Stallion prospect colt - choices

[c_bates]

I was recommended to this forum and would love to hear opinions on this subject.

If you have been using outside stallions for your program, but have decided to make the leap to stallion ownership … did you look for one that complements your current breeding program (can be bred to your mares) or did you look for one that has similar lines to your mares? I am considering my options and just beginning to do research. I am curious what people looked for when considering a foundation sire for their program. TIA

[Didi]

I am no expert and you will probably get great advice from the more seasoned among us, but I would think that you need to get the best stallion you can for whatever discipline you are breeding for. Look at his bloodlines carefully. Perhaps look at the get for stallions that are at the top of the USEF stallion list for your discipline. Do a LOT of research to make sure of what you are getting into. And get stallion repro exams before you buy. Just my 2 cents.

[DarkBayUnicorn]

@Didi

And get stallion repro exams before you buy. Just my 2 cents.

And genetic testing for danger points for your breed, like WFFS. Zero point in buying a stallion mare owners will have limited interest in.

[Majestic_Gaits]

Its nice to have mares that go with a stallion you have. So you can have something to show if you are marketing your stallion. If not, you will find yourself looking to aquire mares to fit the stallion. If your thinking of doing this because it saves you in stud fees, you will find it doesn’t offset the cost of the stallion.

Agree with others, get the best you can get.

[c_bates]

Following up on “get the best you can” … I bought the best mares I could afford who were proven broodmares. To do that, they were a bit older. I couldn’t afford their breeding AND youth. Looking for a stallion it seems the same adage to be true. Either the super well bred colt or the very older stallion. The middle age range of a very well bred stallion in his prime is not in my budget. When looking do you consider colts? Knowing they may warrant gelding as they get older and aren’t turning into the horse you’d hoped for OR do you go for a much older stallion who may only have a few breeding seasons left? Also, the older breeding stallion can be collected to determine semen quality, but how does one do that for a colt? Or, for that matter, a stallion who has only done live cover for instance? TIA!!!

[mareslave]

Interesting thread as I have an almost 4 yr old colt, I purchased as a foal because of his bloodlines. (I’m a Darco-holic) I tend to breed for keeper fillies but the breeding gods mock me by giving me colts (at least they’re very well bred colts). As I have mares to ride, I don’t fancy gelding them to keep for myself. So I guess if any of the colts do not turn out to be licensed stallions, they’ll be gelded and sold. So any defects like WWFS, poor semen quality, etc would factor into gelding as well.