As I watch the freezing rain descend on this damp gray day, my thoughts turn to the joys of Spring. In particular to the immense pleasure I derive from watching a foal take his first bounce around the pasture.
Here's an oil painting I produced this time last year. Inspired by the lure of Spring foals. For those that are interested, the foal captured is a Hanoverian colt ( WVH Majik, Maronjo x Gimli/Grande ), that we bred at our farm, Willowview Hill Farm back in 1993. He enjoyed a career as an event horse and then went on to dressage. Although born bay he turned into a massive gray beast, full of true bounce and at times a good measure of questionable attitude. The picture is for sale at my studio by the way http://www.NikkiAlvinSmithStudio.com. Sorry, have to plug my art. And I donate a percentage of proceeds to equine retirement organizations.
This horse and the many that came after him, taught me so much. I never became any better at bouncing during a fall and at times lost confidence. One of my later trainers, international USA team rider Heidi Erikson, advised me my wavering confidence was because I should only ever have one young riding horse in my yard of trained equines at any given time in order to keep my confidence and riding high. I learned many lessons while trying to meet the challenges of growing up a horse and training him in every regard to secure a good future. Seeing a horse you have bred achieve their potential, makes all the heartache and now my gained inevitable arthritis, worthwhile.
As usual while the chilly days of January encompass our beautiful Catskill Mountain valley in Upstate New York, my inbox is saturated with email blasts from the various stallion auctions. Deals to be had here for everyone. Many generous stallion owners support their organization(s) by donating a breeding to the cause. The bidding can be fun. Be aware there is no going back. You bid it and win, you pay for it. I have picked up some super prices over the years and applaud the effort to keep breeding affordable.
But the mega question is, should I breed more horses when there are so many out there discarded and looking for homes? Well this breeder says yes. While the economic climate may not be the most robust right now, the market is on the uptick. Just because you give a rescue horse a home, doesn't mean that breeding a great youngster, especially for the upper levels of the performance market, is a bad idea or vice versa. You can do both.
Here is a photo of one of our 2011 foals, Gambol's Genevieve. She is sired by the world class Dutch Warmblood ( registered Oldenburg and ISR also) Gambol, who was the former mount of Ashley Holzer and a Canadian team dressage horse now owned by http://www.MegastarFarms.com. We have been breeding horses for many years and this one has me very excited.
To be honest, I become pretty excited on arrival of all the babies. I have yet to be disappointed. So either I've been very lucky or am an incurable optimist with tunnel vision or both. So for me knowing there is so much potential and with full awareness of the long road ahead horse breeding is something I adore. I need the soundness, the unfettered brain and clean slate of a foal and relish in the excitement of raising a horse, or maybe three or four ( I can hear Heidi remonstrating in my head). Just enough to keep me on my toes. We have lost a few to illness or injury, sometimes when they are on the cusp of great things. You need to be resilient to be a breeder.
An elite athlete is the result of a tried and true recipe. A great stallion with proven performance record and progeny, mixed with an even better mare, a healthy portion of super vet care and lashings of tender loving care from the breeder. The magic ingredient? A sprinkling of sparkling good luck. No. Don't breed your mare just because you love her. Remember genetics play a huge role and the mare carries about 65% on average to the mix. If her conformation is weak or temperament ornery then think twice. Don't pick up a cheap horse just to breed another one. If you don't have the time, knowledge or staying power then buy an American foal from a good breeder. If you aren't the most experienced rider then buy a trained horse or if you do breed, get help when it comes to working the horse.
Be aware that auction fever could hit you as you comb these ads for super stallions from the various breeding societies and equestrian associations and guard against it. Keep your bids on budget and don't be tempted to overspend. There is always next year, and you can always contact the stallion owner afterward if you do not make round two, and ask for a discount. Don't overlook stallions standing abroad either. Though use of frozen semen carries higher costs and lower counts of fertility and motility.
On the day the foal arrives you will probably already have a list of names chosen. You will gleefully add your farm suffix to the name to demonstrate your proud ownership of the foal and to showcase that you are responsible for the selection, successful union and amazing result of the stallion and mare you have blessed with your attention.
Years ago when I was visiting Blue Hors in Denmark ( the largest breeder in that nation ), I was chatting to Lars Pederson about the prefix, now suffix, issue. How does a breeder ensure that the name of the farm stays with the name of the horse once it reaches it's new home(s). He admitted even Blue Hors with its proven name in production of fantastic equines in world class competition had experienced issues with tracking their horses. Contracts are made but broken, new owners change names of horses frequently. With the advent of eye laser scans for identification of horses, growing competence by sport associations to create and maintain a dynamic database, and the FEI passport program, it should get better. That is if you register the offspring. That's a whole other topic.
Of course, when a horse you have bred and identified to the world as your own, throws a rider off or acts out, you might wish your name was not apparent. No going back now. It was your selection, handling, raising and training so you must assume responsibility for the 'lack of glory' moments too. Or of course, you could just blame it on the genetics of the stallion. Just remember, the truth will out. So before you hit the 'submit' button to bid, do your diligent research. For both you. the horse and every future owner or rider of him, will live with the consequences. Good and bad.
Here are a few resources for you to get started:-
http://www.thehorsestudio.com/horsebreeding.html
Great DVDs and books, foal blankets and gear.
http://oldenburghorse.auctionanything.com/
http://eqquest.com/marketplace/category/336/2012-Annual-AHS-Stallion-Service-Auction.html
http://www.WillowviewHillFarm.com
Come see our babies!
PS Thanks to The Horse Studio for allowing us to share their design.
Here's an oil painting I produced this time last year. Inspired by the lure of Spring foals. For those that are interested, the foal captured is a Hanoverian colt ( WVH Majik, Maronjo x Gimli/Grande ), that we bred at our farm, Willowview Hill Farm back in 1993. He enjoyed a career as an event horse and then went on to dressage. Although born bay he turned into a massive gray beast, full of true bounce and at times a good measure of questionable attitude. The picture is for sale at my studio by the way http://www.NikkiAlvinSmithStudio.com. Sorry, have to plug my art. And I donate a percentage of proceeds to equine retirement organizations.
This horse and the many that came after him, taught me so much. I never became any better at bouncing during a fall and at times lost confidence. One of my later trainers, international USA team rider Heidi Erikson, advised me my wavering confidence was because I should only ever have one young riding horse in my yard of trained equines at any given time in order to keep my confidence and riding high. I learned many lessons while trying to meet the challenges of growing up a horse and training him in every regard to secure a good future. Seeing a horse you have bred achieve their potential, makes all the heartache and now my gained inevitable arthritis, worthwhile.
As usual while the chilly days of January encompass our beautiful Catskill Mountain valley in Upstate New York, my inbox is saturated with email blasts from the various stallion auctions. Deals to be had here for everyone. Many generous stallion owners support their organization(s) by donating a breeding to the cause. The bidding can be fun. Be aware there is no going back. You bid it and win, you pay for it. I have picked up some super prices over the years and applaud the effort to keep breeding affordable.
But the mega question is, should I breed more horses when there are so many out there discarded and looking for homes? Well this breeder says yes. While the economic climate may not be the most robust right now, the market is on the uptick. Just because you give a rescue horse a home, doesn't mean that breeding a great youngster, especially for the upper levels of the performance market, is a bad idea or vice versa. You can do both.
Here is a photo of one of our 2011 foals, Gambol's Genevieve. She is sired by the world class Dutch Warmblood ( registered Oldenburg and ISR also) Gambol, who was the former mount of Ashley Holzer and a Canadian team dressage horse now owned by http://www.MegastarFarms.com. We have been breeding horses for many years and this one has me very excited.
To be honest, I become pretty excited on arrival of all the babies. I have yet to be disappointed. So either I've been very lucky or am an incurable optimist with tunnel vision or both. So for me knowing there is so much potential and with full awareness of the long road ahead horse breeding is something I adore. I need the soundness, the unfettered brain and clean slate of a foal and relish in the excitement of raising a horse, or maybe three or four ( I can hear Heidi remonstrating in my head). Just enough to keep me on my toes. We have lost a few to illness or injury, sometimes when they are on the cusp of great things. You need to be resilient to be a breeder.
An elite athlete is the result of a tried and true recipe. A great stallion with proven performance record and progeny, mixed with an even better mare, a healthy portion of super vet care and lashings of tender loving care from the breeder. The magic ingredient? A sprinkling of sparkling good luck. No. Don't breed your mare just because you love her. Remember genetics play a huge role and the mare carries about 65% on average to the mix. If her conformation is weak or temperament ornery then think twice. Don't pick up a cheap horse just to breed another one. If you don't have the time, knowledge or staying power then buy an American foal from a good breeder. If you aren't the most experienced rider then buy a trained horse or if you do breed, get help when it comes to working the horse.
Be aware that auction fever could hit you as you comb these ads for super stallions from the various breeding societies and equestrian associations and guard against it. Keep your bids on budget and don't be tempted to overspend. There is always next year, and you can always contact the stallion owner afterward if you do not make round two, and ask for a discount. Don't overlook stallions standing abroad either. Though use of frozen semen carries higher costs and lower counts of fertility and motility.
On the day the foal arrives you will probably already have a list of names chosen. You will gleefully add your farm suffix to the name to demonstrate your proud ownership of the foal and to showcase that you are responsible for the selection, successful union and amazing result of the stallion and mare you have blessed with your attention.
Years ago when I was visiting Blue Hors in Denmark ( the largest breeder in that nation ), I was chatting to Lars Pederson about the prefix, now suffix, issue. How does a breeder ensure that the name of the farm stays with the name of the horse once it reaches it's new home(s). He admitted even Blue Hors with its proven name in production of fantastic equines in world class competition had experienced issues with tracking their horses. Contracts are made but broken, new owners change names of horses frequently. With the advent of eye laser scans for identification of horses, growing competence by sport associations to create and maintain a dynamic database, and the FEI passport program, it should get better. That is if you register the offspring. That's a whole other topic.
Of course, when a horse you have bred and identified to the world as your own, throws a rider off or acts out, you might wish your name was not apparent. No going back now. It was your selection, handling, raising and training so you must assume responsibility for the 'lack of glory' moments too. Or of course, you could just blame it on the genetics of the stallion. Just remember, the truth will out. So before you hit the 'submit' button to bid, do your diligent research. For both you. the horse and every future owner or rider of him, will live with the consequences. Good and bad.
Here are a few resources for you to get started:-
http://www.thehorsestudio.com/horsebreeding.html
Great DVDs and books, foal blankets and gear.
http://oldenburghorse.auctionanything.com/
http://eqquest.com/marketplace/category/336/2012-Annual-AHS-Stallion-Service-Auction.html
http://www.WillowviewHillFarm.com
Come see our babies!
PS Thanks to The Horse Studio for allowing us to share their design.
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