|
JOIN THE JERICHO CREEK
FAMILY…BREED FOR THE HORSE OF YOUR DREAMS!
Our IN-UTERO SALES PROGRAM was developed to allow you to purchase
a top quality foal for a very affordable price. For those on the
tightest of budgets, we offer you a chance to be a breeder without
owning any horses of your own, by using the horses we have chosen to be
part of our permanent breeding stock. We have been breeding quality
horses since 1985 and are proud of the many Morab, Morgan and Arabian
foals we have produced, as well as our prize-winning mares and
stallions.
Our current in-utero price, depending on the mare chosen, will be
between $1000 and $1500.
The price for your in-utero foal includes the stud fee for the stallion
you choose, and the lease of the mare for the duration of her
pregnancy. The cost of keeping the mare during her pregnancy is also
covered by this fee, which includes extra feed, shots etc. You will be
responsible ONLY for special costs directly related to the
pregnancy such as necessary ultrasounds or vet checks for breeding.
You must have half of the in-utero fee paid before we breed the stallion
and mare you have chosen, but you may pay the rest in monthly payments
during the gestation period, as long as the entire fee is paid before
the birth of the foal. We guarantee a live foal in this contract; a
live-foal is one that is alive and nurses for at least 24 hours.
The foal is yours at birth, and you will be responsible for any foal vet
bills. You may choose the foal’s name, as long as you use the farm
prefix “Jericho’s” in the registered name. You will need to have a barn
name, informal name, chosen for the foal as soon as possible after it is
born, as we will be using the foal’s name within days or hours of its
birth.
We
do charge an extra fee for foaling out the mare of $350; this covers
closed circuit tv day and night monitoring, use of a special extra-large
foaling stall, extra bedding and special care of the mare, in the
weeks/days leading to the birth. To avoid problems, we do everything we
can to be physically present when the foal is born; this can mean many
nights with very little sleep.
Board for your foal is $75 per month, until it is weaned; we will not
wean any foal before three months of age. This monthly fee covers a
great deal; as we believe in producing a foal that is loved and loving
from birth, we imprint foals at birth and they are handled each day. We
teach them to come to be brushed, haltered, lead, and pick up their
feet. Our foals get lots of attention from everyone who works at the
farm, as well as visitors. We will even expose them to scary things,
such as dogs and other things to naturally desensitize them.
We
want horses that come eagerly when called, stand to be haltered, and who
can be affectionate without intruding on people’s space. We expect them
to stand patiently for short periods, and will allow them to explore our
clothes or bodies with their nose, as long as they do not try to bite.
Kisses on their noses or gentle breathing into their nostrils are a
usual way we bond with our foals. We love our foals very much, but we
do not tolerate bad habits. Kicking, biting, rearing or any other
dangerous behavior will be strictly reprimanded.
We
use gentle, natural training methods on foals, along with lots of praise
and love. We place foals with other foals, whenever possible, and make
sure they are in a group where they are comfortable and get out every
day to play. Mares receive extra grain and minerals during their
gestation and while nursing their foals.
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS REGARDING IN-UTERO FOALS
How much deposit must I
give with the contract?
The amount
of the deposit will vary with the price charged for the use of the mare
and stallion. But our policy is that it should be one-half of the in-utero
price in the contract, so it would usually be between $500 and $750. The
contract also guarantees a live foal. (A live foal is a foal that is
normal at birth and nurses for twenty-four hours.)
How do I pay the rest
of the purchase price of the foal?
You may make
monthly payments during the gestation period of the foal, or you may pay
in several large payments, but the entire price must be paid before the
foal is born. So you will design your own payment plan, after the
deposit is given.
What other costs are
involved in purchasing an In-Utero foal?
There will
be no extra costs for the mare during her pregnancy; extra feed,
vaccinations etc. are included in the in-utero price. Any ultrasounds
or vet costs strictly related to the breeding, that are necessary to
determine whether the mare is pregnant, will be yours.
We
charge $350 for monitoring the mare before the foal’s birth and actually
foaling-out the mare; this includes the use and 24-hour monitoring of
our wireless camera, extra bedding and occupancy of our double foaling
stall, as well as any extra handling and care of the mare before the
foal is born, as well as imprinting and handling of the foal at birth;
this fee is due after the birth of the foal.
Since the foal belongs to you at birth, there will be a vet check fee to
test the foal's IGG levels. There could be an unexpected vet bill if
something should happen to the foal; fortunately that is quite unusual
and has rarely happened. Some buyers choose to purchase insurance on
their foal, which is available after it is a week old, but insurance is
entirely up to you and is optional.
Board and care of the foal before weaning is $75 per month, and includes
imprinting and handling as explained previously. It also includes
special feed and supplements for mares and foals. All foals are treated
with the same extra care and special handling, regardless of whether we
own them or someone else does.
Can I get the deposit
back if I change my mind?
The deposit
is to insure that you are a serious buyer BEFORE we breed the stallion
and mare you choose, or if you choose a stallion and mare that we have
bred. If other prospective buyers inquire about that mare and foal, we
are obligated to turn them away, since you become the owner of the
expected in-utero foal at the time the contract is signed and are thus
guaranteed that we will not sell the foal to anyone else. So for these
reasons, the deposit is not refundable.
What are the advantages
of buying In-Utero?
The much
lower price tag and payment options, as well as the chance to be a
breeder without investing in expensive breeding stock, make buying in-utero
attractive to many buyers. You do assume some of the risk at an earlier
point than if you were buying a weanling or yearling after birth, but
you also have the excitement of being directly involved in the breeding
and birth of your dream horse! (We encourage you to come and spend time
with your foal as often as you can, while it is still un-weaned.) You
will forfeit the ability to choose the gender of your foal, but usually
save several thousand dollars compared to the weanling price of our high
quality foals. We are able to offer this much lower price, because we
are able to save on promotional/sales expenses in future advertising.
When do you usually
wean the foals?
We usually wean foals between three and four months of age. The overall
condition of the mare and foal will help us decide when the time is
right. We have to do everything we can to be sure the foal is ready for
weaning, and that the weaning will be as stress-free as possible.
What if I am not ready
for my foal when it is weaned?
We can
certainly keep your foal longer if necessary, but there will be
reasonable board fees for its care and stalling, as well as any extra
training you might desire. Our monthly fees are very reasonable for the
quality of care that we offer.
When will I get to see
my baby?
You are
welcome to come and meet your foal at anytime after it is born, though
we do prefer that you let us know you are coming; if circumstances
allow, you might even get to see the birth, if you are within driving
distance of the farm. If you can’t come in person, we will do
everything we can to video the birth and get photos sent to you
regularly in the first days/weeks after the foal’s birth. We will also
include you and your foal in any news articles written about our current
foal crop in WISCONSIN HORSEMEN’S NEWS and other equine publications, as
well as on our farm website, as you and your foal will definitely be
members of the Jericho Creek Farm Family.
|
