A COMPARISON
OF
BREEDERS |
Traits of Responsible Breeders |
Traits of
Irresponsible
Breeders |
| "Into" horses. (shows, riding, driving, breed clubs, etc.) | Not "into" horses. Has horses in the field which never receive handling or veterinary care. |
| Belongs to horse clubs, registries and organizations |
Is not involved in the horse world at all. |
| Proves quality of horses and suitability for breeding by carefully and honestly, evaluating each animal. | Quality of horses is often substandard, since he/she has never learned to spot conformation flaws. Horses are just breeding machines and are quickly sold if they don't produce. |
| Horses pedigrees are filled with names of those in the breed who have made a name for themselves, as producers of quality offspring. | Pedigrees - if even known, are mostly a list of horses nobody has ever heard of. |
| Knows his actions inevitably could play some part in horse overpopulation and is willing to take back, any horse he/she sells, if the new owner cannot keep it. | Believes that because he/she sells all his/her horses he/she does not contribute in any way to the needless slaughter of millions of horses per year across the world. Refuses to take back any horse he/she has sold. |
| Knowledgeable in every facet of breed, including that of health issues/defects; researches genetics and compares pedigrees, when choosing studs. |
Not particularly educated about breed. Often not aware of his own breed's genetic defects and never consider stud's genetics |
|
Knowledgeable about breaking, training, socializing of foals, breeding, health; constantly reads horse-related materials
|
Has own ideas which may not coincide with professionals' opinions; won't bother to read any of the hundreds of horse books available or research on the internet. |
| Is always willing help and educate foal buyers re. any issues which might arise. | Says "Goodbye" and "Good luck" after the money has changed hands. |
| Willing to give you his/her references |
Has no references. Gets upset if you ask for some. |
| Knows his/her horses' ancestry without having to look it up. |
Knows nothing about other horses in his/her pedigrees. |
| Follows up on horses' well-being when in their new home. | Is not concerned and doesn't care how a given horse is doing, after he/she sells it. |
| Breeds to improve his/her own horses, and the breed. | Breeds just to breed or make money. |
| Strives to breed for quality, not quantity | Breeds all his mares regularly, regardless of quality. |
| Is willing to use outside studs rather than always his/her own. |
Often repeats breedings, mainly those that are cheap and/or convenient. |
| Breeds only horses which meet breed standard. | Doesn't know what the "standard" is. |
| Breeds only horses with stable temperaments | Breeds everything, as long as it has working reproductive organs. |
| Never allows young fillies to be bred. | If his stud breeds a filly - too bad. If she dies and dies. |
| The choice of stud, could be anywhere in the country or across the world. | Stud choice is that which is convenient, cheap, or local. |
| Has very strict veterinary care and does not breed animals with genetic defects or which are carriers of defects. | Never has a vet check his/her horses thoroughly. Ignorantly breeds defective animals or those which are carriers, thus, perpetuating disease in breed |
| Horses are sold with health guarantees. |
Horses are sold with no guarantees. |
| Horses are sold with carefully written contracts. |
No contracts. It's up to the buyer what he does with the horse.
|
| Animals on property are friendly and socialized. | Animals on property may be aggressive, shy or unhandled. |
| Does not own more horses than he has room, time or money for. All horses are fed, exercised, healthy, happy | Horses don't look healthy or happy. Have obviously never seen a brush or comb. Pasture is sparse. |
| Will show you foals' parents if available, or if not, will have pictures. | Stud belongs to a guy down the road and the mare can't be caught. |
| Never weans a foal too early, because he/she has a buyer. | Doesn't know or care, that removing a baby from it's dam too early, can cause lifelong temperament problems or staying too long can hurt bonding with humans. |
| Socializes foals by systematically handling them and exposing them to various noises, children and other animals before sending them to new homes. | Does not understand or want to be troubled with any kind of training. |
| Tries to match sales horses, with buyers' personalities, abilities and lifestyles. | Doesn't care if a horse is obviously too much horse for the buyer. |
| Can honestly evaluate foals' quality and point differences out to the buyer. |
Says all his/her horses are high quality |
| Never sells to "impulse" buyers | Is not concerned about whether or not the buyer is really prepared for a new horse. |
| Never sells a stallion to a novice | Doesn't care. If the guy wants a stallion for his little girl, then he/she'll sell it to him. |
| Interviews prospective buyers, checks home and references, refuses to sell to substandard homes. | Sells first-come, first-served to whomever has the cash. Never cares about the kind of homes his horses will have. |
| Explains to first-time buyers, the probable cost of keeping one horse for a year. Especially if they must buy in hay. | Is not concerned whether or not buyers can afford to properly care for the horse he/she sells. |
| Is willing to not sell to a buyer, if he thinks they are not ready for a horse or facilites are probably substandard. | Does not reject high-risk buyers: renters, young people, those with poor track records, low income, too many other horses obviously not in good condition. etc. |
| Understands horses are herd animals; sells only to buyers wanting to make the animal part of the family. | Doesn't care if the new owner isolates the horse after the initial excitement wears off, and nobody ever visits the animal again. |
| Encourages or requires buyers to geld colts which are not top breeding potential.
Mostly gelds colts before sale. |
Never gelds anything. Sells all colts whole, regardless of quality |
| Encourages buyers to train their horses and refers to good trainer | Shows no concern for horses after sale. Knows no trainers. |
| Makes sure buyers understand horse's considerable need for time, attention, exercise and training |
Does not provide even his/her own animals with enough time, attention, exercise or training |
| Does not produce crossbred horses for a quick dollar.
|
Often crossbreeds one stallion, to many mares of different breeds and questionable quality. |
|
Responsible Breeders
Improve the Breed
|
Irresponsible Breeders
Damage the Breed
|
