Table of Contents
10
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT
20
HUBBOUT A LEADING SIRE
28
IMPROVING THE ODDS
40
MONEY MATTERS
46
STARTING A BREEDING CAREER
Introducing AQHA Stallion, Wing Mann
HUBBA HUBBA HUNTIN STALLION FERTILITY
THE ANATOMY OF A STUD FEE YOUNG GUNS
ADVERTISING CONTACT
Brenna Weaver, Founder & Editor E-mail: info@bloodlinemagazine.com Visit www.bloodlinemagazine.com for advertising information or e-mail Brenna at the above e-mail address for a list of current rates and available advertising spaces.
pg.10
Here’s to the stallions, our rockstars, leading the charge in the pursuit of the next generation of champions.
Images by Superlative Equine, Jeff Kirkbride
The Sky
IS THE LIMIT
WING MANN
This time of year, Blue Ridge GA is all hustle
and bustle with the turning of the leaves and ripening of apples at the state’s largest orchard. A few miles up the road is where Birchwood Stud LLC is nestled into a small valley in the picturesque foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Brenna and Lydia Weaver run the breeding operation, and though the name may be new, the duo are no strangers to working with quality stallions. After standing APHA stallions Make Me Shine and Chocolate Never Lies for a few seasons, the two decided earlier this year to branch out in search of an AQHA stallion that would compliment their breeding program. Their search ultimately led them to World Champion, Wing Mann.
multiple PHBA World and Reserve World Champion, Tom Powers Reserve Champion, Color Breed Congress Champion, and was Top 10 at the Quarter Horse Congress. Bred and raised by Trevor Barnes, who co-owns his sire, “Flash” cinched his first World
Ability In Spades
Champion title on the longe line with Trevor last year at the Palomino World Show. His soft way of going, excellent conformation, and docile temperament
Wing Mann is a 2018 stallion by $850,000
grabbed the attention of Amy and Kevin Smith of
sire, Batt Man. His dam, Invest N Your Dreams, is a
Capall Creek Farm, who purchased the colt last year
with plans to show him and stand him at stud. After a change of direction with their program, Wing Mann became available. Lydia and Brenna made the trip to Hampstead, North Carolina after looking at a few videos of the striking stallion, and the first thing they noticed was an impeccable topline and conformation, “We walked into the barn and the very first thing my eye went to was his topline,” Lydia says. “That’s one of the first things on my list of must-haves. We believe that the topline is one of the keys to longevity, and we had already passed on other stallions because they didn’t have a well-made back.”
After spending just a few minutes with Flash,
it became evident that the horse was not only made beautifully but had a brain to match. “He was in a barn full of show mares and he never made a peep the entire time we were there,” Brenna says. “Melanie [Thurston] took him out for us to watch him go around and he just had a great attitude about everything she asked. That really cinched the deal for us, and we had to have him. We went back to pick him up, shot his video and pictures, and brought him home. We threw a lot at him that first day, and he just said ‘yes ma’am’ every time we asked for more!”
Physically, Wing Mann is a specimen, and
putting that excellent performance conformation to use comes as naturally as breathing. “You can watch in his video how he actually wants to kick his hip in down the rail,” Lydia explains. “Striking off and loping pretty is the easiest thing in the world for him. He has a freaky hock, good extension through his front leg, and he has a ton of natural lift and self-carriage. He never drops his shoulders and he’s very mature. It makes training incredibly easy!”
The Perfect Outcross
Quality Over Color
With the gene pool for quality pleasure
Lydia and Brenna have been using a system
horses decreasing in size with each new generation,
similar to the cattle industry’s Estimated Progeny
it is becoming more and more apparent that breeders
Differences (EPDs) for a few years now, scoring horses
need outcrosses. “Flash offers breeders an amazing
based on different physical characteristics and using
opportunity to branch out a bit and work new
both the total scores and individual scores to determine
genetics in without sacrificing quality of movement,
what crosses to use in their program. They have been
conformation, or good minds,” Lydia says. “He has
seeing excellent results in the quality of their foals, but,
everything you want in a top shelf pleasure horse but
as they explained, quality, rather than color, is always
he’s an open door for breeders. There’s no Invitation
the goal. “We’ve become kind of cutthroat about our
Only, no Lazy Loper, no RL Best of Sudden, no Certain
selection of breeding stock. We have a system based
Potential, no Blazing Hot. He’s the perfect outcross for
on numbers that we employ to compare strengths and
daughters of these great sires, and that was something
weaknesses in potential crosses,” Brenna says. “If a
we knew we wanted. His options are wide open, and
stallion or mare doesn’t meet a minimum numerical
he brings something new and exciting to the table
criterion, we’re out. Color is not on that list of criteria
genetically.”
because we know, as color breeders, if we focus only
or primarily on color, everything else suffers in quality.
needing some time off from a minor injury, and his
For us, Flash’s color is a bonus, and only a bonus.”
trainer having developed some health issues,” Lydia
Lydia further explains, “We try to be brutally honest
says. “Right now, the tentative plan is to send him back
with our stock when evaluating and assigning scores.
out to be finished after his first breeding season and
Nobody is a harsher critic of our horses than we are,
go from there.”
but it’s helping us to put better and better foals on the ground because it takes emotion out of the breeding equation. It’s just as easy to fall in love with a mare or stallion that can produce a great foal as it is to love one that will fall a bit short.”
Moving Forward
The Weavers are excited about the future of
their new stallion, and explain that, while Wing Mann will not be shown this year, there are exciting things in the works. “Flash is one of the twos who unfortunately got behind this year with all the COVID mania,
{
Coming Together
Stallions cannot do it alone. The people
in his corner are critical to his success, as Brenna explains. “I think the first thing every stallion needs to be successful is a team that really and truly believes in him,” she says. “If the team doesn’t believe, why should breeders? We are all in with you when you breed to one of our stallions. We wouldn’t have them if we didn’t have very good reason to believe in their potential as great sires. Flash is already getting interest and contracts in from the right places: experienced breeders who actively show and get foals into show homes, breeders with excellent quality mares who we can’t thank enough for their support.”
Wing Mann will stand the 2021 season at
Birchwood Stud for a fee of $1,250 (including first shipment), with considerations to performing and producing broodmares.
His early booking fee is
$1,000. Visit him online at:
wingmannaqha.com
Images by Terri Cage, Jeff Kirkbride, Shane Rux, KC Montgomery, Kirstie Marie Photography
Hubbout A
LEADING SIRE
HUBBA HUBBA HUNTIN
The desire for versatility is making a comeback
Belle.
In the threes, he was the NSBA Reserve
these days, and what better stallion to lead the charge
World Champion in 3YO Non Pro Western Pleasure
than Hubba Hubba Huntin? The 2004 bay stallion
and won Congress in Amateur Performance Halter
by Huntin For Chocolate boasts an extensive show
Stallions, going Reserve in the Open. His all around
record that spans seven years. In that period of time,
career began and he cinched wins at the Congress
“Hubba� established himself as a fierce competitor.
in Junior Western riding with Jason Martin, earned the AQHA Open Hi-Point Championships in 2009
Showpen Sensation
His show career began on the longe line,
with a Reserve Championship in the NSBA Breeders Championship Futurity, and he took home the Hi-Point for the year as well. In his two year old year, Hubba won the Reichert Celebration in the Non-Pro 2YO Western Pleasure Slot Futurity, and took home another Reserve NSBA Breeders Championship Futurity title. He was also crowned a Tom Powers Champion twice in both Non Pro and Intermediate Open 2YO western pleasure events, along with winning the Southern
and 2010 in both Trail and Western Riding, became a Reserve World Champion in Amateur Performance Stallions, showed at the Select World and received Top 5 Honors in Western Pleasure, went third at the AQHA World Show in Western Riding, and earned his Superior in Western Pleasure.
Top 20 Sire
Hubba’s breeding career has led him to
I still can’t believe the opportunity was given to us and
a Top 20 position on the NSBA Leading Sire’s list,
I am deeply grateful to the entire Porter family and
and Alexis Wrobbel has long admired the beautiful
hope to continue on his incredible legacy that they
and successful stallion, so much so that she recently
have created.” Alexis describes that it was Hubba’s
purchased the stallion from the Porter family. “His
versatility that always drew her to him, “The fact that
grace in the pen and versatility to perform, and be
he can show in both the western and English events at
successful, in both western and English events has
the highest level and be successful is a testament to his
always impressed me,” Alexis says, “Hubba’s former
physicality. He is so good minded, willing to please
owners, the Porter family, and I have been friends
and just pleasant to be around. He is great legged,
for a number of years. Anytime I would go down to
has a huge shoulder, and a very identifiable face!”
Texas I would always try and make it a point to stop and see Hubba. My family has bred to him several
times, producing high quality babies.
That’s why
20 is no slouch, and Hubba’s prepotency and strong
when Breanne Wood (Porter) called me and asked if
qualities undoubtedly come through in his offspring.
I would be interested in buying Hubba I was floored.
“Hubba’s strongest physical attributes that he passes
I called my husband and discussed the incredible
down is their impulsion from behind and their ability to
opportunity that was presented to us and he was all in!
Any stallion that climbs the ladder to the Top
take a long flat, full step,” Alexis says. “They all have a great look to them too-pretty headed, big bodied and beautiful. “Hubba babies are very trainable, they are willing to please and are very smart! They are the type of babies that you will see progress quickly with limited work. Professional Horseman and Judge Ryan Painter said, ‘Hubba’s are fast learners that have proven they are easily coachable. In the show pen they’re easy to prepare and enjoy the show arena.’ Showing a Hubba is similar to training one. They give their all in the show pen and go around with a very agreeable attitude. They aren’t spooky or scared which is a great trait in a show horse. Beth Case even commented, ‘they have all been easy to train and show.’”
Hubba Hubba Huntin is the sire of big money
earners like Hubbout A Dance, who Beth trained and showed, and who has racked up a whopping $73,000 in earnings. He is a twelve-time Congress Champion, a multiple AQHA World Champion, multiple NSBA World and Reserve World Champion, and currently sits at #5 on the Q-Data All Time Leading English All Around list.
Huntin My Zipper, another Hubba winner,
earned $59,000 and is a multiple Congress Champion and Reserve Champion, NSBA World Champion, and AQHA Hi-Point Champion. He was also the NSBA Horse of the Year in 2014.
Hez A Dancing Hubba is an AQHA World
Champion, Congress Champion, NSBA Breeders Championship Futurity Champion, Southern Belle Champion, and holds the #2 position on the Q-Data Leading AQHA Hunter Under Saddle Money Earners List.
When it comes to Hubba’s best crosses,
Alexis points to top Hunter Under Saddle sire, These Irons Are Hot, “The dam of both Hubbout A Dance and Hes A Dancin Hubba is Theseironsrdancing! The Last Detail, Allocate Your Assets and Thoroughbred mares have also produced an impressive bunch.”
Behind the Scenes
Fertility is a key factor in the success of
Alexis and Brandon are excited to get more
any great sire, and Hubba Hubba Huntin doesn’t
involved in the horse industry, but particularly about
disappoint in this arena either. “Hubba has fantastic
breeding. “I am also excited about being directly
semen,” Alexis says. “He has consistent motility of 80%
involved with the breeding process. Being able to talk
or higher, which allows us to provide multiple straws
with mare owners and follow the progress of Hubba’s
during breeding season. Even on ‘difficult to breed
foals is something I will thoroughly enjoy,” Alexis says.
mares,’ Hubba has been extremely successful getting them bred on the first try.” Having a great team back
your stallion is of utmost importance in this business,
big, and a powerhouse team backing him – Hubba
both behind the scenes and through direct interaction.
Hubba Huntin seems to have hit the jackpot. He will
Christi Christenson of Highpoint Performance Horses
continue standing with Highpoint Performance Horses
manages Hubba, and Alexis credits her with much
in Pilot Point, Texas. Visit him online at:
A versatile Leading Sire, babies that win
of his success as a sire, “Christi does a wonderful job meeting all of the mare owner’s needs. She goes above and beyond and is always a pleasure to work with. I could also not do this without the support of my husband, Brandon. He is always there with ideas on this new stallion owning endeavor!”
www.highpointperformance.com
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Improving
Your Odds
STALLION FERTILITY
You’ve raised him. You’ve shown him. You’ve
doesn’t have to be a death sentence to his career,
sunk a fortune and your whole heart into preparing
depending on the diagnosis.
this young stallion to become a great sire. The public
stallions still manage to breed a good book of mares
is excited about him, and contracts are starting to pour
and maintain high pregnancy rates. This is because
in. And then your dreams are shattered when his test
management is absolutely crucial.
collections just aren’t up to par. Now what do you do?
Many “sub-fertile”
Caution with Chemicals
Believe it or not, this scenario is far more
common than the public is made to realize. Unlike
other livestock industries, ours typically fails to
stallion from ever actually thinking he’s a stallion while in
pick breeding stock with fertility in mind. We don’t
training, but administering altrenogest has the potential
necessarily pick a stallion because he produces
to do harm. This synthetic progestin, used in mares
enough viable cells in one ejaculate to cover twenty
to manipulate heat cycles and maintain pregnancies,
mares or that his cells are still progressively motile
is associated with a plethora of un-desirable side
enough at four days post collection to get mares
effects for stallions. Altrenogest works on stallions
pregnant. We select our stock for their performance,
by inhibiting the secretion of the pituitary luteinizing
conformation, soundness, marketability, and for their
hormone, which encourages the stallion’s production
trainability. Doing so, unfortunately, comes at a cost
of testosterone.
when we make fertility one of the last items on our
have found that administering the drug for 150 and
wish lists for a few generations. The term “sub-fertile”
240 days yielded decreases in scrotal width, lower
It may seem like a great idea to prevent a
In controlled studies, researchers
daily sperm output, fewer morphologically normal sperm, and in some cases, fewer progressively motile sperm1. The stallions in this study were observed for 90 days after treatment with altrenogest had ceased, and these parameters increased, but had not returned to normal at the end of the observation period. Short term usage of altrenogest yielded better results, with administration of the drug for 30 days yielding no harmful effects on the quality of ejaculates. Another study, which administered the drug to young stallions for eight weeks, saw a decrease in both production and morphologically normal cells, neither of which had returned to normal eight weeks after treatment ceased. More research is necessary to determine the exact ramifications of using this drug on stallions, but caution should certainly be observed when considering altering a stallion’s behavior chemically.
Frequency of Breeding
You may have heard the term, “use it or lose
it.” It’s an apt analogy for some stallions, as one of the simplest methods you may be able to implement to improve the number of cells he produces in an ejaculate is to increase the frequency with which he’s collected. A study with Thoroughbred stallions yielded increased pregnancy rates with one stallion when he was collected up to three times per day when three mares were available, and they noted a decrease in pregnancy rates when he was allowed 1-2 days of rest2. Collecting stallions daily or on an every other day basis has been shown to increase their daily sperm output. Some stallions who produce huge numbers of cells and low volume initially may suffer from Spermiostasis, a condition in which sperm cells are accumulated and eventually block the ampullae. These stallions are referred to as “Accumulators.” This condition affects a large percentage of stallions and can be managed by collecting them enough times to attain normal numbers. It’s then crucial that a regular collection schedule be established to keep them cleaned out.
Centrifugation
Some stallions have proven to have seminal
For stallions who may produce a number of
plasma toxic to their own cells, even when standard
dead or morphologically abnormal sperm, the use
extender dilution protocols are followed.
of a Centrifugation Gradient may be used to further
This
problem can be identified simply by checking a
improve his shipments.
sample and finding poor motility as early as 8 hours
works by removing morphologically abnormal cells,
post collection3. Centrifugation separates the cells
debris, and sometimes even bacteria and viruses.
from the liquid portion of the ejaculate and allows management to resuspend those cells in extender.
A centrifugation gradient
Nutrition
This method of handling cooled semen is much more common overseas, but is catching on in the US.
Proper nutrition is vital to all aspects
of reproduction, and stallions who suffer from
Stallion managers whose horse provides a
malnutrition or unbalanced nutrition can have fertility
high volume and low concentration of cells will need to
problems just like mares can. Stallions should be
employ the help of a centrifuge in order to concentrate
kept at an appropriate body condition and be fed a
the cells for shipping in standard containers.
balanced concentrate with access to quality forage.
Many stallions suffer from ulcers during the stressful
needed injections while showing may continue to
breeding season, and alfalfa was proven in a study
need injections in their breeding career. Keeping up
at Texas A&M to reduce the severity of this condition.
with chiropractic and dental work can also make a
Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is the only kind
difference, as sometimes pain creeps up on us in ways
of supplement well-documented to improve motility,
we might not expect. Acupuncture has a number of
and it has a score of other health benefits as well.
benefits for mares, and though we know less about
Pain Management
how this traditional eastern method can benefit stallions, studies in other species, including humans, has yielded positive results in regards to sperm count,
A stallion who displays low libido or reduced
motility, and vitality4.
quality ejaculates may not actually be suffering from a hormone issue. Both issues can be symptoms of pain
It can be quite startling to get not-so-great
or discomfort, and pain management can be critical
news when it comes to those first test collections.
in the success of a breeding stallion. Mounting a
Advances in technology are allowing us to do more
phantom puts a heavy load on hocks and stifles, and
with sub-fertile stallions than ever before, and these
it’s important to make sure these areas, as well as his
technologies are becoming more and more accessible.
back, are cared for when he’s putting these to regular
“Sub-fertile” doesn’t have to mean “infertile” anymore
use. If he begins dismounting quicker than he was,
in many cases, and proper management and a little
won’t round his back, or seems reluctant the mount,
creativity can go a long way towards making these
it’s a safe be that there’s a problem. Stallions who
stallions into successful sires.
Resources 1. McCue, Patrick. “REGUMATE IN STALLIONS –
4. Bradecamp, Etta A. “How to Process High- and
Effects on Reproductive Performance.” Http://Csu-
Low-Quality Semen for Cooling and ...” Aaep.org,
Cvmbs.colostate.edu/, Colorado State University,
American Association of Equine Practitioners, 2011,
csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/Documents/Learnstall6-
aaep.org/sites/default/files/issues/proceedings-
Regumate-apr09.pdf.
11proceedings-019.PDF.
2. Varner, Dickson D, et al. “Breeding-Management
5. Schofield, W.A. “Use of Acupuncture in Equine
Strategies and SemenHandling Techniques for
Reproduction.” Theriogenology, Elsevier, 11 June
Stallions—Case Scenarios.” Aaep.org, American
2008, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/
Association of Equine Practitioners, 2010, aaep.
S0093691X08002318.
org/sites/default/files/issues/proceedings10proceedings-z9100110000215.pdf. 3. Freeman, David. “An Overview of Stallion Breeding Management.” Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service,
doi:https://shareok.org/bitstream/
handle/11244/49914/oksd_ansi_3922_2001-09. pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
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Money Matters
THE ANATOMY OF A
STUD FEE Before a horse shows at the Congress, the
Program Nominations – Stallion owners can
World Show, the major futurities, or any class of any
spend upwards of $9,000 per year in program
kind, there was a breeder who thought carefully and
nominations if they choose to nominate to all major
considerately about how a mare might cross with a
futurities.
particular stallion.
Board - $700 per month average for stallion board
After pouring over pedigrees,
asking all their friends, and studying both their strengths
comes to $8,400 per year
and weaknesses, they settle on a stallion who might
Farrier - $1,500 per year or more
fit the bill. One of the first key steps in getting elite
Marketing – A stallion owner can easily run
show horses to the pen is getting elite show horses on
through $15,000 a year on marketing between ad
the ground. A mare owner paying a stud fee is the
placements, designs, photography, video, and web
financial handshake that begins the process of getting
design.
that future World or Congress Champion here.
The Overhead
In order to fully understand what fees are
charged and why, we first have to consider the overall cost of owning and managing a stallion. Contrary to the modern myth that a stallion owner immediately finds fortune at the breeding shed, some stallions can take years of service to pay back the initial startup costs and catch up with yearly expenses.
The nearly $34,000 accounted for above,
which some stallion owners would consider from experience to be a bit on the conservative side, does not entail training fees, costs of showing, sponsorships of major events, insurance, veterinary care, dentals, or any special therapies he may need as an elite athlete. These things can add thousands onto the costs of ownership and management. Stallion owners and management teams want the best possible foals on the ground, but they must also consider their horse a business. Part of that business is establishing what the stud fee will be and how that affects the clientele he will attract.
Psychology & The Ideal Client
Deciding what price point to set a stallion’s
stud fee at can be a daunting notion, especially when said stallion is much more than a potential paycheck.
Many stallion owners spend years of
their lives breeding or searching for “the one,” and to them, that horse is their world. The stud fee is a stallion owner’s way of saying, “this is what I believe my horse is worth” publicly to their peers and to their ideal clients. Different prices say different things to potential customers, and stallion management, like any other business, is after an ideal customer they feel suits their horse.
With the idea of an ideal client in mind, there
are several ways to approach the topic of setting a
stallion attractive to an ideal clientele that believes in much the same manner, usually by showing him and titling him in select classes that would give him appeal in that demographic of customers. This stallion owner may then set that stud fee higher to attract customers who expect to pay more in stud fees. This can also be a way of limiting his book to fewer, higher quality mares.
Likewise, if a stallion owner would rather push
volume and work with a variety of customers, they may make him more accessible and set the stud fee lower, focusing on finding out which crosses work best with him as quickly as possible. This method opens the door for a variety of pedigrees and breeders from all walks of life. Both of these methods work, and every stallion owner has their own plan for their horse’s siring career.
Breaking It Down
stallion’s fee. Like many facets of our industry, one commonly held belief is that you get what you pay for.
If a stallion owner’s goal is to only breed the best and
money go when breeding to a stallion?
nothing but the best, then they will set out to make their
So, where, as a mare owner, does your
The Chute Fee
about live foal or live color foal guarantees. Most
Perhaps one of the most confusing fees,
contracts afford that a rebreed is only owed if a
the chute fee was once charged to cover the farm’s
foal resulting from the breeding does not live for 24
fee of handling the mare during live cover breeding
hours, if the mare aborts, and in color breeds, if the
scenarios.
Nowadays, this fee encompasses the
foal lives but does not qualify for regular registration.
stallion farm’s fee for communicating with mare owners
This fee is typically $250-$350, but it does vary by
and managing the horse’s book. This is the bread and
individual contract. This fee is charged to provide the
butter of a stallion farm that does not own the horses
mare a slot in the stallion’s book for a second year,
they stand. It is how they keep their lights on as well
should a live foal or live colored foal not result from
as how they are financially able to continue to offering
the initial breeding. It is imperative, in order to prevent
their years of experience and great customer service.
misunderstandings about this fee, that you contact the
This fee may or may not include the first shipment,
stallion’s management with any questions regarding
and ranges from $350 to $650 typically. Some
the rebreed fee, if there is one, before you sign a
farms are replacing the term chute fee with booking
contract and book your mare.
fee, and unless the stallion owner collects and ships their stallion themselves, this fee is paid directly to the
Considerations
stallion farm.
Many stallion management teams offer
discounts for mares with strong or exemplary show The Re-Breed Fee
or produce records. These breeding incentives vary
The dreaded rebreed fee is the fee that drives
enormously between stallions, but typically, a stallion
the most contention between stallion management and
with an impeccable show record or an already well-
mare owners, and every stallion’s management team
established sire will offer lesser and fewer discounts.
handles rebreeds a bit differently. This fee is almost
Oftentimes, breeding to young stallions can be a great
always listed in the breeding contract with stipulations
way to get your foot in the door early on great genetics
and ability at an affordable price. Management for a young stallion will typically be eager to work with you on a great mare. Shipments
Shipping fees vary between $250 and
$350, and this sum is paid directly to the stallion farm. It usually includes a collection fee and also overnight shipping with either FedEx or UPS. Some contracts include the first shipment. Others do not. It’s always best to check and be sure so that when the mare is ready, there are no surprises on balances owed. Most shipping fees include the collection fee for collecting the stallion on that particular day. Container Fee
Check with your stallion manager and make
sure of whether you need to return the container the semen arrives in. Many farms charge a fee if the container is not returned within a given number of days. Credit Card Handling Fee
Taking credit cards, unfortunately, is not free.
There may be a handling charge if shipments or stud fees are paid by card.
The Takeaway
Most breeding contracts detail all fees
associated with the breeding in question. The best way to prevent hostilities later regarding what monies are to be paid is to familiarize yourself with the contract you’re signing and reach out to the stallion owner or manager with any questions you may have before putting pen to paper. Great communication makes the business portion of the breeding process run smoothly and effectively.
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Starting a Breeding Career
with
YOUNG GUNS
While glossy magazine ads and win photos
a prospect. “We always have strived to raise the best
can certainly create the appearance that stallion
prospects possible, even though one may be what we
ownership is all glitz and little grit, the reality is that
consider ‘all of it,’ it still takes more to consider leaving
stallions are a long-term project, and oftentimes
them a stallion,” she explains. “Not only do they need
lifelong commitments. Getting a stallion to the place
to have correct conformation, but they also need to
in his career where glossy magazine ads and win
have an exceptional mind, exceptional pedigree,
photos happen is far more than simply plucking a
and the elusive, ‘it’ factor.” Debbi describes an easy-
prospect from the weanling field and sailing off to the
going temperament as one of the key traits she looks
World Championship shows with breeders practically
for in a prospect that checks all the other boxes, “First
throwing their checkbooks at you. If that were the
and foremost they need to be docile. We watch the
case, everyone would do it.
young colts and the ones that lean toward being really
Selecting a Prospect
aggressive in the group will have trouble dealing with the testosterone that goes along with being a stallion. The colts that stay back and don’t want to constantly
Perhaps the most difficult years of stallion
ownership are those when his career is in its infancy,
rough house will ultimately be able to handle being a stallion.”
or even prior to its beginning at all. Debbi Trubee and Roger Landis of North Farm uphold a reputation for
Preparing a prospect for life as a stallion
assisting young guns in successfully getting a foothold
by instilling good habits as youngsters can aid them
with their breeding careers, and the process begins as
tremendously down the road. At North Farm, Debbi
and Roger prefer to raise all their foals in small groups,
send one out and the trainer already has a negative
and no exceptions are made for the stud prospects,
feeling about particular bloodlines, you’re already
“They have to have social skills! We will bring them
doomed with pre-conceived ideas on the horse.
up late spring of their yearling year and start working
Trainers are not all created equal and while some
with them. The colts that don’t settle in well, are
may be fantastic with older horses, we only consider
mouthy, or wanting to talk to every horse that walks by
trainers that have a consistent track record getting
will be castrated. Not every horse can handle being
young stock to the show arena.”
a stallion. If one leans toward being a horn dog, it will haunt them throughout their training when all they can think about is looking at the girls.”
Creating Your Dream Team
The First Season
The first season can sometimes be the hardest
when it comes to attracting the attention of breeders. For freshman sires, Debbi elects to set the stud fee at a reasonable rate the first season to garner more
No Champion was ever made without a
breedings and flush out what his ideal crosses will be
great trainer, and for stallions, the trainer is the bridge
for future reference. “You need to have numbers and
between potential and realization. Not all trainers
a variety of bloodlines to start to be able to sort out
are suited for the job, however, and selecting a trainer
what may cross best. Even though you might think you
who can both believe in your horse and see his success
know what attributes a stallion will pass on, you never
through is of dire importance. “We look for a trainer
really know until the babies start hitting the ground.
that already likes the family,” Debbi explains. “If you
A true breeding horse will stamp those babies with
similar qualities despite how the mare is bred. When
customers babies from the same cross really helps to
you see babies in every size and shape with no
encourage people to breed to an unproven stallion.”
uniformity, that’s really not a good thing.” North Farm
Advertising is a game unto itself with the advent of
offers discounts to great mares to incentivize those
social media, and keeping up with his social media
breeders to choose a young stallion and get a great
pages and keeping him current in appropriate media
set of mares to kick off his career, as well as breeding
outlets is a great way to gain familiarity with breeders.
many of their own mares to get that better picture of
“Mare owners want to work with stallion owners that
what his best crosses will be. “We go all in the first
support the foals they have. Keeping the stallion’s
year for breeding our personal mares to see what the
name out there by promoting the foals for mare
crosses will look like. Not every cross works which is
owners is a huge plus to a lot of people when they are
not to say it’s a bad stallion or bad mare, it’s just not a
deciding who to breed their mare to.”
good cross. Once we see what the stallion is offering, or taking away, we’ll sort from there on who gets bred
back.”
stallion is certainly not without its trials, but the lifelong
The First Crop
The commitment to owning and promoting a
commitment is incredibly fulfilling. To see breeders happy with their foals and succeeding in achieving their own hopes and aspirations is a feeling like none
Once the first foal crop arrives, the race
other. With care, consideration, and a truck load of
begins to make him a champion sire. The surest way
tenacity, young stallions can stand a chance at truly
to see this through is to take matters into your own
evolving the breed.
hands, by training your own and by placing those first foals into carefully selected show homes. “The first crop is everything,” Debbi says. “We will either hold back something we raised, or buy a few. We will hold those back to go out for training. We’ll also be selective on getting them placed to show homes. We’ll help the buyers by offering advice on where to send them out for training and keeping the babies on a good feeding program. We get a good feel in talking with prospective buyers on what level of showing and expectations they have for a baby they are looking at.”
Marketing
Marketing for a young stallion is essential,
and stallion owners can encourage breeders to choose their horse by maintaining great customer service, and by being there for those foals. “Ask for lots of pictures and video from mare owners,” Debbi explains. “Being able to show potential breeding
Video. Photography. Design.
THE CHOICE OF CHAMPIONS
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