Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

At 07:49 AM 6/11/2004, Kristene Smuts wrote:
> Now, I'd like to ask another question.  In your collective opinion, what 
> is the best age to breed a colt / stallion?  I lean towards 6 years old, 
> but I know that the breeding yards like to get those boys busy from as 
> young as 2.  Any thoughts?

If someone is paying for a breeding to a two year old, I hope there's a 
live foal guarantee, because not all two year olds have viable sperm.  I 
wouldn't breed a stud till he was older.  Maybe a limited breeding - one 
mare, maybe two - at four.  But I've been Arabians (Crabbet/Polish), and 
they seem to get their full hormonal package later than other breeds.  I 
certainly wouldn't breed a stud very much till I knew what he could 
actually do.  Beauty is only skin deep, after all!

That said, I do leave my colts over a year or 18 months with an experienced 
older mare or two that I wouldn't mind getting a foal or foals out 
of.  Living with mares teaches a stud good manners right from day one.  My 
6 year old stallion lives with a 31 year old mare.  He wouldn't dream of 
saying boo to her unless she invited him to.  She never does!  He's learned!

________________________________
   Lif Strand      fasterhorses.com
           Quemado NM USA

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If you treat an Arab like a Thoroughbred, it will behave like a Quarter
horse. 
~  Libby Llop

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