Paint By Numbers - by Dan Liebman

re: Paint By Numbers - by Dan Liebman

Jequine — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:16:10 GMT

I have been watching the market closely. At the recent OBS sale, there were MANY no bids. This is unusual for a yearling sale. I feel that it is a sign that horse breeders need to pick and choose what they are breeding a little more closely. The current market is down and looks like it will not improve anytime soon. I believe in being a responsible breeder. To me, this means limiting mares bred and choosing a marketable cross for your mare. Having a mare does NOT mean that you have to breed her just because you can! If you want to do that, you had better have the $$ to be able to race that horse yourself.

re: Paint By Numbers - by Dan Liebman

sarcsm — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:23:13 GMT

I think it is the perfect time for all those in horseracing who truly love the sport and the horse to make their voices heard. I see too many well meaning trainers and owners and track managers who hate the drugs, greed, and cheating in the industry but are too afraid of possible consequences to speak out, and feel it would do no good. Perhaps there is a way for these voices to band together and make horseracing what it can be.

re: Paint By Numbers - by Dan Liebman

STEVE STONE — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:03:00 GMT

Hello Dan....Interesting headline to your always insightful op-ed pieces....Personally what is transpiring in the breeding industry of this complex business is undoubtedly long overdue..its simply related to the laws of supply and demand..It doesn't take much intellect to observe what is happening in the overall racing industry...set aside the breeding component...the economy of scales have taken over the reins...just look at what is happening to the Magna Group...this is just the beginning w/an publicly held corporation...you just reported the peril that Calder is now faced with...race tracks reducing their meet schedules..reduction in purses...not mentioning plummenting attendance at the races......the entire industry is in the throes of an catharsis...is there any light at the end of this tunnel? One doesn't have to look beyond the stock market...the overall economy... retail business and the big box stores..just to much product..no controlled growth..an store on every corner...analagous to an bank...This is no way to grow marketshare..The breeding business is no different...Now is the time to instead of articulating about breeding stronger and more durable thoroughbreds for the future..one has to be realistic and start analyizing the industry overall and chart an model for the future..Just look at the sales auction numbers....Certainly not stellar...An suggestion for you Dan...let me couch this to you..perhaps THE BLOOD-HORSE can champion an panel of industry bellwhethers....w/you at the head of the table..bring them all together and close the doors and craft out an blueprint for the future..One cannot just address an issue as they surface...Thats just performing damage control...Now is the time to rally the players and start thinking constuctively...Take charge of this forthwith Dan..Become an crusader..the industry desperately needs it...Thank you always for your window..Steve Stone..East Hanover..New Jersey

re: Paint By Numbers - by Dan Liebman

Chris — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:39:25 GMT

Maybe the trick is not to limit the # of breeding mares, but more so to limit the # of foals that they have.

Much like the country of China who has a 1 child per family maximum Law because of their country's out of control population. Maybe we should make a similar Law for all mares to "NOT" be bred every 3rd year or so ??? Or not to be allowed to have more than 3 foals in a 5 year time frame as a couple of examples ???

Or at least something along those lines so it's fair for all, even the smaller breeders.

Maybe it will even be a good thing in the long run for all of the mares overall health. Especially for the mares who's owners never give them a year off...ya know ???

Just a thought !!!

re: Paint By Numbers - by Dan Liebman

Jill — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:31:56 GMT

Like Chris, I'd really rather have more diversity of choice in stallions -- and bloodlines -- than what we presently have. Breeding is so driven by the commercial market (which I am not so naive as to discount the reasons for) but it really is limiting the gene pool, and not in a good way.

Those mediocre mares are without a doubt from the very same "fashionable" bloodlines that all too many of the stallions at stud are from. And that's exactly why they're being bred: They have names in their pedigrees that sell.

re: Paint By Numbers - by Dan Liebman

Eric — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:41:47 GMT

Importing successful stallions from Europe worked when European stallions could sire racehorses suited to the American racing scene. As long as we're breeding horses for six-furlong dirt sprints, Montjeu and Galileo are useless as stallion prospects in the United States. Howerver, if we can find the next Dubai Millennium to import then we may have a point.

An additional factor to consider is that US breeders face more competition from around the world - measuring the size the foal crop and the number of active stallions in the US alone fails to give us an accurate picture of the status of the breed. If anyone were to aggregate these numbers for European, Asian, Australian, North American and South American thoroughbreds I would wager that the story would look considerably different though I have no predictions as to how the narrative might change.

re: Paint By Numbers - by Dan Liebman

Chris — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:49:18 GMT

There's so many arguments that you could make about this point i'll just have to start with a question.

With fewer stallions and more mares what kind of long term damage is this going to have on the Diversity of our American breed ??? More and closer Inbreeding and less complete Outcrosses can't be a good thing ???

So once again i'll say...Wouldn't this be a good time to Import a successful stallion from Europe to help our American breed like the greats of yesteryear once did ??? I mean...Who wouldn't love to see a Montjeu or a Galileo standing in Kentucky if only for a season or 2 at a time ???

Just a thought !!!

re: Paint By Numbers - by Dan Liebman

The Colonel — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:26:42 GMT

My question is, how do we limit the number of breeding mares?

And slaughter is obviously not an option.

re: Paint By Numbers - by Dan Liebman

Wanda — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:40:23 GMT

If your breeding to sell read this article very carefully. Do the math and see if you fit into that 25%.If you don't thats a wake up call big time.