HGG Community Forums

I can't really help you here but I just want to say, WOW! She's gorgeous!♥️♥️

What is her 5 panel status?

What would you be breeding the foal for? So far, in your OP it says your breeding for colour... It's best to purchase and pick exactly what you want rather than breed.

5 panel is genetic testing for 5 diseases that can be passed on. Just because she hasn’t had any issues foaling or symptoms doesn’t mean she isn’t a carrier.

Your mare is part Quarter Horse. There are 5 genetic diseases that are tested for in stock horses, the nick name is the 5 panel. The diseases are HYPP, HERDA, GBED, PSSM1, and MH. The number one thing you should do before breeding again is rule out genetic diseases and test your mare. Click on the link below and read about the genetic diseases. Please be a responsible breeder and test.

https://www.animalgenetics.us/Equine/Genetic_Disease/Index.asp

That is great that she is negative! Best of luck with your breeding adventures. I personally would find another POA to breed her with.

Horses are heartbreaking, expensive, and time consuming. It’s hard for people to keep one horse through college, let alone two. I currently have two and, honestly, I’m extremely burnout on horse keeping. I’ve had a rough few years.

Year before last, my mare injured a tendon in her leg. It was long and slow rehab. My life during that time was tending her every single day, no breaks. No fun either. Just tend the injury. Last year, I was still dealing with leftover issues from her injury, and on top of that, the barn I kept her at pretty much starved her.

Got her moved, things got better, and I ended up with a two year old to start. He has been wonderful. A dream! I had so many plans for him! A bright, bright future.

Now he’s dead lame because of an issue he was born with. Neither parents have it, but he got it anyway. Something just went wrong as he developed in utero. Now it’s caught up to him, in spite of my best efforts not to let it, and I have a very real fear that my beautiful, otherwise strong and healthy two year old will need to be put down. It’s not fair.

I’m heartbroken. I’m broke. I love my horses, but I’m so, so tired.

Now imagine dealing with stuff like this while trying to go through college. Personally, I think you’ll be doing yourself a favor if you stick to breeding on the game, rather than real life. The worst “heartbreak” possible from breeding here is that the pretty foal fails testing and gets altered.

With a limited budget re your stud fee, have a look locally, do any stallion advertise in your local feed stores etc? I find it very rewarded raising a foal, sure things can go wrong, but they can in anything. She looks a lovely mare, and good luck with breeding a great foal from her!

You could also breed to an Arab. She might cross nicely, the foal could be registered Half Arab and be able to compete. There are great sporthorse divisions.

Staying under $500 is going to be tough if you are planning on having her AI'd. I would be looking through a stallion directory that is local to you. AI can cost upwards of $1000 or more without the stud fee cost.

Something I was recently told was to get the some studdarm catalogs go through and find lines that you like what they can do and how they look, as well as what type of foals they produce. Then call the stud farm and ask if they have any younger stallions with XY and Z lines that isn’t in their catalog. Usually/Sometimes they do. Younger unproven stallions stud fees are going to be less than money winning horses. You aren’t paying for the top stud, but the one you’re getting has similar breeding. You just have to be willing to take a slight risk on a unproven stallion.

That was the advice I was given by a more experienced lady. I’m in a similar situation, raising the foal won’t be an issue, but paying for a stud fee will be difficult for me and I can’t afford a high one. I haven’t personally tried her advice yet, but I will when I’m ready to breed my mare in a year or two.

Before you take on the responsibility of a foal, talk with some students and faculty members at the school or schools you’re looking at about what you’re planning to do and similar experiences they may have had. They may have some really good advice that is more specific to your particular situation. I can completely understand why this is something you want to do, I would too! But I also know that I bought my mare from a young woman getting ready to go to college who knew she’d have neither enough time nor enough money for her, and I’d hate to see you go through the same heartbreak she did (I am still in touch with her, and try to let her know that her former girl is well loved on a regular basis). Wishing for the best, whatever you decide!

SilverStar that's a great idea! Thank you!

Eastern Iowa. Quad Cities area :x