Horse Breeding Basics

Tuesday, 10 May 2005

First thing to consider when breeding is if it is going to better the breed or perpetuate faults? While the good traits your horse possesses can be passed on & even magnified so can the “BAD” ones. So choose carefully!

Keep in mind, a horse should not be bred just because it has the equipment to do so!


Part I

Before you decide to breed your horse, ask yourself:

The following applies no matter if you plan to raise 1 foal as a pet, have a band of broodmares, or stand a stallion.

1. Do I have the proper facilities, resources, help & time to devote to this? Stable & pasture space, foaling stalls, baby safe fencing, & lots of time for breeding, handling, training, extra chores & can you afford the sleepless nights during foaling time? & there will be sleepless nights!

2. Is it economically feasible to breed my horse?

• In addition to the booking & stud fees you will have mare care, possibly extra vet bills for any shots or tests required by the stud farm & any vet visits she receives while at the stud farm, & hauling to get her there & back maybe more than once. If artificial insemination is used there may be fees associated with that as well. You should also consider the cost of any complications down the line.

• For stallions you will have advertising fees, paperwork & filing fees. Maybe liabilities-increased insurance costs, & campaigning costs to put points & titles on your stallion.

3. Is the “possibility” of producing a foal worth the risk?

• While jost breedings/foalings come off without a hitch there is always a risk. The stallion and/or mare can be injured or even killed during breeding.

• There is no guarantee that your mare will conceive or that the delivery will be complication free.

• While complications are not real common, they do occur.

• If there are complications “Do you know what to do?” How accessible is your vet? You have minutes not hours if there is a problem.

4. What good & bad qualities does my horse have that make it a good or bad candidate to breed?

• Consider conformation, disposition, is it registered or grade (registered stock generally has more sale value), does it have a good race or show record, & look at what it has been paired with & the foals it has produced in the past (if applicable). Look for the good & the bad.

5. Decide what it is you want to produce.

• This will help you with selection. The breed, height, body style & even discipline you are looking for this foal to fit into should be considered.

• Bloodlines can play an important part in the discipline area. jost of the top performers in a given discipline have been selectively bred from parents who also excelled in that discipline.

• While there is no guarantee what you will get you can increase your chances by matching carefully. (i.e. if you breed two 14H horses together its unlikely you will get a foal who will mature to 16H.)

If after you consider all of this you plan to breed do plenty or research to find just the right mate for your horse.

Breeding can be heart wrenching when things go wrong, but its also greatly rewarding when it goes right & that new perfect foal is romping in your pasture.


So choose well & GOOD LUCK!

Written by Teresa Pool, from central Ohio. Teresa is married with 2 children & 1 grandchild, and attended OSU-ATI in Wooster for their stable management program learning all aspects of equine management. With over 30 years of experience in the equine industry, Teresa has been breeding for 20 years, focusing first on Quarter Horses & Quarter Ponies & in 1989 expanded to include Standardbreds. You can discuss more with her on our Forums.