I posted the following in the Off Course section and one commenter thought I should have posted it here to see what you all think about breeding such a mare, so here it is.
My Icelandic was rescued by a local veterinarian then after a year or so I acquired her to keep my mare company at my new little farm. To my knowledge she was never abused or starved but was neglected as far as any kind of training. She is now 10 and I’ve had her for one year as well. Two months ago I took her to a trainer to get her started under saddle after spending time letting her chill out because she was a nervous wreck, and working on ground manners and such. She’s very smart and sweet, not a mean bone. I thought she deserved a chance even though I had my doubts so I took her to a young trainer who I had met peripherally and liked how she worked with horses, and she also had ridden extensively with BNTs. More importantly she has worked a lot with troubled horses including mustangs, and has tons and tons of patience.
Today she told me she doesn’t believe pony will ever be a riding horse because while she stands for grooming and enjoys attention, doesn’t mind saddling, stands for mounting, etc., she never settles. While she was telling me this we were standing in front of pony’s stall and pony was absolutely twirling in circles because her friend who lives in the next stall was in the arena being worked. She said that always happens and they’ve tried tying her for a while in the stall but she always goes back to twirling.
This is what happens when she’s at home and I try to ride my mare – she works herself into a lather no matter what I try to do, which makes her useless even as just a companion horse. I took my mare to the trainer’s also, just to have them both gone for the worst part of the winter and she is all tuned up and ready to roll and I’m looking forward to have her home again later this week but now I have to figure out where the pony is going to figure in this. The trainer thinks my mare would be all right by herself – she told me that a few weeks ago when I told her I wanted to bring her home but leave the pony longer.
I’m not a breeder and never wanted to be but I’m wondering if that’s the only option for the pony. She’s absolutely stunning to look at and she’s now very fit from having been worked for two months. I don’t know much about Icelandics but one of my co-workers has a mammoth jack and has been breeding mules for some time. I’m more than tempted, given there’s no hope for any other job for this pony, either to give her to the co-worker and get a mule foal out of her in return, or just breed her and keep her. My first choice would be to have her gone off my farm since she raises such a ruckus when I ride. I’m out of ideas. My old trainer told me I should just have her put down, but she’s way too nice for that.
No, she should not be bred. There’s nothing wrong with her being a pasture puff is there? I’m sure a lot of slaughter bound horses had pretty mothers to. Point being, why create another useless horse that could end up in the slaughter pipeline?
The only mares should be bred are the ones who by a combination of disposition, conformation, pedigree, and hopefully performance record have earned the right to pass on their genes.
It sounds like this pony needs a new home.
If a new home cannot be found, humane euthanasia is much more ethical than breeding her on a whim.
[QUOTE=GraceLikeRain;8604955]
The only mares should be bred are the ones who by a combination of disposition, conformation, pedigree, and hopefully performance record have earned the right to pass on their genes.
It sounds like this pony needs a new home.
If a new home cannot be found, humane euthanasia is much more ethical than breeding her on a whim.[/QUOTE]
A poster on the other thread shared a thread about Icelandic horses that has helped me decide not to breed her. Apparently the nervousness is inherent in at least one line although it’s all very much shrouded in mystery, but does account for the fact that in Iceland, some ponies get eaten.
But you say it sounds like she needs a new home. What sort of home would you suggest for such a mare? I’m eager to know, as an alternative to putting her down.
I would home her where she is the only pony to be honest.
You stand a very good chance of having two useless rescue ponies. Don’t do it!
[QUOTE=Laurierace;8605136]
You stand a very good chance of having two useless rescue ponies. Don’t do it![/QUOTE]
This cannot be said loud enough!! I hate to be harsh, but just because an animal has a uterus does not mean they should be bred. You describe a slew of problems with this mare…so why would anyone want to consider breeding her and then take the chance that her foal has the same temperament and problems? 
Then in a few years, there is going to be two of them at the auction mart instead of one! GraceLike Rain said it perfectly, “The only mares should be bred are the ones who by a combination of disposition, conformation, pedigree, and hopefully performance record have earned the right to pass on their genes.”
Have you contacted the breeder?
Have you considered putting her on a calming supplement, something with magnesium and vitamin B. . . and/or checking her for ulcers?
She sounds like a sweet little thing, and the nervousness is probably not her fault. . I hate to see her lose her life just because of that. . .
She doesn’t have a slew of problems – she just can’t stand it when her buddy leaves. Which to me seems like it should be fixable! I’m not going to breed her, I’m not a breeder; I was just trying to think of some way for her not to be useless but I agree with all of you: there is no need for more foals on the ground.
FYI I have solved my problem because my farrier is taking her off my hands per our phone conversation this morning. He worked with her full sister who was also rescued and hopefully will able to help her as well.
I would NOT breed her. With that being said; I think the issues are something that can be worked with and worked through. Talk to your veterinarian; try a little ace or a very small dosage of a sedative to quite her down initially every time you separate. Also try a calming supplement.
good luck to him
Well now that you have the main question settled (definitely do not breed her), it seems like what you have is a management problem. It’s absolutely not unusual for horses and mares in particular to bond closely with pasturemates, or friends in the barn.
Separation anxiety is something that can be managed, but it takes patience and determination as well as a keen sense of horse and herd dynamics to really solve. You also have to have enough horses on hand and have them arranged in such a way as to be conducive to them all remaining settled and happy while you go about your day. What was the situation at your trainer’s? Weren’t there any other horses in the barn when the neighbor went out to work?
Sometimes just one horse living alone is ok…but not all of them will get used to it–they are gregarious by nature, and most crave and enjoy company. A few really can’t cope with being on their own. It sounds like you have only these two horses. Two is an awkward number to manage. You are pretty constantly taking one away from the other for various reasons. It starts to get easier with three.
Maybe you actually need MORE horses? Or this one needs to go to a setting where it’s kept out with a group, so that it’s not being asked to do something it isn’t cut out to handle.
I don’t have enough grass for more than two horses, with my main one being a draft cross whose head is velcroed to the ground most of the time. Since I don’t have time to ride more than one horse anyway I wonder if it would be better to get a pair of small donkeys as companions. Maybe I should give up and just board her someplace; when I boarded I had a lot more time for riding.
I think she might be fine for a while by herself but that she will not be pleased about it long term, and my worry with her is she’s stoic.
As others pointed out…breed her and instead of one “Fruit Loop” pony…you will have two!!! Babies usually tend to mimic mom’s behavior even if the get a different set of genes!!
[QUOTE=Draftygirl;8606231]
I don’t have enough grass for more than two horses, with my main one being a draft cross whose head is velcroed to the ground most of the time. Since I don’t have time to ride more than one horse anyway I wonder if it would be better to get a pair of small donkeys as companions. Maybe I should give up and just board her someplace; when I boarded I had a lot more time for riding.
I think she might be fine for a while by herself but that she will not be pleased about it long term, and my worry with her is she’s stoic.[/QUOTE]
A goat for company?
I just like goats. 
I like goats too and so does she – one of her best friends while growing up was a pygmy goat. I don’t think my fencing would work for a goat though, it’s all three strand white lightning.
Maybe an aloof easy keeper who provides companionship but doesn’t give two licks about being separated?
Horses are herd animals by nature, many horses will react this way in a 2 horse environment.
Perhaps you can simply find her a home where she’s the 3rd or 4th.
The idea of killing a perfectly healthy horse for human convenience is unconscionable and I am horrified that it was even suggested.
It’s less horrifying than dumping a horse at auction to meet an unknown future, or to place others in danger.
[QUOTE=Dressagelvr;8607568]
The idea of killing a perfectly healthy horse for human convenience is unconscionable and I am horrified that it was even suggested.[/QUOTE]
How many unrideable, unbreedable, not particular loveable horses have you adopted?
