Thank you for all your input and I was not just strictly looking at draft studs. They were just an idea. What are some of your favorite hunter studs as well? Something that has quiet foals.
I also agree with the above posters… I cannot view the ad ( I’m at work), you are much better off keeping your mare and looking for a baby or young horse already on the ground that may suit what you are looking for.
If your horse is a maiden, then there are further risks involved with breeding her at 15 years old. If she has been bred before, then maybe you could see what she has thrown in the past and what she bred to. That would give you an idea of what to breed her to and the results you may see. If breeding her is what you are set on doing.
Her back is too long. Her neck is too short. Can’t tell her leg conformation. Please for the love of all things Holy, do not breed this mare. That’s the last thing this country needs- another grade animal with poor conformation.
Don’t breed, buy a baby or a nicely trained four year old. You’ll thank us later. Too many risk in breeding, its a crapshoot unless your highly experienced.
As lovely as your mares personality is, she is not breeding material just because she is a Mare. Her conformation is not correct and at 15 it would be a risk to your mare.
Studies of lordosis, or swayback, tell us that “there is a major genetic component to lordosis” – this by Patrick Gallagher, PhD from research done at the University of Kentucky. Although horses can live with lordosis, it is a defect which should not be passed on.
Count_thestrides, if you read your posts from an objective point of view you will see that you have described your mare as a big-earred, grade mare with poor gaits who has begun to exhibit Lordosis at a relatively young age. In addition, she is a maiden mare at the age of 15. If you were giving someone breeding advice would you seriously promote this mare?
Please, before you do this, go to a horse auction in Oklahoma and see what beautiful animals are being purchased for $200 or less by the meat buyers.
OP, I know you love your mare, but you’re really best off buying a baby. I have both owned an older maiden mare that I loved and wanted a baby out of and owned a Percheron cross. My older mare was a well bred registered American Hanoverian and I picked out a top of the line stallion for her ($$$$). I spent well into the four figures trying to get her bred because I was desperate for a foal out of her. I lost all that money because she just couldn’t be bred at her age.
I have also owned a paint/percheron cross. She was large and adorable, but she was no show horse. Her knees were up to her eyeballs… but when she was trotting and not when she was jumping! I ended up selling her as a trail horse.
I don’t they tired to pass her off as a WB at all. In fact, in her sale ad, it states her breed is draft. They then explain she is Perch/TB. She is also 15. I would not breed a 15yro mare of unknown genetics.
The sport horse breeding forum may be a great place for your question, as there are multiple top sport horse breeders on this forum. I would really take their advice to heart, though you love your mare. They are incredibly knowledgeable, as are many of the posters here.
Is this her ad?
http://www.equinenow.com/horse-ad-1051844
She’s cuter than how you described her. I would still listen to the advice given here and just enjoy showing your sweet mare.
The question I am left with after reading this thread is what breed or breeds are top in the hunter ring right now? After figuring that out, start moving in that direction.
[QUOTE=PeteyPie;8917733]
The question I am left with after reading this thread is what breed or breeds are top in the hunter ring right now? After figuring that out, start moving in that direction.[/QUOTE]
https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/pointsAwards/points/leadingSiresM.aspx?year=2012§ion=2000&viewCat=Hunter
The USEF can help with that.
[QUOTE=DoubleTwistedWire;8917907]
https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/pointsAwards/points/leadingSiresM.aspx?year=2012§ion=2000&viewCat=Hunter
The USEF can help with that.[/QUOTE]
Good to know! (I thought “Unknown Breeding” was the new “it” 
)
[QUOTE=Pennywell Bay;8917963]
Good to know! (I thought “Unknown Breeding” was the new “it” )[/QUOTE]
Well, it only works if the stallion and owner are USEF-registered, so you’re missing out on most OTTB sires, for example. But it at least gives you some idea of what purpose bred horses are doing. Obviously not every sire works with every mare, but any of these would be more likely to produce a hunter than a Percheron.
[QUOTE=DoubleTwistedWire;8917978]
Well, it only works if the stallion and owner are USEF-registered, so you’re missing out on most OTTB sires, for example. But it at least gives you some idea of what purpose bred horses are doing. Obviously not every sire works with every mare, but any of these would be more likely to produce a hunter than a Percheron.[/QUOTE]
I totally agree. I was just kidding around. 
Even a cheapish stud fee plus breeding expenses is going to run you about the same as an inexpensive OTTB. If you feel comfortable bringing up a foal through starting it under saddle or are working with a trainer who can help you do the same, would you consider an OTTB? Many OTTBs are wonderful H/J prospects.
Well I am going to be the only person here who isn’t a Debbie downer
I totally understand wanting to breed your own foal. There is something magical about it, and sometimes the best traits of the mare aren’t shown in a picture, but only can be known from being around her. Maybe this horse has an A+ personality, and you want a similar baby. I would suggest going with a warmblood stallion, preferably one who is doing well in the hunters. While stud fees can be expensive, it really is worth it to buy the top quality since you have a better idea of what you will be getting. Just like in horse ownership the stud fee is the least expensive part of the whole process. There is a website called warmblood stallions of North America that lists many top sires. When looking for one, you may want to post your favorites in the breeding section of this forum, since they can tell you what will complement your mare. You can always buy frozen or cooled semen, and then you can get a stallion from as far away as you like! Live cover is rarely done outside of the TB world since it can be dangerous, anyways.
After she is in foal, I would really suggest boarding her somewhere that has an experienced breeder. Sometimes this is the vets clinic, sometimes local TB breeders or TB/Sporthorse training centers have boarding for foaling, and since she is older and this is your first time breeding (I assume) she really will need someone who has done this many times to help her. This could be expensive, but it’s all just part of the cost of breeding.
In the long run, buying a decent WB youngster will probably run you the same cost as breeding your own. Expect to pay at least 2k (and possibly much more) for the semen, about 3-5k for the boarding costs, and then tack on the vet calls, extra supplements, and feed and training for your baby. You should expect to spend at minimum 15k, and you have to take the risk that the baby doesn’t make it to term, or you lose your mare, or both. It is both a heartbreaking and a rewarding process.
[QUOTE=Count_thestrides;8917501]
She’s supposedly crossed with a Percheron but she has a thoroughbred type body with big ears that makes her look like a mule lol. I’ve been trying to find her original owners but haven’t had much luck as I’d like to know where she came from. She has pretty good bone structure but I’d like something a little thicker. Her weakest conformation point is (besides her ears) her back she’s starting to grow slightly sway backed as she gets older.[/QUOTE]
Why do people think breeding is a good option to get a new horse?
You have no way of knowing how this foal will be. Even if you cross her with the nicest stallion on earth, the result could be desastrous. It really is like playing russian roulette. Some are ok, some are not… What if the big ears, long weak back, refined legs with sickle hocks and big body comes out?
Someone I used to board with had a cross similar to that… thin long neck with massive head… Not pretty, not really functionnal despite all the right training. You could really see the TB parts from the Draft parts…
Even when you breed to perfect horses together, the result is also a gamble.
A breeder friend of mine had a lovely Cassini I X Heartbreaker colt. Well, except he was born with a crooked leg. He was the nicest ever, was brought along nicely and sold at a fraction of the price he should have been sold at (3K)… but then around 10, developed really bad arthritis in that leg.
So the '‘I want a foal from my mare ‘cause I like her’’ just rubs me in the wrong way.
Let professionals do their jobs.
End of rant. Sorry.
I agree with alibi, this isn’t a horse I would breed at all. But I’d go a step further and say yes, purchase one already on the ground so you know what you’re getting, but honestly, you’ll save so much money getting a horse that’s already started under saddle. Unless you have a good bit of experience starting young horses or plenty of money to spend on professional help in doing so.
A lot of people buy young or breed their own in an effort to save money, then end up with horses with habits ranging from annoying to dangerous. Then they can’t ride the horse and no one else particularly wants to deal with it.
[QUOTE=Dutchmare433;8918226]
A lot of people buy young or breed their own in an effort to save money, then end up with horses with habits ranging from annoying to dangerous. Then they can’t ride the horse and no one else particularly wants to deal with it.[/QUOTE]
That’s a problem even with inexperienced riders and older horses. It doesn’t take a baby to ruin a horse.
If you were to breed this mare, I would agree with not going straight draft. I would think Irish Draft or Cleveland Bay would be a good option, or another draft/TB cross–there are as few standing at stud. A 3/4 TB draft cross is a better and more desireable cross than 50/50. I’ve had in my barn a number of crosses; the 3/4 breds are definately better. I’ve had good luck with Percheron/TB and Belgian/TB; not so much the Clyde and Shire/TB crosses, but have had good luck with the Clyde/Hackney horse crosses. Finally, crossing to a WB may produce something like what you want–I know someone who crossed their half-bred with a WB and got a nice foal.
I hunt a Clyde-TB mare and she is fabulous. She is athletic, smart and is a very nice mover. She was sport-horse bred by a breeder who specializes n this cross. But she is not a show hunter.
I am a big fan of OTTBs and you can get a very nice one for less than it costs to breed. I am someone who wants to see the horse on the ground so that I know how it moves, what kind of temperament it has, etc.
I also have seen several friends go through the heartbreak of breeding older mares. Two actually lost the foals to accidents on the ground after birth; one almost lost her mare during the birth. Breeding is risky.
If you want something that is a good mover and jumper for the Hunters or scopey and quick for the Jumpers ? Wouldn’t start with breeding this mare, her conformation limits her and is likely to pass on to a foal by any stud, you can’t pick and choose which parts stay and which get improved. The Lordosis is believed to have a strong genetic component and her ad states she tops out at 2’6" over fences, not where you want to start a breeding project.
You are looking at almost 4 years from today if you breed next spring before you can even start to see what the foal will be able to do, maybe longer if it’s slow maturing. Do you keep the mare at home or at a boarding stable? Many stables don’t have the facilities for foaling, nursing mares or weaning and, of course, your board will double.
And its quite possible the mare will be difficult to get in foal in spring at age 16 and carry to term, foaling at age 17. Do you really want to do that with/to her? She could be older then you were told unless you know her foaling date. What’s in the best interests of this mare? You want a foal, what’s best for her?
She seems a sweet type and a good, safe, sensible ride…why ask her to take the risks?
Seems to me there are a decent number of Appendix QHs out there in our Hunter/Jumper rings (I’ve had one) and I believe QHs are rather numerous in your area and not at all expensive, especially if they aren’t show stars at a young age. Spend your money on one of those so you can see what you are getting. Or get a Paint gelding that didn’t get color, those are cheap and looking for a future that doesn’t involve a kill pen or low end auction. Buy one already there, don’t add another to that sad group.
