| After having the now 3 year old in training for over a | | | | back to get them. When we found out, we decided |
| year, you take a look at it and ask yourself, "What | | | | we wouldn't have sold to her because that didn't give |
| breed is it?" This happens many times. A baby doesn't | | | | us a good feeling. Always trust your instincts with |
| meet our expectations of what we wanted or is not | | | | people who come to your barn or come to look at |
| talented enough to compete. What do you do now? | | | | your horses especially if you don't know them. |
| We've all read about these breeders who just leave | | | | The first baby we ever bred is 23 now. We knew he |
| the horses to starve or abandon them. That is not an | | | | wasn't going to work for us as a show horse and |
| option. No matter what the baby turns out to be, it is | | | | knew it was our responsibility to find him a good home. |
| still your responsibility as the breeder to take care of it | | | | Taking him to an auction was not an alternative as we |
| or find a home for it. There are others who choose to | | | | knew he wouldn't sell as a show horse and didn't want |
| sell these horses at horse auctions. The problem with | | | | to chance him ending up on a truck headed for the |
| these auctions is you really don't know where your | | | | glue factory. Someone we knew had a friend who |
| baby will end up. There are other choices. | | | | was looking for a horse to keep in her backyard and |
| One choice is to find someone who is looking for a | | | | ride around her farm. She took him and that horse is |
| horse to keep on their farm just to trail ride. Before | | | | still with her to this day. He was 4 when she got him. |
| you agree to give the horse to a person like this, make | | | | Remember, every horse has a place and a use. If the |
| sure you either know the person or go check out the | | | | horse turns out to be something you don't want or |
| person's facilities to make sure the baby will be taken | | | | can't afford, there is always someone for whom the |
| care of. We have a horse for sale very reasonably. | | | | horse will be useful. You need to start making phone |
| He just needs to find a home with someone who just | | | | calls and talking to people about the horse. Someone |
| wants to have fun with a horse and ride him and | | | | always knows someone. If you are going to breed, it is |
| maybe take him to some local shows. Someone called | | | | your responsibility to see it through to the end. We all |
| the barn to see him. They pulled up to the barn with a | | | | know that the great ones will sell themselves. It is the |
| trailer in tow. They tried the horse and liked him and | | | | ones who are not perfect that you have to work to |
| made an offer on him. My trainer tried to get hold of | | | | find a good home for. Always think of your babies as |
| us to see if we would take the offer which we would | | | | children. When you have a child who is not perfect, |
| have as we just want him to have a good home and | | | | you do not abandon it. Don't abandon a horse. You |
| be taken care of. However, none of us could be | | | | brought him/her into the world, it is your job to make |
| reached at that exact moment. The woman said it | | | | sure it is taken care of if you don't want it. If you |
| was now or never. She wouldn't come back. She was | | | | choose to breed, remember there are no guarantees |
| going to load him in the trailer or the offer was gone | | | | as to what the horse will turn out to be. Some horses |
| forever. We still have him. You have to be suspicious | | | | with the best bloodlines do not turn out. |
| of people who don't want a horse enough to come | | | | |