A Plan for Breeding

Now is the most opportune time to be thinking and planning for the breeding season. The first question that should be asked when considering to breed the mare or not is, 'What is going to happen to the foal?' This should be thought out from the very beginning. According to the, Unwanted Horse Coalition there is an estimated 170,000 unwanted horses in the United States therefore this decision should be thought out thoroughly.

After there is a plan established for the foal ask yourself, 'Should I even breed my mare?' There is not a quick and easy answer to this question, but for a horse owner should think about the cost of the initial breeding whether breeding is done naturally or artificially. With both options, it would be a good idea to get a general price range from a veterinarian on the cost of their visits that may occur during the pregnancy and foaling so as a horse owner, you know what to expect in terms of financial limitations.

Also take into consideration there are no certainties with birth, births can and do go wrong occasionally. This is why a thorough pre-breeding evaluation should be preformed by your veterinarian 6-8 months before breeding time. This evaluation will not guarantee the safe deliverly of a foal but can help prevent problems from occurring.

The next thing a horse owner should do is decide on the stallion. A good stallion is important to have therefore it is important to find out all the information about the stallion first. Ask the stallions owner to show proof of previous breeding records or some sort of references. Reproductive traits are important to consider as well as his disposition when deciding. When making the arrangements to have a mare bred naturally, be sure to understand the breeding contract, if one is present. Ask a non-biased, experienced person like your veterinarian to help with understanding the contract.

Decide as a breeding manager when you want the mare to foal and decide if that is critical to your management plan for that individual foal. If you want the mare to be bred earlier than the natural breeding season (May-September) then artificial lighting will be needed. If you decide to breed earlier in the season, consult your veterinarian for advice and assistance.

Overall, it is a big decision to breed a mare or not. Many factors like financial stability of the breeder, is the mare capable of breeding, deciding on the right stallion, knowing the physical boundaries of yourself as a breeder, and the most important factor, what is the purpose of the bringing the foal into the world.

For more information, contact your local equine veterinarian or you can view this article Breeding Your Mare from the University of Minnesota.