I was looking for some advice on whether it would be a good idea to breed my horse or not....So here's the deal: I've had quite a bit of experience with horses, but none with foals.  However, the owner of my boarding stable would be willing to help me out whenever I need it.  There's a few foals at our barn now, and my horse, Blacky, goes nuts whenever she sees them, and she seems really interested in them.  Blacky is 12 years old and has never been bred but she's in very good health and has never had any problems, so I don't think there'd be any complications.  She is pretty hot under saddle, and I heard breeding can calm them down...is this true?  The biggest problem is what we would do after the foal was born....I'm finishing up my junior year in high school so its not really the best time with college coming up, but if I didn't breed her right off I think she would probably be too old, with it being her first time.  So I was just wondering what some of you thought about this. Thanks in advance!

First question, do you have the cash to help bring this mare to foal?  From breeding soundness exams to pre and post natal check ups, shots, vet bills etc?  What will happen if you cant keep baby? You say you will be going off to college soon, that really dosen't make for much time with the little one, and your mare. 

 My 2 cents if you want the experiance of a foal, is to save one from auction.  If horse prices in your area are any thing like what they are around here,  the price of a weaner or even yearling is much cheaper than what it would cost to breed and keep your mare.  Also what are her marketable skills, you say she's hot, and a lot of the time breeding dosen't help to cool that off.  Is she registered?  Not to say that's a do or die thing to breed, but an unregisterable baby has a poorer market value in the long run than one with papers, even though you cant ride papers. 

Just my 2 cents, adopt, or rescue a baby from auction!

Please do not breed your mare...If you do not have a plan for the resulting foal, you dont need one.

Why do you want to breed her?  No well-thought-out plans for the foal = no need for a baby. I second the idea to buy a foal if you really want the experience of training a youngster, but foals are not cheap either way.  With college coming up, you will not have the time to work with a young horse on a regular basis.  You would be doing the foal a disservice by not being able to work with it on a daily basis, as well as doing a disservice to yourself because the foal will not be saleable without training.

Breeding changing mare's personality = wives tale.  

Don't breed your mare -- if you want a foal, go rescue a nursemare foal or an auction horse.  Unless "Blacky" is a top quality example of her breed with show championships under her belt and drop dead awesome conformation, she doesn't need to be making babies just because she "gets excited" when she sees a foal.  My gelding is interested in foals too....that doesn't mean he wants (or needs!) to have one.

We have a staggering overpopulation of horses in this country --we don't need to breed any more for a looong time.  Ok, I'm getting off my soapbox now. 

Flat-out bad idea!   

I have a (former) friend who breeds constantly.  I've never been clear why. She's wound up with the worst assortment of horses I've ever seen. Since she has her own place, the ones she bred for herself will have a permanent home, but the ones she talked other people into creating are on the hit list.  It's sad for everyone involved.

You're getting ready to leave for college.  Why not wait till you graduate? Then if you want a foal, you can buy one ready-made and raise it on your own dime and your own time.  Blacky will only be, what, 16?  You'd still have her to ride while you learn about raising a baby.

PLEASE don't bring another questionable horse into the world, especially when you have no plan for how to deal with it.

Ok thank you everyone.  Although, both my mare and the stallion are very typy with decent lines, and I could probably get a decent price, the timing is wrong.  I'm waiting to see what happens with college, and after that before try to invest in anything this time(and money) consuming.

BMBlackbird:

Ok thank you everyone.  Although, both my mare and the stallion are very typy with decent lines, and I could probably get a decent price, the timing is wrong.  I'm waiting to see what happens with college, and after that before try to invest in anything this time(and money) consuming.

I can so respect this.  I love it that you came and asked a question, got several answers (quite possibly ones that you didn't want to hear) and are choosing to wait and re-evaluate later.  Thank you so much.

I second that fast arab.

Thank you Blackbird, i am very impressed with your grace and common sense.