Why Breed Horses?

Apart from the obvious need to increase the number of animals, breeding is also undertaken to improve the quality of animals.
By selecting (hence controlling) the mother and father of a new foal, a horse breeder can exercise a degree of control over the characteristics of a new animal. Over time, breeding has allowed us to produce animals more suited to specific tasks:

• Breeds with greater endurance so they can be ridden for longer distances
• Breeds that run faster, for racing
• Breeds with greater strength to be used for heavier work

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Breeding Horses
2. The Broodmare
3. The Stallion
4. Breeding Management
5. The Pregnant Mare
6. Parturition and Foaling
7. Care of the New-born Foal
8. Infertility in the Mare and Stallion

• Understand the process of selecting mares and stallions for successful breeding purposes.
• Identify and understand the anatomy and physiology of the mare’s reproductive tract and the physical characteristics, which are preferable for a successful brood mare.
• Identify and understand the anatomy and physiology of the stallion’s reproductive tract and the physical characteristics, which are preferable for a successful breeding stallion.
• Explain and compare different ways of breeding horses.
• Identify and explain the appropriate management of a pregnant mare.
• Understand and explain the foaling process.
• Describe the important care of a newborn foal.
• Discuss common fertility problems that can occur in a mare and stallion.
• Develop greater diversity in your approach to design, by learning from the work of other designers.