I think the key is researching the place you are sending the mare to - like going there if you can, getting references. When I did judging team as a kid, the only breeding I had seen done was at my trainer's place. All the mares that came in were treated just like his mares and show horses - like queens. They were expected to play by the same rules, but they got top treatment and were handled well. If at any point one acted up, the hobbles came out. If it got to the point of danger, he did twitch the mares - or at least it was always an option. However, in 10 years of being there, I never - not once - saw anything get twitched and saw only 2 mares get hobbled. His stud was a very easy going guy. His wife usually assisted or a stable hand did. Whoever did was experienced and made sure the mare was okay. Of course, he always informed the owners of these precautions before hand and they had to sign off on it.

Well, this place we went for judging team had a keyed up two year old halter stallion that they were breeding. He bit, kicked, and reared. They took him out for a demo on halter grooming and he tried to mount a mare in a nearby panel stall. Could it be that he hadn't been turned out in 3 years. He was brutal apparently. One of my friends who had used one of their other stallions said the same of that one. Her mare came home with scratches, bites, and scrapes. She was also headshy. Her mom thinks they bred her before she was ready - this was not a maiden mare either.

I worked for a woman who had a saddlebred stallion that she was keeping for a friend at the time. He got out to breed a mare one day. At this point, I KNEW what a standing heat looked like and this mare was NOT that far along. She tried to run away, but he was 17hh and HUGE, so he just climbed on her and bit her until she stopped. She was freaking terrified the entire time. I was pretty sure that is as close to "rape" as you can get.

So, I support protecting an investment, I guess, but I don't support bad breeding management - they are two different things.

GasMenagerie wrote:
Misinformation: informing FiSHes for 3 years now.