subject: Top Tips for Breeding from your Mare [print this page] Top Tips for Breeding from your Mare Top Tips for Breeding from your Mare
Bringing a new life into the world is always a very special time. When your mare is expecting, it is an exciting time but there are a huge range of options and things to consider. This deserves serious thought, as you want the best for your horse and her foal.
Why are you breeding?
You need to be clear on the intended future for your new foal, and the reasons behind why you have decided to breed your mare. If you are breeding to sell the new foal you will have different needs to someone who is breeding a racehorse. Horse breeding is not cheap so selecting the right stallion is imperative in ensuring that your new foal fills its required role.
Choosing a Stallion
By choosing a stallion you are making an active choice that will affect the qualities of the new foal. It is important to select a stallion with strengths to complement your mare's constitution, and where appropriate to help improve on her weaknesses. If your mare has a difficult temperament, or is prone to certain injuries, choosing a stallion which has strengths in these areas will assist you in creating the ideal horse.
When you have a clear idea of the horse you would like your foal to become, then you will be able to begin the process of selecting appropriate stallions. Whilst the paperwork is important, nothing beats seeing the stallion in real life. This will allow you to see yourself his general level of health and fitness and look for any potential defects. If you find a suitable stallion that is too far away to view personally, then you could ask the owners to provide you with a recent video clip. Ideally this would include an examination and examples of the stallion going through his paces.
It's also a good idea to check out what has been said about your potential stallion by others in the industry. Just asking around could lead to some useful information about his offspring, allowing you to identify any common traits or characteristics. Much information can also be found online.
The Foaling
When your mare is close to her due date, it is important to keep a watch to make sure that she doesn't get into difficulties. However, watching too closely can put her on edge and slow the process so take care not to be too obvious. Generally you will not need to get involved unless there is a problem. To prepare the stable and mare for the birth, it is best to wrap up the mare's tail, keeping it clean and out of the way, and ensure that the stable is kept clean with lots of bedding. You should also prepare a foaling kit of anything you may need, and ensure that you have the vet's number to hand should anything go wrong.
Alternatively, you could keep your mare at a specialist broodmare stud during this time. Some specialist studs offer this facility, and use CCTV to monitor mares remotely, allowing them to keep an eye on the mares without causing them undue stress. As they are experienced in the foaling process, they will be quickly able to identify any complications and call a vet only when necessary.
Usually mares will foal without the need of intervention, and they should be allowed to do this without human intervention. Foals should begin feeding naturally within a couple of hours of their birth if it takes any longer you could help guide the foal although it would eventually happen naturally.
Foaling is usually straightforward, but being organised and prepared will ensure a stress free birth for you as well as your mare. Being well equipped will help you breed the best possible horse.
