An introduction to stud life and breeding horses

2. The Decision to breed
Required selection criteria with proven genetic history
• Temperament – trainability and responsiveness
• Conformation and Soundness
• Jumping Ability – technique and willingness
• Movement and Agility
• Fertility
• Proven performance
• Constitution, strength and stamina
• Bone – circumference of cannon bone
The History
• Frustration with trying to find a nice horse
• To breed or not to breed but which one?
• Study and OS trips
The ESB Principles of Breeding
MARE OWNERS!
Consider these factors
before deciding to
breed.
• Purpose of foal
• Selection of the
STALLION
• Selection of the
STUD
• Condition, history
and age of mare
• Facilities to foal
down
• Expertise to handle
youngster
• Costs - obvious and
not so obvious

5. The mission is to produce the foals into competition horses of international quality

6. GOALS:
STUD MANAGEMENT
1. Maximise the chances of CONCEPTION
2. Minimise trauma to humans
3. Minimise trauma to the mare
4. Minimise trauma to the stallion
5. Optimise pregnancy
6. Nurture the foetus
7. Deliver a live, healthy foal
8. Ensure the well being of the foal
9. Ensure the well being of the mare
10. Return the mare to breeding
Useful to have an understanding of
the Anatomy and the Physiology

7. Reproductive Anatomy of the Mare Reproductive Anatomy of the Stallion

8. Stud Practises
THE STALLION: Selection, health and husbandry
THE MARE: Selection, health and husbandry
TEASING: To determine the Oestrus Cycle
FOLLICLE TESTING: To optimise the time of service
SERVING: To mate the mare with the stallion naturally
AI: To impregnate the mare with semen, artificially
ULTRASOUND SCANS: To confirm pregnancy
FOALING DOWN: To deliver a foal
HANDLING THE FOAL: Trust and teaching to lead
RECORD KEEPING: critical!

9. ESB Irish Edition
(Irish Sport Horse)
Tete de la Course
(Thoroughbred)
ESB Irish Descent
(Irish Sport Horse)
THE STALLION: Selection, health and husbandry

10. THE MARE:
Selection, health and
husbandry
EMPTY MARES (not pregnant)
become DRY MARES when pregnant.
Run together, keep light over winter
months
PREGNANT MARES become WET MARES
after foaling. Need a good source of
nutrition especially in the last three
months of gestation with 75% of foetal
growth occurring.
SELECTION of temperament and
conformation especially important due to
influence on the foal.

11. TEASING
GOALS of teasing:
To determine if the mare is in ‘ON’ and in oestrus
(season / heat) so ready for mating.
METHODS of teasing:
These vary but involve introducing a stimuli to the
mare to identify the behaviour and signs of oestrus
and whether she is going to be receptive to the
stallion.
THE OESTRUS CYCLE
• Occurs every 21 days
• The mare is ‘ON’
• Usually lasts for 5 days
• Ovulation occurs within the
last 24-48 hours.
• This phase is longer at the
beginning and at the end of
each breeding season.
Many studs use ultrasound scans
to follicle test so they can serve
the mare close to ovulation.
DIOESTRUS
For the remaining 16 days the
mare is ‘OFF’ where she has no
interest in the stallion
* You can’t bring the mare ‘on’
* Mares don’t menstruate.

12. The Oestrus Cycle
A PROCESS PERFORMED BY THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM WITH THE RELEASE OF HORMONES
A. Increasing hours
of light are detested
by the eye, which
sends messages to
the anterior pituitary
gland in the brain.
B. The anterior pituitary gland is then stimulated to release (1) Follicle Stimulating
hormone (FSH) into the blood stream.
1
1
C. (1)
Follicle
Stimulating
hormone
(FSH) acts
on the
ovaries to
stimulate
the
production
of egg
producing
follicles.
1
D. These follicles produce
the hormone (2)
Oestrogen which is
responsible for the
behavioural and physical
changes during oestrus.
2
2
Is often artificially controlled

13. TEASING
The signs of oestrus include:
• Vulval winking
• Squatting
• Slight discharge
• Tail lifting to stimuli
• Raised body temperature
• Vulva relaxes, becomes pinker
• Teases to other horses and objects
• Accepts the stallion
• Change in behaviour
• Cervix dilates

14. Signs of Oestrus

15. Signs of Dioestrus
Stud work such as teasing and serving can be very dangerous and volatile as instincts take
over and horses often disregard their domestic behaviour.
Techniques often require active restraints and measures to minimise danger. Mares can
sometimes be aggressive when teasing even when they are in season.

16. A diary
A mare book with a record of everything that
happens to each mare, usually allowing at least
a page per mare
A foaling chart
A breeding chart or book
A filing system for registration papers
RECORD
KEEPING

17. PREPARING the MARE
for natural service
• The mare is teased first to empty her bladder for
comfort
• Tail bandage to keep hairs from getting caught
• Vulva and buttocks are wiped clean with water
• Lubricating jelly
• Mare is restrained with a twitch to prevent injury
to her, the stallion and the handler
• Don’t use side line, hobbles or boots anymore

18. PREPARING the STALLION
for natural service
• The stallion’s penis is cleaned after teasing the mare
• Need to ensure that you have adequate control over the stallion
• Check that the mare is secured and in a good position
• Wait until the stallion is erect to minimise risk of injury from the mare
• Approach the mare at a 45 degree angle on the near side
• When the stallion mounts, grab the mares tail out of the way
• Support the mare / stallion and check that ejaculation occurs
• Wash the stallion with clean water

19. SERVING

20. PREGNANCY
Pregnancy occurs when the sperm of the stallion fertilises the ova (egg) of the mare at
conception. The cells multiply and develop into an embryo, which develops into a foetus.
This is maintained for the full term or gestation period of 320-360 days (average 11
months and 5 days) and hopefully results in a live foal.
No return to Oestrus Ultrasound scan

21. FOALING
CHECK LIST
Nutrition
Worming
Vaccinations
Vulva-caslick;
discharge
Pitting oedema
Bagging up
Waxing
Colostrum
Antibiotics
IGG test
Foaling alarm
Vet on call

23. FOALING
If the mare runs milk for more than 24 hours then she is losing colostrum which
contains essential antibodies for the foals immunity.

24. FOALING
This stage may last 1 to 4 hours with the mare
showing increasing signs of restlessness, flank-
watching, discomfort and possible sweating.
She may isolate herself from others, lie down
and get up frequently.
Towards the end of this first stage, the mare's
waters will break. She may appear to be
continuously urinating a dark coloured fluid
without the characteristic stance or winking.
MUST be on hand to check the correct
presentation of the foal with two front feet and
a nose.
First stage
Don’t wait until the last minute. Be prepared and informed!
The cervix, vagina and vulva softens, relaxes and becomes moist.
Wave like contractions pass through the uterine walls and pressure is exerted on the
foetus to adopt the correct position.

25. FOALING

26. FOALING
Second stage
After a short break of 10-15 minutes, a white glistening membrane appears as a balloon
from the vulva. Visible straining commences and the mare usually lies down to deliver the
foal, which usually takes 10 to 20 minutes.
Once the foal has been delivered, it is important to break the bag and clear the airway of
fluid, ensure the foal is breathing, then stand back.
Around 700mls of blood transfers to the foal at this time, so it is important not to break
the umbilical cord. Apply iodine to stump.

29. Third stage. The final
stage of foaling involves
the expulsion of the
placenta, hippo mane
and foetal membranes
(the afterbirth).
This usually takes
between 15-60 minutes,
but up to 8 hours is
acceptable before
manual removal by a vet
is required.
During this time the
mare may roll and
become quite colicky as
the uterus contracts to
expel its contents.
FOALING
If the mare does not expel the whole
placenta within 8 hours then infection
is highly likely to result, often leading
to post partum laminitis.

30. POST FOALING
MUST, MUST, MUST!
Check the quality of the colostrum
and ensure that the foal drinks at
least 250mls within 8 hours,
otherwise feed it.

31. OTHER TIPS:
• Fencing
• Objects, gates and gaps
• Dams and creeks
• Other horses
• Extreme weather
POST FOALING
TO ENSURE A HEALTHY FOAL
THE FOAL:
• Should have iodine applied to the umbilical stump
• Should receive antibiotics and possibly tetanus anti
toxin
• Should have a suck reflex within 20 minutes
• Should stand within 40 minutes
• Should pass meconium (first poo) within 1 hour of
first drink but usually before
• Must drink at least 250mls of good quality
colostrum within 4-6 hours
• Have urinated from the right place

33. and visit:
www.equinesportsbreeding.com
Equine Sports Breeding
will look forward to seeing you again!