Breeding Cody

Cody was inseminated today!  If all goes well, she'll become pregnant and we won't have to go through all this again!  It was days of ultrasounding, then a setback when she had some sort of injury at pasture (I think a bee sting) that caused lameness and swelling on her inside left thigh, but finally yesterday, I ordered the semen and she was still ready for it today.  Now just need her to ovulate in time for the semen to still be good.

And Cody is feeling much better from her supposed beesting.  She is almost back to 100% a few days later.  She was really sore and tender with a flaming hot inside hindquarter area a few days ago.

So, I said I want to be surprised when I see the foal color when it is born.  Based on her and Bullet's color genes, these are my probabilities for coat color.  It will totally be Christmas the day she has her foal...not only will I have a brand new foal, but it could be any one of these colors!  And any of these will be wonderful!

Offspring Color Probability

9.38% -	Grullo
9.38% -	Bay
9.38% -	Dunskin
9.38% -	Black
9.38% -	Smoky Grullo
9.38% -	Buckskin
9.38% -	Smoky Black
9.38% -	Bay Dun
6.25% -	Palomino
6.25% -	Red Dun
6.25% -	Red (Chestnut/Sorrel)
6.25% -	Dunalino

Stallion

I searched a long time while looking for a stallion to breed Cody to.  Cody is 11 this year, and I always wanted a foal from her.  At her age, it is now or possibly never, being a maiden mare.  In a stallion (and hopefully passed down to the foal) I primarily want disposition, all around athletic ability, soundness and an attractive horse.  I preferred a stallion that has been "proven" by being shown at least some.  By attractive, I mean a well put together balanced horse with a color I've always wanted (I LOVE bays, but would really like the chance to have a dun (red, bay or grullo).  The stallion I chose could not have a "cream" gene (which results in buckskin, palomino or smoky black), because Cody also carries that gene, and I did not want to chance having a double dilute foal (I really didn't want to deal with pink skin).  It was very difficult finding a stallion that met all my criteria.  A lot of dun/grullo horses out there also carry a cream gene and I think a lot of people might like the increased chance of color.  Maybe I'm an odd person, but I also want to be completely surprised by the color of the foal, and wasn't as interested in a stallion being homozygous for dun color (but I wouldn't have minded if he was).  The stallion I chose is drop-dead gorgeous and has done very well in the reining world.   He and his ancestors are known for their disposition.  And I even got a chance to see this stallion in person to be sure he was every bit as awesome as his pictures make him seem.  He did not disappoint me.  And I don't know if I could have found a stallion with a better disposition.

His name is Rawhides Slvr Bullet.  His grandsire is Hollywood Dun It.  You can find more information about him here: http://www.jewelquarterhorses.com/.  I also have some pictures I've saved of him for myself, but fear that I shouldn't post them online.  I will post them to show you my favorites, but will take them down in a few days (copyright, you know).  And yes, his coat really does shine metallic in the sunlight.

Enjoy!  I love looking at him too and am so excited for a foal. First I have to get Cody bred.