Add me in too- no foals for next year and maybe none after that. im tired, getting my hip replaced tomorrow( aagh!). Will ride the young mares, but not sure I will breed them I am keeping a MM filly out of Riverman mare, but I am on the fence as well
This is one of the most sobering and saddening list of retirees that I have ever seen. Such a depth of knowledge acquired over the years and now receding. But what honesty and grace in what you all have said! All worthy of tremendous respect and honor.
[QUOTE=EquusMagnificus;6427725]
Well the good news, is that fear not, some younger breeders such as me, ElegantExpressions and Spike, just to name a few, follow diligently in your tracks! :winkgrin:
I am taking a break this year as my mare needed a rest and so did my pocketbook. I think those stepping down are taking a very wise decision. It’s too hard to continue doing if you don’t thoroughly enjoy it. I had an epiphany when I realized I was starting to loose sleep wondering how the heck was I going to make it $$$ this year to re-breed my teenaged broodmare. That’s when I realized this was getting ridiculous, and that taking a break, of even stopping, wasn’t about failing. It was only about being aware of reality and there certainly isn’t anything wrong about that. ;)[/QUOTE]
Thank you for the mention, it was my thoughts exactly!! :winkgrin: I too left my mare open in 2011 because of the pocket book (and divorce…newborn son…) but am happy to say I currently have an 83 day old foal “cooking” as we speak!!
Couldn’t have said it better!! :yes:
I may have my arm twisted to breed Juliet someday so my retirement may be semi-permanent but we will worry about that later!
This morning Mr P and I converted my last foaling stall into two regular stalls.
I still have one good broodmare Lotty Go Bragh and maybe her *Gunsmoke daughter but other than that Sophie was bought for a broodmare but is now a riding mare.
well yeah, a few straws in the tank
I’m reduced to one great broodmare but my plan is to keep her busy. Her Rubignon yearling and her ‘12 For Play colt are exactly what I hoped that the matches would produce. It’s so difficult to sell unstarted youngsters that I hope I’ve left Laurel Leaf Hanoverians in a financial position to allow me to start my four remaining youngsters’ competition careers.
I wholeheartedly agree that we are losing some of the great sport horse breeders in the upcoming years, but realize that many of us are aging a bit, the physical workload is enormous, and the market is not currently able to bear the sales of the past two decades. Hopefully, we can hang in a little longer and see if the economy improves.
Boy, I’m not sure if we’re insane, or getting our second wind! Next year we will be having more foals than ever before with 9 coming. But it’s tough and sad seeing so many of the “old guard” hanging up their AV’s and insemination pipettes <sad smile>…SOOOOoooo much knowledge amongst them, I have to hope that those of you that are retiring, will continue to mentor and teach?! Who’s going to know where the bodies are buried and the skeletons are hung? <lol>. So many changes have occurred in the last 30 years and so much of it has occurred BECAUSE of many of you!
I’m not ready to give it up - yet - but I definitely have to say age is having a real impact! I made the decision last year after the broken back NOT to get on anything young or un-broke anymore. But, being the “ballerina” that I am, I blew out my knee simply walking across the arena on Friday <rolling eyes>. I really need to come up with a better explanation than that.
But truly, it makes me sad to see so many of you hanging up the gear - especially after knowing so many of you personally for so many years. Just seems like their will be a giant “hole” of knowledge! At least you all have made an indelible mark mark on the industry and the history of warmbloods and sporthorses in North America :).
Well ER, thank god you aren’t hanging it up! :eek:
Sonesta, I hope you will still be here on the board and keep your hand in, in that manner anyway. Your experience is invaluable. :yes:
I enjoyed watching your customer’s maiden mare foal on marestare this year. :)
[QUOTE=Marydell;6428335]
It breaks my heart that no one is interested in taking over or becoming a working partner and I don’t know how I will handle this. My girls are the reason I get out of bed every day and face the challenges of making my body work. But there are days, ewven after all the surgery, that the pain is nearly my undoing.
It will be very sad to see Sonesta and MAry Lou and the others leave the scene. But I know how hard it is to make these plans.[/QUOTE]
Add me to this list.
My husband is a musician and he came out with a line not long ago that rings true for me (and us) as well.
He said, ‘we work so hard to get into this business, but we don’t have an exit strategy’.
A few years ago I was badly hurt, and lost a youngster that I loved dearly (and whom I thought might be my next stallion prospect).
I lost heart for it, and stopped breeding my own for a couple of years.
But I had the stallion here,the product of my own breeding program, my lovely mares, and it seemed like such a waste.
So this year I have 3 possibly 4 of my own mares in foal for next year…
Three of them are in foal to AFR, the other is my special AFR daughter in foal for the first time.
After that?
We bought a home on the ocean 4 years ago - and I have STILL not seen it. Why? because I just can’t get away…
People (who don’t understand) say things like “you have to get rid of those horses” :no:
But like marydell, those horses are not just a business to me, I love them,and they are what gets me out of bed in the morning, and hobbling down to the barn.
As I walk, Fred always hears me first - and he starts singing happily, and my footsteps quicken and my heart lightens.
A life with no horses???
I can’t image.
Good luck sonesta and every one of us. Thank you for sharing your love and your knowlege.
[QUOTE=sylvan farm;6427466]
What is so hard about this decision is that I have 3rd and 4th generation mares with no one to take over the breeding program. Hate to see these producing mare lines just disappear. [/QUOTE]
This is what actually hits me hardest. I’m 70 now and took a brief ‘vacation’ several years ago to seriously downsize in both numbers and actual size, most of the ‘big warmbloods’ went.
I met my goals and last year had one foal … this year three … and it was pleasant to get back to breeding and foaling without feeling overwhelmed. But my oldest mare (who will stay forever) is my last Weltstern daughter, now 19 … and she is bred back to my pony stallion this year for a sportpony foal. No more ‘big’ foals for me to try to handle.
And the numbers are still coming down slowly … but as you say … the hardest part of this is knowing when I am finally forced to quit breeding there is nobody to really carry on with what I’ve developed over the last 20-plus years.
All of you should write your "life stories ", put them together and publish. Instant best seller.
[QUOTE=showjumpers66;6428111]
All I can say is that you have been a great asset to the industry and that you have earned your retirement. Enjoy it!!![/QUOTE]
This. The knowledge that you have all acquired is priceless. I hope you will all continue sharing it with the “changing of the guard”. :)
[QUOTE=Fred;6428796]
Add me to this list.
My husband is a musician and he came out with a line not long ago that rings true for me (and us) as well.
He said, ‘we work so hard to get into this business, but we don’t have an exit strategy’.
A few years ago I was badly hurt, and lost a youngster that I loved dearly (and whom I thought might be my next stallion prospect).
I lost heart for it, and stopped breeding my own for a couple of years.
But I had the stallion here,the product of my own breeding program, my lovely mares, and it seemed like such a waste.
So this year I have 3 possibly 4 of my own mares in foal for next year…
Three of them are in foal to AFR, the other is my special AFR daughter in foal for the first time.
After that?
We bought a home on the ocean 4 years ago - and I have STILL not seen it. Why? because I just can’t get away…
People (who don’t understand) say things like “you have to get rid of those horses” :no:
But like marydell, those horses are not just a business to me, I love them,and they are what gets me out of bed in the morning, and hobbling down to the barn.
As I walk, Fred always hears me first - and he starts singing happily, and my footsteps quicken and my heart lightens.
A life with no horses???
I can’t image.
Good luck sonesta and every one of us. Thank you for sharing your love and your knowlege.[/QUOTE]
Oh my, what a beautiful post… got me teary eyed :yes: This has been my passion since I was a little girl, no barbie dolls, no other toys, just my Briar horses and dreaming of breeding a world champion for someone. Not even for myself… just the honor of creating a champion. I truly hope those that ‘retire’ stay in (or start up) some sort of mentoring program or at least continue to offer advice somewhere…it is really needed and appreciated…and farms can get isolating sometimes so its a blessing to bounce ideas around with those who have the knowledge and experience.
Perhaps those of you retiring from breeding will look into becoming sport horse judges, or even registry inspectors. My guess is that many of the registries are in need of apprentice inspectors to bring along for when “the old guard” just can’t do it anymore.
Even though I haven’t been breeding long, I can envision a time (hopefully far in the future) when downsizing will be a reality. The highs are so incredible, but the lows are so miserable and the physical labor, lack of real vacations/time away and the $$$$ are certainly a sobering reality if breeding is your passion. I hope to have a good 20-30 years left in the business, b/c I’m just getting started, but it is definitely an arduous labor of love and I salute those of you who have carried on so successfully for so long. I don’t blame you one bit for retiring; you deserve it
Sonesta, you helped me achieve one of the best things in my life! I never would have gotten my amazing boy if it were not for you. I wish all the best for you and hope you are still available to answer all my questions in the future
[QUOTE=Sonesta;6427333]
It’s kind of sad. Like the end of an era.[/QUOTE]
Hard decision. It was very difficult for me to make the decision not to endurance ride any more. Too hard on my body, also got a severe injury and never could come back. Rode for well over 20 years.
I didn’t stop riding. I went gaited. Having a great time. The endurance training schedule is a grueling one. My last ride was a tough very hot weather 50 miler. I finished with a wonderful horse, but I was so much in pain.
These days, I am in no hurry. I go out to have more fun than I could have ever imagined, and that is riding gaited. I love the horse I bought as a long yearling and now she is a 6 yr old this year. Fun and smooth too. MUCH less hard on my body. She will be my last horse I raise and ride. The last in a long line.
I found when one door closes another one opens.
p.s. I would still LOVE to have a puppy or adult from you.
Thank you all for the kind words - and I see I am in very good company. I sure hate seeing the growing list of fellow retirees, but life happens.
This was not a snap decision. I have been carefully considering it for a couple of years now and had cut way back on the breeding when the economy went into the toilet.
I do plan to remain active on the boards and plan to continue to host a Hanoverian inspection every year. And I’m sure I’ll still go to the stallion testings and stay informed. Just not actively putting foals on the ground.
Downyonder suggested becoming a Sport Horse Breeding Judge or Registry Inspector. I have almost completeed my USEF requirements for Sport HOrse Breeding Judge, but there are so few breeding shows now that I’m not sure I’ll finish it. Very costly and time intensive to find that there are no shows to judge!
I’d love to get involved as a registry inspector and may broach the subject with the AHS.
And I will continue to run my boarding/training/show facility and will keep riding. So, all will be good.
I wish you all the best, and I think it’s good to “retire” while you can still enjoy life and exit on a happy note instead of financial downfall etc in this crazy economy. It’s always great to finish on a positive note.
So many breeders have cut back, not bred, or retired in the past year. Kudos to you all for being responsible, running quality breeding operations with quality registered stallions and mares etc.
You have created some wonderful legacies that will live on.
Don’t think for a moment I’ll let you forget you said that. You would be a huge asset.
