1. Stallion Management
Standing at Stud

2. Genetic Potential
Quality traits that can be passed on to his offspring
Racing –Cutting – Reining – Jumping - Showing

3. Willingness to Cover Mares
Individual Libido

4. Physical Ability to Settle (Impregnate)
Mares
Fertility

5. Stallion Reproductive Exam
 Experienced Veterinarian or Equine
Reproductive Specialist
– 1. Overall General Health Exam
– 2. Medical History
– 3. Disposition (including libido)
– 4. Physical exam of Reproductive anatomy
– 5. Physiological exam
• Observation of Breeding Process
• Semen Evaluation

6. Semen Evaluation
• Volume of semen per ejaculate
• Concentration of sperm in semen
• PH of semen
• Motility of sperm cells
• Morphology of sperm cells
• Live – Dead Ratio
• Longevity
• Contamination [wbc’s (puss) or rbc’s (blood)
present]

7. Semen Evaluation

8. Normal Semen Parameters
• Volume - 30 to 250 milliliters
• Concentration – 30 to 600 million per ml.
• PH – 6.9 to 7.8
• Morphology – at least 65% normal
• Live/Dead count – At least 65% live cells
• Motility – at least 40-50% active motility
• Longevity – At least 40 -50% live after 3 hrs,
and 10% live after 8hours (at room temp.)

9. Stallion Vices Dangerous to
Handler or Mare
• Overly aggressive behavior (savaging)
• Biting (muzzle or protective leather pad for
mare)
• Rearing
• Striking

10. Stallion Biting

11. Breeding Vices

12. Vices Dangerous to Stallion
Self Mutilation
– Muzzle or neck cradle
– Increased exercise
– Companion (goat)
Cribbing or windsucking
– cribbing strap
– Plenty of long stem roughage
Weaving
– Exercise
– Obstruction in path

13. Stallion Cribbing

14. Vices Detrimental to Breeding
 Slow Breeder (need for extended stimulation
for erection and mounting or repeated mounts to
ejaculate)
–Improper prior breeding training
–Overly rough handling
–Overuse of stallion
–Prior bad experience in breeding shed
Masturbation (boredom or excess libido)
– exercise or prevent isolation
– stallion ring or wire brush on belly

15. Lip Chain on Stallion

16. Normal Breeding Behavioral
Parameters

17. Number of Mounts per Ejaculate
1.5

18. Average Time to Mount
5 seconds to 3 minutes

19. Average time to Ejaculate
20 seconds to 1 minute

20. Breeding Time
From onset of sexual stimulation to completion of breeding
45 seconds to 5 minutes

21. % of mares pregnant in season
65 – 90%

22. % of mares foaling in a season
45 – 80 %

23. Number of Covers per Week
• Hand Breeding
– 6-8 per week
• Artificial Insemination
- Every other day collection is the norm
• Pasture Breeding ??????

24. Number in Foal per Season
Hand Breeding - 40 to 50
Artificial Insemination – 200 to 300
Pasture Breeding – 20 to 25

25. Isn’t Breeding Horses Fun