Breeding Your First Foal? Some thoughts to consider.
Article written by SHNZ - July 2004

The New Zealand 2004 horse breeding season is fast approaching and people with foals due in the spring are no doubt looking after their mares well throughout these wintery months and eagerly looking forward to seeing their leggy new arrivals!

People considering breeding for the first time though have got a lot to consider before just deciding on their mares' prospective "boyfriend".

Some questions you might like to ask yourself include:
~ Have you got the facilities for a young horse? This means things like very safe fencing (yes, foals are as bad a toddlers), good shelter, enough quality pasture, supplementary food and preferably a yard or stable for early handling.
~ Are you comfortable foaling down the mare yourself? This is often something that worries alot of people, however rest assured that in most cases nature takes its course and the foal is born without any mishap. Read some books, ask experienced friends and always have your vet's phone number on hand if you feel anything at all is wrong throughout the pregnancy. Alternatively, if you just aren't confident or might not be home for foaling, you can consider sending your mare to a professional local stud or vet at least a month or more before her due date to know she's in good hands.
~ Have you got the skills and/or natural savvy to handle a mare and foal, or otherwise someone to call on for help? While not usually too difficult, young horses do have a mind of their own and you need to firmly establish you are the boss and cope with situations as they arise. Teaching them to pick up their feet, lead, wear covers etc in a safe and fair manner from an early age can make a world of difference later down the track.
~ Can you afford to keep a mare and her foal? Drenching, feet trims, supplementary feed as required, etc are all as important with foals as with any horse. And remember the initial stallion service fee and vet fees to acheive pregnancy can also be quite substantial.
~ What is your intention with breeding a foal? Do you want a horse to sell or a young one to bring on yourself? This decision may affect the type of horse you breed, such as choosing a sire and dam by popularity of breed/type over your own favourites.

There are some wonderful books around that can show you what to expect - check out the highly readable "From Foal To Full-Grown" by Janet Lorch. This is an invaluable handbook that we really recommend, especially for first time breeders. (Retails for around $40. Available from Horse & Pony bookshop - email: hpbooks@xtra.co.nz.)

Once youve made the decision you'd like to breed a foal, your next step of choosing the mare and stallion is obviously very influential.

Ideally your mare herself has a lot to recommend as far as breeding a quality foal goes, including good overall conformation, a kind, willing temperament, rhythmical free paces and some natural ability towards your preferred discipline or the type which you are aiming to breed. While emphasis is always placed on using a good stallion, mare quality often seems to be overlooked, despite the fact they also play an important ongoing part of a foal's upbringing - teaching your foal about the world and its place inside it.

Undesirable traits such as being hard to catch or being very bossy towards other horses can certainly be picked up by your foal and are important things to consider. You may need to manage mares like this more carefully, such as separating them from others once the foal is born to try to avoid these issues being passed on.

Just like humans, some foals are naturally shy while others are bold from day one. If your mare is comfortable with you around her while she has her foal at foot, your foal will soon learn from her you are a friendly entity and will be keen to check out just exactly what you have to offer. Being the provider of a nice scratch on the chest or some tasty food can help establish a bond with your new little equine friend, but remember not to overdo it and "pet" your foal or you may run into some rather precocious behaviour!

It is always wonderful to see young foals playing together and this ideal situation provides the foal with another stage in their development - learning to interact, have fun and maintain respect for others. Heirachy in horses is natural, but if you have a foal on its own then it is vital to firmly but fairly establish that YOU are the herd leader and not let this young inquisitive cheeky animal think otherwise!

Your mare can certainly be complimented and improved on by your choice of stallion, so stand back and consider her weaker points - perhaps she is a little short in the neck, needs more height, you'd like to improve her movement or jumping ability - these sorts of things are what you could then look for in the sire.

Different breeds also have different qualities to offer so contact a few breeders and stallion owners and ask about their horses. It is a good idea to look at some progeny by the sires from mares like yours to make sure this is the type you are hoping for. Find out whether the stud offers Transported Semen (Artificial Insemination - AI) so you can keep your mare at home and have your vet inseminate her there, where she is usually more relaxed and also saving you transport and agistment costs.

A knowledgable and experienced equine vet is another important part in your breeding venture, so ask around and get to know your vet. They are there to help and may prove invaluable if anything does happen to go wrong during the pregnancy or anytime after foaling.

Dramas aside, there is no doubt a new foal skipping around the paddock is a joy to watch, and the moments that you spend together during the ongoing stages of their development and training can be hugely rewarding. Horses are such sensitive, intuitive, intelligent animals that a special bond with your horse, especially one you have bred, is priceless. That alone may be your desired outcome from breeding a foal, but, whatever the reason, by starting with the best mare, stallion and related services you can find, you can certainly assist in making your overall experience a positive one.

All the best for the coming season!

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