Responsible Breeding

Probably the biggest detriment to the horse industry is indiscriminant breeding.  Flooding the market with poorly conformed animals lowers values and hurts the industry’s future.  It also helps maintain the killer market and contributes to the problems with mass shipping of horses, neglect and abandonment.  Horse owners often breed their mares simply because they are mares! 

In order to improve the quality of the horse of the future we need to act responsibly now when making breeding related decisions.  This includes early gelding of the vast majority of male horses.  I would prefer to see many gorgeous, high quality, geldings rather than dozens of inadequate quality stallions.  Yet the trend seems to be to leave colts uncut for extended periods, or indefinitely, despite not showing the traits needed to be breeding stock.  It seems that the number of good, using geldings available for purchase has dropped, while the number of “stallions” for sale is on the rise.  Most people have no business owning a stallion anyway and would be best served by a steadfast, quality gelding. 

The same rule applies to mares.  Many mares are placed into a broodmare band because they became lame or couldn’t perform well enough in the show ring.  This is an irony because the ones we should be breeding are still out working and performing!  Thankfully, embryo transfer (ET) has made breeding easier for the performance mare.  ET allows a horse to continue a career of work while perpetuating a quality bloodline.

The vicious cycle of lame and sub standard off-spring will be severely interrupted if we stop using poor quality mares in our breeding programs.  Getting rid of substandard stallions would be an added bonus.

If you are considering breeding, try using the following checklist to help improve the odds of producing high quality foals:  

1. Breed only registered horses or horses whose offspring can be registered.  This helps establish parentage and reduces the odds of non-traceable health issues.  It also tends to improves salability and value.
2. Breed mares with outstanding conformation, ability and characteristics prized by the registering association.  Never skimp on mare quality as mares genetically determine much of the offspring’s traits, including athletic ability which is passed on in their mitochondria (the cell’s “power factories”).  This trait does not come from the stallion, only the mare!
3. Choose a stallion that has “done something”.  By this I mean he has a show record, a successful career as a ranch horse, his father was a Champion, his mother was a Champion (better yet), or he has offspring that are sound and successful at what they do.  Breeding to an unproven stallion is a risk that most owners should avoid.  Many stallion owners offer incentives to breed to new stallions but weigh their value versus the value of improved odds of a quality foal from a proven sire.
4. If you must “allow” a fault, let it be with the stallion.  If everything else is outstanding but the horse toes in a bit, then that’s a trade-off you must accept as a potential fault in your foal.  Be aware that most faults have accompanying potential performance and/or health issues.  Keep in mind that crossing extremes (a short legged mare with a long legged stallion) doesn’t necessarily guarantee offspring with a trait somewhere in the middle.  It’s fine to look for stallion traits to improve “wish list” characteristics on mares, but avoid over-correcting traits, or deficits with extremes, as this can lead to major faults
5. Try to have an “alternate” plan for the foal.  By this I mean choose a stallion that offers more than just one route to registration or success.  A dun overo paint stallion may result in a spotted paint foal, but if no spots occur you may still have a solid colored dun colt eligible for registry in another breed association.  Or, select a stallion that is a producer of reining horses and those who perform well in western pleasure.  If you are a world class competitor you will want to be very specific in bloodlines and performance areas.  However, most people do not use horses at that level of competition and do best with an all-around using horse that meets a variety of performance criteria.  If you have just one mare to breed, the “back-up” plan is especially important.
6. Get everything in writing, including fees, extra services charged, board etc.  Use a breeding contract and check references of the breeder.  Inspect foals already on the ground.  Visit the barn if live cover is planned or ask to see reports on semen quality if shipping or artificial insemination is the route you plan to take.  Establish any guarantees such as color, live-foal, re-breeds etc.. well in advance of signing anything.
7. Prepare the mare.  Have a Veterinarian perform a breeding exam well in advance to insure highest potential for carrying a foal to term.  Preparation includes preventative health care such as fitness level, worming, vaccinations, supplementation as well as issues specific to your horse.  Consult a professional if you are a first time breeder.  It will save you money and reduce the risk of problems.  Also, check into the affordability of insurance if you want coverage for a health crisis involving the mare and/or foal.  Mortality insurance is less expensive than major medical and a good investment if the mare is of value in your program.  
8. Inspect all breeding facilities and mare care areas for safety, cleanliness and housing quality.  Are the horses there happy?  Well fed?  Stalled?  Turned out?
9. Research the stallions you are considering.  Choose and inspect the stallion in person if possible.  Reality for many breeders is that we select stallions strictly based on accomplishments and have never seen the horse in person.  Some bloodlines are known for being good competitors but are also known for being difficult to handle, having leg problems, prone to bucking etc.  If you are breeding to a stallion with serious name recognition you already know that you will have a desirable foal if the mare is high quality and suited to the cross.  This typically means you are spending a lot of money to breed and need to be very diligent in entering a contract that provides for minimal (at best) protection of your investment.
10. Have a plan that includes the future foal(s).  Do you have a safe space for labor and delivery?  What about weaning areas?  Training and handling?  Emergency Veterinary care access?  Experienced breeders know that foals are excellent at finding trouble and getting hurt.  Plan well ahead for safe handling and housing for mare and foal.

 Breeding horses can be a wonderful experience if careful planning is involved.  Even then, there is a risk that things may not turn out as you expected.  Planning for the unexpected needs to be part of the program!

Over the years, I have found that it is far less risky and less expensive to visit a breeder’s and simply purchase a quality foal already on the ground.  Having said that, I cannot begin to explain the thrill of watching a foal born that exceeds the expectation of months of careful planning!  Whichever route you choose, make sure that you consider the industry as a whole and participate in the breeding process as a responsible horseman.