Horse Studs: How to Choose the Right One For Your Mare

Breeding a foal can be one of the most exciting times in a horse owner’s life. You have the ideal broodmare, you have your eye on a couple of stallions that will complement her, and you have all the facilities set up at home to accommodate a proud mother and her youngster’s first wobbly explorations. However, it has to be remembered that these are not the only aspects that need to be considered when planning a mare’s pregnancy. The horse studs, the yards where the stallions reside, have to be of sufficient quality as well. This is vital whether your mare will be remaining there for the duration of her pregnancy or is simply visiting for a few hours or a couple of days.

When it comes to the horse stud you leave your mare at, never accept second best. Do make sure you visit each stud and stallion in person, if at all possible. This not only gives you a better idea of the stud’s level of service and expertise, but also allows you to see the stallion in the flesh. Up close, he might not be all that you imagined from the glossy magazine photos. Always trust your first impressions of a place, as those instincts are very often accurate. Make the most of the time you have visiting each horse stud as you will usually only have a relatively short time to ask questions, form your opinions and decide which of the horse studs is best for you and your broodmare.

Before you even look at the horse studs, make sure you know exactly how much you will be paying as there is where a lot of novice breeders get caught out. The stud fee only covers the stallion serving your mare- ask the horse studs to tell you exactly what other costs would be involved, preferably on paper. How much are livery charges? Will there be a groom’s fee? Do they offer a No Foal No Fee or a No Foal Free Return option?

If you can’t see evidence of the following points when you arrive at a stud, it might be worth looking elsewhere. Every respectable horse stud should be able to offer:

Knowledgeable, helpful staff’Good quality grazing and well maintained pastureland.Safe fencing (preferably post and rail- although check that the wood is in acceptable condition, no splintering, protruding nails or warped, weak looking spots).Have a look at the stallions and other horses on the property. Are they in good weight and overall condition? Do they seem happy and alert? Or are they listless with dull coats?The horse studs should have a specific place to examine mares- somewhere safe that the vet can use to carry out pregnancy tests etc.They should be able to provide evidence of an experienced visiting specialist stud vet.Good stud hygiene and cleanliness should be evident.Last but certainly not least- they should provide customer service that is polite, helpful and consistent.Most well known, established horse studs will have good facilities available and will conduct themselves in a reliable, professional manner. This level of service is what they have built their reputations upon. Consequently, they understand the importance of keeping their tools up to date and having experienced staff on hand. These horse studs usually demand slightly higher livery and stud fees, due to the amount of money they invest into their facilities. While it might take a little longer to save up, it can mean greater peace of mind in the long run, as you know your mare will be well cared for.

That’s not to say that a lesser-known horse stud can’t come up trumps. You simply might have to do a little more of your own homework as a younger yard won’t have had time to build up a widespread positive reputation just yet. If you put the work in, you will track down a suitable horse stud in no time, and be confident that you and your mare will receive the best service possible.

Search our Horse Studs and Stallions at stud directory listings here

The Benefits Of Horse Shelters

For as long as equines have been domesticated, horse and pony owners have looked for ways to keep them warm, safe and protected from the elements. In the wild, horses will search out places to shelter when the weather is too hot, cold, wet or they simply need somewhere secure to rest. However, this is often not possible for domesticated equines, unless they are lucky enough to reside in a paddock lined with mature trees and bushes. Consequently, for the domesticated animal, horse shelters can be hugely beneficial for their health, comfort and wellbeing.

There are a variety of types of horse shelters to choose from, depending on the climate, budget and the terrain it will be built upon. One of the most common choices is a lean-to horse shelter, consisting of three walls, a pitched roof, and one open side. The popularity of this particular option is probably down to its simplicity and cost effectiveness. Horse shelters can either be bought pre-made or constructed by the horse or pony owner. They can also come as portable shelters which can be handy if the structure needs to be dragged around to different locations. Moving the shelter around helps with hygiene and is useful if flooding does become a problem. Whether the individual decides to go down the DIY or pre-built design route will depend on just how handy they are with a hammer and nails.

Once the style of horse shelter has been decided on, the details can be decided. The material used is usually wood as metal can get too hot and can also be noisy in bad weather. The size of the shelter will be dictated by the number of horses that will be using it. There needs to be enough space for all of the horses to stand and lie comfortably in it and the entrance must be adequately wide, so that more dominant horses can’t stop others from entering. A recommended size is about 100 sq. ft. (9 sq m) per horse. However, if a larger area can be provided, it is worth doing so. The more assertive equines can make it difficult for others to stay in the shelter if there is limited space.

After the design has been sorted out, the location of the shelter can be considered. It is important that the shelter is placed in an area of the field that will not flood. The back wall should face the prevailing wind and the shelter should be positioned well away from gates or fences. This makes cleaning easier and means there is plenty of room for horses to both enter and exit the shelter.

Once the shelter is complete, it is important to assess the structure for any sharp edges or protrusions that could harm the horse should it rub or brush up against it. Check for nails, screws, edges of metal siding, pieces of rough wood that might be sticking out and any other dangerous obstacles.

Horse shelters can be a useful investment, as well as a high-value, budget friendly one considering the amount of use the average shelter will get in its lifetime. Horses and ponies are able to keep dry during bad weather, reducing the risk of rain scald, mud fever and other conditions associated with the wet and cold. They will also keep warmer, making it easier for them to keep condition on and meaning less rugs and covers are required. In the summer, a horse can retreat to the shade offered by a good horse shelter, resulting in less overheating, heat rashes and sunburn on horses with white markings and pink skin. In short, they can be a horse or pony owner’s best friend and are well worth considering when deciding how an equine will be kept and what buildings are required to keep them comfortable.

How To Feed A Horse Or Pony During Winter?

With the warmer months slowly coming to an end, it is time to start considering winter horse feeds. The horse or pony’s requirements will be slightly different during the colder part of the year. One of the most significant changes is that they will be expending more energy keeping warm and dry, especially if they are being turned away without a rug.

It is vital to keep checking an equine’s health and weight throughout winter. This is particularly important if the horse is not being brought in everyday. Unless the horse is closely examined on a fairly regular basis, weight and horse feed problems can be difficult to spot under layers of thick winter coat or rugs.

During winter, grass loses its nutritional value. Even if paddocks contain lots of grass, it will probably not be great quality so owners must buy plenty of top notch hay or add something like Fiberpro to their usual horse feeds.

Any horse that is staying out will need extra rations. Not many horses will get through a winter in good health without hard feed, even if they are out of work. Most horse feed companies and equine nutritionists will be able to offer advice on how much horse feed a particular individual will need over winter. It is well worth getting a professional’s opinion if you can as they will set you firmly on the right path. One of the key things to remember is that fibre should make up the bulk of the horse feeds. Chaff or sugar beet, added to the grain or premixed feed; will keep the horse’s digestive system in top shape. Digesting the fibre will also help keep the horse warm.

Another thing that should not be overlooked is the horse’s water intake over winter. Dehydration and impaction colic can be an issue over winter as horse’s can be reluctant to drink when the water in their trough is icy cold. Often, it isn’t even possible for them to access water because their water bucket is frozen over. To encourage horses to drink the appropriate amount (12-15 gallons per day), try offering them tepid water. Warmer water will be more appealing to the horse, meaning they drink more and don’t suffer from any complications associated with not drinking enough. Even if you think the horse is healthy, don’t stop monitoring the amount of water they are taking in. It is far better to identify and deal with problems early on, than further down the track.

Along with all the aforementioned horse feed requirements, paying attention to every other area of the horse’s health will ensure that they remain in good shape throughout winter. Regular worming and teeth rasping will mean that the money spent on horse feeds is not wasted.