Well, we've made it to about a month prior to the mare foaling. Now, how early or late she foals depends on her previous history. If she is a maiden mare, you won't know and will find out soon. You need to decide where you are going to have the mare foal. If you choose to have her foal on the farm, it is now time to get a foal alert. This is just like a human baby monitor. You put one part in the stall and the listening device by you so you can hear if anything is going on. You could also just get up every hour and check on the mare. You could decide, especially with a maiden mare, to have her foal at the equine hospital where you know there is someone there 24/7. There are the added costs of keeping the mare at the clinic. We tend to send ours about 2 weeks prior to foaling. A good indication of when she needs to be sent is either prior history or when the mare starts to bag up. If the mare has been pasture boarded only, this would be the time to start bringing her in at night.
Read Complete Article
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Considerations of Becoming a Horse Breeder
Part 1 Pre Baby
We have been breeding American Saddlebreds for 23 years. We first started because a mare we had got hurt, and she had such good bloodlines that our then trainer told us to breed her. When I think back over all the babies we have had, I realize how much has gone into this business. First off, we do not own a farm. We have always had to pay someone to keep the mares and the babies. When deciding whether or not to breed a mare, the first factor to consider is cost. These costs begin way before the baby is born.
The initial cost, of course, begins with the stud fee. Stud fees can be anywhere from $250 up to $10,000 or higher. It is a myth that just because you breed to the most expensive stud, you are going to end up with a fabulous baby. This is not the case. Finding the right stallion requires extensive research on not only the bloodlines of your mare, but how that line will cross with the many stallions that are out there. You also need to research the bloodlines of the various stallions which may involve a trip to look at some of his get to see what he produces.
read more
We have been breeding American Saddlebreds for 23 years. We first started because a mare we had got hurt, and she had such good bloodlines that our then trainer told us to breed her. When I think back over all the babies we have had, I realize how much has gone into this business. First off, we do not own a farm. We have always had to pay someone to keep the mares and the babies. When deciding whether or not to breed a mare, the first factor to consider is cost. These costs begin way before the baby is born.
The initial cost, of course, begins with the stud fee. Stud fees can be anywhere from $250 up to $10,000 or higher. It is a myth that just because you breed to the most expensive stud, you are going to end up with a fabulous baby. This is not the case. Finding the right stallion requires extensive research on not only the bloodlines of your mare, but how that line will cross with the many stallions that are out there. You also need to research the bloodlines of the various stallions which may involve a trip to look at some of his get to see what he produces.
read more
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