sell my stud or breeding fees instead

pastelsummer · #1 09/16/10, 12:14 PM

i am trying to decide with my stud if i want to sell him or rent him out for a stud fee? Dh and him do not get along so i am leaning more to selling but if not i would rent his services out. WWYD?

wr · #2 09/16/10, 12:23 PM

Typically, most people want to either bring their mare in to be hand bred or use collected semen. Are you set up to facilitate either and even if you were, DH and stud would in the same situation. If you're looking to lease him to someone wanting to pasture expose mares, does he have genetics that might really interest someone and if you lease him out, you will need to have a pretty solid contract in place.

The horse market is pretty soft right now and you may find that fewer people are breeding because there is a pretty narrow profit margin in breeding. You don't mention the age of the stud and your reasons for keeping him a stud but perhaps gelding him would change his temperament enough that you wouldn't have the friction between him and DH.

Horseyrider · #3 09/16/10, 12:37 PM

What would I do? So much depends.

First, I would never keep a stud intact unless he has a fabulous disposition and a winning performance record, both in the showpen and in the breeding shed. One has to be very mindful of stallions. You can have a docile sweetheart for ten years who suddenly grabs you by the shoulder and tries to kill you. They're also a liability from a property owner's standpoint.

If the horse was flawlessly made and had a fantastic show record, I'd probably ship him to a mare motel facility during the breeding season, where the workers collect semen for AI and ship it chilled. They handle the marketing and dealing with clients as well as care for your horse, in exchange for a piece of the stud fee. In order to do this, you have to have a pretty nice stud. I never personally allow live cover due to safety risks for both my mare and my stud.

I would personally not consider breeding any mare unless she also has a great show record, high degree of trainability and a tractable attitude, in addition to great conformation. So, as a mare owner, some stay open; and as a stallion owner, I'd sometimes say no.

I have a gelding in my barn now that was a breeding stallion for 15 years. He was owned by a young trainer in our area that I mentor. The previous owners cut him on my advice. He was a cheap stud, but with a fantastic disposition, beautiful head, long hip. He also a long back and a downhill stance. The soft horse market that wr spoke of, plus his shortcomings, made a so-so stallion into a wonderful gelding. He hauls my grandkids around, and is a much respected member of our herd.

So, now you know a little bit about what I'd do.

pastelsummer · #4 09/16/10, 12:51 PM

If i were to geld him would that stop him from attacking my other males that ARE gelded?

jill.costello · #5 09/16/10, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pastelsummer

If i were to geld him would that stop him from attacking my other males that ARE gelded?

Maybe, maybe not. We all need to know the AGE of this stallion, and his breed, and exactly what his "stallion behaviors" that you can't/won't tolerate anymore.

Many times, if you geld a stallion and then wait a few months for the studdiness to wear off, they can and will get along much better in a group.

As was already said, please do not stud out an animal that is not the absolute BEST of the BEST of his breed; there are too many horses out there that have "just OK" genetics or performance abilities that desperately need homes....creating more babies doesn't help anyone, in my opinion....

I also REALLY agree that an "ok" stallion may make a supurb gelding! It can clear their minds, make them very friendly, and much better citizens overall!

wr · #6 09/16/10, 02:45 PM

We're missing a lot of information before we can really make suggestions. How old is the stud, can you tell us something about his breeding and conformation, what behaviors are causing problems, did you have specific plans for using him as a breeder when you got him and if so, what have you done to promote him?

pastelsummer · #7 09/16/10, 03:22 PM

He is a mini donkey i got him for free off of freecycle the guy had no papers didnt know anything besides him and the jennete were a "bonded" pair. My huge problem is he attacks any other male animal. With humans he is awesome except he brays constantly. I would love to keep him as a mini to train that bthe kids can ride and use on a cart. But if gelding him wont work then i have to rehome him. Does any of that make sense

wr · #8 09/16/10, 04:28 PM

I would suggest that if he has no papers and is unremarkable that you would have problems promoting him as a breeder. Donkeys are funny little things and they are quite territorial but they guard territory rather than flocks so he may be doing what he's bred to do, guard. If he isn't overly old, you should see him settle down if gelded but I don't know if the behavior you're seeing is donkey behavior or hormonal but if you expect him to be around kids, he certainly should be gelded.

How long have you had the little guy? Is there a chance he's adjusting to a new home?

I've worked with a few donkeys and they are nothing like horses, they don't think like horses, they don't react like horses and you need to be a special sort of person to train them.

pastelsummer · #9 09/16/10, 04:45 PM

I have had him and the female for about four months. I didnt really intend to breed them when i got them she was already bred we just didnt know it. So i wouldnt be losing anything if i did geld him. I had wanted to train them to be ridden by the kids and to pull a cart but with his going after the males and with her feet over grown so bad and then having the baby that was put on hold.

wr · #10 09/16/10, 04:51 PM

Are his feet correcting? Discomfort can make anybody cranky.

pastelsummer · #11 09/16/10, 05:30 PM

I am not sure his are not as bad as the females but may be overgrown. what do you mean correcting i have had 3 people flake out on my when it comes to trimming because of the females feet. there are so many problms with thier feet i should not have gotten them. it will take hundreds to fix her feet alone. But that is another thread.

bergere · #12 09/16/10, 06:46 PM

From what I have read...

He is not Registered....
every one I know.. if the animal isn't of the highest quality both in temperament and conformation and Registered... they would not use your Jack.

Do you have knowledge to handle a Jack at breeding time?
Is your property set up to safely handle other people's Jenny's? Have their own paddocks?
Well fenced, good shelter and so on?
Do you have enough insurance to cover yourself if a clients Jenny gets hurt on your place or by your Jack?
Can you safely handle a Wet Jenny?
Do you know if your Jack would savage their foals if you pasture breed?

Having worked on breeding farms.. there is a whole lot more that goes into offering a Jack or Stallion for breeding to outside mares/Jennys, than most people think about. There is a lot of risk and work.

Is a lot to think about.
You can get Donkey's for free... nice ones and Registered. People aren't going to pay for anything right now. At least from what I have seen around here.

Would really recommend you gelding him, will make a much better pet that way!!

pastelsummer · #13 09/16/10, 07:03 PM

ok i think with all the info from you guys i will have the vet out to geld him soon Thanks!!!!!

wr · #14 09/16/10, 07:13 PM

When you call the vet, ask about a farrier because they must have their feet issue resolved. My concern right now is that they have been under your care for a few months and I'd sure hate for someone to report you for neglect.