The Unwanted Horse Part 2

Irresponsible Breeding and a Crazy Solution that just might Work

In my previous blog post on horse slaughter (read here) I said I was saving responsible breeding issues for a whole different post. Well, here it is.

Over-breeding and irresponsible breeding are huge parts of the unwanted horse problem. Not only are there backyard breeders producing horses that the market does not want, but there are people who can afford nice stock that don’t realize the implications of breeding. It’s not only the breeders’ responsibility to better the breed and have the best interest for the horses they produce, but it is also the breed registries’ responsibility to lead the industry and set standards to improve the breed.

Problem

Let’s start with the problem horses and the undesirable horses.

How often have you heard something along these lines: "She didn't work out as a show horse, so we're going to breed her." "She's too dangerous to train, so she's going to be a broodmare."

I get it. People have to find something to do with their horses that are costing them money, but it's breeding horses like this that contribute to the unwanted horse population. If the mare didn't make it as a show horse, then where would she get those show genes to pass on to her offspring? And if the horse is too dangerous to work with... well, that's the attitude you're breeding for and the offspring will have the same result. Continuing to breed mares because they don’t meet the standard you are looking for and because they are too dangerous to work with will only produce more horses with undesirable traits.

Stallions are also another issue. There are some horses that do not need to stand at stud because A.) they are not a good representation of the breed and B.) they do not produce anything that improves the breed. Again, this only produces more horses with undesirable traits.

And then you get the backyard breeders. Not only are these horses bad representations of the breed, but they are crossbreeds that there is no market for, nor do they fit the tasks the market is asking them to.

So what happens to all these undesirable horses? I can tell you from personal experience what happens to them in the Saddlebred industry, but it’s probably easy to apply it across all different breeds and disciplines as well. Many times these undesirable and problem horses are run through a public sale as a fast way for someone to get rid of them, they go from home to home, they fill up rescues, and many times they end up in a kill pen because no one wants them. I see way too many Saddlebreds in need of rescue, and I’ve seen way too many Saddlebreds get sent back to the rescue after adoption because of various problems.

Not all of the useable horses can even be saved because there are older horses and problem horses taking up room at the rescues. The rescues do not have the means and space to save every horse they come across. I feel like a lot of horses also get discarded because people aren’t willing to give horses they breed for a certain purpose a chance to thrive at something else. Instead of finding that horse’s purpose, they want to get rid of it as fast as they can.

Here’s the thing about breeding: the best stallion and the best mare together will not always produce the best horse, and some of the best horses come from bloodlines no one knows about. Breeding is a gamble, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try our best to improve the breeds we love.

Solution

It starts with the breeders and the breed registries.

Breeders must not only make conscious decisions to improve the breed when mating horses, but they must also know the numbers that the market can handle. If there are more horses than there is demand, the breeder can be stuck between a rock and a hard place. They may not be able to keep on all the horses that they bred, but then what? If no one is buying, putting them through a public sale is the next move. Breeders also need to make sure the horses they are breeding have desirable characteristics, because then they are right back to the problem of horses that aren’t selling. This time though, the horses don’t even have desirable traits to get the chance of going to a good home in a sale.

The breed registries also need to step in and put their best effort forth in improving the breed. Some have already started and have an evaluation program of sorts, but my friend Kaeli McCarty pointed me to one that really caught my attention.

A Friesian at the Kentucky Horse Park

The Friesian Horse Association of North America (FHANA) has Friesch Paarden Stamboek qualified officials from the Netherlands come to North America once every year for a keuring (judging). The evaluations are done in hand, with 60% on quality of movement and 40% on conformation. The first keuring takes place when the horses are foals for entry into the foal book and they are again judged at age three or older when they are allowed to enter the adult studbooks. Different awards and statuses can be given to horses with the distinguished characteristics of the breed. This also helps breeders evaluate the best horses and the best possible matings. When being judged for studbook admission, the officials keep a linear scoresheet with the positives and negatives of each horse.

In order to be an Approved Studbook Stallion, a horse must be sired by such a stallion. Stallions are given four years to demonstrate their offspring are improving the breed, or else they lose their status. FHANA describes the stallion evaluations as a “merciless selection process that insures only the very best stallions will influence the future of the Friesian horse.”

Cross-breeding is also highly discouraged in Friesians.

For more in-depth information on keurings, the different awards, and stallion approval, click here and scroll down to "What is a judging?"

Though the rigorous Friesian evaluations may seem far-fetched for some, I believe the process is something other breed registries should consider modeling.

Think about it. How many times have you seen a purebred Friesian in dire need of rescue? I’ve seen a Friesian cross here and there, but that’s it for me personally. I’ve also never come across a Friesian that I thought was ugly or below standard. After hearing about all the evaluations, I understand why.

So there you have it. That’s my opinion on the whole responsible breeding thing, but what do I know? J

Up Next – The Unwanted Horse Part 3: One of the Lucky Ones

Hard to believe she was a slaughter rescue.

I promise Splash’s story is coming next! I thought I better call it quits for now after writing more than I meant to.