Got a question on mares vs stallions

[Serendipity]

Hi All,
Was wanting some other options.I was speaking with a freind of my and we got into a heated discussion over mares vs stallions on a business sence.
Heres the question.

in a business sence what is the point of showing a mare when its the stallion that is the only focus.

Thus my freind :roll: feels it is a waist of time,energy and money to show a mare they are only good for one thing,making babies and they don't need to be broke for that.

My stand point is it is important to show a mare or train her to ride so you know how she is since the babie is 50% hers.this way when you cross her to a stallion you have an idea of the outcome.I want my mare to be top quility and prove it that way when I breed to a top stallion I know that the baby is of the quility for I want no matter what it excells in. For me its a whole package i have to like the mare and like the stallion .

So whos right ?

Depends

Most people go with the showing... i mean whats the point you have her make a use of her! mares a lot more 'friendly' when it comes to trail rides and other stuff.

[srjames9]

Serendipty,

You can tell your friend that mares actually contribute anywhere from 60 to 70% of the physical characteristics to the foal. It is also proven that the x chromosome that is passed from the stallion to the mare has "more" genetic information than the "y" for the boys.

So the mares are certainly more important IMO however the money makers when they hit are the stallions just because of the numbers of offspring that can be produced in one year.

A mare can have only one baby whereas a stallion can breed as many mares as possible. IT is strictly a numbers game.

Cheers,
James

[Terry Wallace]

First of all..the stallion is NOT the only "focus".

Using poor mares that can do "nothing" will end up taking a toll on the reputation of the stallion.
Using proven mares, mares that have been shown, been active in other events, ets... ADDS to the value of the stallion, through the production of quality offspring.

I'm very glad that FEW breeders think as your friend does...

[SQUEAKS]

Unfortunately for the equine world no matter what breed the Stallion is always emphasized. But take a few steps backward .... without quality bred mares to be used to reproduce quality offspring, the are no Stallions that could produce anything no matter if the were the greatest stallion in the world.

I may sound a little single minded but without the best mare you can get or afford what good is any stallion?

The time has come to start bringing to light the greatness of these mares and what kind of foal they can produce. Stallions are very important but without something of quality to breed to you have nothing but another horse that may end up in the slaughterhouse.

JMHO
Bob :D .

[Andres V]

Is better to show stallion from business point for 2 reason
1)Stallion is horse that can generate more money (stud fees, more off spring to make more of a name easier and faster than mare)
2) Taking time off to show does not effect how and when stallion sires foal but is big difference when mare can have foal - for money, time off for show means mare is not make money.

Unless of course you spend more money to Embryo transfer to still use mare genetics while show.

It is important to train and prove young mare (not always in show, especially PFHA right now) before she make offspring.

[motorgypsy]

Yes the mare is very important but the X vs the Y chromosome is only one pair of the entire set so the mare's contribution is probably only a tiny bit more than the stallions. I'm sure the precise amount has been calculated - but - what is important is not who contributes more DNA but who contributes the dominant DNA. If the mare or the stallion contribute mostly recessive traits they won't show up in the foal so finding a mare or stallion who will transmit desireable dominant traits is the golden key.

[Brigitte]

I find the mare very important. Have seen many foals by the same sire that turned out very different because of the mare. But like many said stallions bring more money because they can breed more

I personally prefer mares to stallions and own both and even show a gelding - Batman. You can show mares while they are in foal, breed them soon after foaling and work them with a foal at their side so they can go back to showing when the foal is weaned. Some even show the mare while the foal is in the stall at the show.

Stallions can return more money in stud fees when showing, but be realistic. Look at the number of registered stallions and then look at the number that are successful in the ring at major shows. Most people buy breedings to fino champions, fewer to performance champions. Then you have to promote the stallion, so have advertising fees. With a show mare you can pick and choose the stallions for her. You can take a mare on trail rides between shows and be welcome. Not all trail rides welcome stallions. Think of the Nationals Stallion Service Auction where you can buy breedings to excellent show stallions for half price and then look how many sell every year. If the PFHA can't sell the breeding for half price with a free entry into the Breeders Sweepstakes, what makes you think you will sell breedings for full price?

Ideally, you will have several show mares and alternate times of breeding so you always have one or two in the show and another ready to foal or about to wean.

Anyway, that's my opinion and I have a whole lot of broodmares, a few show mares, several stallions, and of course, the fabulous Batman who makes my daughter happy and is worth more to her than any of the more than 90 pasos on the farm.

Marelyn (posting on Alex's account)

[Serendipity]

Thank you all :D
It just goes to show how single mind some can be I know the Stallion is the most promoted when you look at a horse to buy everyone asks whose the sire and dam and whose the dam sire.

I think mares should be promoted more personally.

I still plan to show my mare no matter what my freind says I have a young stallion now to that I'll also show in 2007. She said I should just focus on him and I will his first year but I'll have my mare Prueba and she does well enough for me.

[Polly Aulton]

Oh heck, get a gelding. You can show it anytime, ride it on any trail ride, it never acts like a butthead (well, maybe sometimes), doesn't have moods, is a good babysitter, etc., etc., :lol:
:rofl
Polly

[Abejita]

also..Stallions do not always make money..unless you have one of the top stallions..or one sought after by the local population..if you sell one or two breedings a year you are lucky..Plus you usually need to spend money on show fees, stalls transportation etc ,even if he is only being exhibited..Stallion ads in magazines..etc etc..AND you probabaly better put some offspring on the ground so people can see what he produces before they breed..Look at this issue of the PFHW with the stallion auction info..look at the small % of stallions bid on compared to the amount of stallions in the auction

[Heidi]

...in a business sence what is the point of showing a mare when its the stallion that is the only focus.

Thus my freind :roll: feels it is a waist of time,energy and money to show a mare they are only good for one thing,making babies and they don't need to be broke for that.
What, is this man stuck in the land before emancipation? Does he also think women should remain housebound, barefoot and pregnant, too?

The reason it is good to promote/train/show a mare is so that you know her temperament, gait and mind. This means her learning ability: How fast can she learn, what was her attitude about learning, how long can she retain what she learned, how well can she apply what she has learned, how well did she keep/improve gait while learning? If you don't train them, you don't know whether you have a great, good, mediocre or bad horse. A good breeder would want to know as much about both parents as possible so they have a better chance at predicting how the foal will turn out:
Foal #1
Stallion (trained/shown/marketed)
Mare (nothing done to her except halter broke for vet/farrier)
How will this baby turn out? The only one to compare it to is the sire.
Foal #2
Stallion (trained/shown/marketed)
Mare (trained/shown/marketed)
This baby will be easier to predict because of both parent's records.

THAT would be the purpose of training and using a mare before turning her into a breeding machine, IMO.
Heidi