I was wanting to get some advise on how best to manage my first year standing a stallion. We are offering live cover only for this year. We plan offering bookings starting Feb 1st as this is a halter quality stallion and should have nice futurity babies. I have very specific expectations I want to include in the breeding contract regarding the mare--must have neg coggins, uterine culture, halter broke, etc., but what are the expectations from a mare owner's point of view? I want to make sure I do everything right and preserve a professional image. In addition, my stallion has a severe front leg injury (He was rescued too late for corrective surgery). Although the vet has cleared him for breeding, I am going to insist that all mares wear breeding hobbles to help prevent him from getting kicked in that leg. I am going to use them on my own mares, but I can imagine that some people would not want them used on their mares. Is this an unreasonable demand to be put into the contract? Has anyone else had experience with breeding an injured stallion? We are severely limiting his booking to only a few approved mares, so this may not be an issue, but just in case I'm forgetting something, I would like some advise. I would like to breed him AI only, but we are just not set up for that right now. We hope to be by next year. I just want to make sure I do it all right, the FIRST time. Any advise? Thanks!!
Laurie Posted From: 209.233.215.238
Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 05:42 pm:
I don't think there are many stallion owners out there who will allow a mare owner to have any say in how the mare is handled during breeding...hobbles are pretty routine and I've only ran across a few people who were worried about them, however after I explained what they did and showed the mare being able to move with them on...they relaxed their stance...
If you don't have a 'been there done that mare' for him for his first 'lesson' you might consider offering a very reduced rate if you can find someone with a patient, understanding, 'skanky ho' type mare to use as his first mare.
Breeding a maiden stallion to a maiden mare is do-able, but it makes life so much easier if at least one of them knows what they are doing.
JB Posted From: 12.34.246.4
Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 06:40 pm:
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for your reply. Eddie's been bred before but from what she said, she didn't teach him anything at all--he lunged at the mare and she just let him go, so lucky me, that's what I have to work with. Luckily, he's a good listener.
I'm selling one of my maiden mares and will hopefully be able to purchase a nice experienced mare by breeding season. That way all I have to worry about is him. Even if I don't luckily I have a mare that seems to be very receptive to him and during teasing will even set up for him although they're seperated by a fence. I'm glad to hear most people use breeding hobbles. I'm not going to risk Eddie getting hurt just for a stud fee. As it is breeding will be extremely limited and on an approved basis only. I just really would like to see his foals out there in the show. Thanks again for the advise!
Laurie Posted From: 209.233.215.238
Posted on Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 06:05 pm:
Since you know he may have a 'lunging' problem you might want to be prepared for his next mare and have an extra handler ready..
I had to breed a Stallion that I had in training once who was just terrible at rushing the mares...I just put to ropes on him, one on either side and had an extra handler and we approached the mare with the stallion in a 'cross tie' situation...he couldn't turn on anyone if he got frustrated and if he rushed forward we could pull him back or down simultaneously (sp) and not have to worry about him swinging around to one side or the other......
We were very quiet and patient with him and by the 3rd session he was absolutely wonderful.
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