Help me decide on a stallion to breed my mare to! Update #120

[taraann81]

I know nothing about horses.

But I get so tired of people on this site getting on their soap boxes and preaching about ethical breeding. I have pureberd dogs.. Do I breed my dogs? No.. But that doesn't give me the right to tell other people they "shouldn't" breed their dog, horse, zebra, platypus...whatever, Most of the people on this site are adults, I am sure they are familiar with the economy, number of homeless animals, etc... Don't like it... Don't post, I'm sure some random typing by someody with a cute avatar and a made up name isn't going to stop them if they have it set in their head they want to breed their animal.

If a thread asks, should I breed my (insert species here)? Then by all means post away why they should not be breeding said animal. But to open a thread that clearly states something you are opposed to but in the title line is obviously not questioning whether they should or shouldn't,,, Just seems very juvenile. Like people want or NEED to stand on a moral high ground and look down their noses at somebody else, perhaps it makes them feel better about themselves. I am sure all of the people that regularly jump on these threads and posting the "why" you should not be breeding.. Do things that others feel are immoral.. Abortion, eat meat, don't go to church, break the law by speeding, spank thier kids, sex out of wedlock..whatever.. I am sure each and everyone of us do things others could look down on and frown upon...

 

[georgialee]

Quote:
I agree.

I have found that any mention of horses on ANY forum results in the same. I just have to weed through the posts for the constructive advice I can use and ignore the rest. For some reason horses are very, very touchy subject... more than any other animal it seems like.

 

[Celtic Hill]

Im only speaking out experience, look back a few months ago I posted a topic about my mare people jumped all over me. I did lots of research on it and realized alot of things.

@taraann81
Are you aware how many unwanted horses there are? Rescues are filling up with older horses and there isn't much room for the younger ones. There is nothing wrong with breeding, its
wrong when you don't look at the market as a whole

 

[Peaches Lee]

georgialee--Good for you. I really like Falcon, and I agree with you, they should stay with their roots. A lot of breeds have been bred down I feel for a more sporty desire and have lost some of their accolades (like a good temperament).

These horses were meant to pull wagons, required a hefty consitution and store fat well/maintain weight due to the conditions they lived in and the work load required of them. They are a wonderful breed and someday I would like to own one.

I read awhile back in a magazine about the recession and how it's affecting the horse breeding world--and indeed a lot of people are cutting back. But those who can afford to breed now, in the long run, those will benefit when the economy returns because they will have the stock available. Everyone else will be 3 yrs (more or less) behind.

Good luck and well wishes.

 

[taraann81]

Quote:
Not sure how this is relevant to my post?

 

[georgialee]

Thank you, Peaches.

 

[welsummerchicks]

There's only one problem with your righteous indignation.

Those who say there are too many unwanted, poorly cared for horses in the US - that too many people are breeding horses irresponsibly - unfortunately they're right.

You can get just as mad as you want, you can filter out all that - but the problem remains.

 

[georgialee]

was that directed toward me?

 

[EweSheep]

I don't know a whole lot about the horse market but sometimes some breeds are "recession-proof" or they still can make money during the hard times when people are not spending.

If OP can afford to support the foal if it does not sell, then by all means, go for it. Even better to have a buyer waiting in the wings or "bought as in-utero", they can recoop the money back soon the foal is weaned. Many breeding farms, particuarly the Pasos, are notorious for this and even thru hard times, they do sell a foal or two in utero.

We do have some "pockets" of areas throughout United States that are doing well in most cases even there are shortages but there are a demand of certain items. Gypsy Vanners may be one of those "want to have" or "got to have" breeds now. Strike the iron while it is hot is the motto for breeders that are gaining ground before the market stablizes and then dips downward when certain breeds of horses are in over abundance. Like me, I am glad I sold my miniature horse herd around 2001 before 9/11 when the market was starting to cool off because of a few breeders were churning out miniature horses in quantity instead of quality. If I would have waited, I would not get the market for what I've paid for my minis.

A friend of mine, whose hubby is now out of work, been in and out of work in the last four years, she did not breed any of her Pasos which it is a very smart decision on her part. She has two offsprings she would like to sell but no one is buying at this point in her area and the price she is very firm on.

Not everyone has the liberty to support a foal and breedings and be able to predict how the OP's earnings are going to affect her support in horses. If her husband is out of work and she is breeding, I can see this as a problem. But they are doing fine and if they can support, like the rest of us having too many chickens, sooner or later, the decision is theirs. I may not like OP's decision in breeding her horses but I see the other side of the coin, she knows the predictability of the market on her Gypsy Vanner horses are going for and can sell the foal for that price. It takes alot of homework and research to find out what's selling and what's not selling. Even having the stallion's owner giving out inputs on their future customers can help the market as well.

 

[taraann81]

Quote:
I am not saying there is not too many unwanted, poorly cared for horses in the US. I was not commenting on whether it is ethical or not to breed any animal. I was just saying that it gets tiring to read all these posts from people who jump like a pack of wolves on anybody who mentions breeding. They too all do things that others would see as morally incorrect.
This poster appears to be being responsible, I am curious why so many people feel the need to voice their opinion when it is clearly not asked for?

If they don't believe in breeding an animal, tahts fine. But when some body comes on here looking for advice to find the best prospective stud for their good quality horse, those same people should just pass the thread with out opening it.

Thats what I would do, seems like the common sense response. But then sense isn't really that common. If one poster wanted to mention.. "hey do you realize their are plenty of horses out their that need homes?" Just in case the poster wasn't aware of that information. Then by all means, but that not the way it goes. People tag team and turn a information gathering thread into a debate about wether breeding is ethical or not.

I am getting off my soap box now. Just felt the need to stick up for the op and maybe have people look at what they are typing and why they are typing it in another perspective. I