While many breeders may be tempted to start off a response to Paige Cade’s blog recently published by Chronicle of the Horse with a “cute” foaling story that captures the heart of the audience by playing on the beautiful moment when a newborn foal takes its first steps, I am not. 

For many breeders in the United States, the birth of a foal is neither a sentimental dream nor an ill-calculated experiment. Instead, a quickly growing group of North American breeders watch the beginning of life with a critical eye, judging the strength and straightness of limbs, assessing the topline and angles, taking note of the character and watching for the influence of the dam and sire on the 150-pound new life before us. Of course, just like our counterparts across the pond, we are in awe of every new life we bring into the world, and we experience infinite joy in watching him or her meet all of the necessary milestones, but we do not do this without regard to the quality of the product we have produced. 

The opinion piece argues that many (which is kind, as the implication is the majority) in North America breed mares that shouldn’t be bred due to conformation flaws, temperament issues, soundness problems, etc. The answer is, of course this has a grain of truth. However, this accusation holds true for every continent. Any breeder, rider, owner or trainer who has spent time in the global equestrian world knows this to be true. Every breeder, rider, owner, or trainer who has been shopping in Europe has run into the same soundness issues, the same lack of temperament and rideability, and the same “less than quality” product. 

The only difference is those horses don’t theoretically earn a plane ride (although I have seen plenty that have) to the United States, whereas the ones in the U.S. are judged by the ignorant as being representative of the whole. 

The blog claims that “we don’t have the same depth of purpose-bred genetics from our mares. Why? Because importing mares is more expensive, and many Europeans aren’t willing to sell good mares.” 

I have not found this to be the case. Money talks, and many of the best mares end up in the United States for sport. Gone are the days when breeders “keep the best and sell the rest.” With the advent of intracytoplasmic sperm injection and the widespread use of embryo transfer, breeders produce mares for sport and sell to the highest bidder, which is often in the United States, while having a foal or two from them before they leave the stable. These mares can, and do, make it into the gene pool for North America. It may be after long and successful careers, but now with the increase in reproductive technology, older mares and mares in sport are being utilized by breeders in America every year. 

“American breeding, as it stands now, doesn’t make sense for business-minded individuals looking to make a profit,” Cade writes. “It makes sense as an emotional exercise for someone who loves their heart horse and would like to make more of her.” 

That is a bold statement, but a correct one, for those who breed for hobby both here and in Europe. But to paint this picture as pertaining to the many breeders here and in Europe who breed in order to contribute to the sport is inaccurate and misinformed, and to spread this on a public forum even more so. Many North American breeders have found that it is not the quality of product that is lacking in the United States, but rather the avenues for development. Many good horses get lost in bad programs. The article’s call to action to create accessible and affordable schooling shows for young horses is the strongest point of the blog. 

Cade’s blog does contain some hard truths, including the difficulty of raising and developing foals through their sport horse careers. It is true that the expense of horse shows is cost prohibitive for the bottom line, but this is true for imports as well as domestically bred animals. Many of the young hunters and jumpers are being purchased at 3 and 4 (a huge change from even five years ago) and imported with little to none of the miles and training in Europe that used to make imports a better deal. The market is changing. Now, to me, seems the right time for American breeders to take a chance at a more even playing field. 

Anneliese Kannow grew up on the A circuit as a working student and currently runs her boutique breeding operation, Three Wishes Farm, out of Santa Rosa Valley, California. Her achievements in the equestrian world include winning the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals—West (California), earning multiple top-10 placings in USHJA international and national hunter derbies, and most recently winning a top-10 national finish in the WCHR amateur-owner hunter 3’3″ division. Horses bred by Three Wishes Farm have captured wins and championships on the premier circuit in the young hunter divisions, the young jumper divisions, USHJA national derbies, medal finals, amateur-owner and green hunter divisions, demonstrating the success of American-bred sport horses. 

The above opinion is co-signed by the following fellow breeders: Stéphanie-Marie Peralta (Sustainable Equine Solutions), Susan Novotny (Paisley Acres Farm), Anne Hedge (Whitehedge Farm, LLC), Amy Valiollaha Riecke, Geraldine Bidwell, Kathy Hickerson (Majestic Gaite), Una Schade (Cadence Farm Sporthorses), Holly A. Kovach (Iron Horse Farm), Sabrina Gaber, Deborah Warner, Kristi Williams (Windy Oaks Warmbloods), Joanna Russell (Lasting Star Equestrian), Sally Proshek Power, Terry Aitken Long, Brenda May (Highland Manor Farm), Victoria Teeple-Clark, Bridget Brandon, Dawn Spencer, Katrina Schmitt, Kristina White Branco (Stone Ridge Stables), Anna Harvey (Turning Point Equine Services), Shirley Murphy, Dana Schneider (Clover Spring Farm), Jennifer Vancheri Porter (JJ Sporthorses), Janelle Price (Mountain Spring Stables), Joni Watt (Mysporthorse.us), Heather Roung (Sand Cherry Stables), Donna Perusse, Ginka Kubelka (Red Horse Harmony, LLC), Candace Sirianni (Hammerdown Farm), Stacia Purcell (Seafire Sporthorses),Jayne Essig (Equinox Acres Dressage), Terry Aitken Long, Yasmine Johnson (Mamba Sporthorses), and Georgia Langsam (Team Gauguin).