What is the general concensus on overbreeding? What is considered too much? Thank you! 

This is a question that has come up many times before in the forums and everyone has a different perspective about it, depending on who you should ask. Many players commonly stick to the "2x2" rule of thumb, where the first foal is bred at 16 - 17 years then a back-up at either 19 - 21 years or they'll purchase a retirement breeding to get the maximum points out of the pair.

I have seen on the more popular breeds occasionally siring off a third foal, especially if it's a breed in high demand; three foals have never really been looked down upon, to my knowledge, nor do they consider the parents overbred. But many agree that having between 4 - 5 foals over over that to be overbred and low valued horses as there's no reason to breed a horse that many times.

In my own opinion, I prefer to stick to the "2x2" rule, especially since my breed is a rare breed and not as highly demanded as say a Friesian and I will sometimes even stay at the bare minimum of one foal, with the occassion of the "2x2" rule. But that's just my two cents.

No one wants to have too much of their lines out there in one generation after a while everyone will have them and no one will by future backups. Backups are bred for a few reasons. It used to be because there was a small chance of get sterile offspring so in case your final was born gelded you had your back up and all your work wasn't ruined. That feature has since been removed so back ups are to get a little extra money or if you want a specific gender from a pair. A back up is bred at 18 for horses and 13 for dogs. Finals are at 20 and 15. Sometimes they have twins so a pair will have 3 with is fine too. Most big projects people do have 2 back ups to make more money. No matter what you only want to keep one per pair because you dont want any inbreeding. 

Thank you everybody! 

The main thing is that if you offer too many foals/pups. When the time comes to buy other foals/pups from outside sources, you now might get into inbreeding. 

If I sold off lets say 5 boxer pups. There are only 3 breeders. Now all 3 breeders have one of my pups. Two generations go by and now one of those breeders are selling a pup that I want. I cannot use it in my main lines becasue its has the same linage a few generations ago.

So keeping the selling to 1-3 is a good cut off point, especially to preserve your own lines down the road.

If that makes sense haha. Its late and it does in my head :P

I never do more than two. Usually only one TBH since there's not much of a market for most of my breeds. 

Link Tree

I rarely breed twice unless asked. 

When I do offer backups, I only offer them every 3 generations sometimes longer. 

I always like to think that if I breed too much I just get overwhelmed. Since I've got myself a pretty rare breed on HP, it's hard to find outside people to take up training them. Sooo you want to factor that in as well when you are doing your breeding. :)