| Feral and wild horses breed naturally with no | | | | Will it be kept or sold on? |
| problems, but the selective breeding of purebred | | | | - What are the economic benefits for the owners |
| horses obviously requires specialist human | | | | of the sire and the dam? |
| intervention. The mating of two such horses has | | | | Furthermore, the owner of a mare will have to |
| to be carefully planned, in order to produce the | | | | take into account the extra added costs |
| favourable characteristics required. Human | | | | associated with seeing their animal through |
| management of horse breeding also ensures | | | | gestation and add to this the very expensive |
| healthier pregnancies and a more successful | | | | costs of nursing a foal. There are many things to |
| outcome for foaling. | | | | consider, starting with the stud fee. After this, the |
| In breeding terms, the male horse (stallion) is | | | | pregnant mare will require adequate veterinary |
| known as the sire, and the female (mare) is | | | | care throughout her pregnancy, and she will also |
| known as the dam. Each plays an equal part in the | | | | need proper nutrition - both these things will cost |
| genetic make-up of any ensuing offspring, so it is | | | | the owner a substantial amount of money. Finally, |
| important that both possess the desirable | | | | there is the cost of caring for the foal and |
| characteristics needed. This is especially important | | | | mother post-gestation to consider. When taking all |
| to professional breeders, who wish to produce | | | | these factors into account, it becomes apparent |
| good foals of a certain breed. It is also possible to | | | | that it is difficult to make a profit from |
| mate two different types of horse in order to | | | | horse-breeding, especially for the mare owner. |
| create a new breed, with its own distinctive | | | | This is a major factor for horse owners, and |
| characteristics. | | | | many decide not to breed their animals due to |
| In horse breeding, there are half-brothers and | | | | the huge expense involved. |
| sisters (horses who share the same mother but | | | | A newborn foal is worth approximately three |
| have a different father), horses fathered by the | | | | times the cost of the stud fee, and would fetch |
| same stallion (referred to as 'by the same sire') | | | | this if sold immediately after birth. However, if the |
| and ones that share the same mother and father | | | | foal is kept for any longer period of time, the |
| (known as 'full siblings'). | | | | costs of caring for it far outweigh any profits. |
| A horse owner needs to take several factors into | | | | Sadly, foals bred without careful consideration |
| account before deciding to breed the animal, such | | | | may end up being sold at a loss, or worse still, |
| as: | | | | being sold for horse meat. |
| - Does the breeding partner have excellent | | | | To conclude, horse owners should give careful |
| genetic qualities? | | | | consideration to whether they wish to breed their |
| - Is the animal in good health? | | | | animal, what their motivations are and how |
| - What purpose will any ensuing foal be used for? | | | | achievable they may be. |