Raising foals isn’t for everyone, but for those who do, the education, opportunities and magic of the experience usually outweigh the financial risks.
The decision to raise horses often starts with a single question.
“Why?”
Why would anyone feel compelled to go through spending the money on a stud fee, getting their mare checked, palpated, checked again, bred, with all the prep work and concerns that come with a successful, healthy pregnancy? Why would anyone stress over foaling out, raising, halter breaking, starting and training that foal, when a person can buy a healthy, straight-legged, well-bred, genetically clean and sound colt or filly with preferred color, markings and size?
Well, it’s a great question. And I’ll start off by saying that I don’t think everyone who owns a mare with a working uterus ought to raise horses. It’s not for everyone, and shouldn’t be. There are risks and costs and heartbreaks and unknowns that even the best stallion value can’t guarantee. But for those who feel compelled to grow their own, whether it’s cranking out 25 foals a year or just a one-time, one-shot baby out of a favorite mare, there are definite perks to throwing your hat in the ring.
It’s an incredible learning process to raise a foal. We learn a ton when everything is simple and goes right, and we learn when things don’t go smoothly or according to our perfect plan.
The level of understanding we gain from what it takes to get a foal on the ground gives us an appreciation for the horses that are already here — and the people who made it happen. It cultivates relationships with others who share the same passion — from stallion owners, to fellow breeders, to veterinarians and those who assist in the process. The success of others also directly affects you — if you breed your mare to a certain stallion, and that stallion (or his produce) finds success in competitive arenas, the wins are a direct benefit if you’ve bred to that same stallion too. It gives you even more to cheer for.
We have horses because we love them. Because we need them in our lives, be it passion, utility, recreation or business. And creating foals with horses we care about, plus our hard work, great ideas on crosses and big goals also feed that love. We create an opportunity to tailor-make the next generation. One can try to counter a mare’s weaknesses with a stallion who has strengths in the same department, or one might simply try to replicate the traits they love so much in their mare. Sometimes we have a very strong, solid plan for the baby, and sometimes we let them decide what they will be. Sometimes Plan A is the clear winner, and sometimes we have to default to Plan B… or even Plan C.
It’s not something that anyone can guarantee will make money, but it can occasionally make financial sense. At best, it’s absolute magic to see a foal that you raised on the ground, or succeeding in life, and at worst, it’s frustrating, traumatizing and heartbreaking. And weirdly, it can be somewhat addictive too.
If you can jump into the breeding game with an open mind, a willingness to pivot, strong ethical standards, responsible ownership and are ready to find the right kind of help, I think the why is an easy question to answer.
You might even find yourself asking next spring, “Well, why not?”
