Researchers find that swimming is the best way for horses to stay in shape without straining joints or muscles…
The Standardbred’s Retirement Foundation’s annual Adopt-a-thon will be held August 6th in conjunction with the Festival of Horses at the Horse Park of New Jersey…
Two horses died during a chuckwagon race on the opening night of the Calgary Stampede…
Bison used to help train cutting horses in Colorado…
Barbaro in “guarded condition” due to infection in his left hind leg…
Yak polo slowly growing in popularity in Mongolia…
A bill introduced in the UK will see blameless horse owners protected if their horse causes an accident…
French cloning company announces birth of foal cloned from famous showjumper E.T. …
“Problem ponies” moved to new pastures after complaints from local riders…
Have you noticed this when you’re looking at “horse for sale” ads? You see a nice mare advertised. You like her bloodlines; she’s either trained in the discipline(s) you want, or has the talent and potential. “Hrm,” you say to yourself, “she looks like a horse worth considering.”
By the same token, it’s appalling to see so many mares who are put straight into a broodmare band without being broken to ride or drive. How does the breeder know if she even has the performance ability they seek (assuming that’s what they want and aren’t just trying to cash in on a popular bloodline, breed or colour) if nothing has ever been tried with her? I know that many responsible people do breed their mares young, and then train them later; that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m referring to those mares which are never backed or hitched, and only used to breed. Then, down the road, circumstances may change; the breeder may decide to go with a different bloodline or discipline, or is getting out of breeding. Now you have a mature mare who has done nothing and knows nothing, and is going to be very difficult to sell, except perhaps to another breeder. Unless she has produced some outstanding and well-known foals, her future looks a little bleak, wouldn’t you say? Her chances of ending up in a neglectful home, or even an auction or killpen, are a lot higher than those of a similar mare who can be marketed (unbred, mind you!) as a good jumper, barrel racer, kids’ horse, what have you. Her “free with purchase” foal also stands a good chance of winding up the same way.
Bridlepath 