Selecting the Right Stallion for Your Mare
Stallion shopping can be super fun and exciting. To ensure you end up with your dream foal, consider the match. Meghan deGaray, breeding manager at Iron Spring Farm, helps mare owners through the entire breeding process, including offering input on which stallions are good options for their mare. After helping thousands of mare owners at ISF for more than 35 years, as well as breeding horses of her own, Meghan answers common questions about selecting the right stallion.
Do I need a breeding goal?
Yes! What you plan to do with your foal is important information and affects which stallions I recommend. Consider the following questions: Is this a future riding horse for you? Are you a professional trainer or an amateur rider? Are you hoping for an upper level dressage horse? International competitor? A versatile horse you can show in more than one discipline? Are you planning on selling this horse as a foal? Or keeping it until it’s under saddle? All of these answers help you determine which stallion is the best choice.
How do I evaluate my mare?
It is very difficult for people to look at their horses and be unbiased. We all love our horses and have a certain amount of barn blindness. Therefore, it’s important to take a step back and evaluate your mare as objectively as possible. Is she really a candidate for breeding?
Start by taking pictures and video. Enlist an assistant to hold your mare so you can take good conformation photos from all sides. For videos, take short clips that show the gaits. Consider getting expert opinions from your veterinarian or other professionals.
Once you’ve evaluated her, think about what you want to improve. Look for stallions who make these improvements in their offspring. Let the stallion owner/manager know your goals and be open to their suggestions. Even if you love a certain stallion, he might not be the right match for your mare.
What is a linear score sheet?
Horses receive linear score sheets at inspections They’re a great tool to assess your mare’s conformation and movement. The sheet shows which physical traits (conformation, movement and jumping, when applicable) are strong and which need to be improved. If you aren’t sure how to read the score sheet, ask the stallion owner/manager. These articles from the KWPN give more information:
https://kwpn-na.org/keurings/scoring-procedures/linear-scoring/
https://www.kwpn.org/events/empty/studbook-inspections/lineair-scoring
Once you’ve gathered information on your mare and the stallion you’re considering, it’s time to ask yourself more questions. Does the pairing work? Is your mare going to be complemented by the stallion or do they both have the same weaknesses?
For example, if your mare is a bit long or weak in the back, you want a stallion with a strong back. If you’re breeding for dressage and your mare’s neck is too horizontal, you want a stallion who is more vertical in the neck. Remember no horse is perfect. A conformation flaw doesn’t make your mare a bad horse, but always try to improve her. Aim for the next generation to be better than both parents.
How does my mare's breeding history impact stallion selection?
If a mare is older or has fertility issues, it’s important to breed her to a stallion who is fertile and has good conception rates. An older mare or a very young maiden mare may not be a good candidate for frozen semen. Three and four year old mares are a big unknown. They often cycle irregularly, don’t ovulate on time and may not respond consistently to hormones used to regulate the breeding cycle. With an older mare, her fertility may be declining, or she may have uterine clearance issues that can be aggravated by using frozen semen.
Look for stallions with good cooled semen to improve your chances of a fast conception. If you do use frozen, be sure to research the quality of the semen and conception rates. Younger and older mares who are very fertile can use frozen semen and still have good conception rates.
What are common mistakes mare owners make when selecting a stallion?
The biggest mistake is breeding to a stallion just because you love him and want one of his babies even though your mare is not a good match. Another common error is expecting the stallion to fix everything. The mare is so important! She is the one who carries the foal, nurses him and provides the early emotional environment. This is where much of the foal’s personality will be molded from, so it is very important to have a good mare when you breed.
In addition to conformation, movement and fertility, what considerations are needed for the stallion?
How is his temperament/character? And more importantly, do his offspring have good character?
I personally don’t get put off by stallions who show stallion behavior, as long as they are still good to deal with on the ground and under saddle. They don’t have to be saints, but they need to be good citizens in general. The real proof is that their offspring are rideable and trainable. This can be checked by reviewing competition results. Younger stallions might not have a lot of offspring showing under saddle, but you can see how they do at inspections and at breed shows.
Another consideration is a stallion’s soundness. A stallion who was never sound is very different from one who suffered an injury.
How important is the stallion’s own competition career?
I think it is very important because you can see the rideability, character, talent and overall soundness by looking at his show career. However, sometimes horses get injured through no fault of their own and aren’t able to show, or their competition career ends prematurely. I would still consider those stallions, but I would do my research on why they didn’t show. Was it truly an injury or do they have a defect that makes them unsound or unable to be ridden?
Why is it important to go with an experienced stallion owner or breeding farm?
There are several reasons to go with an experienced farm or stallion owner. The first is that they can guide you through the process. They know the bumps in the road and can help you successfully navigate them. An established business also usually has high standards for how they run their operation. This professionalism is important so that you get properly processed semen. Plus, a top operation can provide guidance for the other aspects of breeding, like marketing your foal, understanding keurings and registration, etc.
Disclaimer:
All content provided by Iron Spring Farm is general and for informational purposes only. Content may also not constitute the most up to date information. Nothing in this content is intended to constitute veterinarian advice or to serve as a substitute for consultation with a veterinarian. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified provider with any questions that you may have about the treatment and care of your horse.
Any reliance that you place on the information provided is strictly at your own risk and Iron Spring Farm, its officers, employees, representatives, and agents, hereby disclaim any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental, consequential or other damages arising directly or indirectly from access to or use of any content provided to the maximum extent permitted by law.
