- Breeding
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- Horse Breeding, Part 1: The Estrous Cycle
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- So You Bought A Friesian, Now what!
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- Starting Early: Training the Foal
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- Horses & History
- Top 5 Strange and Unusual Horses
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- In Defense of Horses in Sport
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- Healthy Horse Boutique Supports Haddad Staller In Her Olympic Quest
Breeding Costs: Things to Consider
05/26/2008
It doesn’t matter whether you are breeding a horse for small-town shows or for the Olympics: there are many costs associated with the breeding process. Here are some to think about:
It doesn’t matter whether you are breeding a horse for small-town shows or for the Olympics: there are many costs associated with the breeding process. Here are some to think about:
Stud fees. Your mare needs a stallion to be bred with. This involves finding one that has a good track record – both for his own performance and that of his other offspring. You also should find one that matches the market you are aiming for. A new, unproven Thoroughbred stud may only cost a few thousand dollars. This can run all the way up to several hundred thousand dollars for proven horses that produce winners. The lowest fees can be a few hundred dollars, but these are generally unproven, less athletic horses. Some breeders even offer a live foal guarantee, which allows the owner access to the stallion for a full year, in case of mare death or abortion of the foal.
Or, artificial insemination fees. If you are going to go the artificial route, then you must consider the fees associated with collecting and transporting the semen, and all handling costs that go with it.
Veterinary exams. A mare should be examined prior to breeding to determine whether or not she is healthy enough and when is the best time for ovulation. This is also necessary to determine a best time to inseminate her, if artificial insemination is used. There, of course, will also be regular veterinary visits throughout the pregnancy to ensure that the process is going smoothly and properly. Adjustments may need to be made in the mare’s nutrition or exercise to increase the health of the coming foal.
Mare transport and care. During the breeding process, should live cover be used, the owner will be paying for the resources to care for the mare at the stallion’s residence.
Emergency veterinary bills. Should something go wrong during foaling, a veterinarian may need to be called in to assist. In such a case, there will be more bills, obviously.
Foal exams. The foal will need to be checked out by a veterinarian after birth as well.
The breeding process is a costly one, but if done properly, can be a great investment if the foal produced is a winner.
