makayla001
Posted : 8/18/2010 9:24:52 PM
I don't want to be a negative Nancy, I understand that you want to breed your mares because they are yours. There is sentimental value in what you want to do (if not common sense). I understand the desire to look at all the stallions out there and get to choose the one you like the best to sire your new foals. But I am the cautionary tale that I hope will cause you to think twice.
I have 1 mare. She is my special horse. She hasn't won any shows but her conformation is far from horrible. I wanted to have a Paint foal from her so I chose a great stallion who has a successful show career and multiple championship titles in reining, working cow horse, and many other events. To top it all off he is homozygous so I KNEW I would get a tobiano paint foal. I did everything right. But the foal was born with contracted tendons, which progressed to flexure deformities of both front legs. Some people on this board are familiar with Ace's story. We trailered him to OSU for 4 surgeries and he is now a 2 year old that still has to wear special shoes. It was never life threatening so we never considered euthanasia, but I will tell you we were not financially or emotionally prepared for the months of treatment, surgeries, and ongoing recovery. He will never be able to perform the way I had hoped he would when I bred him. Because he will likely have recurring issues with his knees I am his forever home. He MIGHT be approved for light riding eventually, but will never be the cutting or reining horse I dreamed of.
Sure, you may breed two lovely healthy foals, but please consider if you are capable of handling the circumstances if something goes wrong. So MUCH can go wrong I don't even know where to begin. Complications that might cause you to lose the mare, the baby, or even both. Breach or red bag deliveries, twins, foal septicemia, dummy foal syndrome. None of these are terribly uncommon and all could happen to you if you breed your mares.
PLEASE consider finding a healthy foal to adopt and raise. Believe me, it could save you so much heartache and a TON of money too.
ETA: Just saw the date of the original post, my guess is that the damage has probably already been done and my advice is too late for her to read or consider...