To Breed to Breed? Or Not

Learn the crucial questions you should answer before deciding to breed your mare.

- Barb Crabbe

YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BREED YOUR MARE. She’s beautiful, sweet, and has been the perfect companion over the years. Now she’s 16 years old, and if you don’t breed her soon, it might be too late. Of course, you don’t have any trace of her registration papers, she has a clubfoot, and she’s hard to keep sound…oh, and you’ve never raised a foal on your own. Maybe you want to breed your mare…but should you?

That scenario might seem extreme, but it brings up the question of your desire versus the realities of breeding. The decision to breed a mare isn’t one to take lightly—it can be expensive and risky to bring a foal into the world, especially at a time when the plight of the unwanted horse continues to be one of the biggest problems the horse world faces.

With that in mind, there are some serious ethical questions to consider before you breed your mare. In this article, I’ll ask you six important, tough questions to help you decide whether breeding your mare is the right thing to do. Answer them honestly and thoughtfully, and you’ll arrive at the best answer for yourself, your mare, and your possible-foal-to-be. 

Can You Afford It?