How to Find a Stud

Finding the right stud for your mare is very important. Follow these steps when searching for her ideal mate.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Phone Books
• Phone Books
• Horse Magazines
• Horse Show Tickets
• Horse Trailers

Setting up the "First Date"

1. Decide whether you want to leave your mare at a facility for a number of days or if you want your mare to have artificial insemination.

2. Ask how much the stud services are,what services are covered and how the mare will be fed and cared for.

3. Find out who will monitor the mare. Is there a veterinarian on-site or a mobile vet that makes barn calls?

4. Determine what would happen if the mare became ill during her stay.

5. Understand the terms of payment if the breeding isn't successful or the mare slips (spontaneously aborts) the foal.

Looking for Mr. Right

6. Look in the Yellow Pages under "Horse breeders."

7. Go to a local tack store and get horse magazines. Breeders generally advertise their studs in these magazines.

8. Talk to local owners of boarding facilities. If they don't have any studs there, they are likely to know where to find some and can usually recommend a breeder.

9. Talk to horse trainers and the local veterinarian. The horse world is very small and trainers are usually in the know.

10. Go to horse shows. Attend shows where you are likely to find the type of stud you are looking for, i.e., Quarter horse, Arabian, Thoroughbred.

11. Talk to the person you bought your horse from. It's likely she knows of studs of the same breeding.

12. Search the Internet, where there are a number of horse-related sites. Start with the site for your breed. Most breeding associations have a website and those have directories for breeders.

Tips & Warnings

• There are usually regional horse magazines that cater to horse people in a specific area.
• A horse's gestational period is 11 months.
• A horse, for showing purposes, is considered to be born on January 1st and will become one year old the following January 1st. The later in the year a horse is born, the younger it will be for maturity and training purposes. Time your breeding carefully.
• Take your time. Finding the right stud for your mare will give you a better chance of ending up with the type of foal you want. Be patient.

on 11/22/2005 When looking for a stud first look at your mare take all the good things about her and set them aside for later. The bad things will help you find a stud with the right attitude. If your horse gets exited easily then look for a stud that is a little calmer. If you do this you will have a better chance of getting a foal that is very versital. Your mare should also be a horse that is ready to be a mother. Make sure it is not to young. That could stop the growth of the mare and get things of coarse for her. Look at every thing wisely before making the choice for stud and mare.

on 11/22/2005 1. Honestly evaluate your mare's good points. 2. Then the not-so-good points. 3. Decide if she is brood mare material. 4. Look for a stud to complement the good & improve on the things that need improvement. 4. Breed for quality.