Hey peeps,

Up to what age do you guys keep your horses in the Barn, breeding ? I tend to send most of mine at 5 & 6 both Mares and Stallions and keep till around 10-12 have you found an optimum age that breeds the best? i.e a 5yo Stallion and 6yo Mare ??

Also Apprentices, does the AI take into account their in-experience or is it a great way to claim weight ???

Thx.

May be diff for others mate but l always said them to barn as soon as they are 5yo and fit. l only run them up to 4yo and keep breeding until they die. I used to get rid at 10 but l have been told it doesnt matter how old the horse is the stats still carry on in blood lines so just keep going with them mate as long as they are alive

Cheers Westy,

You've just saved a few G1 winners from the glue factory

I play the flat game only, and I always race my horses at 2, 3 and finally 4. If they then trial well in the race builder I will retire them to the breeding barn and then continue to breed them until either a) they die or b) I get something better in this time.

Hope this helps.

I do this exactly.

Apart from when I accidentally geld them then I keep them for as long as possible for the lols

If you retire a colt to the barn, do other breeders come to you and pay fees to you?

Just retired a Mare, spent a fortune trying to mate her (1st attempt), and it failed, £167k down the drain

You should press 'repeat unsuccessful pairings' I think you only get charged when the horse is pregnant.

Also no you can't charge for services from one of your own. Only pay for one of yours to cover another mare or for one of your mares to be covered by another stallion.

Good advice folks,

Will stop running mine past 4 and see what happens.........

Thanks

All not lost, my second choice stallion worked a treat for me, in foal, born a 2yo Filly, 2 x Group 1's at 2!!! Stuff of dreams!

Season topped off by my 12 year old Gelding winning the National with 1st run of the season!