What is your opinion on breeding 3 year olds that you plan on riding and showing for a few years before she becomes a full time mom? Too early? Or a good option if you want to see what she produces before training ramps up?
If you do breed 3yr olds do you take the mare to get approved when she is 3 or with the baby by her side at 4?
We routinely breed three year olds. It has worked very well for us and we have occasionally re-bred at four if we were very impressed with the first foal. The mares quickly made up for the lost time as they were both mentally and physically more mature when put in regular work.
I would have her inspected before breeding. The input might be valuable in selecting the best stallion and if something happens to her you are not SOL on getting good papers for your foal. The only time I think it might be worth waiting is if you are concerned about the mare being accepted and hope having a nice foal by her side will help her scores.
Good luck 
I also routinely breed my 3 year olds. I generally use AHHA for my registry, and they will inspect 2 year olds, which is very convenient. So for us, we have them inspected in the fall of their 2 year old year, bred in the spring of their 3 year old year, started under saddle in the summer of their 3 year old year. Then they have time off over the fall and winter, foal early (usually) in their 4 year old year and then go back into work and then showing. If I like what the mare has produced then I will continue breeding her through embryo transfer while she is in work/showing.
no problem with it…have done it.
Any difference if the 3 year old is a Section B Welsh pony who would be bred to a horse? In my case the pony is planned to be my son’s riding pony and I want to breed a larger pony for him.
[QUOTE=warmbloodlover11;6211933]
What is your opinion on breeding 3 year olds that you plan on riding and showing for a few years before she becomes a full time mom? Too early? Or a good option if you want to see what she produces before training ramps up?
If you do breed 3yr olds do you take the mare to get approved when she is 3 or with the baby by her side at 4?[/QUOTE]
Honestly? I prefer breeding my three year olds to riding them. We typically will present them as three year olds hedging against anything going wrong and having an orphan foal with no inspection record on the mare :(.
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