Keep a clear picture of what you want to breed. Study pedigrees and the successes of well-known breeders. Don’t be afraid to cull something from your breeding plan when it doesn’t work out. Don’t be “barn blind.” Remember it takes just as much to raise a mediocre pony as it does a superstar!

Right now with the economic situation, try to have the best bred mares you can put your hands on based on what they have done in the show ring. Try to invest in a horse that has a show record. Go buy a show mare that’s been shown by somebody that doesn’t want to be in the breeding business with. Although...

I use a simple method to evaluate every horse. The pedigree comes first, and I start with the tail female. You have to look at grandma. Consider that if the sire performed and the dam performed, odds are that resulting foals will perform. Conformation is the next thing to examine. Can the horse physically...