I need a moment to vent...

[Sakura]

This is not a serious vent... just expressing a little frustration ;).

Why is it that there is an abundance of easily found photographs of stallions (I mean, yes I know they are promoted for their achievements and to attract breeders), but it is like pulling teeth to find pictures of broodmares? I am talking about really well known mares, the dams of some of the finest horses out there... of almost any breed.

When I am scanning a pedigree on the allbreedpedigree page, I am almost never disappointed if I am looking up a sire line... but forget it if I want to see multiple generations of the female geno/phenotype.

As breeders we know just how important the dams are... shouldn't we honor them with pictorially too?

[EquusMagnificus]

Big fan of broodies here and I would too LOVE to find pictures of the mares!!

Even frustrating when looking at stallions to breed to : you'll find dozens of pictures of foals... but none of their dams! Oh geez, this stallion produces only premium or champion foals... out of Olympic dams... yeah of course. These mares would probably produce a champion even if bred to a donkey!

I mean come on! I want to see what these boys produce out of "normal" mares (you know... mares that we can all afford??) and see what they actually "gave" to their offspring and which part is to be attributed to moms...

More and more as we regconize the importance of the damline, it is very important that we can see which traits are carried by such damlines...

:lol: Gosh, I needed to vent a bit too it seems huh? :winkgrin:

[pintopiaffe]

As another person who thinks stallions are a dime a dozen, but a Great Mare is priceless...

I bet much of it is because Grand Mares don't always look as good as they produce. Some do, but many don't. Those who have full turnout may have scraggly manes and thick coats... those who are multiparous may have dropped backs and weaker toplines/necks...

It's not usually until a mare is older--and her daughters are older--that you realize her true value as a broodie.

Obviously too, stallions must be advertised to get bookings. A Great Mare is usually never sold, so never advertised, so all those glossies just don't happen. ;)

[Sassenach]

*raises hand*

I'm in the middle of writing a series of mareline articles.

You have no idea how many times I've looked at my gathered photos for the Pony Gallery and went 'where are the girls?'

[YankeeLawyer]

Just an observation -- often we don't know a mare is going to be a star broodmare until after she is a proven producer - and unlike stallions, broodies tend not to look so beautiful after a number of babies. Also unlike stallions, broodies tend not to be used both for competition and for breeding, so the photo ops (i.e., at horseshows) are often fewer.

Finally, if you are purchasing from a breeder and plan to see the foal in person, typically you would also get to see the mare in person. So some breeders may not feel as compelled to hire photographers to take professional pics of their mares. I am not saying that is ideal or the way to go, just that these are some reasons why there may be less photos of mares available.

Note, though, that a number of breeders do have pics of their mares on their websites.

[FriesianX]

Yankee is right - it is HARD to get good pics of Broodies. They are either sagging or bulging or both :D I do most of my own photography, and can snap numerous fabulous pictures of my boys pretty easily, but the mares are tough to catch looking good. I was out the other day taking pics of the foals and got a really nice series of pics of one of my mares in a huge trot - but she was wearing a fly mask. Kicked myself for not removing all the fly masks before I started shooting.

Having said that, I DO have broodie pics on my website because my mares are the foundation of my herd!

And, another point already made - if someone comes to see the offspring, they do get a chance to see the mare, which is always nice.

[Fairview Horse Center]

Well, I think she is awesome. :yes:

Luna, mother of Olympic Salinero and Olympic Seven Up

[Sakura]

Awwww... they may look plump and dumpy out in the pasture... but good horsemen/women know to look past that and see the quality... even if the girls are sagging and a little rough around the edges :uhoh::yes::p.

[YankeeLawyer]

Awwww... they may look plump and dumpy out in the pasture... but good horsemen/women know to look past that and see the quality... even if the girls are sagging and a little rough around the edges :uhoh::yes::p.

Good horseman as you describe, unfortunately, are few and far between. You get ONE chance to make a good impression with a photo. There is no way most people are going to ooh and ahh over a saggy broodmare in her teens in the way they do a competition pic of a stallion the same age. Just my opinion, but everyone can choose to market their horses how they want.

[Sakura]

Good horseman as you describe, unfortunately, are few and far between. You get ONE chance to make a good impression with a photo. There is no way most people are going to ooh and ahh over a saggy broodmare in her teens in the way they do a competition pic of a stallion the same age. Just my opinion, but everyone can choose to market their horses how they want.

I am not talking about marketing the mares... more along the lines of having something out there that research junkies (like myself) can have readily available as a visual aid (like a bank of photos, much like allbreed does). I, personally want to see what the mares three, four, five+ generations back looked like... I hardly think too much judgment would be passed on a broodmare that is dead and gone. I know that some of those mares will never be seen (so the glory goes to the sire of their foals)... but in this day and age it doesn't take much more than a curry comb, a stiff brush and a bottle of coat polish to prep for a decent photo. Don't know about you, but I have a knack for making even the frumpiest horse look decent in a photo.

[Fairview Horse Center]

in this day and age it doesn't take much more than a curry comb, a stiff brush and a bottle of coat polish to prep for a decent photo. Don't know about you, but I have a knack for making even the frumpiest horse look decent in a photo.

<sigh> You missed my nemesis, mane pulling. :( I get them done for a show, but the rest are destined to be "frumpy". :lol: O can get one or two done for the sales photos, and thankfully, they sell before they need to be done again.

[Sakura]

Or you could just snap the photo from the non-mane side :winkgrin:

[Fairview Horse Center]

It really does not have the same effect, unfortunately.

[2Horse]

Grand Mares don't always look as good as they produce. ... those who are multiparous may have dropped backs and weaker toplines
A Great Mare is usually never sold, so never advertised, so all those glossies just don't happen. ;)

Exactly! My best mare always out produces herself. To look at her, you wouldn't think she should be bred. As her many big foals have took a toll on her topline.
She will never be sold.

[Rhyadawn]

[QUOTE=Fairview Horse Center;3362733]<sigh> You missed my nemesis, mane pulling. :QUOTE]


I give you the cure!!!

http://www.applesaddlery.com/riding/grooming-supplies/c233889/p16520573.html

Seriously, did 4 manes with this thing in under half an hour. Its genious. Takes a little bit of time to master technique, (its all in the wrist action) but it definitly beets hours of pulling. Manes are still thick, but look great for photos.

[YankeeLawyer]

I am not talking about marketing the mares....

I wasn't talking about marketing the mares either ...I was thinking more of marketing the foals, which would usually be the impetus for a breeder to go to the bother of photographing their prized broodmares for dissemination to the public.

Anyway, doesn't allbreedpedigree permit uploading of photos of mares, also?

[DeeThbd]

[QUOTE=Fairview Horse Center;3362733]<sigh> You missed my nemesis, mane pulling. :QUOTE]


I give you the cure!!!

http://www.applesaddlery.com/riding/grooming-supplies/c233889/p16520573.html

Seriously, did 4 manes with this thing in under half an hour. Its genious. Takes a little bit of time to master technique, (its all in the wrist action) but it definitly beets hours of pulling. Manes are still thick, but look great for photos.

Rhyadawn, does this detangle manes or also shorten them?
Dee

[Altamont Sport Horses]

Yankee is right - it is HARD to get good pics of Broodies. They are either sagging or bulging or both :D I do most of my own photography, and can snap numerous fabulous pictures of my boys pretty easily, but the mares are tough to catch looking good. I was out the other day taking pics of the foals and got a really nice series of pics of one of my mares in a huge trot - but she was wearing a fly mask. Kicked myself for not removing all the fly masks before I started shooting.

Having said that, I DO have broodie pics on my website because my mares are the foundation of my herd!

And, another point already made - if someone comes to see the offspring, they do get a chance to see the mare, which is always nice.

I have shared the same frustration of not being able to find broodmare photos or having a hard time matching broodmares up with foals offered for sale. It shouldn't be that hard. That is why we not only have photos of each broodmare on our website but each of them has their very own page describing the mare, multiple photos, pedigree link, registration info, breeding history and links to their offspring.

Not all my photos are great (some have fly masks too) or show off the mare to her best (some are pasture pictures) but at least I'm not hiding them. I realize it is hard to get photos of broodmares but you can work around it and if a mare looks rough because she is 18 and had 8 foals you can point that out so people are sure to understand. I'm also not saying everyone is trying to hide their mares but I do believe it happens.

[AdAblurr02]

... we DO have mare photos! though not as many as I'd like - it's hard to get our lackadaisical ladies to care about looking pretty for the camera :)

And the index page to our youngstock has the young-'uns listed under their dams, so people can browse to see what the given mare has produced in her career to various stallions. I have had some nice comments about this - it seemed to make so much sense to me, as I love seeing what a mare has produced in order to gauge her value as a broodie. (Rising Stars page if anyone cares to check it out)

[Rhyadawn]

[QUOTE=Rhyadawn;3364334]

Rhyadawn, does this detangle manes or also shorten them?
Dee

There are blades on the bottom of the comb part (I can't explain it). When the mane is basically untangled you take sections (similar in size to pulling) and holding the mane one way and the blades down through the mane the other it cuts the mane. But not in a scissor like way, it looks pretty good. It takes time to get the technique right, the first few times I couldn't get the hair to cut, but I just kept working at it.

[Fairview Horse Center]

My manes are usually pretty thick, and really need pulling, so I don't think it will work. :(

[Rhyadawn]

My manes are usually pretty thick, and really need pulling, so I don't think it will work. :(

It doesn't leave their manes braidably thin, but if its just to fix them up for pictures, or to make them more acceptable pasture ornaments it does the job nicely. We use them on welsh ponies (read manes from He#) and the pictures look fabulous.

[Rainbow Farm Unltd.]

As a photographer, I always tried to get good shots of my broodmares during an off year or whatever, but the timing has to be right, the mare has to be open and in good shape - not an easy task. But you're right, Sakura. There should be more mare photos out there, and more of us should be aware of getting some good shots of our girls. It would help if there was a knowledgeable sport horse photographer at every inspection! Here is the infamous Delilah at 19. :) As many of you know, Delilah was the base of my program for many years and produced 100% OldNA Premium foals, and 3 8.5 fillies in a row. Heck of a producer!!!! www.RainbowFarm.com/delilah.html

[Sakura]

Barb,

She's beautiful!