The Basics of Horse Breeding
Horse breeding is a very rewarding pursuit that can be done as a hobby or a career. Breeding horses involves choosing a stallion and mare to mate for the purposes of producing a foal with particular qualities and characteristics.
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The stallion is the sire, and the mare is the dam. The sire and the dam are equally important because the foal inherits 50% genetic material from each of them. Some breeders practice selective breeding, which means choosing particular horses from particular bloodlines for specific purposes. Other breeders may simply mate available horses to produce what are called companion animals that are not going to be raced or shown competitively.
The gestation period of the mare lasts an average of 350 days. The last three months are the most crucial time for the foal as this is when 60% of growth and development happens. As far as when the birth happens depends on the preferences of the breeder. In nature, foals are often born in the springtime. However, breeders who are racing or showing their horses prefer to have their foals born in the winter months, as close to January as possible. This gives them an edge when competing against other horses in their age group. You may have heard the terms colt and filly. While a foal is simply a baby horse, a colt is a young male and a filly is a young female. The term gelding refers to a neutered male horse.
Now that you know some of the terminology, let's discuss the various breeds. There are many different horse breeds in the world and most breeders focus on one or two favorites. The American Quarter Horse is a very popular breed in North America. This horse is a working ranch horse that is suitable for many different purposes. Arabian horses were originally bred for endurance, hardiness, speed and trainability. They were used to travel long distances in unwelcoming conditions. Another popular breed is the Appaloosa, which has a distinctive spotted coat.
If you are new to the world of horse breeding, you will need to learn as much as you can about the subject. Consult with your veterinarian for more information about breeding your horses. You may also want to read some books about breeding as well. There are plenty of helpful titles out there that can help breeders of all experience levels. Here are a few examples you may want to consider for your bookshelf: Modern Horse Breeding: A Guide for Owners by Susan McBane, The Foal is the Goal: A Practical Guide to Horse Breeding by Tena Bastian and The Complete Guide for Horse Business Success by Janet E. English.
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