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Blessed Are the Broodmares

Sport Horse Breeding
#1

I know that our stallions are often the ones who get most of the attention, but for most of us our broodmares are dearly loved and precious.
Even among them though, there are some who are our ‘Dear Girls’ - for whatever reasons more loved than all the rest.

Today is the 21st anniversary of the death of my precious mare Two Bitter aka Mum- www.pedigreequery.com/two+bitter.
1969 - 1991.

We bought her in 1983, we were poor, just married, and I already had two horses I rode and showed - and boarded out.
A lame, barren, 14 year old broodmare was the last thing I needed.

But she was, quite simply, the most beautiful horse I had ever seen…
We spent every penny we had to buy her, and she changed our lives forever.

With every foal that is born, I look to see her, her beauty, her courage, her kindness and her soundness.
I know that I will never get her back, but I know that a ‘bit’ of her lives on in every foal that is born, by her son, or out of her daughters, and their daughters.

Does anyone feel like sharing their stories of their special beloved broodmares?

#2

I love broodmares BEST.

I love mine, especially my beloved TB mare Gloria C - http://www.pedigreequery.com/gloria+c. Love her for her almost lop ears, her pony face, fantastic movement and what she brings to the table.

I love her best for her safe, healthy and unbelievable carrying of TWINS to TERM, safe delivery, care and nurturing of two BOYS and most importantly, the fact she lived through it. Rare indeed in a TB especially.

Broodmares are the most important part of the breeding equation, period.

#3

Agreed a great broodmare is hard to replace, they are few and far between, but a great stallion is not hard to come across these days especially with so many options available to breeders.

#4

This was my mother’s best broodmare: http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/shin+buck+sally

She always produced the BEST colts. Always. It was a dark day indeed when she moved on to greener pastures. The right broodmare is simply irreplaceable.

#5

Fred is much too modest to post this song, so I’ll do it. :smiley: Most of you have probably already heard it, but it catches your heart and is well worth hearing again. It is Fred’s husband’s song about the purchase of Two Bitter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0c3gA76uPQ

#6

That was absolutely wonderful. :yes:

#7

I cannot watch that without crying. So incredibly beautiful. Hugs, Fred. :sadsmile:

Oh, ETA I do love my one and only TB broodmare, Stormin Scooter. Picked up through CANTER Ohio, she has given me three incredible foals.

#8

What a beautiful song, and story. Hugs to you Fred, and to your husband. Clearly Two Bitter was much loved, and repayed you in kind. My broodmares are so special to me that words aren’t really adequate to express my feelings.

#9

I agree that there aren’t really words to describe how special some of my mares are… here are a couple pictures of my wonderful little Arabian mare. :slight_smile: Not only does she produce REALLY nice foals, she is one of the most sensitive and caring horses I have ever had the honor of knowing…

Sometimes photos speak louder than words…

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3615851922532&l=2768e7a8a4

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3615753560073&l=18629742d2

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1674353826293&l=ee47eb5ddf

#10

My mares are my treasures. They give so much and ask so little. I love that song and I send blessings and thanks to all my fellow breeders who give their mares their due. RIP Two Bitter, a mare to mourn for decades.

#11

Fred, I love you for your love for Two Bitter and the song made me cry.

I’ve tried so hard to place my one remaining broodie into the right hands, at 13 years and seven foals on the ground, since we would like to ease out of breeding; however Kleopatra, who was post-entered in the Warrenton Non-TB Broodmare Class last week as a way to get her and her new colt into the ring before his own class, won it! She’s produced champion jumpers and show hunters, some of whom have also done very well in HB, DSHB, and FEH, in this order; two fillies, two colts, two fillies, one colt and now a Sir Wanabi expected next year! Does anyone want to bet that it WON’T be a colt?

Now I don’t want to part with this mare who has been the nucleus of my breeding program and who has given me so much. She’s become a “heart horse”!

Diane Halpin & Laurel Leaf Hanoverians: Facebook

#12

Oh I understand you Diane! Got one of those like that here… Came about just as “another broodmare” and now… to not going anywhere ever again. :slight_smile:

#13

One good foundation mare can carry the whole place

#14

I must admit than when I got my broodmare I had no idea I had just purchased such a great mare. I had saved up $10K to buy my dream horse and looked for over a year but none had sparked that feeling of being “the one”. A friend was going over to Germany to look at horses and I convinced my father to buy me a plane ticket and hotel costs as a birthday gift. I really didn’t expect to find what I was looking for…and frankly I didn’t even know what I wanted, just thought that when I see her I’ll know.

We pulled up at a dairy farm…cows EVERYWHERE in the dairy barn and I thought for sure we were lost. Way,way in the back of the barn were 3-4 horse stalls. The breeder pulled out this plain jane chestnut mare wth one little sock. Didn’t think much of her at first. The breeder didn’t have any riding facilities but used an arena about 1/2 mile down the road. He tacked up the mare and hopped on the oldest, most crickty bike I’ve ever seen. Started to bicycle down the road with this 3 year old mare along side. Cars whizzed by and she didn’t even bat an eye! That got my attention. Then her rider got on and just showed us the basic walk, trot, canter under saddle. She was gorgeous and then I knew…she was THE ONE! She will be with me forever. Her daughter is my riding horse/ broodmare and will also be with me forever.

I hated her name at first, Dorfblume. Sort of sounded like Dork-blume to me:) But it means Village Flower, which I love. She has been the namesake for my farm and all her offspring…Roseblume, Borealis Blume, etc.

#15

[QUOTE=DLee;6546901]
I cannot watch that without crying. So incredibly beautiful. Hugs, Fred. :sadsmile:[/QUOTE]

Hey! No fair! I wasn’t expecting to cry my eyes out! :sadsmile:

One of my very, very special mares – a lot like the one described – colicked very badly this week, and had to have surgery. :cry: It was a torsion colic, but it looks like they got it in time with blood flow not being completely lost in the intestine. It looks like she’ll make it. She’s no beauty queen herself to look at, but her foals are phenomenal. I think that’s why the song, and Fred’s story makes me cry! :sadsmile:

#16

I loved my broodie so much I stopped breeding her after it because clear her dystocias were not a fluke. Which created the huge problem of not being able to afford a pet. Thankfully she is full leased to someone in my barn who adores her as much as I do and I can still see her gorgeous self any time I want to.

#17

Fred, was Two-Bitter Fred’s dam? Lucy? I recall the first post I ever read from you was on EMG about Lucy…
I did not listen to the song today… I did not have the time … but will later (when I am by myself and I can cry if I have to).

#18

I agree. It makes me so sad when I see 20 + year old broodmares for sale. If I owned a mare who had had many wonderful foals for me I would think that she deserved, at the very least, a wonderful and stress free retirement at her own farm where she feels at home.

#19

[QUOTE=VirginiaBred;6546607]
I love broodmares BEST.

I love mine, especially my beloved TB mare Gloria C - http://www.pedigreequery.com/gloria+c. Love her for her almost lop ears, her pony face, fantastic movement and what she brings to the table.

I love her best for her safe, healthy and unbelievable carrying of TWINS to TERM, safe delivery, care and nurturing of two BOYS and most importantly, the fact she lived through it. Rare indeed in a TB especially.

Broodmares are the most important part of the breeding equation, period.[/QUOTE]

What a wonderful girl Gloria is,VB, I agree. :yes:

#20

Yep – that song certainly made my heart and eyes overflow. Beautiful tribute to a wonderful mare – something we don’t do often enough. I absolutely loathe hearing or seeing (in print) about a horse that has done well and accolades to the sire and the mare listed as “TB mare” – it’s so damned unfair! That mare contributed much more than the stallion in carrying, producing and caring for that foal as well as the genetic qualities. I’ll write about my foundation mare at another time. She was a treasure and I have to collect my thoughts and do her justice. Thanks, Gail –

PennyG

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