Breeding Horses to Sell

Whether you are an amateur breeder or own a professional stud farm, the people who have the most success are the ones which are the best prepared.  By understanding the full picture you lessen the chance for disappointment.  Horse breeding judgements can be clouded by sentiments, false perceptions and a basic lack of understanding of what the market actually wants.  Here is how you can avoid making those mistakes and breed foals which are in high demand!

WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT MAKE POOR BREEDING DECISIONS?

• Decisions based on sentiment.
• Poor advice.
• Insufficient research.
• Lack of knowledge around pedigrees.  How a mare and stallions conformation, temperament and trainability affect each other in their foal. 
• What is really going to sell in the market place?  Who is going to be the target market and what are they looking for in a horse or pony?
• You get caught up in hype rather than facts.

There are many, many factors which can lead to failure in breeding.  Regardless to how clever you think you are or how big your budget is, many of these factors are simply out of our control.  What you can do however, is to limit the risks, here's how:

1. Breed for type.  Research a particular area which you would like to breed for and learn as much about that area of the sport, and what an ideal pony or horse for this disapline would be.
2. Choose a mare that has  good bloodlines.  The quality of your mare is a crucial first step which many breeders fail to take into account.  You want your mares bloodlines to be known by your target markets and in demand.  You always want to choose a mare that has the strong potential to produce correct and athletic foals.
3. Remember time frames.  It takes 11 months for you new foal to be born and a further time until it is ready for the market.  You need the reputation of your horse's parents to be improving not fading away.
4. Establish what your goal is and how you will achieve it.  Then take into account your costs.  How much is it going to cost to get you to breed your horse?  Are you able to get a good price more than you paid for breeding you foal?  Can you afford this process?

THE STALLION

1. Is the stallion having success at the moment?
2. Is he a stallion that potential buyers can relate to?
3. Conformation and trainability; two things you should have in the forefront of your mind.
4. Is the stallion you are looking at choosing much better quality than your mare?  If so consider finding a better quality mare.
5. Is he the right type to what you are breeding for?
6. Can I repeat past breeding successes with this cross?
7. Is there a more proven stallion or a rising star that I could go to?
8. Will this stallion be in demand in 2 years?
9. Is he sound and does he throw sound youngsters?
10. Look for a stallion who has a big book of mares coming to him.
11.  Choose a stallion which throws strong athletic types that are trainable and most importantly are in demand!
12. Does this stallion have progeny owned by high profile riders?

Final thoughts,

Buyers will be more forgiving on slight conformation issues if your horse is talented and being cute also helps!

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