Number 7. Breed Responsibly Heidi's Top 10 Equine Stewardship Practises.

Heidi's Top 10 Equine Stewardship Practises. I don't want to tell anyone what to do, or give out free "advice".  But, I do want to encourage responsible horsemen to think more deeply.  Many people do not think things through, and actually say or influence others with statements that are not accurate.  If horsemen took the time to think things through, they may act differently in some situations.  Perhaps, these practises which I strive to abide by, may help others develop their own top 10 stewardship practises. So, what does the responsible horsemen do to demonstrate stewardship?

Plan every detail when raising a foal

Number 7. Breed responsibly.  Too many horses out there not finding buyers?  Well, it might be the stallion that does the deed but it is the owner who chooses to breed.  Is the stallion and your mare the proper match?  Do you have proven, quality mares.  Do you have or have a breeding planned for an exceptional, proven stallion? Do you have a long term business plan?   Can you afford the extra care for your broodmare, the extra facilities for raising the foal, the extra time to be there during delivery, the potential vet bills, the time to raise the foal correctly, the money to hire a trainer to start the foal, or the time and talent to do that yourself?  Do you have the time to give that horse experience riding so that you can sell a well started horse?  Can you afford the marketing, the time to market and sell your "product"?  Can you afford to keep the horse if you can't sell it to your target market?  Do you have time to find another market for that horse? Are you willing to stay in touch with the new owners to make sure all is going well?  What happens if the horse they bought from you is not working out?  Do you reference check the potential buyers to make sure they have the facilities, know how, time and budget to have this horse?  Some breeders I know do this.  

Breeding and marketing horses is not gambling, it is a delicately planned process that must be done with knowledge, care, skill, and professionalism.  Equine Canada published a report in 2003, pretty much the entire sport and pleasure horse industry contributed 12 billion dollars to Canada's gross national product.  Think about value when breeding horses, have a goal, strive for keeping quality, healthy and productive horses on the market.  Focus on making sure the animals you breed are of high quality and successful and that will ensure a future for your breeding program and the breed of horse you are working with.