A hard horse decision-what to do??

[babyblue]

for that mare at that age and only the registered mare, if the vet said she was 100% healthy I wouldn't waste her very likely only foal on a young stud, nor would I wait years to breed her. Id honestly sell the colt, sell the grade mare and buy the best stud semen possible and do ai, to further reduce the risk of anything happening to her. (transport injury or rough stud)

also agree with river otter, if this is your best mare and you want her foal, then the momma and you are more then enough for it.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Is this a QH mare? AQHA automatically lists as deceased every horse that reaches age 25 unless you specifically contact them and let them know the horse is still alive. What this policy says to me is that a QH who reaches age 20 is definitely a senior citizen. Is it reasonable to ask senior citizens to produce offspring? If this is an animal you really CARE about, do you seriously want to risk her to a pregnancy?

Rusty

 

[EweSheep]

I personally know alot of Arabian mares produced foals well in their late 20's and early 30's as long proper nutrition and care go hand in hand. If the vet feels like the mare is not in PRIME condition to carry a foal, then he would suggest you not to breed her. However there are people that would do it anyway and they got foals out of them. Surprised their vets LOL!

I would see if you can sell the Palomino colt and get a nice stud fee raised up for your mare. After all, she deserves the best!

 

[dmiravalle]

To be honest, when you post for an opinion, you are going to get OPINIONS

You have to do what is right for you and your mare. I understand you want a foal from her, but the rational of breeding both mares doesn't make sense. If you really want to breed her and the vet gave the ok, you want to breed to the best you can. AI ing is a pretty uncomplicated and much safer than having your older mare breed with any young stallion!

You have put a lot of time on your mare and it shows, I would look at the general concensus here, which a lot of us like you have a vast history with breeding horses, and breed to the best that you can, a well proven stud with a a great career. Your baby you would be bringing in could be with you for a long time or in 10 years you may find yourself in a position that you can't keep her, via financial reasons, injury, time, etc. To say that will never happen is an unrealistic attitude.

You are risking your mare is the bottom line and if you want to take that risk, then make it worth it. To be honest your little guy is cute, but I wouldn't breed to him, and DEFINETELY not the other stud.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

If I were in your shoes I'd be gelding that colt and get training him. There is a pleasure riding horse right there, and no need to risk your mare's life or health to produce a foal at such an old age. Look at it this way, if he is good enough to you that your willing to use him to sire he is the horse you would like to ride too, right? If not then geld him and/or sell him, find one that is the one you want to ride, or ride the younger mare. Breeding a 23 years mare is not fair IMO. Enjoy her for what she can still do, be it light riding or just looking great at pasture. What are your plans for the Palomino after the breeding? There is no market in keeping a stud for service, how many horses can you support? Can you keep a stud for his lifetime, do you have skills, pasture, spare time?

Your situation aside (and not judging or trying to crystal ball what might happen in your next 20 years) I agree with those that say the world has too many horses right now, and we all need to rein in on breeding right now big time. I just had 2 more dumped on me starving folks, and I'm past my limit before that. this are good, experienced, all around QHs that are well trained and sound, not junk or even unwanted. The plight of the other stud says it all, and it's being said with thousands of horses in each state and province right now. All of us need to look at the bigger picture and know that there are great riding horses (or whatever horses) out there already alive that need placement and the current economy and the future in terms of the lifetime of a horse born today is NOT good. We had years of relative wealth were horses were used by many for sport, not work. Even those in middle or lower income could have a horse for fun. Now the sports are diminishing in turn out due to costs of even the sport it's self, not just the cost of having and feeding a horse, and the people just don't have the disposable income they had before. This is made worse by the change in need for working horses too. Ranches don't even use horses like they used to, a quad is easier and only need to be 'fed' when it's running. Cheaper all way around and faster.

Sorry, really not singling you our, honestly I don't support any horse breeding right now, even though I have mares I love and would love to have foals again some time soon I know it's not right. I truly think we need to all be bigger about this and look at the whole picture in a more global or at least National way. The outlook for horses born this next 10 years is very bleak. We need to work together to take care of, and take into able homes those horses that already exist.

 

[Celtic Hill]

I wanted to say something and im saying this for all of us and everyone in the horse world. We arn't attacking you and judging you, But mearly expressing (rather strongly) why breeding isn't a good idea right now.

 

[EweSheep]

I do agree with one exception, we DO have too many horses on the market and what's worse is your financial part of the deal...would you be able to support your horses until the ecomony pick back up, say within ten years?

My friend has a hard time selling her Pasos, for the last five years, the market sucks for her but she is not giving them away for free. She simply stopped breeding her Pasos and let the mares take a break. A very long break without any foals.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Personally, I'd keep the younger one (geld him) and pass on the other.

Or....what is your long term goal with the little palomino? He's registered, but how's he bred? How is his mind/temperament? What are you hoping to accomplish with him later on? Will he be broke to ride? Will you show him? What will you do after you breed him to your mares? Geld him? Sell him? Are you prepared mentally, physically, financially is your set up able to accommodate a stallion's need? Do you plan to handle/house a stallion in the long term?

As for the 22yr old mare, I wouldn't breed her at that age. Especially if she's maiden or been without a foal for a few years. There are just too many other nice horses out there that need homes (the market is so shot right now that you can get some great deals on great horses right now)....

I first bred my mare when she was 10 and she didn't take. The second time, she was 11 and foaled when she was 12. It took me over $12,000 (total) to get her in foal over those two years.

She's 19 now and her "filly" is 7 years old.

My college professor always said that mares have the best foals between 7 years and 12 years of age. I am sure mares have foaled great foals at a later age but even if she doesn't end up barren--the pregnancy would be hard on an older horse.

JMHO.

Edited to add....if you wanted to breed your younger mare, I'd find a well-bred, proven, registered stud with a show record and a great mind. That way, you don't have to fuss with housing/handling a stud.

 

[onthespot]

The younger mare is unregistered, so papers on the stud would only count if they had a recognized half-breed registry, like Arabs, Andalusians, what not. If you got color, you could register it pinto. I'd stick with a stock type horse for her, like a nice paint horse. I'd not breed to the palomino... Not good enough of a horse, IMHO, even for you to keep as a pet. May as well keep the best horse you can. Cost the same. I think I'd pass on breeding the older mare. Just enjoy the time you have with her, which still could be a lot of years. Plenty horses live another decade past 22... Or you could embryo transfer from the older mare, let the grade mare carry for her. I second the opinion of breeding to the best stud you can get your hands on, not the closest one. Sorry so harsh, also not meaning to step on toes... just posting my opinion...

 

[Tinstarmule]

Sorry I’m jumping in here a little bit late but here are a few things for you to think about that may help you answer your own question….

Ok it costs the same to feed, shoe, vaccinate, etc every horse …nice and… not so nice …. And I always want the nice stuff!!!

What is it that makes you like your mares so much that want foals from them? Have they foaled in the past and the babies have gone on to win lots of money…etc…? Or do you just love them because they are yours?

Now if you add a stallion to your heard do you have time to ride/ work him and your mares and the new babies? In addition, add up all the stallion’s cost. And include a special corral for him….he is a stallion. Times that by the number of years you will keep him….

Total cost $____

If you still just have to have a foal out of your mare and your ok with the older mare breeding risk which could be more $$…. What kind of stallion could you breed to for that cost above?

Now add risk factors in…. mare problems or even just a baby with a crooked leg or something… all that $$$ totaled up…and what do you do with a baby that is not sound? keep it forever or put it down? What kind of baby could you buy for all that $$$?

I would do the math and make a decision from there….. Just my thoughts

... Good Luck