Thinking of Breeding Your Mare?

by Tommy Garland

It’s springtime…and most mares will start coming back into season. Are you thinking of breeding your mare this year? If so, think about a few things before you set out to pick a studly mate.

• If you don’t have a quality mare – stop right now! Do not breed your mare because she is lame or because she isn’t quiet enough for the show ring or to trail ride. You may think that you’d like to have another 4-legged buddy to feed, but why not spend some time rethinking that thought. Do you have a serious goal in mind for what you want to do with your foal? You certainly don’t need to breed a mare just to get a companion animal. What are your hopes and ambitions for that foal? Can you justify all the labor, time and expenses that come with breeding your mare and having a foal?
   
• Don’t buy the price…A cheap stud fee shouldn’t be the main attraction to picking a stallion. After all, the stud fee will be the cheapest of the costs that go along with having another 4-legged critter around. Conversely, breeding to a high quality stallion with an expensive stud fee isn’t going to guarantee that your mare will pop out a baby with all of the stallion’s fabulous traits.
   
• Don’t buy color…You can flip through all the stallion directories in the world and look at potential fathers for your foal-to-be. But so much of how a foal turns out depends on the mare’s genotype and phenotype.
   
• Pick a stallion that will complement your mare. If you have a short, thick, boxy QH mare and you have a goal of getting a refined horse to show in the hunters, don’t breed her to a draft horse. If you have a large pony mare and you would like to get a small or medium pony, be very careful of the size of the stallion you choose.
   
• There are lots of ways to research the stallion you are interested in. Make sure to review his bloodlines, offspring, reputation in the industry and show record. It’s also good to pick a stallion whose owners are easy to deal with. Does the stud fee come with a Live Foal Guarantee? Can semen be shipped?
   
• Lastly, are you truly prepared to cater to a pregnant mare and then a newborn foal? As I said earlier – the stud fee will be the cheapest part of the endeavor.

Best of luck with your adventure into breeding. Please remember to have a realistic goal for your intended foal before you breed your mare.