Horse Breeding

Horse breeding is a multi-million dollar industry. Thoroughbred racehorses who prove themselves on the track can get the pick of the litter and foal many times over. If you own a horse, and you are considering breeding your mare, it may behoove you to speak with a professional breeder about creating the accommodations and conditions for a good mating experience.

If you own a colt, you may be tempted to breed right in your barn. However, the vast majority of homegrown colts are not ideal to use as stallions. In addition, caring for a recently foaled horse can prove quite a tough experience, even for well-endowed stables.

Curiously, many thoroughbred breeders induce heat in their mares during the winter to birth foals around the turn of the year. This is because, according to thoroughbred convention, every horse bred in a certain year is “born” on January 1. Thus, a horse born later in the year will be forced to race against slightly older companions.

Mares can start producing foals after just a year and a half. However, most breeders recommend that mares foal after they’ve matured to three years or four years. Later stage mares may be more difficult to breed, although there have been instances in which old mares have successfully produced offspring–particularly if the mares bred earlier in their lives. Some breeders can artificially induce estrous in horses using electric lights to simulate springtime sunshine.

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