I hope anyone breeding intends to make a profit otherwise you're not going to be doing it for very long! I love to hear people say they only breed to improve the breed - well that is peachy, but if you can't pay you're bills then what? I guess I should clarify that as I'd be happy the horses were covering their bills as it is the goal, pure profit - what an idea LOL!!!
Elsa the majority of people that breed for the fast buck, with everything bred that can be don't read this forum - at least I think they don't! I think (my opinion) the majority of the Forum family tries to be conscentious about breeding and we're all doing our best to improve upon the breed, but therein lies the problem we don't have a set breed standard to work from so everyone's idea of the 'perfect' mini is different and will be that way as long as we're a catch-all height registry.
As to the current 'market' well it always fluctuates by the time of the year and in a presidential year the economy is always all over the board! Here we breed based on what I want to be dealing with a year out which horses will be on the sales list, retiring, etc. We have a herd that we're reducing down slowly but flucuates between 50-60 minis. Last year we had one foal, this year I have 13 coming. We've sold three minis since mid-February with three more under contract this past month, so what we'll breed for 2009 will depend on the balance of this foal crop (all due by the end of the month) as I may decide to keep a few which means breeding will be adjusted to reflect that (I don't start breeding until May).
You said - The mare AND the stallion needs to be excellent IMO. The stallion shouldn't have to make up for what the mare is lacking.
Do I expect a stallion to correct a mares faults - yes and I expect her to correct his - there isn't a perfect horse out there - if there is show me. Are there ones that too me are darn near - heck yes!!! BUT even those bred to the very best don't always produce uber-foal! Now I'm not excusing those that breed bad bites, bad legs, glaring conformational faults, etc - NO WAY - that is plain stupid and shouldn't go on but you can't stop those people. The best we can do is make sure we're not contributing to the problem!
My own herd though has plenty of room for improvement (I'd be blind or a liar to say there isn't!), but I do try and selectively with lots of thought breed better every year. That is part of breeding though - the fun, science and experience is learning which traits cross well and which don't. If there were a set pattern (like building a model car) we'd all be doing that and making a decent income - at least I hope so LOL!
The best any breeder can ever hope for is to take the best mares and breed to better stallions and then wait and see. I'd love a guarantee that would always work - but it doesn't - funny how life works that way.
Should the halter horse be a goal/standard - sure but not at the cost of useablity and function! If a horse can't move or think then we're sacrificing to much for pretty! Also if the two associations can ever come up with a BREED standard that would give everyone a place to hold and judge to.
My personal market is other breeders and people new to minis - I don't show and don't market that way - although my stock is all chosen based on their abilities to be shown (conformation, soundness of mind/body, spirit, intelligence) and comes from reputable show stock. Along with that and which I feel is very important good fertility, no inheritable genetic flaws, and breeding ability (easy to get in foal/keep in foal and good dam or easy to breed stallion - not aggressive, etc) as those qualities are extremely important and so often overlooked..
I have no problems selling horses and will refuse numerous homes until the 'right' fit comes along if need be. Fortunately I'm in a position that I can do that, I would hate for it to be otherwise, as I won't sell to someone if I think it's a bad idea - I've passed up some big $$$ NOT selling to dingdongs that have no reason to be owning a horse. They have no problem with finding them elsewhere surprisingly as there are sellers out there that well it's what they do.
Okay - novel over.