It’s the start of Spring. The “down under” standardbred breeding season is about to begin. And it is almost 5 years since I wrote a B4breeding blog. So hello to anyone who is still following me, or who stumbles across this site when searching the web on a breeding topic – as several have done over the past few years, sometimes contacting me direct or making a comment on a blog which I have responded to.
This time around, the blogs will be less frequent. A lot of the information I wrote previously is still applicable – the historical information or the blogs on key or interesting bloodlines. Dive into those older blogs and explore!
I’ve created a new page (tab at the top of the home page – 2021 Bee’s breeding) which brings you up to date with my own horses. Recently retired, I am placing realistic financial boundaries on my ‘addiction’ while still enjoying the challenge of putting theory into practice – and watching what develops.
My next blog will take a closer look at the marvellous U7 family’s influence on current sires who have been or are available to New Zealand breeders, and I hope readers will add in comments one’s that I have missed or are not available here in New Zealand.
Remember that I am not an expert, just an explorer like we all are. I don’t have a long list of champion racehorses to my name. My current band of mares are not former Group 1 winners. One’s a free lease, one cost $1000, and my most recent purchase was $500. But all have something that caught my interest as a breeder and set me a challenge to realise their best potential as broodmares, whatever that turns out to be. I’ll introduce them to you as we go.
I love a challenge, aye!
b4breeding 
Great to see you back Bea Always loved the posts
Thanks Jo. Just trying it out. Not sure that I have much more to offer…
welcome back Bee…les
Thanks Les
Could you please change my e-mail address to chrisrookwood@outlook.com
Regards
Chris
Chris I think you need to change that. You may need to re-follow the blog to get the new email added. I’ll check if there is anything I can do from my end re the old one.
Great to see you back
Thanks Steve.
Welcome back Bee. I love your posts. All the best. Patrick
Thank you!
Great to see your back, will jump on your new website and get an update, I often wondered how your breeding match up performed. All your blogs were very interesting. Take care and welcome back Regards Shane Loone
Thanks Shane. Yes my blogs will catch up with the results – it is hard when you are breeding just a couple of foals from different mares rather than reporting on a whole lot! So I never want to be judged on my individual successes or failures. They are all interesting to learn from – Or be surprised by!
Yes I will catch you up with my results – nothing to make major headlines! It is so interesting trying to do this with just a few mares. We have a lovely colt from Zenterfold by Vincent (an orphan unfortunately, but wonderfully looked after by Alabar in Auckland till he got his surrogate mare). My match of Tintin In America with my mare Nostalgic Franco was a lovely natured good sized colt but turned out to be wobbler (with vet inspection and imaging) and had to be put down! Heart breaking.