You have no idea how badly I want to breed this mare. I kick myself every day over it. Nobody knows how that baby would turn out, to be sure, but if it ends up anything remotely like her at all, it will be my dream horse a million times over. A million and one times over.
(Edited to add: I am not going to get an OTTB. I'm just not. Nor am I looking to purchase another horse anytime in the remote future. I don't want another horse just to have one. Horses are expensive and a risk. The likelihood that I will get another horse while I still own Gogo (which will be until the end of her days) is pretty small, unless it's her foal. So no suggestions on what I should go out and buy! I'm not going out and buying anything.)
Proving her heart of gold and guts of steel at the 2009 American Eventing Championships
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69.7%, Reserve Champion first time at First Level!
Encore H.T. 2008 - Gogo's first real event!
39 comments:
This is just my personal opinion, but I think you should breed her. It is clearly something that would make you very happy. (sorry I have followed for a while but never commented). When I was 9 my parents bred our QH mare for me to have the baby. She was nothing like the horse I dreamed of, way too small for me and probably not suited for eventing over training level, tops. But I loved that horse more than anything and the process of raising and training her really built a special bond between us. Unfortunately she passed away at age 6 after multiple colic surgeries but I always think back on how lucky I was to be able to have that experience...and I didn't even love our mare nearly as much as you love Gogo!! Anyways, that's just my two cents:)
In my personal opinion, I think that you should have a go(go) at taking on a project horse again. Why not try a PMU foal or OTTB or retired standardbred? There are so many horses in the world that need loving homes and guidance to become all that they can be, and you are a very good rider. Have you considered looking on the COTH free horse forum? There are so many horses there in need of homes.
I hear you. I had to put my beloved mare to sleep this fall after a freak injury. I'm torn on what my next horse will be. Most people say to get something totally different so it's easier not to be constantly comparing to your past horse, but I'm not sure I want a horse who's different. She had her issues as every horse does, but she was also a fabulous horse in so many ways that I would happily own her clone.
OK...I am pretty sure she has said like 7 times at least that she DOES NOT want an OTTB or any other horse of that kind right now. Sure there are thousands of unwanted horses, but as she said, horses are expensive and she probably does not want to take the risk with a horse like that. I have an OTTB and I was lucky to find a sane, talented one, but I know that more than half of them are bat shit insane and she probably doesn't want to deal. People have their likes and dislikes with horses. Like I will never again get an Arab. EVER. She doesn't want an OTTB, big deal. I don't take offense to her not liking them. I think it is smart to consider breeding Gogo so carefully, as having a foal is great risk too. Sorry Andrea if I am putting words in your mouth, or offending anyone else, but it seems everyone just keeps saying "get an OTTB!" when you clearly have said you don't want one and dislike them.
I am actually very glad you didn't breed Gogo. Not that she wouldn't make a nice baby, especially bred to a nice stud but I would be worried about the extra stress on an already healing leg. (Not that its any of my business) but I wouldn't be opposed to you breeding her in the future for a baby if she ends up being unsound long term, which I really hope doesn't end up being the case.
I wish you were closer to me. I have two arabs and an OTTB (I know, I know but he isn't your average OTTB) that don't get ridden nearly enough that you would have been welcome to ride whenever you got the riding bug. Heck, I probably would have PAID you to ride them just to get them ridden.
Abby
Now that I posted my comment, it sounds like I was pushing OTTBs on you Andrea. That was not my intention. I was also lucky enough to get a sound, sane, talented OTTB that, I have been told, is an exception to the breed. I don't have much experience with OTTBs, my gelding is my first one so I don't have much to compare him to but he is 5 years old and calmer, quieter and MUCH easier and safer to ride than either one of my 16 year old arabs.
Andrea,
You are a lovely rider.
Beautiful test.
You know what? If you want to breed GoGo, you should! All us peeps out
here in blogger land are just anonymous faces behind a keyboard. It's EASY to judge someone when you're not them! Don't let other people's opinions affect your "real life" decisions. If you're in a position to care for the foal, why the heck not? I love my little guy enough that if HE were a SHE, I would probably have a baby some day, too;)
My trainer had a WB mare, incredibly tallented, lovely under saddle, I was actually offered the ride on her to compete (which I was estatic about!). But she wouldn't stay sound due to an injury to her foot that has caused sidebone. So while she was not rideably sound, she was pasture sound (i.e. not in pain where it compromised her quality of life, she just couldn't be ridden), so they decided to bred her. Actually bred her to a Welsh stallion in the hopes of a smaller baby (my trainer was short!), and the baby turned out SUPER nice, almost a spitting image of her, just in a smaller size (she was large, 17.1hh). I'm not sure what happened to that mare, I know she got sold after my trainer and I parted ways, I'm assuming as either a broodmare or a pasture puff. But, point is... if the mare is breeding quality (and from what I've seen of Gogo so far, she visually looks to be so, but I don't know what her breeding is), and if she's happy and vet-checked to be sound enough to carry a foal, well... why not?
Sure one could argue till you're blue in the face that there are unwanted horses out there, but if you're after your "dream horse", go for it. That's what I'm doing, I could go get another OTTB, or a rescue... but I've been there, done that, I'm ready for a QUALITY animal so I'm in the process of investing in an in-utero purchase of a very nice wb. I think, if that's what you WANT, and if a vet gives the OK, go for it :)
I'm thinking anything that comes from her, you will love and train to be amzing..so why not?????
Here is the thing.
Yeah, there are heaps of unwanted horses out there. Key word unwanted - apparently, there's really nothing that is un-Gogo related that you want right now - so why take an unwanted horse that you don't really want either.
When, you have a nice mare who has proven herself in the show world as far as I can see, who is breeding quality, that you DO want a foal from. It's not like you are turning her into a foal mill. You want one baby from a nice, good quality mare that you love. Do it. It makes more sense than adopting a project you have no desire to work with.
It's your decision, of course. Just remember that there as many if not more uncertainties with breeding than there is with buying. The mare's health, the baby's health, the baby's fitness for what you want to do--all big question marks, even with the best laid plans. I think most of your readers who are pushing the project horse/buy something on the ground want you to get something you really want, without the risk breeding represents. You're such a good horseperson/rider that you're deserving of that.
What about looking for a GoGo relation already on the ground? I used to do bloodline searches on Dreamhorse to find horses related to my old gelding. Might be fun just to try. I remember you posted that other Lemgo mare...
I still think you should breed Gogo and always have! Every time I see a picture of her I think how gorgeous she is and what an awesome baby she would have! I totally agree with Jen, it's not like all the blogger people are going to hunt you down for breeding her and I'm pretty sure everyone would *love* to follow your baby journey. Do it!!! If you really want to, go for it :)
I don't see anything wrong with breeding her. She's a nice horse, and you're obviously not the kind of person who will breed their Quarterwalkaloosarabian because they are "just so amazing." Gogo is a very accomplished horse with more than decent conformation. You could easily find a stallion to complement whatever conformational faults she does have.
There may be unwanted horses out there, but they are mostly the Quarterwalkaloosarabian mutts with crappy conformation. There will always be a demand for quality horses. Not that you are planning on selling the baby. So you don't want another horse, that's fine, so people can't even argue that by breeding you are not providing a home for an unwanted horse.
If anyone has a problem with you breeding, it's none of their business because you are clearly handling this responsibly.
I would love to see a Gogo baby. Please don't let haters stop you.
Just do it! I have a sneakin' suspision that you would not regret it. Do it! Do it! :) I would love to live vicariously through you at the same time. And watch you go through the process. Also i would like to request more videos please! You two are a joy to watch.
breed her....twice and sell me ther other one haha :) and that was a great dressage test you are a fantastic rider and GoGo looks frickin beautiful
Jeez. Just a suggestion. And I honestly don't see how buying a horse is any less risky or expensive than breeding Gogo (initial stud fees, vet, feeding, training down the line, etc., etc.). Marti was one sour apple in an entire orchard of horses.
While there are thousands of homeless horses... Not every one of them will be what someone wants. Same with dogs: not everyone wants a mutt from the animal shelter with an unknown history. Some of us want specific breeds, either to further the improvement of the breed, competition, or simply as a companion.
There's no sense in anyone being anti-breeding. It's a narrow view, and it honestly isn't the answer. Not to say people should breed irresponsibly either.
Gogo is an awesome mare, and I think paired with an equally awesome stallion, she'd make a beautiful foal.
I swear the "to breed Gogo, or not to breed Gogo" must be one of the most debated topics on Blogger.
Do what you want. It is your horse and your money to spend in whatever way you want. Of all the horse people I know you are the least likely to do something foolish, so whatever seems right to you probably is.
Haha, Tangerine. Next thing you know it'll be a trending topic on Twitter or something...
I will happily read posts about Gogo being fat & happy in her pasture forever, if that's all that happens!
Young Equestrian, I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just that in the internet blogging world I have had 57284587254028420 people yelling at me and telling me what an evil soul I am for not wanting an OTTB, and in the real world I have 484204542053844 scolding me for NOT having bred my horse yet, so it gets a little overwhelming on all sides. I know that bunches of you out there have good OTTBs, and that's great! But I still don't want one... lol. Just like I have an amazing Doberman/Rott mix, and she's the best dog ever! But I can't imagine anyone having her because she is damn difficult to deal with and in the wrong hands I bet she'd be a mean nasty thing. I simply don't have the skill or patience to deal with your typical OTTB soundness/mental issues.... things that come with just being on the track. It's not their fault, it's their upbringing. And I don't have the skill or patience to unravel it. You people are a lot more rational/talented/brave/patient than I am!
I have faith that in the end you will do whatever is best for Gogo and youself. You are a good horse person and would never purposly endanger a horse, especially Gogo.
Add one more to the camp of being happy with posts about Gogo eating grass. :)
I am just amused at the way your comments explode every time you say the word "baby". BREED GOGO! DO NOT BREED GOGO! ADOPT A HORSE! DO NOT ADOPT A HORSE! DO WHAT YOU WANT! DO WHAT I WANT! YOU ARE A TERRIBLE PERSON! YOU ARE AN AMAZING PERSON! YOUR HORSE IS GORGEOUS! YOUR HORSE SUCKS! BREED GOGO! DO NOT BREED GOGO!
Do you really listen to all this?
Your horse, your money, YOUR DECISION!
Why are you listening to a buch of people, myself included, that have only seen what you have put here, do these people really know what is best for you and your horse? have you talked to a "breed expert" about, who what and why you would put her to a certain stallion, or someone that will be able to take an unbiased look at her and point out her physical and tempermental weak spots (all horses have them) and suggest a stallion that would be a good match to try to get the best foal possible? Unless the person has seen and spent time with her irl, I don't think any of their comments really mean much.
If I listened to what strangers told me I'd have been lured away by candy many years ago.
And I never did say I'm doing anything at all.... just said I'm kicking myself because I'm NOT doing it. Silly readers ;)
You should totally breed Gogo to an OTTB and then breed THAT baby to a Friesian so it would have flowy hair and then you should teach it to bow on a stool in a spotlight and everyone will love it. If you do not do these things, you are clearly an idiot and it's what Gogo wants.
LMAO eventer79. I always love your snarky comments :)
I'm another vote for breed. You're not some crazy backyard breeder who is trying to do this for profit. You have a mare who you love, who you have said multiple times is your dream horse. I see nothing wrong with carefully selecting a stallion and seeing what the foal is like. And honestly, if the foal turns out less than stellar you don't seem like the type of person who will turn your back on it. Personally, I too have a mare that I love. And when she is no longer rideable, would love to have a baby from her who would be my next riding horse. So I completely understand where you are coming from.
I'm going with eventer79. She usually has the best advice.
Other than following Eventer79's advice (man, I'd almost pay to see that, :p) please remember that you have had to make decisions, and you make the best decison you can, with the information you have at the time. World history would be different if we knew then what we know now!
Eventer79 ALWAYS has the best advice. If you guys think I don't like OTTBs much, you should hear me going on about Friesians!!
I think you should breed Gogo to a donkey, maybe even a mini donkey so you can have a little mule eventing pony.
She's your mare. She's your responsibility. I say breed her. I LOVE Denali, and I love everything about her. I'd love to breed her, BUT she obviously has some physical things that could be genetic. Gogo's accident was just that, an accident. If she's galloping across the field now, how much strain could a belly put on it? It's been a few months and it's going to be 6 months at least before she starts to get a belly on her and put strain on that leg. It should be fine by then. I know nothing though. :)
But Andrea they have such lovely, wavey hair.... and if you then bred your fresian x gogo baby to something with patches/spots it will be wavey haired and spotted.... it will be BEEEAAAUUUTTTTIIIFUULLLLLLLL, (squeals like a pre teen seeing justin bieber.....)
Eh, snapping happens. ALTHOUGH I may not be able to forgive you for your friesian-hating. :) Besides, we all know that you are going to do whatever you want with Gogo's uterus anyway. We are just the peanut gallery, observers in this gladiator battle between your to-breed and not-to-breed whims.
EEEEEEEEEEE and then I can cut my Friesipintaloosasteiner's hair to LOOK like Justin Beiber's signature locks!
Now you're just freaking me out - I have a mental image of a horse that is making me wish I had mind bleach availabe.
I love reading these comments... I am in the process of breeding my mare right now. It's definitely expensive. But to me, it's worth the bond and memories. I know there are so many other horses out there that need homes. But "rescuing" is not for everyone- plain and simple. Bless the people that do go for it, but there is nothing wrong with the people who don't want to. I got my mare because one of my best friends died in an awful car accident. I want to breed my mare because I'm not sure that there is any other horse I would ever want more than her offspring because of the love and meaning she has to me. I'm far past what people care about me & I'm glad you are too :) I love reading about you & Gogo. It would be so fun to follow along with your breeding process during mine. Girl, I just know you've looked at some hunky stallions in your free time ;-)
I think you should breed her too. You only live once!
THis makes me sad.....It kinda hurts my heart that you are not able to be out doing what you love so much.... In due time i guess :)
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