I have noticed over the season that the breeding distance of the horses in the breeding barn changes. So, their "breeding distance" or "av. best distance" changes. For example, I have one horse whose Best Distance was 6f but now is listed as 7f. Usually the change is 1f greater. Have others noticed this? Is this a feature? Is this a bug? Is there something else happening?

With that, I'm also trying to figure out when it switches, when I breed them, will it breed at its original or new breeding distance?

How old are you retiring them at? It might be influencing the changing.

To be honest I wouldn't take the avg' breeding distance too seriously unless it is a long established line that is bred for specifically one distance.

I usually retire them at the start of their 5yo season.

So, should I ignore what it says in the breeding barn and assume with what I have found to be their preferred distance?

Absolutely. Breeding barn is irrevelent.

I have noticed this too.

Horses in the breeding barn after 7 or so years increase in their average distance for some reason. I have also found that this also has never produced (for me anyway) any decent league horses. When I find that their average has increased I remove them from the breeding barn/game even though they have been found to produce excellent league horses in the years before.

Interesting.

Looking at my breeding barn, most of the ones that are aged do tend to increase by a furlong or two. The younger ones do tend to stay at their original distance. I did find an 8 yo mare who was 7f, now listed 1m.

I will have to pay closer attention to the quality of these horses in the coming years in relation to the ones who have had their breeding indicator increased. I don't think I have any horse that is league material but if there is a marked decrease as the horses age... then that is a critical thing to know.

same in so3

so do any of you advise dumping them when it happends

My breeding barn is slowly getting to the point where breeding distance is only a slight indicator. Actually quickly. Every horse is off by at least 1, usually 2 furlongs and the more I breed with them, the more that will continue to increase. I won't have *any* 6f or 7f horses soon.

I think I will start naming my horses by the distance they like (or what I *think* they will like) -- I've already done this with dirt/turf preference.

Right now I have a horse that has a 1m2f preference that runs best at 6f. I can only imagine some of her offspring in about 10 years "wanting" 1m4f but really running at 6f. Lol.

I guess its not that big of a deal, it just requires more micro-management, which doesn't bother me too much.