I'm about to open up a can of worms here, but I just feel its something important to discuss.


While creeping around on kijiji (not that I'm actually going to buy anything, kind of a habbit... just like horse shopping? LOL) I came across an add that bothered me.


I'm am anti backyard breeding - for selling purposes... or even personal purposes (depending on the situation) If you love your mare, thats great.. but there are plenty of other little colts and fillies out there who are in NEED of an owner. Add in the costs of caring for your prego mare, and then calculate in the health risks on your lovely horse to me its just too risky - breeding should be left to the breeders. There should be put thought put into mare/stallion combinations, in my opinion.

Can of worms opened, my mares a grade backyard horse who although not put together conformationally 100 percent right, I still love her to bits and thank my lucky stars that a vet in NS decided to breed her grade QH Pony to a big reg. Canadian stallion. I've loved ALL the backyardigans that I've come to know but honestly, there are just TOO MANY HORSES to all be taken care of properly.


For an example, take a look at this photo:


This is one of the kijiji photos asking if there is enough interest in NB for a horse auction in NB... this is a farm from Alberta..... When I see this photo... I think backyard hillbilly. Not great conformation horse, narrow, probably very young... rider in SHORTS? SNEAKERS? I don't take these people seriously.. and automatically assume that the horses would have substandard training and handling. Sorry, thats just how it is.. We can only judge by what we see.

Next photo


Pijamas with rubber boots... purple hair okay I can deal with that, but no helmet. ill fitting tack and miss matching tack... again, horse not put together great. And really, take the halter off if your going to take photos to sell yourself.


Last photo I'll share.

Back cinch is DANGEROUSLY loose, again, pijamas. That horse has either no muscle tone or is very young, or just not put together right.

Would I love any of the above horses?! OF COURSE! thats not what I'm getting at... what I am getting at is, is it really necessary to need to have "Auctions"..... just because a horse has balls doesn't mean it needs to breed a mare.....


I've replied to the kijiji add... stating my concerns about the NB market, over saturation and said that conformation shots, and professional appearance are what sells.. if they sell.. here anyway. We've got spectacular well bred, well renown horses on our markets who have been there for months.... at lower than should be prices..

If this needs to be deleted because its too mean, I understand.. I don't read the FUGLY horse blogs because I think shes a lady slipper (**ETA HAHAHAH OMG this forum changes b*itch to lady slipper.. LOVE IT!) . I'm not trying to hurt anyones feelings, or poke fun. I'm trying to explain my views that we have a serious problem with an over population of horses which in turn = more malnourished, mis treated horses.

Anyone check out the Camelot horse auctions from New Jersey??? a lot of them are incredible beautiful grades, heck sometimes registered! some young, some old... some schoolies and some camp horses no one wants anymore.

Horses work their whole lives to please us (at least most haha) humans should have a little more respect of their well being, in my opinion.

dont know why you thought that it might be deleted.......you expressed your opinions openly without prejudice....I dont see any harm in that. We have a rescue farm on cape breton who brings in horses from the New Jersey kill pen......and yes, some of them are registered........I am of the same opinion when it comes to backyard breeding...hence my two little boys being gelded shortly.........I;m sure you will get quite a few replies, they may be hot.....but they wont be ignorant.........should make for some good reading.

I cringe when I see photos like those, makes all "back yard breeders" look bad, Technically I have my horses in my back yard and I have a stallion so I guess to some I'm in the same category. But I hope my presentation is more professional than those photos. Photos are what is going to give people their first impression of someone and their horses/business. If I found there were no market or demand for what I produce here I'd be first to snip or sell. I considered gelding Kid because he didnt throw enough color for my personal liking, however there are enough others who love the dun factoring without the white that they are still very marketable.
There are several Auctions in the Maritimes and prices for horses like those photos show would probably be in the low hundreds, not over a thousand. Which considering shipping I can see no way someone could break even let alone a profit. I would only bring in a horse from out west or US if I first researched the pedigree and conformation and the breeders reputation and then still would only bring in something show quality not average. Camelot has had a few diamonds in the rough or horses of quality who through no fault of their own have ended up there, that have tempted me but I have realistic expectations of what my wallet and my heart have limits for.

LBRanch.......you wouldn't even be nearly in the same category........get a grip.

A little off topic but we have a horse from Camelot @ our barn right now. She is in for training and is the sweetest little pinto mare. Once she knows you and trusts you she is a big huggie bear. Well, little huggie bear since she is only 14-14.1 hands. Her owner is actually from Maine and the little mare was one of the last 4 standing when she went through. Now back on topic: I saw those ads also and thought $1200.00 for a horse from out west and that includes the shipping to NB or it did yesterday, what kind of horses are they ,shaking my head and rolling my eyes as I was @ work.

Do you read the Fugly Horse of the Day blog? (www.fuglyblog.com)
Your post sounds exactly like a regular post on that blog. The previous writer (it just changed to a different writer in September) focused a lot on trying to educate the masses on poor breeding decisons, bad Craigslist ads, poor conformation, bad horsekeeping practices and publicly outing animal abusers and other things.
The market for horses crashed in the US, and it took a dive-bomb in the prairie and central provinces and it sounds like the horse market has also taken a nosedive here in the east for sure.

Your post is not offensive in the least, but actually quite informative to anyone who might be posting a Kijiji ad, of what NOT to do!! (no pyjamas people! at least try and look professional!)

And it's worth a look to check out www.fuglyblog.com !

this goes for breeding dogs too.. the shelters are over run with unwanted pets.. yes they started out as someones pet... isn't that amazing.. fu...............................k not sure I like people very much !!!

Like the 500+ dogs found in a puppy mill in Quebec.....sigh.....

I rarely look at the Kijiji ads, but your post prompted me to take a gander.

WHAT??? Inquiries from a Jennifer Precious Life Horse Sales in Alberta for a horse auction here? Are there even horse auctions here? (I'm fairly new to the east coast, but I used to live 10 minutes from the Ontario Livestock Auction and Sales in Ontario). From all my previous experiences (except for some huge breeder auctions usually in the US) auctions are usually the last ditch effort to get rid of a horse that couldn't be sold any other way, or a way to dump a horse quickly, and the owner really doesn't care if it goes for sandwich meat in France. (Horse slaughter is still legal in Canada and Mexico, but not in the US)

And secondly, the ads where it prices horses at $1400 shipped directly to your door from Alberta. Wow, I would never buy a horse without being able to ride and vet check it first.

All of this screams "SCAM" very loudly!

I too wondered if it was a Scam... too easy to sucker people into buying a bargain and then delete your ads and walk with the money... no way to trace them or even know if they're really where they say they are. I keep seeing ads for gorgeous horse trailers that should be over 10-15,000 that are advertised for 2-3000 shipped. those are scams, if you email and say " hey I happen to be in your area this weekend on business, can I come by and look?" all of a sudden they come up with a dozen reasons you cant come see the item. (because it doesnt exist).
There are a few PMU farms and large scale breeders from out west that are reputable and have a proven track record of sales to the maritimes. They advertise on Kijiji and other classified sites but you can find them online with personal names/address contact numbers and even references of people locally who have bought from them. The other shady looking ones I'd run from.

In my opinion back yard breeding and a breeder breeding in their back yard are in two different catagories. That sounds a little silly, let me clarify.

Back yard breeding entails the following:
1) An intact stallion - registered or not. all of a sudden he drops, is capable of producing, so why not?
(problem: *sigh* just because he's got em' doesn't mean he should use them)
2) No career record, often times not even broke...
(Problem: how do you even know the traits, abilities & characteristics you may potentially pass on)
3) Average to low quality mares (grade or reg.) even the prettiest of horses can be a nut case... I've seen a lot being strickly "broodmares" as in, no career history, not broke, lameness issues.
(Problem: If a mares not broke and "trained" -and no, W/T/L around a ring doesn't count.. then how can you sell what she's producing. If she's papered just because her great, great, grampie was a well renown champion doesn't mean that she could ever be or that her offspring will be. If she's strickly breeding because she's lame, why is she lame. Is it a structural defect? some people don't care! she's a "good mother" in my opinion, thats another word for "she's got functioning mare parts")

A reputable horse owner breeding on a small scale = a breeder breeding in their back yard.
1) Stallion should be shown, well trained, well socialized, Stallions on smaller scale farms are my favorite.. I love to see them turned out, and enjoying life. My heart breaks for the boys who are caged up just because they've got their man jewels.
2) In saying so, a stable must be equipped to house a stallion. Owner must be smart enough to know what to do. (These farms where every mares bred to the same stud... you know that they either trow em' all out together, plan it (wtf) or he's breaking out.)
3) not mass produced, mares chosen selectively. Or, if facilities does not own the stallion, stallion is chosen very carefully for mare.


LB, your stallion is registered. He is coloured & marked beautifully and well put together to my semi-trained eye, I'm sure there are some would pick every little piece of him apart, but to my eye he looks solid & sturdy, with nice legs (which is whats important to "me") Other than the photo of your bit on backwards (lol i'm surprised I remembered that! although, you knew it though) I've seen no photos that make me think "omg..." You've worked on his show career, getting him out and about, and recognized (which isn't cheap these days) It doesn't seem like he's been bred to every mare in the province, and the photos you've provided of his 2011 offspring are beautifully marked duns (I may be a little biast, but duns are the best ;) ) I've never visited your stable in person, but get a very good professional feel of it from your website, ads, and posts. You my dear, do not fall into the catagorie that grings my gears.


The can of worms opens & flame suit comes out from my hypocritical point of view. Here I am ripping breeding apart YET I went out and purchased a grade, low end, (fabulous I might add), young, untrained horse. Is she my dream horse, yes in every way shape and form! BUT she's by no means a spectacular specimen of a horse. (to anyone but me, LOL) I can be honest with myself, as I see things for what they really are.

I guess, I'm just one of those people who wants to help everything out, so if I were on the market and sweet little malnourished horse at a traders captivated me, I'd be over there in a heart beat to save it.. but unfortunatly that means that
1) I've purchased from the trader
2) Those purchased (out of pity, cheap price, ect) are letting that specific trader know that there is interest in his product, thus the cycle will continue.

I feel the same way about dog breeding. There are too many dogs. Look at the shelters... then look at the kijiji ads of all these hybrid things. I can go get me a nice hybrid from the local SPCA that isn't going to cost me a grand. Sometimes humans don't use their brains and run off of their emotions. I purchased a $750.00 non papered purbred dog whose lines are genetically tested and guarentee for eyes, heart & hip.(whose the bestest doggy every -to me-) but had I waited and stuck to my guns a boxer would eventually of shown up at a shelter or rescue.. however I wanted a pup with a clean slate.. I wanted Wilson because he was ADORABLE & readily available "now"...

I agree on mostly everything except the 'Trow them out with the stud every year'

Lots of breeders do this. You ave a good stud, he makes nice babies, you have several good mares who pair well with your stud...Why not let them exist in a herd setting at breeding time? They do that sort of thing pretty well on their own, no humans needed! And some small scale operations can only house one stud properly, and for reasons mentioned above, breed to him every year. I see no wrong doing in this, you can be responsible and still maintain the same lines in a less hands on way.

I totally agree fiere. What i am picturing in my head is a field of random horses and a stallion or stallions... Much like the spca case 2 of the fillies from my barn were siezed from. I didnt clarify that very well.

I am a bit unsure of what to write because I'm sure that people could probably have "issues' with me as I've bred my mare who as a weanling was injured but has the conformation, brains, breeding behind her. Although only ever been lame on that leg once she's been perfect. I bred her once ended up with a really nice foal I showed, won futurities so I rebred her and she's raised 6 foals that have been shown and have been futurity winners, that have turned into great all around horses. I've done very well with them in the ring. She was bred to stallions that have proven themselves etc. So maybe I'm a back yard breeder but I've done well with them to say the least. And believe me the money I've put into my horses, training, showing I don't really think that's someone that isn't working to do the right thing with them etc.

Now I don't have to go far from home to see some sad cases of grade horses all turned out together, inbred etc etc etc etc now to me that's sick.. Those are the worse...

And we also breed percherons and we've shown them for years and years and have always done awesome in the ring. Have had many many grand champions on the line plus champion teams etc.

Our horses are all cared for when it comes to feeding wise and being loved, they want for nothing in my opinion.

hahaha Jorgia, you make me laugh.......we just have to look at your pictures and ribbons.....aint no one having ISSUES with you.............get a grip.

OMG Jorgia!! your no "back yard breeder"

Your horses are incredible, I often drools over them. Infact, your b&w paints are my dream horses!