| Whether you are an amateur breeder or own a | | | | 3. Remember time frames. It takes 11 months for you |
| professional stud farm, the people who have the most | | | | new foal to be born and a further time until it is ready |
| success are the ones which are the best prepared. By | | | | for the market. You need the reputation of your |
| understanding the full picture you lessen the chance for | | | | horse's parents to be improving not fading away. |
| disappointment. Horse breeding judgements can be | | | | 4. Establish what your goal is and how you will achieve |
| clouded by sentiments, false perceptions and a basic | | | | it. Then take into account your costs. How much is it |
| lack of understanding of what the market actually | | | | going to cost to get you to breed your horse? Are |
| wants. Here is how you can avoid making those | | | | you able to get a good price more than you paid for |
| mistakes and breed foals which are in high demand! | | | | breeding you foal? Can you afford this |
| WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT MAKE POOR | | | | process?Breeding for the market - so crutial for the |
| BREEDING DECISIONS? | | | | successful sale. |
| * Decisions based on sentiment. | | | | THE STALLION |
| * Poor advice. | | | | 1. Is the stallion having success at the moment? |
| * Insufficient research. | | | | 2. Is he a stallion that potential buyers can relate to? |
| * Lack of knowledge around pedigrees. How a mare | | | | 3. Conformation and trainability; two things you should |
| and stallions conformation, temperament and trainability | | | | have in the forefront of your mind. |
| affect each other in their foal. | | | | 4. Is the stallion you are looking at choosing much |
| * What is really going to sell in the market place? Who | | | | better quality than your mare? If so consider finding a |
| is going to be the target market and what are they | | | | better quality mare. |
| looking for in a horse or pony? | | | | 5. Is he the right type to what you are breeding for? |
| * You get caught up in hype rather than facts. | | | | 6. Can I repeat past breeding successes with this |
| There are many, many factors which can lead to | | | | cross? |
| failure in breeding. Regardless to how clever you think | | | | 7. Is there a more proven stallion or a rising star that I |
| you are or how big your budget is, many of these | | | | could go to? |
| factors are simply out of our control. What you can do | | | | 8. Will this stallion be in demand in 2 years? |
| however, is to limit the risks, here's how: | | | | 9. Is he sound and does he throw sound youngsters? |
| 1. Breed for type. Research a particular area which | | | | 10. Look for a stallion who has a big book of mares |
| you would like to breed for and learn as much about | | | | coming to him. |
| that area of the sport, and what an ideal pony or | | | | 11. Choose a stallion which throws strong athletic types |
| horse for this discipline would be. | | | | that are trainable and most importantly are in demand! |
| 2. Choose a mare that has good bloodlines. The quality | | | | 12. Does this stallion have progeny owned by high |
| of your mare is a crucial first step which many | | | | profile riders? |
| breeders fail to take into account. You want your | | | | Final thoughts, |
| mares bloodlines to be known by your target markets | | | | Buyers will be more forgiving on slight conformation |
| and in demand. You always want to choose a mare | | | | issues if your horse is talented and being cute also |
| that has the strong potential to produce correct and | | | | helps! |
| athletic foals. | | | | |