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Mrs Baggins



Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Posts: 837
Location: West Kent
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 2:44 pm    Post subject: Equestrian Question? Reply with quote
    

A friend of mine is splitting up from her hubby and as a result is in danger of losing her beloved broodmare (with foal at foot) and her (awesome) stallion.

I thought I could take her mare and foal on loan, and she could put her mare in foal to her stallion - for me. I'd look after her mare and foal - she gets time to sort herself out - and if all goes to plan - I get a youngster to back in a few years time which is great timing for me.

Really want to help her. Genuinely love the bloodlines she has. Does anyone have any advice for me? Would love some objective opinions on this. xxx

HenX



Joined: 27 Apr 2009
Posts: 1459
Location: Forest of Dean
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 2:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Do you have other horses? Would you be adding these two to your existing bunch or would you be taking them on as an additonal *thing*?

sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 2:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Errm. You've got two toddlers and you're about to have a baby. Just mentioning it...

bibbster



Joined: 17 Apr 2009
Posts: 1233
Location: Just a bit inland from Aberaeron
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 3:03 pm    Post subject: Re: Equestrian Question? Reply with quote
    

Mrs Baggins wrote:
A friend of mine is splitting up from her hubby and as a result is in danger of losing her beloved broodmare (with foal at foot) and her (awesome) stallion.

I thought I could take her mare and foal on loan, and she could put her mare in foal to her stallion - for me. I'd look after her mare and foal - she gets time to sort herself out - and if all goes to plan - I get a youngster to back in a few years time which is great timing for me.

Really want to help her. Genuinely love the bloodlines she has. Does anyone have any advice for me? Would love some objective opinions on this. xxx


Are they healthy live out without rug types or not?. Do you have enough grazing/shelter. Can you make the time for daily attention? If so then go for it. Such a shame to let something go that seems so good for everyone

Mrs Baggins



Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Posts: 837
Location: West Kent
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 3:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

CF - No other horses at the mo but have a 5 acre paddock going wanting. Have had her mare here on and off for the last 2 years so know her well. Just really don't want to see my friend losing her breeding programme which she has worked so hard for and this would give her a good amt of time to get herself sorted and have her horses waiting for her when she is back on her feet.

Planning to get a little Welsh 11hh for my son who has just started riding but I have a little paddock for her or I can let her run with the mare and foal and foal with a muzzle to stop her getting into the whole laminitis thing. Think she lives out at the mo...

Sean - You raise a fair point. lol. I need my head looked. My friend would do the work until I could take over.

alibibby - I have loose boxes but the mare lives and winters out with rugs. My friend plans to do the same with the foal. Could def spare the time to chuck out hay for her in the winter, check her and her water etc. She's not shod (broodmare). SHe's a healthy strapping lass. The stallion she'd be covered by is gorgeous. Movements to die for. If all went well, the foal I'd get out of it would be a pure-breed. I guess it'd be a 2-3 year commitment to this mare depending on if/when she takes.

I'd be thinking of backing in 4 years or so. Kids would all be at school then and my friend would do all the foaling etc which and teach me the ropes as I've not been involved in breeding /backing before.

Just worried about the pit falls... what if she doesn't take? I think my having the foal she has at foot now is a possibility, he's not a pure breed and I'd be happier having him cut. WHereas, if I ended up with a purebred colt - it would be SACRILEGE not to keep him entire and a stallion wouldn't be my first choice. lol.

Decisions decisions.

Edited because I forgot to thank you for the replies. I blame the bump. xxx

Sally Too



Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 2511
Location: N.Ireland
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 4:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I'd go for it .... but then I'm a bit mad like that.

I'm assuming you have some experience with horses in general though?

Mrs Baggins



Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Posts: 837
Location: West Kent
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 4:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thx Sally - I know how to look after a horse but I've never been involved in backing or breeding. My friend is a really experienced horsewoman and she is only up the road. I'd love to learn from her. She and I have very similar mindsets.

This feels really hopeful. I'd love to give her a hand up while she is having such a tough time. SHe is a good person. I'd hate to see her lose her horses.... I really would.

I also feel faint with excitement when I think of a possible foal for me. I LOVE her broodmare. I ADORE her stallion. It really feels win-win. I am just afraid of letting my heart rule my head.

T.G



Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Posts: 7280
Location: Somewhere you're not
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 5:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I can’t recall off the top of my head how fast after foaling a mare will be receptive I think if memory serves (which these days could be a load of codswallop) the mare won’t be receptive till the foal is weaned.

If it doesn’t take… you can have the mare scanned after serving, and then try again.

Is she keeping the stallion? If it’s a one hit wonder then maybe the chances are slim, but what about her keeping some AI straws before sale? I looked into it for my stud dog (similar ) and it wasn’t that expensive with the place we found.

What bred is the mare/stallion?

Cross bred colt – geld, easier to sell on, as most people are unjustifiably scared/nervous/unfamiliar with stallions.

Keeping an entire … I have two stallions full-time on my yard, just ad a third here and he was also well behaved. A lot of rubbish is written and talked about stallions. I’ve worked and owned and cared for many for the last 25 years or more and even though I may now be typing laid across my wooden desk I’ve yet to have any issue with them; I even had two of them in a field together, perfectly ok.

However, if you’re unsure of what you’re doing; the horse; or are not as confident as you would like to be then, that’s an issue you need to consider.

Bringing on and backing is a doddle if you know what you’re doing, if you don’t you can cause a lot of heartache for you, the horse and the future owners. Best advice take the time, don’t force it and most of all ENJOY what you’re doing.

The benefits will be you will have a horse you know inside out and are not buying in or taking on other people’s mistakes.

But don’t forget, bump will be here and time will be much less; is your loan going to be one where your friend has no input at all, or is she still going to be actively involved if the latter, then the time and children should be a consideration you can both manage?

is the CB to be sold after weaning or later after backing? Turned away for a few years meanwhile? or is the plan going to be to naturalize him to the basics? the latter will need input but will be greatly beneficial later.

Mrs Baggins



Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Posts: 837
Location: West Kent
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 5:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Wow Grange. THX!

She plans to wean the colt as soon as she can. Then she'd cover the mare again towards the autumn. She'd love to keep the stallion, I'm hoping she can find a temp home for him but if not - I LOVE your idea of AI straws. Fantastic idea.

The mare and stallion are Cleveland Bays. Gorgeous.

I used to ride dressage on a stallion. He wasn't a gentleman. I'm pretty confident with horses and I coped with him, but I didn't enjoy him as much as I did on my old gelding or even on a very skittish mare. I know not all stallions are like him. My hope would be to keep this foal to the bitter end.

I'd want to be involved in the backing, but wouldn't dream of going it alone. I don't know enough and I wouldn't want to mess it up. I've always yearned to get into the backing / training side. The mere thought of getting to finally do it makes me go all gooey. lol.

Love the idea of having a foal bred for me and knowing it inside out. Big draw for me. Like you say - don't need to put out anyone else's fire.

Baby is due in July, my friend knows she'd have to look after the mare and foal for the first few months. After Sept, my oldest will start school (gulp) and my SBG will be at nursery 3 full days a week. Baby will be with me full time. The paddock and stables are right beside the house. Am I biting off more than I can chew?

Loan would be me looking after the mare and foal with my friend's support - her doing all the work at the start and me taking over as I get to grips wih my new routine / recover from the birth etc. I'd take on her costs and the foal would be mine in return - along with the horsey training from my friend.

My friend would love to keep the colt til backing but she doesn't want him to stay with the mare too long. I don't think she has a concrete plan with regards to that yet as this business with her husband really has come out of the blue. We'd need to define that more clearly.

Thx Grange. xx

Cathryn



Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 6:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Oh Cleveland Bay, that's a bit different. In the that's a bit special kind of way.

Cobnut



Joined: 29 Aug 2008
Posts: 475
Location: North Herefordshire
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 6:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Well, my original thought was why oh why do people have to bring more animals into the world when so many have been abandoned and are in need of a second chance . However, I definitely don’t feel that way with breeds listed as “critical” on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list (as CBs are unfortunately).
https://www.rbst.org.uk/watch-list/equines/clevelandbay

So wow!

chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 6:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

sean wrote:
Errm. You've got two toddlers and you're about to have a baby. Just mentioning it...


Sometimes, Sean, you are SO dampening

Mrs Baggins



Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Posts: 837
Location: West Kent
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 7:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yes the fact that it's CBs... sort of like winning the lottery in a way - just to be close to them. *sigh* They are breathtakingly beautiful and my friend is so passionate about them. SHe has worked so hard with her breeding program and it broke my heart when she told me what her hubby had done and that she'd put them all up for sale.

If I can do smth to help her keep her beautiful horses and - then that's a good thing.

The thought of having a foal out of it was not my first thought but now that it is on the table my tummy is all aflutter. And it ain't the baby. Or wind. lol.

Thx for all your thoughts you lot. I really appreciate it. xxx

bibbster



Joined: 17 Apr 2009
Posts: 1233
Location: Just a bit inland from Aberaeron
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 7:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mrs Baggins wrote:
Yes the fact that it's CBs... sort of like winning the lottery in a way - just to be close to them. *sigh* They are breathtakingly beautiful and my friend is so passionate about them. SHe has worked so hard with her breeding program and it broke my heart when she told me what her hubby had done and that she'd put them all up for sale.

If I can do smth to help her keep her beautiful horses and - then that's a good thing.

The thought of having a foal out of it was not my first thought but now that it is on the table my tummy is all aflutter. And it ain't the baby. Or wind. lol.

Thx for all your thoughts you lot. I really appreciate it. xxx


Mrs Baggins, I take my (virtual) hat off to you and and quite envious. It will be worth it

Mrs Baggins



Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Posts: 837
Location: West Kent
PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 10 7:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thank you alibibby. You know, even if the mare wasn't to take, I think I should help. It would be nice tho... *dream*

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