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Post by Michelle Clarke on May 13, 2009 12:38:55 GMT -5
Sycha and "Chiva" first day out with the herd... |
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Post by fantasykiger on May 13, 2009 12:44:07 GMT -5
Just plain marvelous...I love your photos. I am envious all that fabulous green grass and beautiful Dun Pinto Kigers ;D If I EVER go to Texas I know where I am visitign for sure.
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Post by beauba on May 13, 2009 12:53:01 GMT -5
What a beautiful , strong and healthy looking girl .
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Post by kigerfan on May 13, 2009 12:54:41 GMT -5
She really is quite beautiful, I love the markings and the coloration. Not to mention her way of going.
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Post by sbutter on May 13, 2009 17:08:01 GMT -5
She is very flashy looking!
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Post by DianneC on May 13, 2009 20:20:58 GMT -5
I think you've got a gorgeous grulla there Michelle. Desi did great!
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Post by mustangdara on May 13, 2009 22:44:38 GMT -5
wow- what a good looking girl!!!
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Post by Michelle Clarke on May 14, 2009 6:51:26 GMT -5
Thanks for the nice comments...yes Dianne, I do belive we have a grulla! I was sooo hoping dunskin when she was born, but I think the creme gene that Sycha hides made the foal coat look that color. Her eyes were green when she was born, which can be indicative of the creme gene. Desi sure did do a good job. I have been calling all his foals our "limited editions" since we gelded him, so I thought it appropriate to name her that.
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Post by sbutter on May 14, 2009 20:57:18 GMT -5
What are your plans for all of these new little ones? Are you going to hold on to some of them?
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Post by Michelle Clarke on May 15, 2009 13:37:47 GMT -5
Hmmmm...good question! This filly will be held back to see if she will fit into our breeding program. She will be shown first. Contoras' little filly, Electra, will most likely be for sale, but that is going to be a hard one to part with. There will have to be a pretty special person to come along to buy her! Chillis' filly is for sale and I am not sure about Nesas' yet. Mommas' foal will be for sale and if Morgan has a colt it will be also. I had wanted a Kiger/QH filly to hold back for breeding, so we'll see if she gives me a good filly.
Of course they all stay here until under saddle, even if they are sold, so we still get to play with and start all of them!!
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Post by sbutter on May 15, 2009 14:35:56 GMT -5
How long has this breeding program been in the works? It looks like you are producing some awesome looking/minded horses. What is your breeding herd goal? Like how many stallions and mares and what crosses (both ideally and fantasy)  How do you think your breeding program will evolve? Will it branch off into more specific disciplines or are you trying to get the best all around horse that is awesome at anything? I guess short term and long range goals. Sorry to ask so many questions, I just haven't seen a breeding program like yours and it seems to be doing very well. |
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Post by fantasykiger on May 15, 2009 15:21:08 GMT -5
I love the idea of 'limited editions' for Desi' foals. |
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Post by nrly on May 15, 2009 17:38:31 GMT -5
Limited edition "Chiva" is absolutely grand, I love her color, please keep posting of her changes, and all the babies...I am out of the loop been off line for a long time..but I am back and want to get caught up on all the news and babies...
Nola
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Post by Michelle Clarke on May 15, 2009 21:37:29 GMT -5
Sarah...I started 10 years ago with this particular breeding program. My goals have always been to produce a highly trainable horse that is very versatile, bonds well to people, soft gaited (meaning easy to ride trot/canter) and easy on the eyes! I knew that I wanted to sell saddle horses so I could have control over thier raising and training to do as much as I could to make sure they are a useful citizen and have great homes.
Honestly, I don't have the herd I really truely want yet - I breed about half my mares each year with plans of future broodstock. I want most of my mares to be line-bred from Charro, as he produces nice fillies and that maternal line should produce on down (Sycha is a good example). The goal is to breed Charro to four mares (for example). Take two great colts and fillies and breed them; get a great colt and great filly from those breedings and breed them for the foal...then that foal is the broodstock that will have the solid traits that are desirable for the program. This may take 15-20 years and LOTS of culling.
Stallions...I am working on a plan for a purebred colt to some day replace Charro. Ideally, if you want to replace a stallion, you breed him to his mother until you get the exact one you want. If you can't do that, then you follow the same line-breeding program as listed above. I am thinking (hoping) that maybe Charro and Nesa may produce some great colts...
I do want some Lusitano lines in both mares and a stallion. Right now I am looking at Gringo and Hawk. Gringo may turn out to be too large, as he is already 15'3 and just turned 2 years old today. He is the same size as his sire, Saphiro, right now. Desi was not even that big as a two year old and he topped out at 16'2. I am concious of size, especially because we crossbreed, the hybrid vigour produces larger foals and that is always a concern for the safety of both mare and foal during birthing.
I really like the crossbreeding and alot of owners will do better with them. When done right, they will be overall healthier, stronger, more versatile, mentally more stable and more trainable. I like to see what the different crosses produce and it has been an education for sure! Each one has a different "market" and will appeal to different types of owners. Some don't work as well as I want and those are phased out.
I'm not sure how many mares/stallions I would like to have. There is only so much time in the day and honestly, trying to find capable help is extremely difficult. During the foaling season, basically everything else stops and my riding horses get a good vacation! It is very stressful and all consuming to say the least. I am sure you know how that is, being as you guys are in the same boat there!
I guess ideally, twelve mares and a few stallions would be good. I would like to have a stallion that I really compete and promote - though I am not sure in what direction yet. On the other hand, I don't want to get spread thin and loose the time and personal attention that all the horses here get. Each horse I sell is a part of me and I don't want to loose that. Sometimes I am surprised at the direction things take, but it is always a learning experience to say the least!
Hope this answers your questions...I didn't forget about the other email in regards to feed, will get with you this weekend!
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Post by Michelle Clarke on May 15, 2009 21:38:17 GMT -5
Nola...hope to hear from you more often!
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