# Should I Buy This Horse? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 17, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266 "2010-01-17T02:12:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/61 "2010-01-24T01:17:50Z")
**EddyTeddyFreddy** - Okay, I took a couple pics. [I call this “Patient Suitors”](http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/StG61/Pets/PatientSuitors.jpg) [Looking for treats.](http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/StG61/Pets/Lookingfortreats.jpg) [Dirty Horse](http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/StG61/Pets/DirtyHorse.jpg) StG ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/62 "2010-01-24T15:45:15Z")
Oh, my. Even through the grubby winter fuzz you can see how nicely she’s put together. It appears she’s as interested in her suitors as they (or at least Indy) are in her. What a sweet face! I wish I could reach through the monitor screen and skritch her withers! ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/63 "2010-01-24T22:40:27Z")
**EddyTeddyFreddy** - I was planning to wait a week before turning her out with the boys, but two and a half inches of rain this week and the creek is running high. It’ll be hard to carry a bale of hay for her. She has enough to last through tomorrow, then I may turn her out. I wanted to do it during the day, so I could watch what happens, and it’s dark by the time I get home from work. I’m seriously considering breeding her. That Bente D semen is so reasonable. I wonder how much it’ll cost to have the vet inseminate her? StG ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/64 "2010-01-24T23:09:25Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > **EddyTeddyFreddy** - I was planning to wait a week before turning her out with the boys, but two and a half inches of rain this week and the creek is running high. It’ll be hard to carry a bale of hay for her. She has enough to last through tomorrow, then I may turn her out. I wanted to do it during the day, so I could watch what happens, and it’s dark by the time I get home from work. From the photo it’s clear that they can sniff noses over the fence, so it’s not like you’d be breaking quarantine, right? Is everyone barefoot? If so, they can still do some damage with a kick but it’s less risky; though I suspect that after some sniffing, squealing, and – from the boys – some high-tailed showing-off prinking and prancing, they’ll settle down nicely, especially since they’ve already had a couple of days to get used to the idea. When I introduced Commander to Ben, his old owner and I held our horses on leadropes and let them sniff noses. After several minutes and a couple of squeals and strikes (from Commander, but then Ben became king; go figure), we unhaltered them and let them go loose in their paddock, where they alternated between eyeing each other and gobbing hay from the several piles I’d laid down. No problems at all. > [@](#): > > I’m seriously considering breeding her. That Bente D semen is so reasonable. I wonder how much it’ll cost to have the vet inseminate her? Well, we already know what kind of foal she’d produce from that cross. Call your vet and ask! ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/65 "2010-01-24T23:33:09Z")
> [@](#): > > When I introduced Commander to Ben, his old owner and I held our horses on leadropes and let them sniff noses. After several minutes and a couple of squeals and strikes… I read this three times before I saw that you were saying “leadropes” instead of “telephones.” I was thinking that was the silliest thing I’d ever heard, introducing your horses over the phone. It’s early morning here, what can I say. StGermain, she’s just lovely, I’m so glad it’s going smoothly for you. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/66 "2010-01-24T23:56:01Z")
**EddyTeddyFreddy** - [Look at this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFtRd8AUVSk) 17-month old colt by [Thatcher](http://www.centaurfarms.com/stallions/thatcher.html). It say below his stud fee is $100, but above it says $500. Probably $500 plus a $250 semen collection fee. StG ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/67 "2010-01-25T00:15:15Z")
Of course, one can never know how horses new to each other will react upon introduction, but [check out this photo-story](http://exurbanmusings.blogspot.com/2010/01/pictures-of-introduction.html) of Commander’s introduction to Ben, and be reassured. > [@StGermain](#): > > ``` > EddyTeddyFreddy - Look at this 17-month old colt by Thatcher. It say below his stud fee is $100, but above it says $500. Probably $500 plus a $250 semen collection fee. > > ``` Wow, gorgeous! You certainly don’t lack for choices. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/68 "2010-01-25T00:21:22Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > **EddyTeddyFreddy** - [Look at this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFtRd8AUVSk) 17-month old colt by [Thatcher](http://www.centaurfarms.com/stallions/thatcher.html). It say below his stud fee is $100, but above it says $500. Probably $500 plus a $250 semen collection fee. > > StG Whoops – on a second look at that page, at the bottom I see his 2010 stud fee is: > [@](#): > > 2010 Stud Fee > > $1000 includes Stud Fee of 750.00 and Booking fee of 250.00, container, and first cycle collection. LFG More than you wanted to pay? ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/69 "2010-01-25T00:24:46Z")
Wow, she is certainly a lady! My sister’s always been the one into horses \, so I’m ignorant on a lot of things. Do geldings still strut and flirt because a new pasture-mate is female, or is it more of a dominance thing that would happen with any new horse. Just curious 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/70 "2010-01-25T00:34:00Z")
Your mare is lovely! I have a grey mare myself and am very partial to them. I hope you have many wonderful days together! If you plan to breed, you should reconsider your fencing. Replacing it with some hot wire and capping the posts won’t be expensive. It can go a long way towards preventing accidents. The holes in your wire are large enough that it would be easy for any horse to put a leg through it, especially a baby. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/71 "2010-01-25T00:48:27Z")
**MaddyStrut** - My fencing is hotwire except for that small paddock. It’s good to have a place to put them when the hotwire is down, when I’m fixing it. **EddyTeddyFreddy** - That’s why I said I didn’t know what the stud fee is - it may be that it’s reduced if they haven’t had sufficient bookings. But he’s pretty spiffy… **Renee and Taomist** - Thanks for the kind words. 🙂 StG ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/72 "2010-01-25T01:25:23Z")
It looked to me on Thatcher’s page that the $500 discounted stud fee (from $750, no doubt) was for booking before December 31, 2009. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/73 "2010-01-25T01:38:27Z")
Hey, if you want incredible float in the foal’s gaits, how about another stallion, an Oldenburg, at Centaur Farms – [Don De Marco](http://www.centaurfarms.com/stallions/dondemarco.html)? Watch the video! His stud fee is $250 higher, though. Their Dutch Warmblood stallion [Virgil](http://www.centaurfarms.com/stallions/virgil.html) isn’t as extravagant but he’s got plenty of big sweepy float of his own, and his stud fee is $500 plus the standard $250 booking fee. He’s actually less expensive than Bente D, who’s $750 plus booking fee. ETA: I think I like Virgil better than Thatcher. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/74 "2010-01-25T01:42:14Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > Wow, she is certainly a lady! My sister’s always been the one into horses \, so I’m ignorant on a lot of things. Do geldings still strut and flirt because a new pasture-mate is female, or is it more of a dominance thing that would happen with any new horse. Just curious 🙂 The strut is part dominance, yes, but there’s definitely more of it, and plenty of flirting, when the newbie is a GIRL! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/75 "2010-01-25T05:12:01Z")
So glad to hear that things are going smoothly! I really loike that 17 month old colt… his movement is gorgeous! But I am still partial to Bente D… I do love me them Friesians! Whatever you decide to breed her to, you are going to nend up with a spectacular baby! ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/76 "2010-01-25T05:58:11Z")
Ooh, congratulations! I love that picture of her face; she’s lovely. Someday if I have the time and space I want a horse. Especially one as pretty as she is! ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/77 "2010-01-26T01:05:24Z")
I turned Nakota out with the boys tonight. She was eating and I opened the gate. She went out almost immediately, and went where the boys were eating their grain. Irish started trotting with her - no squeals or kicks at all. After a couple minutes she went back to her grain and Irish followed, but left her to eat. All very calm. Hopefully it’ll remain calm all night. YAY! StG ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/78 "2010-01-26T02:54:14Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Hey, if you want incredible float in the foal’s gaits, how about another stallion, an Oldenburg, at Centaur Farms – [Don De Marco](http://www.centaurfarms.com/stallions/dondemarco.html)? Watch the video! His stud fee is $250 higher, though. > \ Floaty indeed! It’s like his feet don’t even touch the ground. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/79 "2010-01-26T12:01:07Z")
I fed Nakota and checked on her this morning. She seems fine. When Irish came up to steal some grain she pinned her ears back and snaked her neck around and he backed off. Good for her! StG ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266/80 "2010-01-26T13:31:34Z")
Excellent. You now have a Herd Queen, and long may she reign over her loyal subjects, including her eventual heir(ess). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-buy-this-horse/525266.md?page=5)