Who do you think should be allowed to breed?

Question

I'm not trying to be rude to this little girl. But i really don't think she should be breeding until she actually knows what she is talking about.

I for one am fine with people breeding. HOwever i am not fine with people breeding, because they like foals, or because they love there mare. If you love your mare then you would know what you are getting into by breeding her.

If you ask me the only people who should be allowed to breed are the ones who know about breeding, everything that can happen, have the money to do the best care for the foal, must keep the foal, or before breeding know that the foal already will have a good home with someone, and if something does go wrong, can afforded to deal with it. And if the mare doesn't accept the foal, are prepared for that. And can emotionally handle the stress of a foal, or the stress of losing a foal.

I have seen alot of foals born. Some of the mares died after giving birth, rejecting the foal, foal dies, and some of them all turn out well. Well at least during the birth. But Will some of these people know how to care for a foal? Even if the birth goes well, that doesnt mean that the foal will be ok. Every foal i have seen born, always has something go wrong with it. Either they get sick, there legs arent growing right, or they have dirarah. And im wondering if these people that breed there mares because they love them so much will know how to do that. And if they dont. How some people will tell them to adopt a new born foal instead. HOw can you tell someone who doesnt know how to care for a foal, adopt one. They have to have full responsibilty for the foal. Round the clock care. I just dont get it.

So who do you think are the people that should be allowed to breed, or have a foal?

Oh and i tottally disagree that the mare should be a quilty A to have a foal. Just as long as you know what you are doing, and have the money to do it, and can handle it all, then i really dont care if you breed your mare, just as long as you know how to also CARE FOR THE FOAL. Thats what alot of people seem to miss. the care of the foal. They mention how its hard to deal with breeding and everything that can go wrong. but doesn any one mention how much more diffucult it is caring for the foal. Its not like caring for your mare, which im sure most people will think it is.

Answer 1

I agree that it is not right that people breed just because they think foals are cute. I think people who have enough money to care for the mare and foal if something goes wrong should breed. These people should also have a vet that can come out every few weeks to check that the mare is all right and that the baby is developing properly. Their vet also needs to be around when the foal is being born. People with mares in foal should also ask the vet everything they need to know about breeding.First time breeders need to have a vet with them every step of the way.

Answer 2

I think your digging into a bigger problem and issue than you think with this question.  So much more is at steak than just the life of the foal, finances and care.  Ultimatley - people who mass produce for no reason, who have no knowledge and who do nothing with their "livestock" end up feeding our meat and slaughter problem, or homeless issue and our very large rescue industry.  People who back door breed and mass produce these horses are feeding an industry that we all try and stop.  

My opinion? Stricter laws should be passed with regards to registrations and I believe that if a breeder was made to have a liscence to breed, this would make a world of difference, a step anyways (of course there would be a few different levels of licensing - with people who want to breed to have a foal to keep would benefit and then of course commercial warmblood breeders needing to be specially lisenced).  Along with that, EVERY horse that is bred should be papered and registered with a registry of some kind.  The ones who are muts and cant be breed specific, there should be a registry of some kind dedicated to them.  This would stop alot of our issues I think.  It would prevent low lives with nothing better to do then throw a stallion out in the feild with a hunk of mares from feeding our meat industry, we would eventually (over a substantial amount of time) help reduce our homeless issue and in longer time, help reduce the amount of neglect and abanndonment.  Its a fact that when people spend $$ on something, they value it more than just simply having a free right to breed whatever they want.  If someone is paying 150$ (just throwing out a number) a year to hold a basic breeding liscense and on average about 100$ / horse to register them - its more than likley they will be serious and competent about what they are doing.  Lets not forget though that no matter what we DO decide to do with this problem, there is always going to be the "bad" guy.  But taking a step in the RIGHT direction with the RIGHT intentions is better than taking no steps at all...and thats what we are doing now...people are consistantly getting away with this.

Regardless...youre right she shouldnt be able to breed just so she can have a foal.  What happens when she cant work with it? Cant care for it? Cant train it herself bc she is inexperienced? Well..she begins to feed the market of homeless and neglected horses.  This is of course assuming she is inexperienced with all of this.  

We definatley have a problem with people who are breeding WAY too many horses...its a little out of hand.  Even if my suggestions are to outrageous, we still need to do something.  

Bottom line, my opinion remains that not just ANYONE should be able to breed. So the question really is, how do we monitor it and keep track???

Answer 3

Sadly, I've seen hundreds of people over the years who were breeding horses that shouldn't have been.  I've come to call them "horse collectors."  Some breed horses because they think it makes them sound like better horse people when they can talk about the mares they've bred and/or the foals they've raised when in reality, many of the mares or foals are not quality animals and have huge holes in their training.

To answer your title question, I believe that anyone wanting to breed horses (or just one) need to read at least two or three books on breeding, broodmares, and foaling.  It is a fairly inexpensive education and can provide valuable reference before, during, and after foaling for the mare and they usually include tidbits on handling a young foal.  If someone can't afford to buy the books, then they certainly shouldnt' be breeding horses.  If they can't find the time to read them or don't have the ability to understand what they're reading, they shouldn't be breeding.  As a stallion handler at a small private farm in Central California, I've seen many people breeding just because they can.  There are thousands of unwanted and abused animals of all species in this country so I firmly believe that adoption/rehoming should always be the first option.  Besides, with breeding, you have no way of truly knowing what kind of conformation, temperment, color, potential you'll be getting.  It is far cheaper to buy a well bred weanling than it is to properly breed a mare and care for the foal up to weaning stage.  I also believe that it is much easier to bond with foal who is freashly weaned.  I also find theme easier to train because you are a new entity to be evaluated independently of previous experiences.

Answer 4

I get what your saying, I see it all the time too.  People think foals are cute and breed their mare just because they can...but in the long run (after the foal is born), they don't have enough money and/or time (or both...) to take care of it properly.  For some reason, people think it's a good idea to breed their horses every year for no reason what so ever.  I have a mare that is due this coming year; the only reason I bred her though, is because her bloodlines are VERY scarce in the US, and I have the ability to care for it properly.  The people that should breed, are people with enough money, time (not to mention flexability), and energy.  People who have these qualities, as ideal people to be breeding; people who don't...well...maybe you shouldn't even have a horse...

Answer 5

i agree. to be honest, i'm sorta (SORT OF, i can't stress that out enough) in the same position as this girl. my trainer wants us to breed tulsa really badly! she was planning on breeding her next year but she ended up selling tulsa to my mom. my trainer wants us to breed her next year. the thing is, me and my mom are hesitant not only because of the financial issues we'll have to deal with, but we have NO CLUE as to care for a foal. now, we know about and have common sense about foal care, but we aren't prepared and knowledgeable enough to go through a breeding. we'd have our trainer to help us step by step, but still! knowledge is KEY. people should, like, have breeding licenses!

now, to answer your question...

i think people should first accompany and take "lessons" from their trainer/s when their trainer/s go through a breeding. like you are your trainer's shadow. people should go through this "training session" with at least 2 breedings. before, during, and after this training, they obtain as much info as possible. then they help their trainer with a third foal, with the trainer accompanying you instead of you accompanying the trainer. then, you do a breeding on your own with the help and support of your trainer. congrats! after you have a foal or two w/ your trainer/s, you can now successfully and safely breed on your own!  

Answer 6

You have a great point. Lots of people want to breed their older mares because they want "something to remember Starry by when she's gone" or whatever. But they really have NO idea what they're getting into. I think only qualified, knowledgeable breeders should breed, because breeding is SO expensive and time-consuming. Often, the costs of birthing/foaling are far greater than the profit you get from selling the foal. Or, I think people should breed only if they have a professional breeder or veterinarian helping them every step of the way to teach them how to do it right, so that they can pass on that knowledge.

I hope this little girl doesn't breed. I imagine that she goes to school, and I'm not sure her parents want to spend all day checking on the foal...it's a 24-hour job, really.