brood mares

[hollygate]

I was wondering if anyone could advise me. I’m thinking of buying a broodmare, only as a hobby and don’t have the unlimited funds to buy into the top bloodlines. Any advice on which families to try and buy into etc would be much appreciated. I don’t expect miracles, but just to be involved and to enjoy owning a mare would be very rewarding for me but if we could breed something decent then that would be a bonus. I prefer the flat.

[bellewstown]

Hollygate,

Breeding generally is a money losing exercise. There are just too many people in it who don’t need to make a profit. Consequently there is still an oversupply of foals for the market thats there. More people seem to want to breed horses than to race them.
If you don’t want to spend too much money try and buy a non winning or unraced filly who is a half sister to a black type winner in Ireland or England. It is essential that you maximise your chances of getting an attractive foal. The filly must therefore be good bodied and correct, no bigger than medium sized and most importantly a good walker. You need to aim to produce a foal that correct, a together type (not in ‘sections’), neither too much nor too little bone and most essentially not a big boat of a foal. If he is not a good walker he will be ignored at the sales. If both sire and dam tick all the physical boxes you have some chance. If you breed a filly it will almost certainly be a loser.
Be prepared to take losses on the chin at the sales and too move on. Generally sell as a foal than at yearling stage. There are more foal buyers and they generally will have more contacts than you to get a foal sold at yearling time. Also yearling sales prep is a specialist job whereas a foal can be sold with fairly minimal sales prep.
Be warned you will get sucked in and end up racing one or more foals. It is very hard to breed what the market wants and luck plays a huge part.

[hollygate]

Thanks for replying. I was thinking exactly the same as you when you mentioned selling any subsequent progeny as foals, as I have zero experience of preparation.

I’ll take on board your comments about conformation and walking etc, makes complete sense and excellent advice. It’s only an interest to me, if I do get involved I may not necessarily even breed the mare every year. A friend has also put me in contact with someone who will be able to help, so thats a relief.

As you say a lot is down to luck, I suppose all we can do is try and tick as many boxes as possible, conformation, temperament, breeding and the sire selection etc etc and try and tilt the balance in our favour……and then keep everything crossed! lol

Once again thanks for the pointers, it’s very much appreciated.

[Author]

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