| Some horse owners new to breeding are quite | | | | stallion in with the mares to the day you took him |
| embarrassed by the functions involved in horses | | | | out of the pasture that the foal may be due you |
| mating and the best methods to get proven | | | | cannot know the exact date of expectancy |
| results from each breeding encounter. There are | | | | making it harder for you to be present when a |
| two main methods used in producing results from | | | | foal is born.o Stallion risks-One reason so many |
| your horses mating: pasture breeding, and hand | | | | valuable stallions are only live bred by hand are |
| breeding. Of those two, hand breeding is the one | | | | that in a free and open situation a reluctant mare |
| that is proven to be the most reliable method, | | | | can seriously damage the stallion as he attempts |
| but it is the one that also produces the most | | | | to seduce and mate with her. There have been |
| embarrassment for beginning breeders. | | | | many instances where extremely valuable animals |
| Pasture Breeding | | | | were even castrated by a well aimed kick from |
| Pasture breeding is the simplest form of breeding | | | | an angry mare. |
| in that the only thing that needs to be done is to | | | | Hand Breeding |
| release a stallion in with one or more selected | | | | By far the most popular method of getting the |
| mares to be bred and leave them alone to do | | | | best results from horses mating is using the hand |
| what nature intended them to do. There is no | | | | breeding method. This ensures copulation in a safe |
| need to watch your horses mating, in fact, it may | | | | and controlled situation where the dangers to the |
| be near to impossible to catch some of the shyer | | | | stallion are also greatly reduced. |
| stallions in the act although most are quite | | | | In this method the stallion is lead on a lead rope |
| exhibitionist in nature and have no shame in doing | | | | to where the mare is being held and allowed to |
| their thing in full view of anyone who desires to | | | | court and then mount. If a mare becomes |
| watch. | | | | reluctant, or even violent the stallion can be pulled |
| Some of the pros of pasture breeding are:o No | | | | away to keep him safe. It is imperative that a |
| embarrassment-There is no need to watch.o Less | | | | stallion be taught impeccable ground manners |
| hassle-Horses are simply left together and the | | | | beforehand so that they are completely |
| time spent is only in putting them out in the | | | | controllable even when hormonally aroused. This |
| pasture.o Physically less dangerous for the | | | | method is also best because if a stallion is |
| owners-Since there is no contact with the animals | | | | successful in courting and the mare is willing but |
| involved during the mating it is safer for the | | | | he has trouble getting the proper position he can |
| owners. | | | | be assisted by hand to ensure the copulation |
| Some of the cons regarding pasture breeding | | | | actually takes place. |
| horse mating methods are:o No Assurance-Since | | | | Pros of hand breeding are:o Insured inseminationo |
| you are not likely to stand watch 24/7 to ensure | | | | Accurate delivery dates-Since you are present at |
| the stallions have successfully mated with the | | | | the breeding you know exactly when to calculate |
| mares in question there is no way to tell for sure | | | | the arrival of an expected foal. This allows you to |
| that the mating took place.o Unknown breeding | | | | be present should any difficulties occur during |
| dates-While you will know the average range of | | | | delivery and possibly prevent the loss of a |
| dates calculated from the day you released the | | | | valuable foal. |