Horse Breeders-How Do I Find a Good One?

Wild horses breed successfully, so why do you need a horse breeder? A horse breeder increases the chance of conception and can use the study of genetics to produce a specific characteristic. Horse breeders can specialize in one type of breed which is different than any other, or they can concentrate on one of the popular breeds.

Some breeders breed all types of horses, while others create their own breed by combining DNA. A professional horse breeder has to be able to study bloodlines, performance statistics, appearance and physical structure in order to find the right mare or stallion. The breeder may use artificial insemination to lower the risk of damage to a mare, or he may prefer traditional breeding techniques, or live cover.

Associations
There are many horse breeders' associations all around the world and they are a good place to start looking. There are associations dedicated to every breed and type you could want from thoroughbreds to Arabians, from Palominos to quarter horses and Belgian Warmbloods. They are dedicated to collecting, recording and preserving data on the breed, to improving breeding techniques and to maintaining the purity of the breed. They can be easily found online.

The associations will have lists of top breeders ranked by the points they won at competitions. There will be classified ads to browse. Some publish a newsletter which you can subscribe to. Some associations have periodic sales and auctions of both foals and adult horses. Many have annual shows where breeders will have their champion horses on exhibit. There are also horse breeder clubs that can provide you with information.

The Farm
You will want to visit the breeder's facility to see what kind of operation he or she has. A good breeding farm will have separate stable areas for mares, pregnant mares, stallions and geldings. There will be foaling stalls and a breeding room. There will be separate pasture for mother and child to romp and play. There should be a laboratory equipped with the necessary tools for insemination, microscopes for examination of samples and storage for frozen samples.

The breeder needs to be able to care for a mare for the eleven months of pregnancy, and give her the right amount and the correct type of exercise, as well as the proper diet, including extra protein. The breeder will need to help with the delivery, and be able to detect if anything is wrong with a newborn foal, where the first few hours after birth are crucial.

The breeder will need to be able to care for an orphan foal, where the mother will not let him nurse. The newborn will require intensive care for the first month. Weaning management is very important. And the breeder will need to have the knowledge and equipment to train the foal, so that he does not turn feral and learns to live both with human and equine companions.