Okay so when hunting a stallion what are your priorities?   When breeding a mare what are they?   How much are you willing to pay and how do you come by that figure?  Do you sell as babies, breed for just your own use, sell as older horses?  I would like to know what most of you think?  

Me too. I want to know as well.
Good question Val.

Oh I can answer this because I'm in a search right now for a stud to breed my mare too!  I'm looking for a paint stud (homozygous would be ideal).  Something that looks good on paper as well as in person.  I want my baby to be able to do the speed events,  mess around with cattle, and trail ride.  I would like a taller horse, my mare is 15.2 and would like the stud to be at least as tall as her.  More than likely I will have to do shipped seaman so I'm not wanting to pay anymore than 750-800 for a stud fee.  If I spend that much it will have to be one awsome stud let me tell you!  A good disposition is also a factor, my mare tends to get alittle hot and would like a stud to mellow that side of her out.  This next thing I'm looking for is not so much the stallion but the owners part.  I want to feel like they are so happy that I thought of breeding my mare to there stud.  After all I am paying them!  Ask me questions about my mare, act interested in the things I have to tell you about her.  Don't act like god because you think you have this great stallion that I want to breed too.  Maybe thats too much to ask, but I have a feeling that might be my hardest thing to find!  (Side note I have been talking with horsehappy about her stud and she has been wonderful about answering my questions and interested in what I have to tell her about my mare, that my friends is what I want in all stallion owners).  My plans for the baby, well anything I have (besides my mare) is for sale.  But I would keep it until it is 2 or 3 and then who knows!  I'm not good on being able to tell someone about the confirmation of the horse but I can look at it and tell you if it's something I like or not.  So the stallion would have to have "the Look".  Thats all I can think of for now!

Wow, thanks for the complement Nicole.
Big BIG [grin].
I was afraid I did not sound professional enough.[oops]

No problem horsehappy!  I'm just a regular person and sometimes too much professionalism makes me feel like the other person thinks they/or there horse(s) are to good for me!  I like to be able to talk to someone and not feel like they think I'm a total weirdo!  

You mean your not? [eek]
Oh dear. I just thought it was normal to be weird. [lol] I already know I am. [bounce] Lets just call ourselves unique instead.

I knew I was going to catch slack for saying I was not a total weirdo![grin]  Unique!  Thats a good word!  Sometimes I get to thinking and typing and before I know it I have one UNIQUE mess!!!!  I guess that goes along with being special![grin]

Ok, I'm adding my $0.02... And as I'm currently looking for a stud, I'll just use my current situation as an example.

First thing, I like to look at bloodlines.  I usually have an idea of what kind of lines I want and what kind I don't want (and what kind I know are good, but maybe not necessarily what I want at the time).  (For instance, my mare is OLD speed bred, and I'd like to find something along those lines, but I doubt it, since she's so old (well, within my budget and other restraints) so I know what I think would make a good cross on her and I weed out the rest.)

Secondly, I look at conformation.  (Well, these 2 are actually interchangable kind of.)  I check to make sure he's built properly, athletically, and would fill out my mare's weak spots.  (She has a high wither, so a nice topline really goes well on her.)  I also like to look at some of the stud's get to see how THEY are built.

Finally, I want a nice disposition. (Again, I suppose sort of interchangable with the first two -- in the sense that all 3 must be met.)  Puppy dog like.  I've owned my share of studs, and I know that most of the time, if they pass on NOTHING else, they pass on their disposition!

And finally, such as in this particular instance, I want a palomino, so since I've found out that a cremello will guarantee me that, I have started my search with color (which usually isn't even on my list to consider, but this time it's different).  However, I only *start* with the color, and then the stud has to match the above criteria... Let's just say this has been one of the hardest searches in my life! [confused]

Those are some very good points that you all have brought up.  Durability is everything to me.  I like a horse bred to go all day and keep on knocking, if you know what I mean.  I am not impressed by the fancy places that have owners with bad attitudes and hidden charges out the rear.  Give me a place feeds well, a horse I like and someone to talk to me like a human being and I am happy.  

Exactly what I'm saying too!  [grin]