Breeding Halter Horses, a little breakdown
My family has been active in the Appaloosa Horse Club for over fifteen years. Before that, we were strictly American Quarter Horses, but chose to leave the breed for person reasons. However, at one time my uncle was even president of the AQHA.
After leaving the AQHA, my grandpa and uncle decided to go to the Appys solely because of the beauty of the breed. We love their color, history and everything about this type of horse. Not only are they gorgeous, but they are functional as well.
Over the years we have dabbled in everything from Halter, to Western Pleasure, to all of the recognized English classes, reining and even Pleasure Driving. Halter, though, has been one of my grandpa’s passions from the very beginning. Showing a halter horse was something that he felt physically comfortable to do. Plus, the breed was so interesting to him that he made it one of his passions.
He started off by buying a few gorgeous halter studs and breeding them with some of the AQHA brood mares that were already a part of our program. After many years of focused breeding, specific typing and the purchase or lease of confirmationally gorgeous horses, we developed a breeding program of our own that functions as a well known and respected individual.
Although our horse trainers, my grandfather and my uncle are mainly in charge of the breeding program. I’m privy to many of the tactics they use in order to breed the most gorgeous, well-rounded halter horse possible.
First, each season a handful of broodmares are chosen to be bred. This is done based on how many foals they have had in the past few years, their health conditions, their confirmation, their color— pretty much everything about them.
Then the mares are matched up with one of the halter studs in the program based on their strengths and weaknesses. We take all of the above characteristics in consideration for both horses, making sure that there is the least amount of overlap between them.
After that, the horses are bread using AI, or artificial insemination.
Once a mare is in foal she is turned back out in the pasture until the end of her pregnancy. She is fed the proper food, along with the endless yards of green grass to munch on. All of our broodmares are fat, happy, bitchy old gals. We love them, brush them, give them cookies and attention frequently.
Upon foaling time, they are brought back into the outside stalls of the barn, which we call the “Mare Motels”. These are stalls that open up to the outdoors, but have heat lamps, automatic waters, etc. Their “pagers” go in, which are little devices that are stuck into their vaginas (oooh!). The “pagers” call the horse trainers as soon as the mare starts pushing the foal out. That way, we are able to assist in the birth and make sure they are born as safely as possible.
Financially, I’m not sure about the cost of this. First of all, the salary for the halter trainer alone is fantastic. He is provided with a home just steps away from the barn, as well as full medical benefits. If you add in the cost of feed, the AI cost, the cost of the electricity at the barn, plus the veterinary care— you have an exorbitant amount of money. For us, though, it’s worth it. Our passion is horses— this is our hobby, this is our life.
MY FAMILY DOES NOT BREED FOR PROFIT.
Upon birth of the foal, it lives the first part of it’s life with it’s mother until the horse trainers decide that it is ready to be weaned. Most of the weanlings then, are placed into stalls next to each other and given toys to play with to keep them busy. They are taught how to lead on a lead rope, plus how to longe. Most of them are exercised within reason and gotten ready to go to the shows.
It’s at this time when the new halter horses are put on our website. Each year we have a large group of customers just “chomping at the bit” to buy our horses. Not only do we have good bloodlines, but we are also pretty “spot on” (Appy joke, hah!) to the industry standard. My family might adhere to the “old style” of halter horse a little more than most. But, it’s better than jumping on the trendy bandwagon. A horse’s body style should not be trendy.
Horses are sold all the time, whether or not there is a profit— I don’t know. I highly doubt it.
I do know, however, that we have the most gorgeous halter Appaloosas around. We’ve won countless World and National Grand and Reserve Championships and have over 200 trophies to prove it.
You see, breeding and selling halter horses has a place in the horse industry if it is done correctly. We’re a fine example of that! If you are interested in breeding your horse to one of our studs, please private message me. I’d be glad to point you in the right direction!
^^how halter, and breeding in general SHOULD be done.
