By Darlene M. Cox
You know spring has come not only with the arrival of longer, warmer days, greener grass, blooming flowers and budding trees, but also when you start seeing the beautiful foals dot the countryside. If you happen to live in Central Kentucky, as I do, you see quite a few of those. Ahhh, there’s nothing like seeing those playful little fillies and colts cavorting around the pastures to make those who own mares ponder whether they should send their mare to the breeding shed.
There are some questions you should ask yourself prior to rushing home and whisking your mare off to ‘equimonial’ bliss. I believe the most important question to ask yourself is why. Why do I want to breed my mare? I suppose your response to this question could be comprised within one of the following:
- Well, she is a mare.
- Hmmm, true that. But there are a few things to consider beyond her equine feminism. Does she possess conformational and behavioral attributes that would be good to pass along to her foal? If not, it may be best to pass on breeding her as foals generally mirror the behaviors of their dam. Does she have a positive breeding history? If she has been bred previously, did she have any problems through her pregnancy? Was she a good mother? Some mares just aren’t cut out to be good mamas. Nothing could be worse than watching your mare reject her foal. Is she healthy? If your mare is not in good health (i.e., under weight, over weight, colicky, etc.), breeding her would put too much stress on her for the 11 months she carries the foal and the birthing/mothering process.
- Hmmm, true that. But there are a few things to consider beyond her equine feminism. Does she possess conformational and behavioral attributes that would be good to pass along to her foal? If not, it may be best to pass on breeding her as foals generally mirror the behaviors of their dam. Does she have a positive breeding history? If she has been bred previously, did she have any problems through her pregnancy? Was she a good mother? Some mares just aren’t cut out to be good mamas. Nothing could be worse than watching your mare reject her foal. Is she healthy? If your mare is not in good health (i.e., under weight, over weight, colicky, etc.), breeding her would put too much stress on her for the 11 months she carries the foal and the birthing/mothering process.
- Oh, it would be so great to have a foal and watch it grow up.
- It is true that raising a foal can be great fun and a wonderful adventure, but you need to make sure you are experienced and well-read in just how to do that. Foals can be a handful and can present with some problematic situations you don’t have with older horses. If this would be your first time breeding for a foal, I would recommend reading up on just what to expect and what is required as it may be a little more of an investment that you would want to make.
- It is true that raising a foal can be great fun and a wonderful adventure, but you need to make sure you are experienced and well-read in just how to do that. Foals can be a handful and can present with some problematic situations you don’t have with older horses. If this would be your first time breeding for a foal, I would recommend reading up on just what to expect and what is required as it may be a little more of an investment that you would want to make.
- Wow, I could make a lot of money by selling her foal!
- This could be true if your mare possesses skills and breeding and is bred to a stallion that also possesses remarkable talent and breeding. If this is the case, then you would have a viable reason to consider breeding. However, before you start counting your money, be advised that unless you do have an impressively-bred dam, likewise a prestigiously-bred stallion, and a hungry market for the foal, you won’t make nearly the amount you dream of making. In some cases, depending upon what obstacles the foal may encounter before he reaches selling age, you could lose money.
- This could be true if your mare possesses skills and breeding and is bred to a stallion that also possesses remarkable talent and breeding. If this is the case, then you would have a viable reason to consider breeding. However, before you start counting your money, be advised that unless you do have an impressively-bred dam, likewise a prestigiously-bred stallion, and a hungry market for the foal, you won’t make nearly the amount you dream of making. In some cases, depending upon what obstacles the foal may encounter before he reaches selling age, you could lose money.
- I could breed her to Billy Jo Bob’s stud for $50 Surely I can make that $50 back.
- True, you can breed your mare to Billy Jo Bob’s stud for that small fee, and you would be almost certain to make that amount back. But ask yourself this question, will the foal produced from this breeding be of better quality than both its dam and sire? If you cannot breed for improved quality in the foal, it will not be a good breeding, regardless of that rock-bottom stud fee. The killer market is saturated with horses that are a result of poor breeding (i.e., conformational anomalies, inherited bad behavior issues, etc.)
Once you have adequately and positively answered why, there are other issues to consider as well.
- Premise safety.
- Are the premises upon which the foal will be raised (barn, fencing, pasture, etc.) safe? Foals are experts at finding ways to injure themselves even in the safest of environments. If the premises harbor dangers, you are guaranteed vet bills.
- Are the premises upon which the foal will be raised (barn, fencing, pasture, etc.) safe? Foals are experts at finding ways to injure themselves even in the safest of environments. If the premises harbor dangers, you are guaranteed vet bills.
- Financial stability
- You will incur additional expenses when breeding your mare. Examples are: additional vaccinations breeding mares should have; stud fees; veterinarian fees - checking to see if the mare is ‘breeding sound’, checking to see if she is in foal after breeding (this could be either the form of uterine palpitation or ultrasound), intervention if there are problems with the pregnancy (in utero twins, colic, abdominal tearing, vaginal discharge) or delivery (retained placenta, laminitis, uterine/vulvular tears); doctoring the foal might need after delivery (pre-mature birth, dummy foal syndrome, jaundice, infection or herniation of the umbilicus, diarrhea, etc.); vaccinations for the foal; registration of the foal (if papered), etc.
After you have effectively questioned yourself on why you want to breed you mare and are assured you can comfortably support, care, and afford the new addition, then it’s time to start planning for the breeding. Keep in mind that a mare who carries her foal to term will not deliver for 11 months. Timing is important if you want to assure that the foal is born during the spring/summer.
Good luck with your breeding, and oh, don’t forget to send pictures! ;o)
Happy trails!
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