How to Develop a Horse Breeding Program

Developing a horse breeding program requires extensive education and training, and can take years to establish a good line of horse stock and a solid reputation. Like any business, you'll need a thorough business plan.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Educate yourself in the science of genetics, care of stallions and pregnant mares, artificial insemination and sperm motility, and the set up and layout of a breeding farm. You can take extension courses at universities like the University of California, Davis, Cornell University or many other colleges that offer good agricultural programs across the country. You can also apprentice yourself with a successful breeding business willing to train you in exchange for hard work and long hours.

2. Decide what type of horses you want to raise and sell. Whether it's saddle horses for recreational riders, working stock for ranchers or rodeos, race horses or a particular breed like Appaloosas, Tennessee Walkers or Thoroughbreds, there are many resources available to help start up and maintain your horse breeding program. Familiarize yourself with the regulations specific to the breed you choose, for example, thoroughbreds must be bred live cover in order for the foal to be registered.

3. Create a realistic business plan. Like any other business, a sound and workable plan with one, three and five year goals is vital to your success. Select a CPA, business consultants, veterinarian and reproductive specialists who focus on horse breeding operations and make them part of your business team.

4. Find a property large enough to begin your breeding program with enough room to expand as you grow. You can begin a small operation with just a few acres, but it takes a lot of land to run a thriving horse breeding business. Ideally, your operation should be close enough to experts at a local university with laboratories and a veterinary program to help and advise you when you need it.

5. Buy the best brood mares you can find to start your operation. Good bloodlines and proven stock are the best assets a horse breeding program can have. If you already own even a single horse with a solid reputation from a good line, you're on your way. Select only proven stallions with foals that are old enough to be competing successfully.

6. Surround yourself with good help. Most breeders, especially those with small operations, say that one of the most difficult areas of their business is finding and keeping good help. Offering housing, a decent salary, ongoing training and education, and time off work after breeding and foaling seasons are over, will help you retain loyal workers.

7. Organize your operation for success. Your barns, breeding sheds, laboratory and feed storage areas must be neat, clean and well stocked at all times. Make sure everyone knows where all tools, equipment, medications and implements belong and insist that employees return everything where it belongs, so it's easy to find what you need.

Tips & Warnings

• Most modern horse breeding involves collection, storage and transport of semen. This is a science in itself, and new technology is emerging all the time. Join a breeder's association to keep up with new developments.
• Horse breeding is an expensive business. Be sure you have enough capital and financing to give yourself a chance to succeed.
• Working with large animals, especially during breeding, can be a difficult and dangerous undertaking. Make sure your have all the necessary safety measures in place, and be sure you and your employees are well trained and capable of protecting themselves and your horses. Make sure you are adequately insured for liability and workman's comp.

Resources

• National directory of breeders and information
• Basic and advanced information on horse breeding
• Courses, programs and resources on horse breeding
• Horse reproduction specialists