Breeding on a Budget
November 6, 2008
Strategies for saving on your horse breeding bill.
1. Hunt for bargain stud fees
- Look for cheaper stud fees at the stallion service auctions many associations offer. These auctions can also be found with futurities or through your state affiliate. The stallion owners donate stud fees, and the money raised is usually used by the organization for added money at a future show. The best stallions go fast. For a list of stallion service auctions, check for advertisements in The American Quarter Horse Journal or click here.
- Book early. Many stallion owners give a substantial discount if you pay your booking fee before a certain date.
- If your mare has points, has won money or has produced a foal that has gone on to earn a lot of money or points, you might be entitled to a discount or, in some cases, having the stud fee waived completely. This is usually the case with a young stallion just starting his breeding career. Ask the owner or breeding manager whether your mare qualifies for such a discount.
2. Ensure your mare conceives quickly
- The cliché “Time is money” is true when it comes to breeding costs. The least expensive way to breed a mare is to get her in foal in one try. Sometimes that is not possible, but limiting the number of tries is definitely the most cost-effective outcome for any breeder.
- Have your veterinarian palpate your mares and run a uterine culture test. If any mare has a positive result or infection, then you have time to get it treated so she will be ready to start breeding without delay. A uterine infection can prevent a mare from getting pregnant.
You can now fill out and keep track of your AQHA Stallion Breeding Reports online! The deadline to submit reports is November 30. Check out AQHAMembers.com for more options on tracking your breeding history!
3. Read the contract
- Thoroughly read the breeding contract to make sure you don’t get blindsided with unexpected expenses. Shipped semen fees and mare boarding fees vary from breeder to breeder, and these expenses add up to hundreds of dollars.
- Compare all of the breeding costs for each stallion in consideration. If any of them fit within your budget, you might have found a good match for your mare and saved money, too.
4. Other factors to consider
- Take your own hay and grain when boarding at a breeding facility.
- Purchase your supplies in advance so you can shop for the best prices or bulk prices and won’t be purchasing something last minute at a higher price.
Visit AQHAMembers.com to enter your Stallion Breeding Report online. You’ll need your AQHA identification number and your personal identification number to get started. Check it out today!
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Comments
6 Comments on “Breeding on a Budget”
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November 12th, 2008 at 11:45 am
If saving money is important, don’t try for an early baby. Breedings done in Feb. and March are typically less successful than those in April or later.
In the early spring a mare’s cycle is less predictable. They may stay in heat longer before they ovulate, nessecitating more ultrasounds, collections and inseminations. Find a breeding facility that is close to home or ships semen and allows you to only have you mare there during her heat cycle. some places require that your mare stay until she is 30 days in foal, thus creating a large board bill.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Please stop breeding… People are losing their homes, and the animals are starving. Just skip a year; that’s all I ask.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Can The Racing Journal republish this article, with appropriate attribution? (To learn more about our magazine, please go to the associated website: http://www.theracingjournal.com.)
If so, please send me the attribution information in the format in which it should appear. And–Thanks in advance!
–Karen (or speak with Bob) 208-343-0546
November 12th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Indiscrimament breeding has always be a problem. Part of this is caused by breeders who own their own stallion, and breed him to two the mares they own, and to foals from previous breedings.. To double or triple up to the same stallion (i,e, granddaugher, and or greatgrandaughtrter to their grandfather or greatgrandfather) is part od the problem with the many health problems inherent to the horses today. Part of the reason they do this is because it costs no stud fees, I will never breed in that manner, The health and vitality of my beloved quarter horses is of paramount importance to me. Besides that, ny conscience would not allow me to do so. God Bless!!!
November 13th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
You call it Indiscrimament breeding others call it line breeding. Hoping for the best trates in the bloodlines, not the poor ones. Of course there is always a chance evil will out weigh good. Breeders need to be aware of the consequences of line breeding. But it is there choice. In this economy when money is tight, people will not be able to afford breedings to award winning stallions, It’s econimics 101. Big stud fee, nomimal stud fee, the horse care costs the same. I think you will see a drop in production numbers. Perhaps AQHA could do a survey of their members.
November 13th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
We are skipping the year completely. We have raised at least one selectively bred foal every year for the last 16 years. 2009 will see empty foaling stalls here. We are able to feed and care for what we have but I am not going to bring any more into my life that have such an uncertain future!
We have always been able to get the babies shown in halter and sold until the last couple years. Now I’m breaking them out to try to sell them at least green broke! Thank goodness our horses have been successful both ways!
Costs are so high on everything and the registration expenses and hoops to jump through are NOT helping. I know several breeders that are not even registering their foals to save money. That is so sad to deny the horses their heritage!
Breeders please concider your “product” carefully before you breed. I think for the near future anyway “less is better”, quality, not quantity. There is no place left for the “thrown away” horse.