Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Choose a breeding technique. Today, there are two popular ways to breed horses. One technique is called live cover. In live cover, horses are introduced to one another indoors in a mating barn or shed. Live breeding can also occur naturally outdoors in a pasture. The second most popular breeding technique is artificial insemination.
Secure a stallion or its semen if you do not already have it. If you choose live breeding and you only have a mare under your care, you will need to contact a stallion owner and request your two horses mate. Do plenty of research before choosing a stallion. This way, you are guaranteed the best stallion for your money. You want to choose a stallion that will complement your mare. Essentially you want to choose a stallion that has strengths in areas where your mare is weak. For instance, if you want to produce large horses and your mare is relatively small in stature, you will want to choose an exceptionally large stallion. Make sure you choose a stallion that is not too old or is not fit for reproduction.
If you choose artificial insemination, find a seller. Generally, frozen and unfrozen sperm have similar quality. Do not hesitate to ask a veterinarian to verify the health of a potential stallion or the quality of its sperm.
Begin mating. If you choose live mating, commit to either outdoor or indoor live breeding and mate the horses. Once you have secured the use of a stallion, either by hiring one or using one your own stallions, you can mate the horses. Outdoor breeding is considered more natural, but the horses are left to roam on their own. Unfortunately, if your stallion and mare do not get along, they may fight one another, potentially resulting in extensive injury. During indoor live breeding, horse handlers are always kept nearby and are always prepared to separate two fighting horses.
If you choose artificial insemination, hire an animal care expert to artificially inseminate your mare. Artificial insemination is relatively straightforward. Stallion sperm is injected into the mare by a veterinarian. He will return approximately 16 days later to determine the pregnancy status of the mare. The vet will come back again 28 days after insemination to do a second check. If the horse is not pregnant at this point, you can hire the veterinarian for a second round of artificial insemination at the beginning of the horse's next reproductive cycle.
Monitor fetus progress. Once your veterinarian determines your horse is pregnant, she will gradually monitor your mare. Mares are pregnant for approximately 11 months. The gender of the fetus can be determined 70 days after fertilization. Keep in mind that your mare may not show any outward physical signs of pregnancy for a majority of her pregnancy. Halfway through pregnancy, a horse fetus is only the size of a rabbit.