Breed Lease

So I have someone interested in breed leasing my real mare for 2021. On one hand I am like, that is perfect. I won't be paying board for over a year then and saving a bunch of money and she will be well taken care of at the facility. But on the other hand, I feel weird about it. I would still own her, I could still see her, etc. And she is retired now due to arthritis in her knees making her mostly unrideable, so it's not like this would be taking away anything from me. But I just feel odd about it.. I don't know why.

Anyone have experience with breed leases?

I've had limited experience with breed leasing. Mainly while working with Standardbred race horses. We did lease out a handful of horses to others from time to time.

We did free leases with the understanding that the leasee would be responsible for all the costs involved including feed, housing, shoeing and importantly . vet bills..  I would draw up a lease agreement that specifically states that they take over total care of the horse and you have the right to go check up on the horse at any time, to ensure it's being properly cared for. If you find any signs of neglect, you have the right to take the horse back at any time. 

Just some basic stuff we used.

Just curious, what is their intention with her while they lease her if she is not able to be ridden? 

@Windspun - thank you! I definitely will want to put together an agreement to cover all of that!

@Olympea - they want to breed her to their national champion Arabian stallion to produce a pinto half-arab foal to show. It'll be strictly a breed lease, no riding or anything else.

Oh, it looks like a breeding lease.. My bad, didn't read that part of it.. If your gut is telling you you're not comfortable with it.. then don't do it! The gut never lies! 

I missed that part as well, oh my gosh. Has she been bred before? I'm too nervous to breed horses because my mom's perfectly healthy mare tore her bladder during her last delivery and even with surgery was not able to be saved. 

I guess it depends on how comfortable you are with her being bred and trusting that someone else will absolutely provide all the best care throughout. Even then, tragedies can still happen. 

Yeah for sure. She has been bred once before and had no issues that I know of. I think my uneasiness comes more from how will pregnancy and delivery be on her arthritic knees more than something tragic happening. Unexpected tragedy is something you have to prepare for when breeding. But potentially worsening her arthritis or inadvertently causing her more pain and discomfort is my concern. I am going to consult with my vet to see what he thinks.. She also takes Equioxx for her arthritis and I am not sure if she would have to discontinue that while pregnant. If so, she would be uncomfortable and I wouldn't want to proceed.

I would also ask how old is the mare?? Because anything over 15yo takes more time to get in foal and also puts more of a strain on the horse as well as increasing foaling complications. Of course in many industries older mares are bred all the time; I'm thinking in TB racing in particular but that doesn't make it less risky/the right thing to do. 

But definitely speak with your vet they will be in the best position to advise you. I personally couldn't breed my mare when her show career ended at 14yo but that was just me being too afraid of things going wrong!

Definitely agree with consulting the vet. I grew up helping on my aunt's pony breeding farm and we had a couple of mares in on breed lease and sent a couple of ours out. It really depends on the mare but I'll echo Windspun's "If your gut is telling you you're not comfortable with it.. then don't do it! The gut never lies!" 

May also want to consider if they are doing live cover or AI. If your mare has arthritis in her hocks live cover could cause injury. But you could always build the breeding method into the contract. 

Thanks everyone! Yes I am definitely going to consult my vet. She is 18; she will be 19 in April. I attempted to breed her just a few years ago, but I quickly realized I was not in the financial position to go through with it lol. But during that time she was palpated a few times and the vet said breeding wise she is very sound and healthy and good to go. My biggest concerns is definitely how this will impact her knees.

I’ll add on to this. Honestly, 18 isn’t terribly old, but I personally feel like that’s too old for an arthritic mare. I think consulting a vet will be your best option, and a no go is just my opinion! Good luck with your decision, you’ll choose what’s best for your baby! Also, I would hate to not have my baby around for a year! (But, just my opinion!) :)

18 years old, arthritic, with a 1 foal history... I'd personally pass. Among other reasons. But health factors alone is risky. If she has arthritis on her own, just imagine how bad her flare-ups could be while carrying and creating another whole horse. And while having any history of foals is better than none, one isn't the greatest record to go off of. 

Also, personally, I'd feel very weird about letting someone have a foal of the horse I love the most that isn't me. I've considered breeding my mare in the past but she was already 20 at that time, unknown history of breedings, and it didn't feel right. Sure, I still wish I had a baby of hers to remember her with in a couple years when she finally passes... But if it were me, wanting my horse forever, and giving a chance, possibly her only chance, to someone else? It would make me feel very uneasy. Not to mention extremely jealous. And possibly a touch resentful.

I don't want to convince you out of it if you're like 99% sure or something, but I wanted to offer a non-medical related take from someone once in a vaguely similar situation. (Only similarities being breeding older horses lol)

Thank you for your insight! For me I don't really mind if someone else has her foal. To be quite honest, my horse is a psycho and I wouldn't want a foal that is out of her XD I want something with a brain, not another Rose lol. So that part does not bother me at all. Honestly I just want her to have something to do, but I am thinking being a broodmare for someone else is probably not a good "job" due to her knees. 

Don't get me wrong, I love my horse. I have had her for 10 years. But I am at the point where I am paying for a horse I can do nothing with and it is holding me back from enjoying horses and riding. So I was hoping to find some kind of solution to that problem, but I am not sure this is it. I am not the type of person to give away a horse when it is no longer useful, so she will continue to live out her life here.