| I do not know what inspired me, but as a young | | | | money you will part with for breeding. Stallion |
| teenager I was quite determined to have a foal. I | | | | fees are based upon several factors such as |
| had a mare and all I had to do was find a stallion | | | | breed, performance and bloodlines. |
| and my wish would come true. The sad fact is | | | | Bloodlines contain genetic history, who the father |
| that no one around me knew any better. Horse | | | | (sire) and dam (mother) were and their parents, |
| breeding costs, in time, in money, in care, there is | | | | much like our own family tree. A bloodline is |
| always a cost involved. | | | | preferred when on both the sire and dam's side |
| I found two farms in our area that had stallions | | | | there are horses that have performed and |
| and both were willing to attempt a cover for free. | | | | excelled in a discipline. |
| It would cost me nothing or so I thought. I took | | | | Stallion fees are usually paid upfront; it is to your |
| my mare to stay with a stallion in his pasture for | | | | advantage to select a stud that offers live foal |
| a couple of weeks hoping that nature would take | | | | guarantees. That way if your mare aborts or if |
| care of itself. My mare never became pregnant | | | | the first cover is not successful, you can take |
| and lost a riding horse for that time. | | | | your mare back for another cover at no extra |
| Young as I was, I just took things in stride, but | | | | cost. |
| now that I know better I am quite frustrated | | | | A good horse breeder will have the veterinarian |
| with the facts. Had I have known anything about | | | | do several visits to the mare to ensure her health |
| breeding horses I would of at least spent money | | | | and that of the foal. The cost in my opinion is |
| to have a veterinarian come and inspect my | | | | worth it, for example when a veterinarian detects |
| mare. That way we would have known when she | | | | twins during an examination he will be able to |
| was in season. | | | | remedy the situation which will better your |
| If you want to breed you really need to spend | | | | chances of having a live foal. |
| money. Your mare needs to be in season that | | | | When cost is not a concern you could choose to |
| means that her reproductive cycle is at the stage | | | | stable your mare at the stud and have the |
| where she is most likely to conceive. You can, if | | | | trained staff take on the responsibility. They will |
| you know what the signs are, watch and chart | | | | keep a record of your mare charting her cycle, |
| your mare's cycle to know when to take her to | | | | veterinarian visits, coverings and care. Once your |
| the stallion. | | | | mare is in foal you would arrange to collect her |
| On the other hand if you do not have the | | | | and take her home. |
| knowledge you should have your veterinarian | | | | Basic costs of horse breeding include the stallion |
| palpate your mare. He will examine her and tell | | | | fee and veterinarian exams for the mare. Other |
| you exactly the day, sometimes the time | | | | costs to consider are transportation, boarding and |
| (morning or afternoon) that she is most receptive. | | | | veterinarian visits during the pregnancy and after. |
| It is money well spent. | | | | Once the foal is born you have the cost of his |
| The stallion fee is usually the largest sum of | | | | care as well as your mare. |