Breeding ??

Me and my friend are trying to work on breeding her horse. We're not exactly sure how it works though. Can you send over some of the horses sperm and inject it when the mare is in heat or do you bring the actual horse over? And what time is good for breeding a horse ? If you have this information and more then I would greatly appriciate it!!! =)

You need to work with a vet, as well as a reputable breeder to make sure that the mare's qualities compliment the stallion and vice versa (actually I said that backwards but you get the idea). You need to have the mare ultrasounded and what not and have semen fedexed. Overal, not counting stud fee, cost is usally about $500 - $800 for vet fees (insemination, injections, ultrasounds) and then abot $200 - $300 for collection and shipping fees on the stallion.

That doesn't count the follow up ultrasounds at 15d and 30/45d to ensure there are no issues, or the later shots and what not to ensure that the baby is healthy. If you have never bred before, I'd highly recommend hiring a breeder/vet/trainer to work with you.

Mkay, thank you very much! =)

Breeding can be done high tech or low tech depending on which way you want to go. You can do shipped semen, the ultrasounds, follow ups etc. Or you can haul the mare to a stud and do live cover. Pay the stud fee and mare care, bring her home and turn her out for 11 months.

Which ever way you go I'd ask lots of questions and talk to vets and breeders to learn more about the breeding process. Theres no right or wrong way just different ones.

Things to consider:

There is a huge huge overpopulation problem right now... honestly, please please go to your local auction, see what's selling to the meat man, and ask yourself - why will this horse be better than those poor horses going to slaughter?
You cannot say 100% that you will be able to provide for this horse forever - NONE of us can.. anyone can fall on hard times, and we have to make sure that we give our horses a fighting chance to find a good home in case of that.
So ask yourself...
- Why is this mare special enough to be breeding?
- Why is the stallion special enough to be breeding? Why is he worthy of his "manhood"? What has he done to prove himself to be worthy of breeding?
- What flaws does your mare have? Are they "fatal" flaws, or just minor ones? Are you choosing a stallion that will counter any minor flaws?
- What are you breeding the foal for? Different stallions have different body types for different disciplines. What is your mare bred for? Example, generally you won't see a halter-bred horse doing well in the reining world.
- Are you prepared to train the foal?

Actually the notion alot of horses go to slaughter is false we send less then 1% there a year.

I would like to see where you got that number from, County... I am interested in your source

According to the AHC theres just over 9.25 million horses in the U.S.

According to the USDA we send just under 135,000 to slaughter in 08.

Got any stats for Canadian slaughterhouses?

Keeping in mind that American slaughterhouses were closed in 08. 2 Canadian slaughterhouses were opened shortly after to accomodate. They were and still are running at full capacity, and then some.
So what if only 1% of horses are being slaughtered? A good many of them suffer in dreadful conditions instead.


My point is: Why bring another horse into the world when we have a severe overpopulation problem? People are LITERALLY giving horses away, they can't even get money for meat for them anymore.
So, what makes Horse A different from Horse B when it comes to getting a good home?

One horse might just have one thing different that saves it from a terrible life; pedigree, training, or temperment are only a few I could mention.

Perhaps the horse won't get sent to slaughter. Perhaps that horse will instead die of starvation.

Slaughter is legal and always has been. Abuse/neglect is illegal and always has been anyone breaking those laws should be fined and or jailed. Why bring more horses into the world? Many reasons all depends on who breeds them as to what they are. I do it as part of our farm business.