Horses

There are times when a horse breeder may find himself in a position to care for an orphaned colt. Whether orphaned because of her dam's death, rejection or failure to produce enough milk, the...

Breeding horses is an art that has been practiced for thousands of years. In the past thirty years, artificial insemination has become a more popular choice for large breeding farms, where a...

Methods of gathering horse sperm vary. One method uses a dummy mare with an artificial vagina to "trick" a male horse and collect the sperm.

Afraid you'll fall off on your first ride? Then read this article, it's helpful!

Breeding a horse live cover can be dangerous for handlers and both horses if done improperly. Some horse registries like the Jockey Club still require horses be bred live cover in order to...

Because a mare's gestation is 11 months long, losing one foal to a horse reproductive disease is a significant loss of income for a horse breeder. The most foals a mare can have in her life is 20....

When broodmares, or even breeding stallions, have a hormone imbalance, the horse's fertility is compromised. If your mare has severe symptoms when she goes into heat, such as sensitivity,...

Horses are beautiful, magnificent animals whose grace and strength have always captivated people. Few things are more endearing than watching a new foal and its dam enjoying the grass in a lush...

Early detection of equine pregnancy is important for horse breeders and enthusiasts alike to ensure chances to feed, supplements, turnout and veterinary care can be made at the appropriate times. ...

Unlike most mammals, mares do not show many visible signs of pregnancy early in the process. If you suspect that your mare has mated with a stallion and could be pregnant, it is important to...

After almost a year of waiting, the birth of a newborn foal is both exciting and nerve-racking. Chances are, everything will run smoothly. But when problems arise, there are crucial steps you can...

While determining whether a mare is pregnant is a very important part of horse breeding, it can be relatively difficult to accomplish. Most mares show few physical signs of pregnancy until late...

The Old Gray Mare’s previous article, “Decide On a Horse Blanket – To Dress Your Horse or Not” discusses the pros and cons of blanketing horses. It also cites a few everyday scenarios when...

A lot of time, energy and money go into producing a healthy foal. Having a plan and knowing what to do right after the birth of your foal will help mare and baby stall healthy.

Trail Riding Trail riding is the horseman’s way of communing with nature. Fresh air, quiet paths, the twittering of birds, possibly a spooked deer – it’s a magical time when you are astride your...

The old-time cowboys said it right, "No hooves, no horse!" Without sound legs and healthy hooves, your horse doesn't have "a leg" to stand on. Much has been written about...

The old-time cowboys said it right, "No hooves, no horse!" Without sound legs and healthy hooves, your horse doesn't have "a leg" to stand on. Much has been written about...

It's time to leave for the horse show--and your horse has decided NOT to get on the trailer. You've tried everything you know to try--and your horse gets more determined NOT to get on with every...

Regu-Mate is a synthetic form of progesterone called progestin. It prevents undesirable behavior in a mare during training or performing. It is also used to regulate the mare's heat cycle for a...

Selecting the right stallion to breed your mare will help you produce a quality, healthy foal that will be able to perform in the discipline you bred it for.

For certain breeds such as the Thoroughbred racehorse, it is desirable to have a horse born as early in the season as possible. Races are categorized by age, so a horse born in January will be...

Mares are infamous for becoming moody and losing their focus while in heat. Regu-Mate is used to suppress the mare's heat cycle, allowing her to focus on her work. Breeders use Regu-Mate to...

A typical equine gestation is approximately eleven months, or 340 days. While simply adding that amount of time to the date of exposure will yield an approximate due date, careful observation of...

Wrapping a mare's tail is an important step before she gives birth to keep the area as clean as possible for the birth of her foal. Wrap a mare's tail using gauze or veterinary wrap with advice...

Caring for a foal involves handling it to make it comfortable with human touch and separating out the male colt's after 1 or 2 years of age. Care for a foal after a mare has given birth with...

Foaling, a pregnant horse giving birth, can occur while the mare is standing or laying down, and she should be able to endure the process on her own without outside help. Observe the beautiful...

After the birth of a foal, observe the mare to make sure that she and the foal look healthy, and bring her to the veterinarian if she hasn't discharged the placenta within 10 hours of delivery....

Signs of trouble during a horse pregnancy include the mare being in labor for quite a long time, the foal being breached upon delivery or excessive bleeding or stress. Identify warning signs that...

A mare will exhibit signs of being ready to breed when she is in heat, which lasts for seven to 14 days, and she will become more irritable and will discharge to signal to the stallion that she is...

Nutrition for a pregnant horse includes clean alfalfa hay given at least two or three times a day equaling at least two percent of the mare's body weight. Provide adequate nutrition for an...

A pregnant horse should be handled often to make sure that she is sufficiently broken in, because she will be less attentive and less cooperative after the birth of her foal. Keep a pregnant mare...

When breeding a mare, make sure she is broken in, able to be ridden well and is comfortable around humans, and choose a stallion with similar attractive personality traits for the best results....

Miniature horses are friendly, fashionable pets that can be found worldwide serving as companion animals and working as service animals to those with disabilities. Though they are popular, they...

The female horse, or mare, is not fertile during all times of year. She only ovulates during the period of estrus, which begins after the vernal equinox, when days start to get longer. Ovulating...

Artificial insemination (or AI) is the preferred way of breeding horses, where the sire and dam don't even have to meet in order to make a foal. This is preferred to normal breeding because horses...

If you want to breed your mare, you'll need to come up with a budget for breeding and caring for your mare and her foal. There may be additional costs you aren't prepared for, so make sure you're...

Foals are delicate creatures. For animals that grow into such large, strong beasts, the foal can be a host for numerous problems and illnesses. One common issue foals encounter are problems with...

Stallions are one of nature's most amazing creatures. They are hardwired to procreate, and can be some of the most vigorous breeders on the planet. But a maiden stallion can be just as shy as a...

Whether it is a stallion, mare, or gelding, each horse has its own challenges and characteristics. A mare in estrus can behave entirely differently than she does when she is not in her breeding...

Breeding horses is rewarding, but can also be challenging. Most people think that a stallion is a breeding machine, and that there will be no problem with his libido or his ability to cover a...

The birth of a foal is a wonderful and awe inspiring thing. Whether you are privileged enough to witness the event, or come across the happy surprise one morning, you will want to do some...

Foaling out a mare can be very exciting and nerve-wracking. Make sure that you have as many details taken care of before the mare foals. This article will advise you on how to prepare the mare's...

Stallions are some of the most intense breeding animals in the world. They are as full of hormones and instinct as any animal on the planet. Handling them at any time can be dangerous, but never...

Stallions are incredibly difficult to manage and not because they are bad or ill-mannered. Many of the stallion's bad behaviors are a direct result of humans interfering with their natural...

Horse lovers enjoy watching their mares deliver new foals. In most cases, the birth goes smoothly and without incident. Most mares can deliver the foal without help, but you can assist with the...

Once you've found a horse you love, or at least a horse with the qualities you want to reproduce, it's only natural that you'd want to breed it. But breeding is more complicated than simply...

In order for a horse to be registered with the Palomino Horse Breeders of America (PHBA) the owner must be able to prove that the horse demonstrates the type of palomino coloring that the registry...

This is not for the faint of heart -- it is an article on the process of hand-breeding two horses.

Since a mare has no real due date, only a range of normal gestation, the waiting can be endless. To lessen the sleepless nights there are several methods of testing the calcium levels in your...

Mare's milk can be tested to determine how close she is to foaling. This article will tell you how to obtain that sample safely and comfortably. Read on to learn how to milk a mare.