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ApollosLegacy · Jan 26, 2019 6:45 AM

I recently sold off the majority of my foundation stock to make room for a high pointed bootstrap show horse line. But now I'm kind of regretting my decision. How important are foundations to your barn? I have a bunch of red second generation mares in my primary pasture earning their pasture bonus for next season...should I stock up on foundations again? I need guidance lol

KniKna · Jan 26, 2019 7:06 AM

The only stupid question is one that isn't asked :)

Foundations currently make up about 40% of my breeding stock. I'd like to reduce my numbers a bit as I rarely manage to breed all my mares each season, but I am a sucker for the pretty girls. I also haven't had clear goals for my breeding stock. If your second gen mares are meeting your goals then stick with them. If you want to expand your lines, then stock up on some foundies :)

Bandit1119 · Jan 26, 2019 7:16 AM

My herds are all pyramids with foundations on the bottom.

Unless your bootstrapping (which I don’t so can’t say for sure) it gets harder each generation to have an intact foal so if you are breeding less lower generation horses to replace the next generation you’ll have even less of the next to replace those etc.

I’m constantly replacing aged out foundations through the year when I can and the last 2 December’s I’ve gone on create sprees and added a whole bunch of new foundations to the mix

DragonRun · Jan 26, 2019 1:03 PM

I had cut way back on my foundations, but recently bumped the number up again. I was finding my 2nd/3rd gens were stagnating without new gen 2s, or very few gen 2s. With all the new genes out at Christmas, I had to really boost my foundation numbers so I had someone to breed them to. I tend to not breed all my mares every year, but for the next few years my foundies will be bred, then they will have a rest.

DinaChill · Jan 26, 2019 1:14 PM

Answer from a bootstrap only account - It depends on your goals. You don't need foundations if you just bootstrap. I keep some as intact show ponies and I do breed them but i don't need them.

Answer from Dinascar (who line breeds, mostly) -However, if you line breed then foundations are important to continue each generation. That said you can always make new foundations from HHs and breed to your foundation studs and auction the mares on, just keeping those really good ones you make. I rarely let the foundations have a pasture as they will often give you enough reds without. I save pastures for my highest gen girls who struggle to have foals who pass sba.

DinaChill · Jan 26, 2019 1:18 PM

I second KniKna - no question is a stupid question. :)
And it's better to have sold all your foundies and regret it than to sell all your high lined girls and regret it :D

Ren · Jan 26, 2019 2:12 PM

I just did a major cull of my foundations to clean out my barns but I plan on slowly restocking them this next season as foundations make up the biggest portion of my barn as well. I was pretty loose with my standards with foundations before but this next go around will be a little more specific as everything is organized now and I know what sort of horses I need for each of my lines. :P Bandit1119 said it pretty well and my breeding is similar to theirs as with each higher generation you seem to get fewer intacts.

The best thing about foundations though is that they are probably the easiest to replace and if you create a in search of (ISO) post you'll probably find a fair number of horses that way if you are looking for something specific.

HunterUnderSaddleGirl · Jan 26, 2019 2:39 PM

I need to look at the exact numbers, but I have TONS of foundations. (Could sell you some if you wish).

I don’t really have any reasoning one way or another but I keep “accidentally” buying myself closed gene stallions. Which all need 50 mares.... so my mares for all gens continue to explode in numbers.

But I think the “pyramid” model is true. Each generation has a certain percentage intact. Then 4 months later maybe or maybe not the same percentage intact but you have less foals.

So for example you have

100 foundations. 2 intact foal for every 5 mares let’s say.
So

40 2nd gens
Then in 3 months

16 3rd gens.

So I like to keep a lot of foundations to keep feeding the higher levels

ApollosLegacy · Jan 26, 2019 3:40 PM

That makes so much sense! Than you so much everyone!! I currently have 4 pastures, my 2nd generation red pasture is my primary pasture, then I have a 3rd generation red, 3rd generation blue, my bootstrap pasture. My primary barn is pretty lacking right now lol save for a couple of mares I have for my satin draft line, which currently has all of 4 horses lol.

@HunterUnderSaddleGirl if you have any foundation drafts that are 16.2 hands I'd be interested. They seem to give me the best chances of getting those tall babies.

HunterUnderSaddleGirl · Jan 26, 2019 4:35 PM

Yes! I like the tall ones too.

https://hj2.huntandjump.com/adv_search.php?runsearch=1&status=any&ageg=&agel=&agee=&erag=&eral=&erae=&heightg=16.1&heightl=&heighte=&boneg=2.5&bonel=&bonee=&f_basic=none&f_adv=none&f_limit=25&mare=1&bty=1&foundation=1&name=&name_lm=like&color=&color_lm=like&owner=15552&owner_lm=like&breeder=&breeder_lm=like&sire=&sire_lm=like&dam=&dam_lm=like&barn=&barn_lm=like&pasture=&past_lm=like&tattoo=&tat_lm=like&tat_and=and&club=&bc_lm=like&bc_and=and&e1=&e2=&a1=&a4=&a2=&a3=&f1=&f2=&p1=&p2=&s1=&s2=&s3=&c1=&c2=&c3=&d1=&d3=&d2=&g1=&g2=&ch1=&ch2=&z1=&z2=&sa2=&sa1=&mu2=&mu1=&chn2=&chn1=&kit1=&kit2=&kit3=&kit4=&kit5=&kit6=&kit10=&kit11=&kit12=&kit7=&kit8=&kit9=&sp1=&sp2=&sp3=&spM=&pax31=&pax32=&rb1=&rb2=&o1=&o2=&l1=&l2=&ice1=&icei=&ice2=&ice3=&ice4=&ice5=&ice6=&ice7=&ice8=&ice9=&ice10=&ice11=&ice12=&ice13=&ice14=&ice15=&nexn=&nexx=&nexr=&nexg=&nexb=&nexw=&rainr=&rainwt=&rainpl=&raint=&rainna=&brindle1=1&brindle2=1&wf1=1&wf2=1&wf3=1&wf4=1&wf5=1&wf6=1

ApollosLegacy · Jan 26, 2019 5:58 PM

@HunterUnderSaddleGirl I will message u!!

Lallyhop · Jan 26, 2019 9:10 PM

Would like to add onto that - I even keep a small number of expro foundies for my bootstrap lines. I ask blue fillies out of them and snip anything else, but even in bootstrap I find having a little bit of something to keep "feeding" my lines helps my numbers to grow. It's not nearly the number I need in my line breeding, but just a few to keep my numbers strong :)

ApollosLegacy · Jan 26, 2019 9:16 PM

I'm kind of upset with myself that I sold all mine lol ugh I had some nice foundation mares...

FallenShadows714 · Jan 26, 2019 9:19 PM

I tend to hoard liver foundations, particularly roan or sabino ones. I also have a hard time passing up on homozygous roan sooty chestnuts. I really need to get rid of some foundations, but I just can’t ever bring myself to do it lol

ApollosLegacy · Jan 26, 2019 9:24 PM

Lol I had a ton of RS 16.2 hand mares and a champagne fizz stud who was an amazing producer. And I let them go!!! Ugh wasnt my finest moment

DevilsParadise · Jan 27, 2019 1:29 AM

I use a lot of foundies now since the RGS has been going on (and since December). Before that, I wasn't using them much.

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