Regarding selling Brinnie, it takes years, if not decades, to get mares of the quality you currently have (if you can get breeders to part with them). They also take years to grow up. You are not too large to work Brinnie, even if she is not a competition size for you. Also, Hobbit or Hannah can certainly show her (on the flat). A primary reason to keep her is the bloodlines (Bear's half sister). Should Bear prove to be a difficult breeder, you can cross the same sire line with the prepaid breeding to Ron (or another stallion of extreme talent) and likely get what you want from that bloodline cross. Also, she is years younger than Bear if you do want to become a small stud farm. We always evaluate the quality of foals before deciding which mares to let go. Millie has proven, for example, she can produce something stunning. Sometimes we let them go because we retained something we love, like Ettie. Other times we keep them to keep producing similar foals, most of which we sell, but some we keep to keep our homebreds in the show rings. It makes it easier, as you have mentioned with Jam and Winnie, if you know how to train the specific bloodlines and temperaments as well (even though each is unique, there tends to be predictability within bloodlines). We put all mares in non breeding placements if there are genetic issues in their foals (e.g., producing a parrot mouth) even once. We also do natural soft weaning, a happy medium as you say, never before six months unless there is a medical reason to do so. We have found this produces calm, trusting foals, assuming they are handled daily of course. They start to transfer the bond to us this way as they look for mum, but also have her security any time they need it as we gradually wean. Most foals are far flightier than they will be as adults. Starting young, they can learn more word commands and in hand dressage basics than you might imagine, which makes them lovely and supple when backed. So glad you will be working with an expert with youngsters. Back to Brinnie and Millie, if kept mostly as broodmares you could also consistently produce colorful sales ponies or small horses from them that you intend to market, without the years involved and emotional stress of selling those you have fully produced. Plus, they are quite popular on your YT channel, and would consistently give the audience something to anticipate. Some of your buyers will likely excell in disciplines you don't, which brings more buyers back to you as breeders. Some of our buyers have excelled at national levels we initially never dreamed of. We have typically had a multiple year waiting list, mostly from people who have seen us, or what we produce, at shows. What you breed with your farm prefix or suffix always represents you, whether or not you are at the competition. A lot depends upon your ultimate goals and business plans. This includes whether you mostly want to produce ponies primarily for yourself, or for others as well.
It's Megan's decision to sell Millie, you have no right to tell her what she should do with her Horse. When you work with Horses full time like Megan does, Horses/Ponies do occassionally have to be sold. I honestly don't understand why you've got a problem with Megan selling Millie, it has NOTHING to do with you. Keep your nose out of things that have nothing to do with you, concentrate on what's going on in your own life, rather than worrying about what Megan is doing with her Horses. Dora is also going to be sold as well, I bet you've got a problem with her doing that as well!!
@@MissJools11 eh? They were giving her advice. Obviously they have experience in the field so they wanted to give feedback. This is not a problem and they aren’t insulting her.
BECAREFUL ON THE BREEDING HORSES POPULATION IS TO WHERE PEOPLE TAKE THERE UNWANTED HORSES TO AUCTIONS and where they are bought cheap and shipped to slaughter houses
@@MissJools11 Please reread. We never said she should not sell anyone. We said we sometimes do sell Millie-like mares that produce top foals, sometimes do not. Of course everything is her choice. Sometimes we have regretted selling top animals that are impossible to replace, at least if one is not willing to pay six figures plus. Other times, they have gone to top homes that help show what we produce and have taken them to top national and international winning levels we initially never dreamed of. That, understandably, makes what we do produce highly sought after. Selling Dora is completely her choice also. If we had her, we personally would not breed her and would sell her as well. It takes decades, sometimes generations, to build up a top stud farm. Look at the Fredricksons and passing the torch to the next generation, both in terms of her daughter and their bloodlines. Having a top breeding farm may not even be a goal of Meg's. She might primarily be breeding for her own use. As a YTer, many of her viewers get quite emotional and attached, and that can affect comments, engagement, and viewership, as she has mentioned even before she became so popular. Many consider that when they make sales decisions, feature those animals they plan to sell less so viewers get less attached, and so on. Again, up to her totally. She is new to this, we are generations in, passing on knowledge to an incredible young woman who does the sport proud.
@@homesteadlife2235 Megan might not want strangers giving her advice, she's old enough to make her own decisions. I have got friends who work with Horses fulltime and they sell Horses, so they can buy another young Horse to Produce. Selling Horses is part of riding them. Also, the Ponies are owned by Megan not you!!
You should certainly keep Ettie....no question. She was a big part of making the year unforgettable. I am so glad that Miri might be involved. I love her style.
You should do the string test for height on ettie and then we can see if it's accurate in a few years!! Also I'm definitely guessing a sooty black filly for bear and a palomino colt for brinnie 🤩🤩
I used to work at a breeding farm and I think Bear looks preggo. Much more so than she did last year. She was more rounded last year and this year she is more triangular, widening at the bottom vs the entire side, if that makes sense. Edit: I kept watching and you just said “triangular” so I guess that does make sense lol
Can’t wait to see two lovely frolicking foals in the spring! The photo you had found of smoky black was actually a black dun (grulla); smoky blacks are visually identical to normal black horses.
Yes I was going to comment that too. Also without knowing the hetero/homozygous status of the mare and stallion for red and agouti you can't know whether there is any chance for black, smoky black, chestnut, or palomino. This is why color testing is done because only the cream gene has phenotype differences between heterozygous and homozygous (buckskin vs perlino, palomino vs cremello, smoky black vs smoky cream). And even then the phenotype for smoky black and black are generally identical as tamfella points out.
@@maddydortignacq5567 yeah i assumed she had tested bear or knew the stallion's genotype because she only mentioned bay and black bases as options for the pairing's offspring. without knowing their genotype, chestnut and palomino would also be options. i wonder if the stallion is EE/aa? or bear is EE/Aa? because that would eliminate the option for a red-based foal
etties so cute 😍 she looks like she’s gonna be a fab little horse/pony and if you can produce her to the amazing standard of your other ponies 🤩 she’s gonna be a force to be reckoned with ❤❤
Finally! Its felt like forever since theres been a baba update! Ettie is adorable and well worth the hassle, great work team! Im personally hoping you keep her, love a good palomino and she is very striking so far. For New Years (or Jan) you could do a series where each episode is dedicated to each horse. Everything about them, past accomplishments, biggest fails, 2023 plans etc etc. Thers a few of us that enjoy keeping up with the family, especially when babies are involved :P
Ettie is a keeper for sure, she's such a darling 💖💖 and nice to see Millie and Bryni have plans. It's sad to think of them going but like someone said, so many hours in a day to pay undivided attention to a bunch of ponies so it's good you see all their potential Smokey cream colt for Bryni honestly, and a smokey black or buckskin filly for Bear, though the bay would be so cute!!
We have seen many mares who were confused, very protective, or just ok moms with first foals become vastly better with subsequent foals. We have never had to rule out later breeding on that. We have found mares do best with a bit of a break between foals, not breeding back on the "foal heat" nor even before full weaning of the foal at foot. After reconditioning, many go back in to work calmer and more focused after motherhood. It is another reason to breed fillies at three as you have been. Also, a top mare may not have another chance until she becomes more difficult to easily breed as a maiden.
Knowing Bear, she'll throw you a colt 😂 But he'll have her scope and his dad's beautiful nature, so you'll be forced to keep him anyway :P Ron will give you the filly haha
Thanks for the update! Very excited to see Ettie grow up and for the new foals. Just one piece to note, the smokey black you show is actually a grullo/grulla (or black dun) foal. Smokey black is similar or very slightly lighter than black, most often you cannot see the difference between smokey black and true blacks when they are grown. Newborn black and smokey black foals are most often a bit like your picture of the grulla foal, so quite grey but they darken within a few days to weeks.
Loved the update 🥰 Fingers crossed for some colorful fillies! Ettie reminds me so much of my 2yo filly - very similar personality and spirit - so I can’t wait to follow her journey 😊
My favourite kind of video on this channel!! Also I have been trying to get a miniature baby out of my mares so that’s another reason I’m so interested in these types of videos lol
When we wean its hard. For us it’s more efficient mainly cuz we have more foals so when they are all at weaning age we take them away at the same time or if we have 1 or 2 that are older we do then earlier but having more foals makes it easier cuz you can put the mares together in a field and have the babies be together, that way they will still scream a bit for mom but they aren’t left alone. With colts how ever we wait till the buyer either comes and gets them or we have to bring them away to wean cuz that is the easiest there. First time mares struggle more with it but our older mares know the process. I mean in theorie it’s rough but it’s better for them. And usually especially with the colts the moms will be done with them quite fast as they get quite bitty and jumpy, we have that less with fillies.
Love Miss. Ettie, she’s a keeper! Nice to see you being quite sensible, no point collecting field ornaments, there’s only so many hours in a day and unnecessary breeding is very outdated; so many horses out there already 🎉
What a great update! Fab to hear you may be working with Miri! Two of my fav British horse ladies!! Brinny - colt; perlino Bear - filly; smokey black But that’s more what I’d love to see! 😊
Totally support your long term plans for all the ladies. It is part of responsible equine ownership to recognize that you might not be the ideal situation (due to size, availablity, finances, etc.) and to make sure the ponies end up in the best fitting home possible.
Just FYI, smokey black is identical in appearance to regular black. The phenotypes are identical, so although the genes are different, there's no way to tell the difference visually. I enjoy nerding out on colour genetics so there you go 😁 V excited to see what the two buckskin girls produce!! ETA I think the reference pic you included for smokey black was of a grulla - you can tell by the primitive markings at the wither and leg barring. All types of dun have these primitive markings 🥰
Loved this update, i‘m always curious how everyone is doing! As a big fan of Miri Hackett i‘m very much hoping for a video with her, that would be so exiting!🙌🏻
I knew you'd forget welsh sires colour 🤣 He's Perlino. I have a feeling it'll be a double dilute for Bryni, given both her and sire are bay based, I'll guess Perlino. Buckskin from Bear, but it'll be a colt 🤣
@@elphick.event.ponies haha neither until I was on the comments. If it wasn’t December I would’ve sent more. Thank you so much for all you do Meg! Have a lovely Christmas 🎄❤️
straight back in foal would be the obvious option for Bear in my opinion - mares tend to be easier to get in foal if they get straight back at it... and considering her difficulties, that's what i would do :)
She going to be pretty out of shape though after two years off. Putting her back into work for a year would probably be the healthier (and probably safer) option. Especially with how fat she got from the phantom pregnancy.
@@princesssofiyagm hopefully not THAT out of shape - it is actually recommended to keep broodmares in somewhat good shape - it helps them foal tremendously 😊
I think Bryni is going to have a cremello colt and for Bear I think she is going to have Smokey black or black filly!! I really hope you end up keeping Bryni’s foal even if she has a colt❤
I love the pregnancy updates the most, I am so excited to see the foals. It'd be cool if you got a measuring tape (if there's one big enough lol) and measured the mares bumps every update so we can see the growth and who's bump is bigger 😝 Ettie is absolutely HUGE and so gorgeous, she's like a barbie pony.
Thanks for the update on the Mummies. Cannot wait for next year, when hopefully we have 2 new babies to follow. Etty is just so cute it is going to be so much fun following her journey. 💗
Ahhhh soooo excited for this video!!!🥰🥰🥰 can’t wait to find out all the plans yayayay! Just so buzzed for the two foals next year can’t wait to see what colour they’ll be keeping fingers crossed for you for a filly💖💖
Such a good idea to consult with Miri. I did a Zoom lesson with her when my filly was young and bolshy, and she helped so much in just one lesson. Also: growth spurts are tiring, so when a playful foal zonks out, check their height the next day.
Oh this really was the info I’ve been craving!!!! The mares all look lovely in their mud costumes!!😂🤣 I knower Ettie will hit 15 for sure. She’s already tall and has so much more growing to do. Bear’s filly would be a beautiful Smokey black or buckskin. I feel the black though. Brinni has such a wide variety of color but wouldn’t it be incredible to have a cremello??? Her filly would be spectacular. They’ll be different kinds of mums but both wonderful. Thank you for the Christmas updates🎄🎄🎄🎄🎅🏼🎅🏼
Thanks for the update, I'm very excited to see next year's foals. Also looking forward to the foal training with Miri Hackett, I really like her style of training.
Ettie is massive! She was big even as a newborn, I don't know how Millie fit her in there! She's got such a big personality, she'd certainly be at home with your other big personality gals.
@@princesssofiyagm At 5 months can be done transabdominally ( through the body wall vs rectally) so much less stressful. This can monitor fetal heart rate, size and movement with minimal stress to the mare.
Do back to back so you have time for her to have more babies if you like how they turn out. One can be a fluke, 2 means you are onto something and then you have time to repeat breedings if you want.
Guessing on colors, I think Bear may have a Bay or Buckskin, and Brynni a Perlino or Buckskin. What I wish for you is Bear, a Smoky Black. Brynni a Palomino.
You should contact animal genetics about a collab. If bears baby daddy is black. There could be chance foal is palomino or chestnut (both him and bear would have to have a red gene, but that doesn't shoe if also a black gene)
I say this now: I'll be looking very forward to see you and Ettie becoming a team and go conquer eventing together. From day one she has had something special about her full of life and spunk. I have a feeling she's going to impress. + with keeping her you'll keep a part of kind hearted Millie close too. Excited to see what the future will bring you and your ladies! The buckskin sisters look decently preggers with their triangular bellies. 2023 is going to be your year! If Brinnie gets a double cream diluted filly, that grows a bit taller and takes after her talentful mother (+aunt Bear). She might be another good promise for the future combining talent and colour. Double dilute garantees the passing of a single cream allel for buckskins, palominos and smokey black.
Bear is definitely a different shape this time! Fingers crossed. Would love to see Bear x Ron but also so looking forward to her being back in work and her dressage career!
For Harry if it's a double dilution of chestnut it's cremello. If it's a double dilution of bay it's Perlino. If he's a Perlino you are most likely to get a Perlino or Buckskin. It really depends on his genetics for the others like if he's homozygous for black then you can't get a cremello or palomino.
hi meg, first off thank you so much for this video second off are you going to keep bears foal if it is filly or colt or only if it a filly second off i think bear is going to have a smoky grey colt and brinny will have a pally filly. thanlyou so much for your content we all love it so much. carry it on meg x🥰😍
Ok, foal predictions. Bear will have a filly and either a buck skin or bay and Bryni another filly and Cremelo. Are you going to build some more stables by your other wooden ones? Loved this update, thanks Meg xxxxx
