Katie Roebuck

Just what is the perfect foal? There is no simple answer. The ideal foal is a combination of correct conformation and temperament, but even opinion on these attributes boils down to subjectiveness and personal preference.
Physically a horse should be of good length, be well put together, sound and suitable for the job its going to do. A good attitude is a must if the foal is to be trainable. A pairing of movement and mind seem to make up the ideal riding horse.
The perfect foal will also depend on the discipline it is being bred to do; dressage, show jumping, eventing, endurance or showing are the most popular reasons to breed. As far as showing goes there is a type, whether its a show cob, pony or hunter. But despite best efforts breeding is still a gamble rather than a science; breeding a lightweight with a heavyweight will not necessarily get you a middleweight.
Despite this uncertainty, before you begin the breeding process you should always think it through think about what your aim is in terms of temperament, conformation and desired discipline and plan towards that.
Breeding requirements can be very selective depending on the individual, its not black and white. Breeding for commercial purposes is a very competitive market and these days its simply not enough to have a good mother and father; as far as show ponies go half an inch too big is the difference between being worthless and worth a lot. It does not pay to leave it to random chance, to try and get what you want requires thought and research.
One way of heading towards breeding the perfect foal is to take a good look at the mother. Do you like her? Mostly a foal will take after its mother. Is she suitable? Does she have the right temperament, is she the right age and physically can she do it? One of the most common pit falls people fall into is putting a mare into foal if she has a physical problem or a dodgy temperament its the wrong thing to do as it is very likely you will get more of the same. If you have spent a great deal of time finding a suitable stallion and then followed this through with a great deal of money you have to make sure the mother is up to the task.
It is exciting and thrilling creating a new life with a world of opportunity ahead of it, but it can be frustrating and costly.
Look at your mare and what needs to be improved as your first step to getting a better foal. Find a stallion to compliment do you want the offspring to be bigger, more energetic, have better feet?
Stallion choice is based on performance, pedigree, conformation or just an instinctive liking for him. Using a reputable breeder or stud is vital, make sure you are certain of how much it will cost you every step of the way.
Defining the perfect foal can be tricky. Show jumping, eventing and even dressage require similar desirable traits; attitude, agility, good limbs and correct movement, bold and trainable; something with a presence. For a pure bred you want to see its beauty shine through.
Proven performance bloodlines can help cut out the heartache and disappointment if you have in your minds eye just what it is you want from your future competition horse.
If it is endurance you are after, some would look no further than the Arabian. A distinctive breed it would be hard to argue against their physical suitability for the job.
Their short, dished head and flaring nostrils allow for maximum oxygen intake, the large trachea means greater lung capacity. A shorter, stronger back allows Arabians to carry substantial weight in comfort, the breed often has one less vertebra than other breeds. Arabs have plenty of room for lung expansion because of well-sprung ribs and a deep chest cavity. Their legs are strong and resilient with dense, compact bone and lighter muscling which readily dissipates heat and lactic acid. Arabian horses were bred to perform under harsh desert conditions and keep going beyond the point of exhaustion. This has given the breed incredible stamina and courage. It is also recognized as being intelligent and easy to train. However some consider the breed too hot blooded, sensitive and spirited. Their intelligence means they can learn bad habits just as quickly as good ones.
Arabs can also be expensive, which can be off putting. The danger for any breed or type which is in vogue is inflated prices which cannot be sustained. At the moment the desire for coloured horses and ponies is all the rage. Once popularity has peaked and the price drops there is a risk that supply will exceed demand too many foals for sale can potentially create a welfare issue.
In the world of eventing there is a growing interest in purebred Thoroughbreds. They may not move on the flat like a warm blood, but they are athletic and highly trainable. This is good news for those horses which dont make it on the race track, and helps combat the problem of too many foals being bred without a purpose.
The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses has a breeding guide based on the highest level of sport horses competing internationally. Even breeding using top quality stallions and brood mares to produce a horse to compete at the top level has more than a risk of unpredictability about it. Creating success at the highest level of dressage can basically happen by accident.
As far as dressage goes which is the basis for the ranking guide published by the WBFSH, a horse is asked for a performance in which things clash; extension and collection, showing heart and being obedient. To specifically breed to gain these attributes must be nigh on impossible. To breed a foal for jumping must surely be more straightforward than for a performer on the flat. Basic elements required to make a good jumper are attitude, ability and boldness. These are traits that do not struggle with themselves. In top dressage the performance is not the sum of all the quality elements, it works almost according to a chaos system. Its a question of compatibility with what is required and getting them to peak and work together when it matters, under pressure in an intense environment without causing the horse to combust.
Aside from all that, once you have decided on the sire and dam and the foal is born, how you produce it from there is a huge responsibility. How much of this process is up to the rider and the genetic makeup and how much of it is up to luck?
Either way these formative years with a foal need patience and firmness in equal measure. Experienced handlers and riders will ensure the foal is given boundaries to work within, but also the confidence to develop their own personality.
Its a time when nurture is added to nature as that final ingredient in the hope that whatever the foal is bred for - it will excel.


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