So.
If you were contemplating producing a foal for yourself, but given the math, you know that said foal would likely live longer than you, would you still do it?
Let’s assume that the financial considerations weigh in favor of producing a custom foal rather than buying a ready made animal.
I find myself wondering about the ethics of bringing an animal into the world with the likelihood that I won’t be around to assure him of a long and safe life.
Yes, under the following conditions:
If you can do those, the horse will almost always find a home, even if it’s not with you. If you’re looking at a really niche breeding, or don’t have a plan in place for training, I would seriously reconsider.
One other important factor is to identify someone (friend, trainer, breeder) to agree to take possession of the horse should something happen to you, and you can even legally set aside funds to pay for ongoing costs. I’m young and don’t expect to outlive my current animals, but my husband and I do have directives in our will should the unthinkable happen, and we have agreements in place with close friends on who will take each animal.
I could die tomorrow. Have appropriate plans for your animals should anything happen and live your life.
I refuse to play the what if game….
Have care plans for the animal in your will.
It doesn’t matter if you breed, buy, or “rescue” an animal, there should be care plans in place in case you are in an accident tomorrow.
I do. All four of mine have pre arrangements in my will.
My question is more, should I bring into existence an animal I know will outlive me.
Having a little existential angst this evening 
Yes.
You don’t know this. The foal could have a pasture accident. Stop catastrophizing. Create horses other people will want and don’t go down a mortality rabbit hole of anxiety.
Ouch @Scribbler!
I’m being pragmatic.
I’m actually surprised I haven’t been told “with all the unwanted horses sent to slaughter in the world why would you be so irresponsible as to add another?”
Because we figure you will breed and train a good horse. I follow the slaughter auction rescue FB groups. In ten years I have not seen anything I would take on as a project. I don’t want an aged draft horse, a navicular QH or a fugly wildie yearling thank you very much.
Alrighty then.
Off to research stallions that will give me the horse I’ll want to ride when I’m seventy. There’s a painful thought!
Maybe…I do have family who are already entrusted with the ones I currently have should I pass before they do. My will stipulates the intentions to be followed with each. I’m lucky in that both of my adult children ride.
Not to be grim, but you could also outlive the foal. Horses are quite adept at fatally injuring themselves all on their own with no planning.
Do what you want that will bring you happiness.
Assuming best case scenario, a healthy foal that turns into the riding horse you want, and you live to a ripe old age that allows you to keep riding happily on the horse into your 80s…With all the caveats that anything could happen to you or the foal or the grown horse in an instant…
The question that would weigh on me would be the age of the horse when I have to give up horses, either for physical health reasons or death. It’s one thing to breed and train a nice horse, and be ready to give it up in its early to mid teens when someone else will be interested in giving it an equally nice home. It’s another to breed and train a nice horse knowing that your riding career will end when the horse is in its early to mid 20s and it’s looking at retirement alongside you. In the latter scenario, are you comfortable trusting someone else to give it the same kind of retirement you would if you die, or euthing when you die so it doesn’t fall into a bad situation?
But this is true of any horse at any time.
I mean, people have human children EXPECTING this will happen - so sure.
Make sure you train your horse to drive too. That way you can ride and drive to get the most out of your custom made horse.
Sure, but the way OP asked the question, it may be the case that the odds are lower if she buys, eg, a 10yr old horse now vs a foal. I don’t know how old she is or how long she ideally wants to be riding, so who knows what the “optimal” age might be. Was suggesting that if you’re trying to balance the scales so the horse still has a strong chance at a good next home, you should take into account the age the horse will be when you age out-if you are able to make that choice.
And of course, putting good training on your horse is the best hedge against something bad happening to the horse if you drop dead tomorrow.
I wouldn’t. But I’m familiar with Scribbler’s “mortality rabbit hole of anxiety” (love this phrase, Scribbler) so I’m always fretting about the what-ifs.
have had that happen, we also have had a pony who lived to 45 years plus and all the ones we have here now have better chance to out live me than me outliving them
We still our son’s miniatures he bought in mid 1990s, I told him then that “those things” can outlive me, was not expecting them to outlive him
I have a 30+ year old mare and a friend was just saying how well she was doing. I joked that the mare is going to outlast the planet. lol
Personally, I would not breed a horse when I am older. I’ve seen too many bad things with senior citizens and the horses that they bred and loved.
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