Why do people breed so many ponies?

[dopeysheep]

Just looking on a couple of facebook groups and Preloved etc there are so many ponies for sale at ridiculous prices, especially the smaller ones. Often the adverts are for mares in foal or for youngsters at less than a couple of hundred pounds - what's the point?
Also I see regularly mares that are older or have soundness issues "make excellent broodmare" - why? To breed more animals that have a very slim chance of having a forever home or a decent life. It really depresses me.
No real point to my post just having a grumble really.

Totally agree although it is interesting that thoroughbred breeders have cut back dramatically and the foal crop is 25% less than it was even 5 years ago.

It makes me mad when people who have a mare which seems to be good for nothing and they then breed a foal which they don't want themselves.

I like it when breeds grade horses and only allow good specimens or those who perform well to breed.

I completely agree. I used to he involved in the Welsh A breeding scene. I worked for a top stud with good principles. However I heard lots of stories and anecdotes about indiscriminate breeding, particularly in Wales itself. Some of the studs have hundreds of mares running out on the hills. They breed them all, then pick a few good foals to bring on and just get the knacker man in for the rest. Or they get sent to the hill sales and sold for a few pounds for meat. I actually think these ponies get the best end of the deal. Those who are bred and just passed round free or cheap from pillar to post,ending up neglected by numpties deserve a lot of pity. Personally, I would institute a cull of some kind. I feel the same way about indiscriminately bred dogs. Sub standard animals with poor prospects should be thinned out. And before anyone says it, I own one or 2 sub standard ponies that I love to pieces, but then I'd like to think that I'm not a Numpty. And But kind suggestion of only legally being able to breed from approved animals is a very good one.

It is sign of wealth, for some....
Yes but why and Puppies, Kittens and rabbits so many unwanted animals.

because there is money in it. Sadly the more people do it, the less money there is and the worse the treatment of the animals!

Agree with everyone regarding the pointless breeding, but it is also buyers who encourage it. As long as there is demand there will be supply. I find it odd that people will pay to buy an animal in poor condition and then spend thousands more on vet fees, food, training, etc. rather than paying a fair price for a well bred and well looked after animal. All it means is that crap breeders get rewarded but good breeders are left with their animals.

There can't be much money though - for example I have seen a 2 y.o Welshie for sale, about 12.2hh, for £90? It must have cost more than that in hay/grazing? Even one visit from the farrier is twenty odd quid for a trim though I doubt a lot of ponies get even this attention.
Belgium is trying to bring in an enforced cull and sterilisation programme for all cats except a few pedigree ones. I think there is a lot of resistance though

Thats the trouble! The bottom has fallen out of the market. These ponies are worthless now but they have already been bred.
We bred a section a a few years ago. Thankfully he is well bred and we can keep him for as long as we need to. DD will break him in next year and ride him, so when it comes to selling him he's got potential.

A friend of mine gave 250 pounds for an emaciated pony Section A at the market the other day (in the UK). As a horse lover I completely understand why she couldn't walk away from the poor animal, but overall it does create a terrible problem as presumably other good stock did not sell that day. Here in France we also have this 'rescue from the meat market' stupidity where, mainly Brits, take it upon themsleves to buy meat ponies so that they are not PTS. The ponies are usually in good condition because obviously meat ponies cannot be very thin, but the rescuers are inflating the meat market prices and simply adding more animals in the leisure chain of owners.