Those loosafriesians are lovely!! You know in theory you could put her to Wessel and get another super sexy friesian 
haha
haha
Out of Curiosity.. What would i get??
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Those loosafriesians are lovely!! You know in theory you could put her to Wessel and get another super sexy friesian
I know
That was my first idea... But it might be kind of nice to have a more refined (and spotty) friesian that i could do some decent jumping with too. Im not aiming too high, but some of these friesian crosses are going up through the showjumping and eventing grades pretty quick over in America!
Plus, who wouldn't want a spotty friesian? How's Una's baby bro doing?
she told me to ask you for pictures of him please 
I need a tennessee walker too then - i'd get a FHOTD friesawalkaloosa
How big is Exbury Ghost? Its hard to get an idea from photos lol The most important thing for me would be temperment really as im not aiming to produce myself an international showjumper
I think when i start looking into it seriously i will have to go visit some stallions and make a decision then. Is that what people normally do? Dont want to waste peoples time if i dont use their stallion lol
He's about 15.1, so not a big lad (looks like a QH) so far the foals from our TB mares look like they will be much taller. He has two major selling points for me - brilliant temperament (all the foals are dopes on ropes but with personality) and boy can he move!
Yes go and visit lots of stallions, see how they are handled and get a feel for how you think the stud will look after your mare. We are more than happy to show the boys to anyone, even if they are "just looking"!
http://nancarrowappaloosas.co.uk
That's my YO's site, her stallion A Touch of Klaus, has THE best appaloosa bloodline going, and he has a temperament to die for. Total honey. He lives wild with his harem of wives most of the year but comes in to stand at stud in the spring. He's also true to the breed standing at 15.2hh - though they do come a lot bigger the true type of the breed is between 14.2hh and 15.2hh. Paces are straight as anything and big and extravagant. I love himm
P.S They're great all rounders and have a lovely natural bold jump on them from what we've seen of his brother's stock who are now 4.
That's my YO's site, her stallion A Touch of Klaus, has THE best appaloosa bloodline going, and he has a temperament to die for. Total honey. He lives wild with his harem of wives most of the year but comes in to stand at stud in the spring. He's also true to the breed standing at 15.2hh - though they do come a lot bigger the true type of the breed is between 14.2hh and 15.2hh. Paces are straight as anything and big and extravagant. I love himm
P.S They're great all rounders and have a lovely natural bold jump on them from what we've seen of his brother's stock who are now 4.
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Ok guys, thanks for all the advice it has been very much appreciated!!
I have sent an email to the owners of Nobody's Harlequin making "first contact" Im hoping they will come back giving me a bit more info as necessary.
Im also going to ask my vet to come out and have a look at Una. He is an equine specialist, and also has bred horses himself so he's a bit of an expert so im hoping he will be able to advise me on the best time/age to breed from her and give me some general advice about foaling, and feeding mare in foal and all that sort of stuff. And also, just to check everything ok with Una to have a foal or whatever! lol
Anyway, yeah, spotty friesian foal in the pipeline at some point i hope!
I have sent an email to the owners of Nobody's Harlequin making "first contact"
Im hoping they will come back giving me a bit more info as necessary.Im also going to ask my vet to come out and have a look at Una. He is an equine specialist, and also has bred horses himself so he's a bit of an expert so im hoping he will be able to advise me on the best time/age to breed from her and give me some general advice about foaling, and feeding mare in foal and all that sort of stuff. And also, just to check everything ok with Una to have a foal or whatever! lol
Anyway, yeah, spotty friesian foal in the pipeline at some point i hope!
Apollo is doing fab- absolute superstar- have put a few pics up in an album on here if you want to look!
Just an update...
Had a chat with the knabstrupper stallion owner a couple of days ago, she is just the nicest lady I have decided to go with him as he has been highly recommended on and off this forum, and my (un)willing mentor that i work with has said his conformation is very good to cross with Una as what she lacks he excels in!
Had vet out today to give me their opinion and they said they would be more than happy for her to be put in foal this year. Also had the guy i work with (in above paragraph, he owns the QH stud) look at her and he said he'd put her in foal this year. So i have a short time to make the decision as if i do it this year i shall have to get her to the AI centre next month really lol
Also had the vets opinion on her weight. She lost a little bit of condition over the winter as i'd expect for her living out. She was rather fat going into the winter anyway lol So i just wanted to know if she needed weight on to be put in foal as i dont know these things, and vet said she'd want a little bit off if anything lol!! Apparently fat mares are much harder to get in foal! So there ya go...
Anyway, lots of thinking to be doing... But i shall keep you guys updated...
Had a chat with the knabstrupper stallion owner a couple of days ago, she is just the nicest lady
I have decided to go with him as he has been highly recommended on and off this forum, and my (un)willing mentor that i work with has said his conformation is very good to cross with Una as what she lacks he excels in! Had vet out today to give me their opinion and they said they would be more than happy for her to be put in foal this year. Also had the guy i work with (in above paragraph, he owns the QH stud) look at her and he said he'd put her in foal this year. So i have a short time to make the decision as if i do it this year i shall have to get her to the AI centre next month really lol
Also had the vets opinion on her weight. She lost a little bit of condition over the winter as i'd expect for her living out. She was rather fat going into the winter anyway lol So i just wanted to know if she needed weight on to be put in foal as i dont know these things, and vet said she'd want a little bit off if anything lol!! Apparently fat mares are much harder to get in foal! So there ya go...
Anyway, lots of thinking to be doing... But i shall keep you guys updated...
Ooh exciting stuff The vet told us to put Sietske in foal as a 2 year old 
but we waited
Will be keeping an eye out for updates
The vet told us to put Sietske in foal as a 2 year old but we waited Will be keeping an eye out for updates
Ooh exciting stuff
Will be keeping an eye out for updates
Yeah, im torn at the moment. I need to look at my situation as well.. If i put her in foal this year she can foal next year at my mums stables and that will be fine. If i wait til next year to put her in foal i wont have the stables available for her to foal in (my mum is planning to sell her house at the end of next year) so i'd have to send her away to foal so that would cost me a small fortune
Lots of thought needed, but i am getting some great advice from local breeders (i happen to live locally to a Racehorse and Shetland stud lol) and from friesians breeders i am emailing so getting lots of help which is fantastic
How old is Sietske now?? Cos she just had a gorgeous, healthy baby
She is 4 now, textbook birth, did everything herself, both foal and mum doing really well. Sietske is a FANTASTIC mum, doesn't get stressy when baby is a bit naughty but makes sure she has manners, is happy for us to handle the baby and even helps us hold her steady if she is being a bit of a wriggle bum.
Alot of people will cringe at the idea and shoot us down for breeding a 'slow developing horse too young' but the vet was perfectly happy to allow her to carry a foal and the stud had always bred from young mares and non of them suffered as a result.
She also foaled outside and foal has been living outside since (with access to much under used shelter... dont know why I other sometimes!) and she hasn't dropped dead believe it or not!! She looks fantastic and dog walkers are always stopping by to tell me how much spring and speed she has I must get some recent pictures of the little madam, can't believe she is 3weeks old already
Alot of people will cringe at the idea and shoot us down for breeding a 'slow developing horse too young' but the vet was perfectly happy to allow her to carry a foal and the stud had always bred from young mares and non of them suffered as a result.
She also foaled outside and foal has been living outside since (with access to much under used shelter... dont know why I other sometimes!) and she hasn't dropped dead believe it or not!! She looks fantastic and dog walkers are always stopping by to tell me how much spring and speed she has
I must get some recent pictures of the little madam, can't believe she is 3weeks old already 
Deff. don't put her in foal this year - she's only 3! You WILL stunt her growth permanently especially since she will be over 16Hh she has alot of growing left to do, and as her pelvis is not yet fully mature you risk loosing her and the foal.
Also the extra weight on her still growing joints will make her far more likely to get OCD - putting a draught type mare in foal at 3 puts far more stress on her body than breaking her in, she will be putting everything into her foal and not herself - I'd wait till next year and then go for it - you'd be heartbroken if anything went wrong and you lost her! We won't cover draught types until 4 - our own or visiting mares for those reasons - it's far too risky and it's only another year so not long really to wait.
I know you have asked your vet - but to be blunt vets deal with injuries/surgery and sick animals and are not taught much about equine breeding and about specific breeds - they don't look at wether a mare is finished growing or is mentally able they look at a reproductive tract and if the horse looks big and strong enough - they deal with the technical side of things - yes a mare is ovulating at 6 months old so can technically get in foal but it doesn't mean they should - friesians/heavier breeds may look mature but inside and mentally they are still babies!
The only people I have known put friesians in foal at 3 were back yard breeders and to see the mare after they had foaled - hat racks would have been an improvement!! The foals were small too and never as good quality as a foal born to an older mare. And the mares themselves were all very stunted and never gained back the growth they lost so will never be as good a broodmare as they could have been.
It happens in any animal - sheep for example can be put in lamb at the end of the summer when they are 6 months old but you can always tell when that sheep was bred for the rest of its life as it will always be far smaller than those left till the following year and they will often die or have very small weak lambs - it does make a huuuuge difference!!!! There is no rush you have Una for life so a year is nothing in the scheme of things to wait.
Also the extra weight on her still growing joints will make her far more likely to get OCD - putting a draught type mare in foal at 3 puts far more stress on her body than breaking her in, she will be putting everything into her foal and not herself - I'd wait till next year and then go for it - you'd be heartbroken if anything went wrong and you lost her! We won't cover draught types until 4 - our own or visiting mares for those reasons - it's far too risky and it's only another year so not long really to wait.
I know you have asked your vet - but to be blunt vets deal with injuries/surgery and sick animals and are not taught much about equine breeding and about specific breeds - they don't look at wether a mare is finished growing or is mentally able they look at a reproductive tract and if the horse looks big and strong enough - they deal with the technical side of things - yes a mare is ovulating at 6 months old so can technically get in foal but it doesn't mean they should - friesians/heavier breeds may look mature but inside and mentally they are still babies!
The only people I have known put friesians in foal at 3 were back yard breeders and to see the mare after they had foaled - hat racks would have been an improvement!! The foals were small too and never as good quality as a foal born to an older mare. And the mares themselves were all very stunted and never gained back the growth they lost so will never be as good a broodmare as they could have been.
It happens in any animal - sheep for example can be put in lamb at the end of the summer when they are 6 months old but you can always tell when that sheep was bred for the rest of its life as it will always be far smaller than those left till the following year and they will often die or have very small weak lambs - it does make a huuuuge difference!!!! There is no rush you have Una for life so a year is nothing in the scheme of things to wait.
Thanks all for the input, it is very much appreciated
The vet was actually someone who does equine AI as well as normal "vet" stuff so they do know their stuff, though i would be using the specialist equine hospital for the procedure as i know a lot of the difficulty getitng them in foal can be due to the expertise of the technician doing the procedure.
I only plan to breed from Una to have a foal for myself, i wont be keeping her as a broodmare, she is my future riding horse So at the most she will have, maybe 2 foals, but right now i have no plans to breed anything other than this one from her!
Anyway, will keep you updated
Looking forward to Sietske baby pics!
The vet was actually someone who does equine AI as well as normal "vet" stuff so they do know their stuff, though i would be using the specialist equine hospital for the procedure as i know a lot of the difficulty getitng them in foal can be due to the expertise of the technician doing the procedure.
I only plan to breed from Una to have a foal for myself, i wont be keeping her as a broodmare, she is my future riding horse
So at the most she will have, maybe 2 foals, but right now i have no plans to breed anything other than this one from her!Anyway, will keep you updated
Looking forward to Sietske baby pics!
I'm very sorry to hear that you will go ahead anyway this year, I feel so sorry for Una - breeding a baby from a baby - just because you fancy a spotty foal right now!!!!!
I don't think that stallion compliments her either - the first one you chose was a slightly better match - but I guess the colour is more important!!
How may I ask is an AI vet able to tell you wether you should be breeding from a mare other than saying her reproductive tract is fine? They don't care what the mare looks like - it's business!!!!!
I hope for her sake she doesn't take - and at 3 a mares seasons aren't always reliable as she is still a baby - so fingers crossed!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't think that stallion compliments her either - the first one you chose was a slightly better match - but I guess the colour is more important!!
How may I ask is an AI vet able to tell you wether you should be breeding from a mare other than saying her reproductive tract is fine? They don't care what the mare looks like - it's business!!!!!
I hope for her sake she doesn't take - and at 3 a mares seasons aren't always reliable as she is still a baby - so fingers crossed!!!!!!!!!!!
when i bought my very first friesian, a few years ago, she was three years, and I intended to put her in foal the coming summer, when she was 4. Anyway, cut a long story short, I was worried about my mare, and the vet confirmed an unexpected foal was on its way!
.....She came from Holland, and they reckoned they had no idea....to this day, I'm not convinced! They said 'a Friesian stallion must of escaped!'
The mare didn't show that she was pregnant, at all until a few days before the baby arrived. Baby was super, but mum retained placenta, and refused to let baby suckle.....it was a hell of a struggle, and it almost came to handrearing.....but we got there eventually - my mare was just not ready for this baby. She loved her eventually, and was a great mum.....but it took a lot out of her, and she looked terrible for a few months. I suppose all horses are different, and I can see both sides of what you and blackhorses are saying......this was just my own experience on young pregnant mares xxxxxxx
I personally would leave it another year. Una is very much still a baby and still growing so much so i don't think it would be fair on her.
Putting her in foal now cut years off her riding career in future because of the joint problems it could potentially cause her, but if you wait for a year it's just the one. As a 4 year old she'll be that much more mature.
Putting her in foal now cut years off her riding career in future because of the joint problems it could potentially cause her, but if you wait for a year it's just the one. As a 4 year old she'll be that much more mature.
I havent said im putting her in foal this year....???? Im still thinking about it and taking advice from those more experienced with me. Im in contact with several friesian breeders and it seems common in Holland (and other countries) to put friesians in foal at 3, which is why im not discounting the idea.
I was sad to read your post though Alex. I would have thought you would know that i would not do anything to put Una in unnecessary harm, and your last comment was just hurtful....
I think i shall leave this thread well alone now, Una is MY horse, and i will do what i feel is best for her based on advice from experienced breeders and my very well respected Equine vets. I dont need insults on a forum...
I was sad to read your post though Alex. I would have thought you would know that i would not do anything to put Una in unnecessary harm, and your last comment was just hurtful....
I think i shall leave this thread well alone now, Una is MY horse, and i will do what i feel is best for her based on advice from experienced breeders and my very well respected Equine vets. I dont need insults on a forum...
For reference... I have just looked on the FHAGBI website for their ideas about breeding Friesians. Presumably this is taken from the FPS website also:
http://www.fhagbi.co.uk/index.php?o...iesianmare&catid=14:friesianbreeders&Itemid=3
Assuming the mare is healthy with normally developed sexual organs and good hormonal activity, the course of action is as follows:
-sexual maturity occurs after about 18 months of age
-People are advised only to have mares serviced from the age of 3 years, it is undesirable to have 2 year old mares serviced.- The menstrual cycle depends on the season and lasts about 3 weeks.
- The ovulation takes place at the end of the heat.
- During the heat, the uterus is less susceptible to infections.
- Hormones, health and the build of the sexual organs largely determine if the mare will be pregnant and whether the pregnancy will last.
- A normal birth and subsequent good and quick recovery of the sexual organs largely determine if the pregnancy will go smoothly.
So, its not exactly uncommon if the FPS say its alright.. Jesus, anoyone would think i was considering putting a yearling in foal!!!
http://www.fhagbi.co.uk/index.php?o...iesianmare&catid=14:friesianbreeders&Itemid=3
Assuming the mare is healthy with normally developed sexual organs and good hormonal activity, the course of action is as follows:
-sexual maturity occurs after about 18 months of age
-People are advised only to have mares serviced from the age of 3 years, it is undesirable to have 2 year old mares serviced.- The menstrual cycle depends on the season and lasts about 3 weeks.
- The ovulation takes place at the end of the heat.
- During the heat, the uterus is less susceptible to infections.
- Hormones, health and the build of the sexual organs largely determine if the mare will be pregnant and whether the pregnancy will last.
- A normal birth and subsequent good and quick recovery of the sexual organs largely determine if the pregnancy will go smoothly.
So, its not exactly uncommon if the FPS say its alright.. Jesus, anoyone would think i was considering putting a yearling in foal!!!
I apologize if I came across as mean but I was totally shocked that you would even consider putting her in foal this year - and to me it sounded as if you had made your mind up - you had the vet out to check her, spoken to the stallion owner and had asked everyone wether it was OK to breed from a 3yr old filly - you said yourself the vet had said you could and that he knew his stuff.
Also you had said you had checked with FHAGBI if you could breed a mare at 3?! And you had spoken to a QH stud owner who also told you what you wanted to hear along with a racehorse and shetland stud that all of them thought it was OK to breed her this year.
You then stated that your vet was more than happy to AI her this year and that you needed to get organised quickly to sort it all out to get her done this year - even though Una has lost condition over winter and you think this is a good thing as a fat horse is difficult to get in foal - which although is true in a mature horse, the reason she will have lost so much is she is still growing!
Your other reason you said you are breeding is that you are loosing your stables next year so wanted to get a foal on the ground to avoid the extra cost of sending her to a stud to foal - what about the mare and what about any resulting foal - where are you going to wean/keep it??
I know Sietske bred her mare, and by a total fluke and thank god for the mare and foal all went well - but if anything hers is a brilliant example of how NOT to breed a foal of any breed!!! Ask her to put up a pic of her mare.
And if Sietske your vet told you you could breed your mare at 2 then I would change vets as that is incompetent advice - I know alot of vets and they certainly would never tell someone to breed a 2yr old!!!!
It just sounded like you decided for convenience sake you had decided you wanted a spotty foal asap with no regard to your filly and you had asked as many people you could to get what you wanted to hear which was yes go ahead!!
I know you can breed friesians at 3 - you can get away with it in a breed such as a TB that isn't going to grow huge - but there are very few who do breed friesians at 3, and those people are either highly irresponsible or those that have heaps of friesians that if they loose a mare or foal it doesn't matter they are only interested in how much money they can sell them for! FHAGBI are not exactly great for advice - you have said yourself you didn't agree with them - these are people who don't publicise the health problems of the breed, are ok with 2yr olds being broken in and who are happy for the world champion stallion to have an inbreeding percentage of 17.3%(over 12% is seriously frowned upon) and is noted for having a sway back and sickle hocks - these are not really people who can give out good advice or who can speak for an individual horse!!!
I know of 4 friesian mares that were bred as 3yr olds - 1 rejected her foal and it was bottle fed, 2 lost the foals and one lost both mare and foal, the mares were never the same and looked poor and were hard to keep weight on and never made the height they should have by a good few inches - don't know long term yet as to how much damage they have had done to their joints as only one was ridden.
Am only trying to make you see the seriousness of your decision - Una is going to be a large tall friesian mare and a very nice one - she has 4 or 5 yrs of growing LEFT - yes she LOOKS tall/mature now but she is the equivalent of a 13yr old child - yes her reproductive system works but the risks are far higher.
Also you had said you had checked with FHAGBI if you could breed a mare at 3?! And you had spoken to a QH stud owner who also told you what you wanted to hear along with a racehorse and shetland stud that all of them thought it was OK to breed her this year.
You then stated that your vet was more than happy to AI her this year and that you needed to get organised quickly to sort it all out to get her done this year - even though Una has lost condition over winter and you think this is a good thing as a fat horse is difficult to get in foal - which although is true in a mature horse, the reason she will have lost so much is she is still growing!
Your other reason you said you are breeding is that you are loosing your stables next year so wanted to get a foal on the ground to avoid the extra cost of sending her to a stud to foal - what about the mare and what about any resulting foal - where are you going to wean/keep it??
I know Sietske bred her mare, and by a total fluke and thank god for the mare and foal all went well - but if anything hers is a brilliant example of how NOT to breed a foal of any breed!!! Ask her to put up a pic of her mare.
And if Sietske your vet told you you could breed your mare at 2 then I would change vets as that is incompetent advice - I know alot of vets and they certainly would never tell someone to breed a 2yr old!!!!
It just sounded like you decided for convenience sake you had decided you wanted a spotty foal asap with no regard to your filly and you had asked as many people you could to get what you wanted to hear which was yes go ahead!!
I know you can breed friesians at 3 - you can get away with it in a breed such as a TB that isn't going to grow huge - but there are very few who do breed friesians at 3, and those people are either highly irresponsible or those that have heaps of friesians that if they loose a mare or foal it doesn't matter they are only interested in how much money they can sell them for! FHAGBI are not exactly great for advice - you have said yourself you didn't agree with them - these are people who don't publicise the health problems of the breed, are ok with 2yr olds being broken in and who are happy for the world champion stallion to have an inbreeding percentage of 17.3%(over 12% is seriously frowned upon) and is noted for having a sway back and sickle hocks - these are not really people who can give out good advice or who can speak for an individual horse!!!
I know of 4 friesian mares that were bred as 3yr olds - 1 rejected her foal and it was bottle fed, 2 lost the foals and one lost both mare and foal, the mares were never the same and looked poor and were hard to keep weight on and never made the height they should have by a good few inches - don't know long term yet as to how much damage they have had done to their joints as only one was ridden.
Am only trying to make you see the seriousness of your decision - Una is going to be a large tall friesian mare and a very nice one - she has 4 or 5 yrs of growing LEFT - yes she LOOKS tall/mature now but she is the equivalent of a 13yr old child - yes her reproductive system works but the risks are far higher.
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