I remember hearing “back in the day” about mares being left down in the back paddock, getting in foal to some convenient or cheap sire, and breeding foal after foal who hardly ever made it to the races. I used to look through the stud books when I started out breeding and saw the results, and vowed never to go that path even if I had the land to do it.
Time passes and now breeding numbers are down and costs are up – and land is scarce. Back paddocks are in maize or dairy cows, or lavender plants or houses.
Local cheap sires have to prove themselves up against tough opposition on the track and the breeding barn.
Yes, it is an overall decline in numbers, but it also reflects the reality of economic shifts and time moving on. These days breeders need to be innovative, canny and passionate. And – a particular requirement of mine – thoughtful.
THINK b4breeding.
Today Kym and I have washed, brushed and trimmed up two of our tiny broodmare band. And we are so proud of them.
We know them well, and their families. We follow their foals’ progress as supporters but also to see what we can learn.
Our mares Sun Isa and The Blue Lotus have spent the past few of months together in a lovely paddock, enjoying each others company and with visits every second day by yours truly after work to give them the broodmare feed they need this time of their pregnancy.
Today we floated The Blue Lotus to Alabar, where we also got up close (but not too personal!) with the lovely looking, great natured Peak, trotting sire, who was getting a wash-down from Wayne who was on hand to receive our mare.
We’ll see more of Peak tomorrow when we go back up to Auckland to deliver Sun Isa to Woodlands and then track over to Alabar for the parade of Peak, He’s Watching and Sunshine Beach, three really interesting stallions on Sunday 4 October 2015 at Alabar.
Hope to bring you photos of that tomorrow night.
Below – we are so proud of our mares. Be proud of yours, get to know them, listen to what they need.
Kym Kearns with Sun Isa, 3 October 2015
Bee Pears with The Blue Lotus, 3 October 2015
Mares look in great condition