Hard to let go.
Moderators: Roguelet, WaveMaster, madelyn
Hard to let go.
I just got back into Pedigree to start researching stallions for my mare for this year. Anyway, I couldn't help reading on the subject of the Ill. stallion. I have one too. My question is, how does one go about collecting "good" mares for their stallion? I would like to find a "good" mare for my stallion, but have yet to figure out how exactly to find one. It's far easier to me, it seems, to find a stallion for a mare rather than the other way around. I don't know if I'm extremely "picky" because I realize how it will be an uphill battle, or if the computer programs are set up to recognize and work the system from the mare's perspective. I would love to find a "good" mare for my guy, better yet, within my smidgen of a budget.
Hi Madelyn:
You'll groan when I say, L'ange Gabriel, of course. I know you'll groan because I asked several questions concerning him last year. I have been thinking of selling him, since I can't bring myself to geld him, and maybe someone else could market him as a stallion and do very well no doubt. His sister is here and do any day now with a Sir Cat baby. I would love to keep "Gaby" and find a mare for him. Out of all the horses, I've trained and owned, I truly like him the best. But, I just can't bring myself to geld him. He may be junk to someone else, if they look at his lack of black and his sad race record - (1) on a chipped knee. But, if they was around him - they'd understand. I thought about doing a 50 mile endurance with him, but I don't think they allow stallions. I can walk with this horse beside me and never have the trepidation that I've had with other horses I'm training. He learns and responds quicker in 5 minutes to something new I'm teaching, thank alot of other horses out there. But, I digress. He's a mut as far as the race industry sees it. So...how do I find an aging mare that can bring him up to noteworthy status - possibly. The idea of selling hunter/jumper prospects is not, in my opinion, a good one. Their stallion fees are "way" lower, and to raise a prospective baby is extremely time consuming - training wise. I may go that route, but doubtful.
You'll groan when I say, L'ange Gabriel, of course. I know you'll groan because I asked several questions concerning him last year. I have been thinking of selling him, since I can't bring myself to geld him, and maybe someone else could market him as a stallion and do very well no doubt. His sister is here and do any day now with a Sir Cat baby. I would love to keep "Gaby" and find a mare for him. Out of all the horses, I've trained and owned, I truly like him the best. But, I just can't bring myself to geld him. He may be junk to someone else, if they look at his lack of black and his sad race record - (1) on a chipped knee. But, if they was around him - they'd understand. I thought about doing a 50 mile endurance with him, but I don't think they allow stallions. I can walk with this horse beside me and never have the trepidation that I've had with other horses I'm training. He learns and responds quicker in 5 minutes to something new I'm teaching, thank alot of other horses out there. But, I digress. He's a mut as far as the race industry sees it. So...how do I find an aging mare that can bring him up to noteworthy status - possibly. The idea of selling hunter/jumper prospects is not, in my opinion, a good one. Their stallion fees are "way" lower, and to raise a prospective baby is extremely time consuming - training wise. I may go that route, but doubtful.
Well then your answer is to find a mare you really like whose pedigree is suitable (and find a really sound one, say with 20+ starts and nice earnings that retired sound). Breed her and race the baby yourself. That's probably about your only option. Be aware that once he has bred a mare his personality may change a bit.
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....
I currently have 3 mares who are in stalls next to him. As my son says "poor" Gaby. I did use him last year, and worked very hard on teaching him good ground habits and hand breeding. But, unfortunately, the mare I had did not keep the baby. I had had him tested, so I know it wasn't his fault. But, I think, she was just too young - hormone - wise. Anyway, thanks for writing. It's been good to hear from you again.
Pam,
From an inquiry perspective, how much do you think L'ange Gabriel could bring as a stallion if in fact you found a mare as Madelyn suggested and it did win some races versus the sport horse fees.
I would also like to know how tall your guy is and by looking at his parents he is a bay? Ocala is listed at 15.3, if yours same or so you may want to consider the appendix market for barrel racers or polo pony type market. Not that you have to exclude the possibilty of getting a racing mare.
To find the mare your looking for I think your best bet would be to plan to go to Keeneland mixed sale or F-T mixed and see if you can find a mare in your budget. I know that if I had been at the sale myself this year I would probaly own a different mare than I do now, not that I'm unhappy. It just when you see some of the prices a couple of the mares went for I was really surprised.
What are the three names of your mares?
From an inquiry perspective, how much do you think L'ange Gabriel could bring as a stallion if in fact you found a mare as Madelyn suggested and it did win some races versus the sport horse fees.
I would also like to know how tall your guy is and by looking at his parents he is a bay? Ocala is listed at 15.3, if yours same or so you may want to consider the appendix market for barrel racers or polo pony type market. Not that you have to exclude the possibilty of getting a racing mare.
To find the mare your looking for I think your best bet would be to plan to go to Keeneland mixed sale or F-T mixed and see if you can find a mare in your budget. I know that if I had been at the sale myself this year I would probaly own a different mare than I do now, not that I'm unhappy. It just when you see some of the prices a couple of the mares went for I was really surprised.
What are the three names of your mares?
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summerhorse
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Good stallions make great geldings. There are tons of equally well bred (and better bred) stallions out there WITH race records that are going dateless (or getting very little action). His value as a stallion is very limited and in fact could put him at risk for one of those sales the killers haunt if you sell him down the road. Geld him, put some training on him and either you have a great riding horse for yourself OR you have a show/event/jump/whatever prospect that would be worth twice as much as a trained gelding than a stallion (which severely limits the pool of potential buyers).
If you don't want to put the money into training and can't do it yourself geld him and find a GOOD home (with references) that CAN put the required time in or put him with a rescue for rehoming or list him on one of the many internet sites for sales (not just canter but dream horse, etc.). Make sure his price is at least $1,000 (currently meat is about 32 cents a pound, may have gone back up though so always assume $1 a pound). DON'T just sell him cheap to anybody that comes down the road. That is how these horses end up at sales where they are picked up by killer buyers simply because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time for the right buyer.
the other option if he has perfect conformation (but a knee chip???) is to put him in training with a professional, show him and advertise him to the sport horse market.
And if STILL nobody is interested they are trying to tell you something.
If you don't want to put the money into training and can't do it yourself geld him and find a GOOD home (with references) that CAN put the required time in or put him with a rescue for rehoming or list him on one of the many internet sites for sales (not just canter but dream horse, etc.). Make sure his price is at least $1,000 (currently meat is about 32 cents a pound, may have gone back up though so always assume $1 a pound). DON'T just sell him cheap to anybody that comes down the road. That is how these horses end up at sales where they are picked up by killer buyers simply because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time for the right buyer.
the other option if he has perfect conformation (but a knee chip???) is to put him in training with a professional, show him and advertise him to the sport horse market.
And if STILL nobody is interested they are trying to tell you something.
Every mighty oak was once an acorn that stood its ground.
Pam there is a horse at Canter PA that has been there a while, Lynda Dee. She kinda meets the criteria that Madelyn suggests as she ran a good number of times and is reported retired sound. Her pedigree won't blow you away, but from my point of view, this mare beat the odds and won 68K. Her price is listed at 1.5K.
I'm not a breeder, and as much as I would love to get into breeding I don't know if I'd ever be able to do it. For one if I breed I'd want to make sure it's animals that are going to improve the breed. There's plenty of animals out there that end up in crappy situations I don't feel the need to add to the problem. You're stallion is nice, for what you want, but undistiguished as for what the industry needs. And it sounds as if you are asking about only one breeding. How many foals are injured before they ever get to the track? Plus the money that costs to get them there. Plus the foal may not ever win a race, let alone become good enough to really be noticed. Plus look over your stud. How many flaws does he have that can be passed onto his foals. Do the negatives outweigh the positives or vice versa?
Sorry, she is in the DB as Ribbons inc. and she is 1997. She is by Strike Gold, by Mr. Prospector. She has good feet, ankles are alittle beat up from the track, stout in the front, with a tall neck. Sweet personality.
Ethel Says Thanks is 2002 by Charlie Barley, by Affirmed. She has a left front ankle which was injured at birth, so is unraceable. Yes, I have thought of putting them on the buy/sell side. But the question was raised here first.
Thanks for asking.
Ethel Says Thanks is 2002 by Charlie Barley, by Affirmed. She has a left front ankle which was injured at birth, so is unraceable. Yes, I have thought of putting them on the buy/sell side. But the question was raised here first.
Thanks for asking.
Pam, I can understand the feelings for your beloved stallion and it's your money but your chances of proving this guy are very slim. If you think he can sire a successful racehorse, I would suggest you choose a mare that would suit him best physically first, improve any physical faults your guy has second and finally, select bloodlines you feel would result in a high energy foal. Good luck!