Having a foal from this wonderful, loveable animal would be a marvellous investment, surely only to gain in value in the future. But before making the huge decision to breed your mare and beginning the hunt for a suitable ‘husband’, ensure that you have considered the following very good reasons NOT to breed your mare.
- Because the Foal won’t be Just Like Your Mare
If the main reason for breeding is to have another horse just like your mare, you are on to a loser from the start. Your mare is a unique product of specific genetics and her individual experience, the training she received, the things she has seen and done throughout her life. The foal will be a blank slate with some of her characteristics- and because you can’t dictate which, they may not be her most desirable ones! You may want a filly and get a colt, want a chestnut and get a bay- your perfect foal probably won’t arrive after the long gestation period and the result could be disappointment.
If you want another horse just like your mare, it’s best to look for and buy one, so you can be aware of all the characteristics of the horse you are considering before investing in it. It may take a while but there are things you can do to help make your search successful, such as tracing other horses by the same sire and breeder, and person who trained her. If you like the breeding or training results in your mare, you will probably like them in another horse too.
- Because Your Plans in Just Five Years Time May Preclude Keeping the Foal
What will you be doing in five years? Where do you intend to be? Are you planning a family or moving a long way away, even abroad? Will you have enough time, or the physical fitness, to work with a young horse? Assuming you are breeding for yourself and you intend to keep the foal, you will have your work cut out backing and training a lively youngster.
It’s all very well to say that the foal is for you and will be with you for life, but depending on your stage of life, your age and your health, that just may not be realistic. After all, that could mean another 30 years. If the foal’s only value will be sentimental value to you, it would probably be best not to risk the breeding at all, in case your circumstances change and you are not in a position to keep the baby for life. Without additional value in an open market, this would severely endanger the future of the animal you bring into the world.
- Because There May Not be a Market for the Foal
If you are willing to consider selling the offspring, or that is your intention all along, are the buyers there for the type of horse your mare will produce? Assess her rationally and get some help. Take photographs of your mare and show them to experts, or put your mare’s picture on internet forums, don’t express how offended you will be by criticism, and see what is said about her. Then steel yourself for some harsh words and listen. If she has major faults and these could affect the value of her foal, reconsider seriously. You could be stuck with her progeny when you weren’t planning to be.
At the time of writing the economy is very poor and horse selling opportunities are becoming rare. In a buyer’s market, you are more likely to be facing a loss on any sale of youngsters. Horses in the modern world are a luxury not a necessity... and in the current climate many people can no longer afford luxuries.
- Because the Mare is Unsound
Many performance mares do retire to breeding through injury that would prevent the continuation of a competitive career but leave her sound enough to carry a foal. The key question here is why is the mare unsound? Has she always been unsound? If the mare has never been able to take being ridden, why is that? Her conformation alone could be making her prone to injury when put under saddle, and if that is the case, her foal could inherit the same problem. Do you really want two unrideable horses to look after for years? Here is a matter where you really need your vet’s advice- not only to establish the likely cause of her problem and whether it is likely to be inherited, but also to be confident that the mare is capable of safely carrying the foal without harming herself further.
- Because the Mare has no Notable Bloodlines or Pedigree, or has no Performance Record.
What has your mare achieved in her life? A nice temperament alone is not a good enough reason to breed from her, if she has never achieved anything in the show ring or has not been extremely well bred. She has to have something special about her that other people would want to have that she can pass on to her foal. Good bloodlines are not one nice stallion generations back. A good show record is not one 3rd place at a local show. Again here is an issue where you could use some help from people not emotionally involved in your horse. Get some expert advice on her breeding and records. Don’t breed a mare that’s never been out of the field and has a totally unknown pedigree, just because you can.
Remember, horse breeding is a very expensive business, even without the potential vet bills from something going horribly wrong. It is not a good way to make money and is more likely to be a good way to lose some.
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