About Horse Breeding

Mankind has utilized horses for hundreds of years. Horses have helped to break ground, expand the country and carry humans to war. Developing a consistent, solid line of horses can be a challenge, but it can be achieved with careful breeding practices. Breeding horses can be a costly venture, although the results are well worth the cost.

  1. History

    • Horses have been bred for as long as mankind has owned them. Breeding is the only way to pass on desirable traits and features to new animals, and humans have studied the theory of breeding in-depth to produce good offspring. In the past, it was common for an owner to let a stallion run with his mares and let nature take its course without interference. In more recent times however, human intervention has become a common breeding practice.

    Significance

    • Breeding horses is vital to the continuation of certain strains and breeds. Rare breeds--including the Spanish Colonial--would be extinct if not for careful breeding practices. Careful study has also helped to pass certain traits on through breeding. Horses with a certain coat color, for example, can be strategically bred to reproduce that same coloring. The same theory applies to horses with certain personality traits. For instance, some breeds are known for their gentle nature and will pass this onto their offspring.

    Function

    • Horse breeding is a fairly simple process. The mare will come into season and be receptive for approximately one week. During this time, she will display her backside to the stallion, lifting her tail and allowing the stallion to mount her. Gestation is approximately eleven months, and most mares deliver without complications. The majority of foals are born in the early to late spring. That's because mares are most receptive in the summer months.

    Considerations

    • Horses are large, powerful creatures. They should be bred only by experienced handlers. Unruly stallions can cause serious injury trying to reach mares in season. Secure fencing is an absolute must. Breeding and pregnancy is very trying on mares. They should be fully mature before being bred. If the mare is due to foal in the fall or winter, a draft-free stall should be set up to keep the mare and foal safe from the elements.

    Warning

    • Horses with genetic flaws should never be bred. Certain diseases, such as HYPP in the Impressive line of Quarter Horses, is often fatal and is passed on in HYPP-positive horses. Caution should also be used when breeding animals with soundness issues. Stallions and mares who've received career-ending injuries are often kept as breeding stock, but they should be handled carefully to avoid any further injury.