strange in-utero question

[eaglesnest2]

I am hoping some of you can give me some insight on my situation. I am looking at purchasing a broodmare that is in foal. The foal has been sold in-utero by the current owner. I am trying to figure out how the heck the whole thing would work. I kind of feel like I would be putting all of the energy (foaling the mare out, and keeping the foal until weaned) into the process without reaping the financial benefits. Does anyone have any suggestions on how this could work well for all parties involved? Maby I am just thinking about it in the wrong way. Or maby I should continue my broodmare search? Any thoughts appreciated.

[Cindy's Warmbloods]

Wow, I don't think I would get involved in that situation at all. What happens if something was to happen to the foal? Is the person that sold you the mare going to say you were negligent and they want the money they are out? I can't even see how the person wanting to sell the mare would be comfortable doing this. Truthfully if I sold a foal in utero I am going to make sure it leaves MY hands healthy and off to its new home healthy to my standards, not rely on a 3rd party who may or may not have the same standards. If you REALLY like the mare I would consider putting a deposit on to purchase her after she has weaned her foal or purchase her with mortality insurance but in no way would I take possession of her until after the foal has been weaned and gone to his/her new home.

[Daventry]

I'm with Cindy! There is huge potential for anything and everything to go wrong. In my opinion, ethically, the Mare Owner shouldn't even think about selling the mare until the foal has been born...or weaned. Who wants to put a new owner in that situation, that has nothing to do with you? :no:

[pintopiaffe]

The Paint farm I used to partner with sold several mares bred.

The mares would return to the farm about a month pre-foaling, they would foal them, and either send mare and foal back, or keep until weaning, depending on 'new' mareowner preference. No board or foaling fees etc.

The price on the mares was reduced significantly enough that it was worth it to the buyers to participate. Whether or not they took the foal home until weaning was mainly a matter of space/foal facilities and experience.

If the mare was to be rebred to stallion of newmarowner's choice, there was no charge for teasing, holding etc., though newmareowner would pay for all associated vet fees, and of course stud fee etc. We tried to share farm calls whenever possible, just out of courtesy.

They did wean a little earlier than I'd like in these situations, but that was partially to reduce risk/liability.

Dunno if that helps at all.

[eaglesnest2]

Thank you for your replies. The mare owner doesn't seem to understand my concern. She is acrossed the country and the owner of the in-utero foal is ironically about 2 hours from me. The in-utero owner has offered to help with transport and asked if I wanted her to foal the mare out. I said absolutely not, I am not comfortable with the whole situation but was trying to see if something could work out. I want to rebreed the mare this year and the current mare owner doesn't seem to keen on the idea of keeping the mare until weaning and having to go through the hassle of re-breeding (I kind of understand that). So I guess I should go with my gut on this one and keep looking.

[erinwillow]

I think you should also take an honest inventory (some call it your 'gut' felling) on the personalities involved as well. The situation doesn't HAVE to go bad simply because it MIGHT or COULD.;) For me, it would depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to, a) how much I liked the mare b) whether or not the current owner has been honest and open with me, c) the "vibe" I was getting with the foal's new owner. . . . once I can sit back and go over all the feelings and facts then I would make an "educated" decision that best suited me needs and wants :winkgrin: hope this helps. . .

[Black Forest]

I. The situation doesn't HAVE to go bad simply because it MIGHT or COULD.;)

No, but if it DID go wrong it could go wrong spectacularly.... Just because jumping off a bridge doesn't necessarily result in death or pneumonia or ruined clothes it still pays to think carefully before leaping off the edge.....

For me, it would depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to, a) how much I liked the mare

Agreed but the mare would have to be one so unique ("must have" bloodlines that I have wanted forever for example with a great performance-record at a good price) that I could not get her without the added complications of having to assume the risk of her not surviving birth (and PLEASE don't anyone say "It ain't gonna happen" because it DOES happen and taking that risk for a much longed for foal is different to entering that risk for someone else's property ), of something happening to the foal, stress with ex owner or foal buyer etc etc etc.....

b) whether or not the current owner has been honest and open with me, c) the "vibe" I was getting with the foal's new owner. . . .

As we all know often we don't see what people are like until it's too late and / or the manure has hit the fan ......

As I said there may be situations where I might entertain such an idea, but the mare would really have to be pretty unique, and there'd have to be a contract that covers every eventuality ever thought of.....

[ahf]

All I can think about is the vet looking over the mare at me during a dystocia, and saying those words no one wants to hear: "Save the mare, or save the foal?"

No thanks.

Can you pony up enough dollars to increase the purchase price of the mare and buy out the in-utero purchaser...yet give her right of first refusal? And then insure the hell out of her?

[Windswept Stable]

Too complicated. Run.

[Reiter]

Too complicated. Run.

Agree!!!!!!!!!!

[Home Again Farm]

All I can think about is the vet looking over the mare at me during a dystocia, and saying those words no one wants to hear: "Save the mare, or save the foal?"

No thanks.

Can you pony up enough dollars to increase the purchase price of the mare and buy out the in-utero purchaser...yet give her right of first refusal? And then insure the hell out of her?


Absolutely ditto what ahf writes here. Mares do not always foal without complications, some of which happen to be fatal. :sadsmile::cry::(

[alexandra]

Offer the owner a price including for her for putting her in foal to the stlionn you want again and take her after weaning. All in writtten and the offer valid until date xyz, so that you can look and start breeding early enought.

I am pretty sure that there might not be too many people that want to go that route buying now with a sold in utero foal. So you maybe lucky she accepts that offer and if not - well.