Horse Breeding

A Day in the Life of...

Kim Weindel Equine Breeder, Trainer

Introduction

I imported my stallion in 1994, and on the recommendation from my vet, I attended the Colorado State University Reproductive short courses which focus on Artificial Insemination and Semen Collection & Handling. Because I operate my farm alone and on a tight budget, and because I have a very strong interest in all aspects of Equine reproduction, I wanted to be as self-sufficient, capable, and involved as possible.

I believe Artificial Insemination has many advantages over live cover. From a stallion owner's perspective. AI is a cleaner, safer method of breeding. My stallion has an extraordinary temperament and I am able to collect him alone, as opposed to requiring assistance from other handlers which is necessary in live cover. There is obviously no danger of injury from a mare.....or injury to the mare for that matter. Upon collection, semen is always evaluated prior to use or shipment - my "quality control." If multiple shipments are required in a single day, a single collection can be split and "extended" so a stallion does not have to be collected multiple times (I guess a stallion might not see this as a plus!) AI can also benefit sub-fertile or aged stallions as collection methods can occasionally enhance semen motility....as well as enable breeding of a stallion unable to physically mount a mare or phantom.

For mare owners, AI allows mares to stay at home rather than travel to be bred. Mare owners also have a vastly increased gene pool available - from all around the country (and world!) At the same time, the mare owner bares a great deal more of the responsibility in getting the mare to "settle." Before embarking on breeding, particularly with AI, I believe it is essential a mare owner understand the breeding process including the mare's estrus cycle, teasing methods, timing of breeding.....and costs and procedures involved. Too often it is thought AI at home is much less costly than sending a mare off to be bred....this is not the case! Too often, a mare owner books to a stallion and is left with simply a reminder to call for semen in a "timely manner!" This is where my background as a teacher, and education in reproduction proves valuable. I offer all my clients a pre-breeding reproductive seminar which covers all the above information...many spend a day (or more) at my farm actually learning teasing methods and estrus detection with mares, learning about the mare's cycle - how to chart and when to breed, and many actually stay to watch collection and take part in semen evaluation.....my first year I even had a client video tape the entire process (and he now jokes about selling the tape on the internet!)

Again, I believe eduction on the mare owner's part is extremely important - just as important as having a Veterinarian skilled in reproduction......

As more and more breeds, and more stallion owners become involved in AI, it is extremely important to have a stallion owner/manager skilled in AI. Many owners/managers want to offer shipped semen, but don't have the background....I have found many don't have the time to travel for a short course, so I now offer private/small group instruction in stallion collection, semen handling, mare insemination, and farm/lab set-up. A successful breeding program obviously requires skilled semen handling, and this requires education and the proper facility! Contrary to what many believe, setting up a small farm with collection and lab facilities does not have to be cost prohibitive. I can very easily help set-up a small farm facility for less than $2000...often a fraction of what it costs to send a stallion to an outside collection facility. But of course, keeping your stallion at home and managing the breeding schedule is a full-time job ....for me, the hands-on work is why I have a stallion. I love and value being involved start to finish, from helping to educate prospective breeders to assisting clients in presentation of their resulting foals!

When I meet with potential breeding clients for the first time, I try to paint a complete picture of what breeding entails, to the point of emphasizing far more "bad" than good...as my vet always says, "Breeding is not for the faint of heart!"

Choosing a stallion is probably the least difficult part - there are hundreds of wonderful stallions to choose from - most courtesy of A. I. Before selecting a stallion, I believe it is far more important to really investigate the other integral aspects of the breeding process. First, of course, a first-time breeder needs to have a clear idea of the costs and risks involved...from the time the breeder signs the breeding contract to the foal's birth and beyond. Breeding one's own mare is not a way to "save money" on a horse. I frequently hear this belief with regards to warmbloods. Because a young Warmblood prospect ready to start under saddle can command a hefty 5 figure price, many think it will be cheaper to breed one's own.......before the costs are clearly penciled out! When you consider breeding fees, stud fees, maintenance of the broodmare, foaling fees, then maintenance of the youngster for at least three years before it is ready to even begin the lightest training - then add training fees and more maintenance...and excluding serious illness, lameness.....you possibly have an appropriate mount....but of course it may not be the right gender, color, might not have the right conformation, movement, might not have the talent or temperament for your discipline.......For those who are practical, you can add up how much all those fees and expenses would amount to - plus four years of interest...and perhaps that prospect (that can be seen and evaluated at maturity) is not so costly or out of reach after all!

Breeding contracts vary greatly, especially when they involve shipped semen. There are booking fees, shipping container fees/deposits, collection charges & collection limitations, shipping fees, and LFG provisions...unfortunately, often the stud fee pales in comparison to all the other fees that can be incurred and these fees are just on the stallion's end...

On the mare's end there are reproductive exam fees, palpation and ultrasound expenses, insemination fees, followed by more palpation and ultrasound fees.......for "difficult/problem" mares there may be additional fees to facilitate and maintain a pregnancy. Then, if there is a successful, full-term pregnancy, there are the foaling/delivery costs - minimal for a "textbook" delivery - considerable should there be problems........

Above all, my best advice for mare owners shopping for a stallion and venturing into breeding, select a stallion owner as well as a stallion! You want someone who will be available and willing to lend support and advice, someone who is easy to communicate with and who is readily available, someone who is knowledgeable and dedicated

To Learn more about Kim and her wonderful breeding program, visit the Zarcrossed Farm's Website located at: Zarcross Farm or send an email to Kim at: "zcfarm@ns.net"