Live Breeding - expectation from stallion owner

[fermecinqsens]

@EventerAJ

If a mare is confirmed with a breedable follicle, but has difficulty standing, I may sedate the mare, twitch or lip chain, and/or hold up a front leg to get her covered. However if she’s STILL kicking, I’m not breeding her. If I’ve bred a mare once in the cycle and it was easy, then two days later she’s difficult, I’m going to listen to her and not try.

Thanks for your response. that is helpful to hear that you make some efforts to aid a mare who is less accepting.

[Willesdon]

Just being nosey/curious, as the Lusitano isn’t an uncommon breed in France why travel eight hours to the stallion? Was there no one closer?

[fermecinqsens]

@Willesdon

Just being nosey/curious, as the Lusitano isn’t an uncommon breed in France why travel eight hours to the stallion? Was there no one closer?

Most are only available frozen. There are a fair number available live cover but I live in a low-populated area so the closest (nice) stallion available is 4 hours away - that’s the one I bred to last time.
I picked the one this time because the owner had a half price deal early in the season and it’s a nice stallion. I also didn’t realise he was 8 hours - I thought it would take more like 6. Although after making that drive a number of times I should have probably just gone for the closer stallion without the fee discount !!

[Bluey]

@Willesdon

Just being nosey/curious, as the Lusitano isn’t an uncommon breed in France why travel eight hours to the stallion? Was there no one closer?

Distances between locqations in the US are just way longer than in Europe and in some parts of the US longer than in others.

[beowulf]

OP, I’m coming in at a slightly different angle than a SO/MO, just someone who has lost a horse to another horse kicking theirs… If I saw any horse (seriously) kick at my horse, I would be done. I don’t blame the SO for not trying a third time. People forget horses are capable of killing one another.

The TB industry (which EventerAJ is part of) has this down to a science, micromanaged to the point it is almost safe - but I would not expect a Lusitano SO to have A. the same experience or B. be able to provide the same level of supplemental assistance.

All it takes is one. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that your mare took.

[Arzny]

Foal heats yes - but for doubles I believe Taylor Made is one of the only sheds that really restricts it.

But as the other commentators have said, if you’re ultrasounding, you really should only have to do one cover per cycle.

[QuestionMark]

@fermecinqsens

I’ve already paid the breeding fee. As well as board for two cycles, vet fees, and gas for driving across the country six times. But I don’t feel like the stallion owner held up her part of the deal. It seems too easy for her to say “not my problem” and walk away with the breeding fee in hand after only trying twice and not even on the days with the best chance.

Any thoughts from stallion owners or mare owners? Is this just how it goes or do I have a case to make that she hasn’t held up her part of the deal ?

I’m curious about the breeding fee. In many breeds, there is a live foal guarantee (stands and nurses) as part of the contract. When I bred my mare, I had to pay the whole fee to get the process started, but this included as many cycles as was necessary in a season. If a foal had not resulted, I would have been able to try again the following year with the same mare or a different one of similar quality. I think after two years of failure a refund is issued.

Did you have to pay the whole fee with no guarantee of a live foal?

[fermecinqsens]

@QuestionMark

I’m curious about the breeding fee. In many breeds, there is a live foal guarantee (stands and nurses) as part of the contract. When I bred my mare, I had to pay the whole fee to get the process started, but this included as many cycles as was necessary in a season. If a foal had not resulted, I would have been able to try again the following year with the same mare or a different one of similar quality. I think after two years of failure a refund is issued.

Did you have to pay the whole fee with no guarantee of a live foal?

For this stallion because his fee was half price, I had to pay the whole fee in February. Yes I can try as many times as I want this season and if it doesn’t work I can try again with the same or another mare next year. After that, it doesn’t say anything about a refund if it still doesn’t work.
This stallion is also available frozen so I can also use the frozen semen instead on this mare or another mare.

For other stallions (and this one, when he doesn’t have the discount) it’s the same thing but instead of paying the full fee you pay half at the start and the other half in October if the mare is confirmed pregnant.