Breeding Records for Horse Owners

Horse owners that are in the business of producing foals have plenty to do to make sure that the mares are in good health, are in good condition, and generally ready to breed during the breeding season.  They also are working hard to make sure that the stallions are also healthy with no physical issues that might interfere with the breeding process, such as lameness, abnormal sperm, low sperm counts, or other injuries.  But, like just about every other job that one can think of, there is a lot of paperwork involved.

Breeding records are very useful tools for the horse owner who is interested in producing valuable foals.  Records can be very detailed, so if large numbers of foals are produced, a computerized record keeping system may want to be set up and used.  For most operations, old-fashioned paper records kept in a notebook will serve very well.

For mares, all sorts of records can be kept and used to ensure conception early on during the breeding season.  Of course, each mare will need a name or identification number for the record form.  The form can be in a calendar form since it is mostly tracing events associated with producing foals.  Some basic information to keep track of include the foaling date, teasing dates and response to teasing, palpation dates, and breeding dates.  More detailed records may include ovulation dates and the date a Caslick’s procedure may have been performed.

At the very least, the teasing records and noting the response to teasing will give a good indication of when to actually breed a mare for the best chance of conception – make sure that the semen is viable when the egg is released from the ovary.  Teasing scores range from 1 to 5, with 1 being non-responsive and 5 being very receptive to a stallion. 

Ultrasound and palpation records are very useful tools for artificial insemination.  Ultrasound results and palpation of the ovaries will indicate follicular consistency and size.  Daily records indicate teasing scores, and follicular development on each ovary, uterine tone, breeding, and indicate when an egg is released.    These records also track a cervix score and remarks are added to note other information.

Stallion records would include the results of a breeding soundness exam, plus the number of daily breedings for each stallion.  Semen evaluation records, should include semen volume, concentration, morphology, and motility.    These records determine the semen volume necessary for an insemination dose. 

Dr. David W. Freeman, Extension Equine Specialist with Oklahoma State University Extension, has a more detailed fact sheet on breeding records, including examples of record keeping and using those records to help improve and evaluate breeding performance.  The fact sheet can be found at http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2095/ANSI-3916web.pdf.