HGG Community Forums

Writing it all out makes it look like a ton of work but it doesn’t usually take me long once I sit down to do it

Well, I always do SBA on everything that comes from the pastures. I then color test everybody and make sure to mark any snowflakes and double check their lines to be sure I have the pedigree marked.

All foals resulted from pasture breedings that pass SBA are then sent through the other tests. I then go through and sort the inconsistents. I've decided I am keeping too many and this is one way I keep the herd fine combed. I will GMT anything that's extraordinary but generally they still sell quite nicely and I'm happy to sell.

Then I look at papers. Absolutely nothing here is kept that is Red papered beyond G3. I have, I believe 5 fillies that are Red G3 and 1 B G3 stud that are hom KP/hom SNF/dp that I play with but otherwise everything else is sold immediately.

I want G2 Blues from my general population fillies (I am a little looser on my KP & SNF lines and will keep reds but transitioning from that these last few months). A papered studs at G2 (same with the fillies, trying to transition to ALL blue/A but it's slow going so I do keep B papered G2 until thus happens). I ONLY keep B foundations and Red foundations. I play with yellow foundations with embryos in the labs and use semen I've purchased. ALL yellow G2 are snipped unless someone has expressed interest (for example an HOM KP or HOM SNF that passed SBA).

When I narrow those down, then I start to comparison test colts. Anything AGA stud is sold. WTS are snipped. Stale papers are snipped G3+ (2 Gen of A, or 3 gen of A), and anything that went backwards with PT are snipped. Then I compare the Colts that are STS to my benchmarks that I'm already using. If they're AGA them, they stay and grow so I can decide later. If they are worse, they're sold (still STS).

I have a general range on what I like to see for PT, which is just another tool to help me keep the herd thinned. I make exceptions because it is not a depiction of breeding ability. I like to see 10.5-11.2 at G2, 10.8-11.5 at G3. 11-11.8 at G4 and anything over 11.5 with G5+.

Then I look back on color patterns and genetics. I prefer combo genes on an individual and I also prefer loud patterns, so solids usually are to be sold generally speaking. I will also sell my "gen pop" when I need space for special genes. They're pretty replaceable, even if they're pretty "Elite".

Oh also, if I ever wind up with a Cob or a SP, they're sold. I don't breed them. Unless they're absolutely exceptional, then I'll GMT to my liking. I prefer 15+ hh. No restriction on bone.

Once a month I look at my 8 year old pasture mares. Mares move to pasture at breeding age and sit and accumulate bonus. They live here. Some people show everything and rotate pastures and hand breed. I have too many mares. It makes for less income but I enjoy the game more the way I run things. Anyway... once a month I look at my 8 year old gals. I look at their AFPT. They need to have equal or better than their own to stay. AND I want to see at least one intact at 8 years old. If they don't cut it, theyre sold. Many folks have done very well with some of these cull mares from me, I just don't have the space for nonproductive mares.

In terms of studs and doing the job, I NEED to see them producing intacts on the regular. If I breed a pasture of 30, I want to see at least 10 intacts. If he's not producing me intacts, he will be put on watch. He is also sold if he has two bad seasons, or if his AFPT is not equal or greater to his own PT. There are so many breeders in this game, there's no reason to sit on something that isn't advancing you.

I have been flushing 5 to 8 mares a season, single eggs to play with. I like to use my purchased semen on them as it gives me a way to introduce genetics. I am a little easier on fillies from eggs and if they pass BA, and are Red G2+, they stay. Colts still need to pass SBA and be STS. Others are snipped or sold.

Sounds like a lot but once I get going, it usually takes me 2 or 3 days to sort my foals. It would be less but I don't have the barn space for housing while I sort. I usually dump a couple pastures into my biggest two barns and sort those in bulk and do the advanced pastures by hand as they're smaller sized.