As a relatively young breeder myself being based in a well populated breeding area in the Midlands and West of Ireland, has helped me understand first hand what breeders and producers of young horses are dealing with! Meeting breeders through the country at IHC selection days and working with lots of producers locally through my job as a farrier makes me feel like I’m very much a grassroots person! “Especially when we are regularly swinging out of the one leadrope or avoiding the double barrels”, being on the ground listening with the breeder talk about “what’s it all about !!” What their aspirations and goals are, where they are going, how they’re getting there and what they genuinely feel and think about what’s involved.

In the past 25 years, we have seen the top, the bottom and currently more mutual ground of our market, I have talked long and hard with those disheartened breeders to stop and reflect on what they’re breeding, why they are breeding, and what their game plan is in relation to reaching their goal. What is commonly asked: Do you know what you’re breeding? Have you even got a breeding goal?

It all starts with the mare and the endless list for her considerations, maternal instinct, imprinting, fertility, soundness, model, type, conformation, pedigree, family tree, genetics, temperament etc..etc, on and on, the list will grow.

Most breeders can identify the true purpose and suitability of their mare and need to be clear with themselves as to what they genuinely believe is the best route for her to breed towards their desired market, but research is key for us all. Talk to the people breeding and producing the foals or younger horses in the market you’re planning and aiming for, watch out for the offspring of the stallions you’re interested in, ask the HARD questions!!

Temperament handling? Rideability? Cost? X-rays? Time period?

This list will help you ask, and answer your own questions about your mare!

• Is she good enough for what I want?
• What are her strong points?
• What type of rider is she suitably breeding for?
• What sport, job or competition would she breed best for?
• What stallion should I breed her to for a colt or for a filly?
• Where/how or in what way can you improve her well being for breeding and rearing her foal?
• Where can I market her foals/youngster?
• What customers are looking to buy the type of foal I am about to breed?
• How much is her foal/youngster REALISTICALLY going to fetch?

Yes, so many questions to ask of her and so many factors to consider about the NICE mare!! Many questions might never find you an answer as the breeding game is as long a road as we will follow, but improve what you’re doing and it will continue to raise your profile of what you deserve!

SO now you ask!! What do I do if I’m serious about improving this situation!! Is there a daughter that’s an improvement upon her, and will she be a step closer in your direction? Research all previous offspring, the mare’s lines of offspring and the sires used with success! Is there Success to be had in using a more expensive stallion with a proven track record and more popular offspring in the sales ring?

Do you cut losses and upgrade the mare?

Perhaps your mare is not exactly what you’re looking for, but she might be plenty good enough for a breeder with a different goal or route for her!

There are plenty of experienced people in our circles, we all know each other in this community, ask for help, ask for advice, ask for opinions, listen to as much as you can, and make up your own mind! Be decisive!

Not to forget we need to start realising what’s out there again, as breeders, owners and producers we have slowly moved away from visiting our showjumping, one day events, hunts, huntertrials, show classes etc as spectators and in turn are losing the edge ever so slightly as to what is required of our young horses as the margins are wider than the years before. There are young horse championships for all disciplines, both at home and abroad, and it would encourage us all again to stay focused as it’s amazing how these shows freshen the minds and sharpen the eye again as to where we all aspire to have our young horses at.

The stallion down the road didn’t necessarily do any harm, but the roads have new surfaces and things are moving faster now than ever, let’s not get left behind.