Breeding season is marching back into our lives! It waits for no man or animal. Its a juggernaut that barrels towards us and, if we are not prepared, its upon us faster than the speed of sound. Its unstoppable, comparable with death and taxes. There’s negatives and positives, but if we are slack we can miss it.
Foals wait for no one and have no regard for dates or times. Mares on heat disregard weekends and rain. When they are desperatley seeking a “man”, fax machines run hot and our airport workers scurry like nervous mice when we tear into their office at a million miles an hour either on the hunt for a stallion in a little box or or getting that little chilled box on the right flight outward bound. Trips to the airport at the beginning of the season are a cause to run a brush through the hair and have such things as clean boots. By Christmas those standards are unattainable!!
From February to October we have the great debate: an infinite discussion on the principles of breeding the perfect racehorse. This goes on amidst weaning and feeding and drenching and training and the list goes on…….
Why do we do it? Someone somewhere has got to, but most of us know why we choose to. We never tire of marvelling at new life which affords renewed hope of achievement, fun and success.
It provides heartache and happiness, highs and lows, and as a breeding service provider there is the very occasional phone call you dont want to make, but for the main, phone calls are very happy events, ones you can’t wait to make.
Its especially good when a much anticipated and long awaited foal arrives for a family with young children involved. Their initial reactions when they see their favourite mare with her new born is the catalyst to continue tramping the paddocks all hours of the night in all weather and to learn more every day about the processes. Its a huge reward, especially knowing that those excited faces possibly belong to our future trainers and owners.
Breeding is a massive investment on every level. Emotionally it can be huge especially for the small but very committed breeder and one who wishes to partner the newborn all the way to the track.
Financially it can be massive. It can often be cheaper and less hassle to buy one “prepared earlier” from the sales, all too often for less than the appropriate service fee. Bargains and deals usually means that someone has missed out!
Time is another factor. Its long enough when everything goes according to plan, but when something goes wrong you can be years behind. With all the care in the world things will go wrong and as we all know its usally involves the best mare thanks to Murphy’s law!
But really? Why DO we do it?
Its great to win races but if you have bred and nurtured and maybe even trained you rown horse, the rewards are so very much greater. From embryo to retirement, the cycle is complete and extremely fulfilling for a large part of our horse community.
That’s the best reason we do it!
By Sue Streit
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
