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

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.
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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.
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