Experts in equine reproduction agree that the mare is responsible for 60% influence over all the foal’s attributes and flaws. Therefore, each mare owner has the power to have long-term impact on future generations of any breed. The implications are staggering. In time, many signature characteristics of any particular breed can essentially be eliminated through breeding lesser quality animals. Only excellent quality stock should be selected for breeding purposes. This is especially relevant for such a rare breed as ours, the Irish Draught. Ultimately, the responsibility of preserving the highest standards for the Irish Draught in North America lies with the mare owner. The mare owner chooses the quality of mare and stallion, and thus, the genes that will be passed on for generations.

Since the quality of the foals we produce at BenMar Farm is of the utmost importance, we have been extremely selective in choosing our broodmares. We do not compromise on quality. Our commitment to excellence is so strong that we adhere to the following strictest evaluation criteria for our breeding mares: