Lucky Little Penny "Breeze"

[on:]

She's a 1998 Quarter Horse mare, haven't actually measured her yet but supposedly 15hh (I think she's larger, maybe almost 16) she was rescued by my friend Rosie about a month ago - VERY pregnant. One week later, she had Crackin' Wise the little chestnut colt.

Her ears are stubby but we managed to get in touch with her original owners for the story behind that. Her mother left the barn one winter night to have her baby out in the woods. When the people came out to find her, Breeze had been born and was severely frostbitten, thus losing the tips of her ears. Apparently she was almost dead from cold, but not quite, and they managed to save her. They named her "Lucky Little Penny".

When she came into Rosie's care she became "Shanghai Breeze" but her papers still have her original name. I've always called her Breeze though, so that'll probably stick.

Rosie has been wanting a black arabian stallion, but Jason her husband is worried about expenses. So Rosie turned around and gave me Breeze so that they would have room in their budget for Dark Raven the stallion. Breeze will still stay on Rosie's property and they will continue handling her daily (right now they live so far away I can only make it out once a week, I go on Saturdays usually. But they are moving soon, much closer to me). I won't pay board, instead it will be $150 which is pretty much cost of feed (she's currently on a couple cups of Senior Feed, plenty of Sweet Feed, a vitamin supplement with oil, and grass hay).

Then of course whatever additional is needed for farrier, vet, etc.

Plus I will get free breedings to this Arab Stallion - who is absolutely gorgeous and has Polish and Egyptian lineage. So after I train Breeze I would like to see what kind of babies she'll be able to throw when matched to Raven.

Here are pictures of her from when she was about to pop with the baby, on the rescue ranch.

[Reply #1 on:]

She's gorgeous

[Reply #2 on:]

I especially love her Broken Stripe. It's a less common horse marking. It just means she has a stripe on her face, but instead of being straight down or slightly crooked, it's all jagged and actually stops and starts again.

[Reply #3 on:]

So after I train Breeze I would like to see what kind of babies she'll be able to throw when matched to Raven.

what sort of genetic considerations does a breeder have to make with horses?

[Reply #4 on:]

It really depends on what you are looking for in your horse. Bloodline is the most valuable aspect of breeding, because it is the first thing someone will look for when they are buying a horse. What notable horses are in the ancestry, what accomplishments have family members obtained, etc etc.

In this case, Breeze has maybe one recent relative worth any note. It's her Grandsire and he produced approx. 1,000 foals, 30 of which were champions in western sports & halter, etc. Dark Raven has Bask* in his pedigree, a stallion of amazing caliber and whom sired countless champions and Arabian legacies.

If I were looking to produce a good show horse - I would not mix QH with Arabian. This creates a cross that would be fine in equitation (trotting around and looking pretty for the judges) or maybe even jumping, some event where breed doesn't matter, but not halter. A "Quarab" would not be able to compete with purebreds.

Instead, I am trying to create a horse with a steady personality and easily trained. Quarabs retain the refined beauty of Arabs but leave behind the hot-headedness. They also take the level & gentle personalities of QH's. It's a perfect mix and for my needs right now, a Quarab would be a great horse for riding and just an overall companion.

[Reply #5 on:]

so if she's easily tamable and ends up with a good disposition you'll breed her?

[Reply #6 on:]

I already know she has an excellent disposition - so far I've learned that she is very snappy and sour with strangers, but grows into a very sweet gentle horse once she gets to know you. She's halter broke, but that's pretty much all the training she will have remembered by now. Supposedly she's been ridden only a handful of times in all her 9 years. I'm going to start training her under saddle probably this weekend. I would like to get some good riding out of her before she has another baby, which I am guessing will happen in another year and a half.

[Reply #7 on:]

Breeze is a beautiful horse, I bet you can't wait till they move closer to you.