by DJ Sheldon

You’re thinking about breeding your mare. Why? This is a question you must ask yourself, and before you proceed, you should have a clear goal in mind. I’ve heard some people say that they just want to raise a foal. My question is "Then what?" This foal, when it grows up, needs a job. What are you planning that job to be? You might want to raise your own riding horse, replace a treasured companion, create a show champion, or sell the foal. Whatever your goal, you need to keep it in mind as you plan the breeding.

Once you’ve clearly defined what your goal is, you need to identify and prioritize the considerations necessary to achieve that goal. Some of the things you need to look at are performance, attitude, market demand, conformation, color, and general looks. Top priority will depend on your goal. It’s not likely that you can create a national champion from a mare with multiple or serious conformation faults. Think form to function. The stallion you choose cannot correct all faults your mare may have. She is at least fifty percent of the equation, and in the case of disposition, quite often more than that. If you are breeding to market the foal, you need to know what type of horse is in demand, and breed with the intent of producing a sought after foal. If replacing a much loved companion is what you have in mind, disposition might be one of your top priorities. If you are breeding for a color market, make sure the mating you choose can produce what you want.

You should also be objective about your mare. Some people have told me that their mare isn’t good for anything else, so they might as well breed her. Please don’t do that. If the mare has serious conformation or disposition problems that make her unusable, chances that she can produce a usable foal are slim. If you have a well-bred, correct mare that has suffered some injury that has cut short her riding career, perhaps breeding her is a good option, provided you have a job in mind for the foal.

Examine your reasons for breeding. If you just want another horse, buying one may be a better choice. There are many, many good horses available in all price ranges. If you have another goal in mind, do your research to increase your chances of reaching that goal.

_________________ D J Sheldon operates Rapture Arabians in Groton NY.