The first thing I noticed was that they've got him sprawled out like a Saddlebred (yes, that's exaggerating, but you get my point) . Fantastic ad picture right there. *sarcasm*Big, clunky head, no hip, downhill build. There's nothing compact about this horse.
They're asking $500 for his stud fee. I know an Arabian stallion (who happens to be one of the few arabs I actually like and is drop dead gorgeous) with a fee less than that. But that's beside the point.
Stallion owners need to ask themselves some questions before they go advertising their horse for stud.
1. Would the stallion make a nice gelding?
If the answer is yes, geld him! This means that the horse doesn't have incredible conformation or awesome disposition, or another flaw along those lines. That means we're not missing out on anything by gelding the horse. If the answer is no, and it would be a terrible shame to not pass on this horse's conformation, athleticism, disposition, etc., you may have a breeding quality stallion. But if your stallion lacks any of those traits, be responsible and don't allow him to reproduce.
2. What makes this stallion superior?
A breeding quality horse showcases the traits of his breed. They need charismatic, gentle, and friendly temperament, athleticism, knock-out gorgeous conformation, good health, and good pedigrees. A successful show history or significant accomplishments always help, too. Ask yourself how the horse would place in a halter class. If he's blue ribbon material, you may have a quality stallion. If your stallion lacks any of these traits, stop right there and geld him.
And of course you have to think about what his foals would be like. I see too many in auctions with kill buyers everywhere you turn.
If your stallion looks similar to the horses you could easily find in a feedlot, don't breed him. I've seen horses that look like the stud up top go for $40 at auction. Classic example of why breeding needs to be regulated.
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