Some twenty five years ago, an old friend of mine, then an upcoming, now an extremely established authority and journalist in the Dutch equine world, asked me with a rather mischievous smile: 'So, what took the Dutch and Germans generations, you are going to do all over again?' My, in hindsight, rather naive answer was an enthusiastic positive head nod.

We were standing next to my one- and two year-old, both out of an 'Irish Draught type' broodmare with unknown background. I bought her as a three year-old as I liked her short-coupled conformation and gentle character. Both youngsters were by the thoroughbred Sousa. I was very proud and didn't exactly like being made fun of. And it did not get any better when his then wife said about the two year-old: 'I do hope she will grow into her head'. Bodrigan's head was indeed rather large, but of course proud mothers have the capability to not see those kind of things.

Well, to cut a long story short, Bodrigan became a well-respected grade-A show-jumper and her sister Marimaid stayed with me and together we competed Prix St. George and trained Grand Prix. We were close to do our first Intermediare when disaster struck and she had to be put down. Also, of the next generation a three quarter bred by the successful eventing stallion May Hill of Mark Todd, competed successfully at intermediate level eventing and with her junior rider was selected to compete in The Netherlands (which is were I'm from, incidentally) as a prospect for the team.

Would I do it again? No! You've only heard half the story. Out of nine, three were put down because of hereditary problems and one died as a just weened foal of a split stomach for no traceable reason. The emotional and also financial strain reached a high (or rather a low) when a three quarter bred beautiful mare by again May Hill turned out to have a behavioural problem of a magnitude that she was likely to kill someone one day. I had her put down as a four year-old after she tried to trample an experienced horseman, who was helping loading her, in a total frenzy. Her mother Marimaid had the same streak but not as dangerous but I now had to recognize I had a problem. It was then that I decided to stop breeding and what a wise decision it was.

Lesson learned: never breed with mares with an unknown background. Use proven stallions. Two of the offspring by a local stallion (who had a minor racing career due to an injury??) had stifle problems which kept them from having a successful sports career.

The Dutch, Germans and other countries on the continent did their homework. As the years went on and specially now that I am freelancing for website Horses International, I understand so much more about what breeds a good horse. Not just proven stallions but proven mare lines which go back generations.

And guess what: the friend who once made fun of me and my aspirations as a breeder is now my boss, Dirk Willem Rosie, editor of many high profile equine magazines in Holland.