hand vs pasture breeding

[summerhorse]

I knew that there are some people out there that did pasture breeding and was just wondering why some people went that route.

The answer to that question is that it's easier. I also know some people who think horses do better in a more natural herd-type environment.

As Gerry said, the downside is that you don't have an exact cover date. But, of the people I know who pasture breed, none of them really make an effort to be present when the mare foals. All of them have a foal loss rate that is higher than I would be okay with.

I'll share a story that made me second guess pasturing breeding for myself:

Last year, a couple of naughty open mares got loose and broke into the teaser's paddock. The teaser is actually a QH show stallion who does double duty and is housed in a five board stallion paddock. These slutty girls kicked down the top three boards and apparently jumped over the bottom two to get in with him (I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it!). Both were in heat, but this normally mild mannered stallion literally attacked one of them. When I found them, he was grabbing her by the throat and trying to shake her. The other mare was freaking out and was double barrelling him in the privates. They were all dripping with sweat and bloody.

I, naturally, was by myself. I got the kicking mare caught and pulled out of the field but while I was doing that, the stallion got the other mare down and was striking her. I had to beat him off of her with a piece of broken fence board - which was handy since the rotten mares broke the boards when they kicked through - amazing no one got seriously hurt in that part of the stunt.

I was certain we had serious injuries, but everyone was fine and neither of the mares was bred, either. Just some scrapes and minor bite marks. I was really, really lucky. But, it really turned me off of the idea of pasture breeding. I'm sure this was probably a freak situation and the stallion was worked up from having his fence kicked down, but it scared me enough to make me very hesitant about turning mares out with a stallion deliberately.

Wow, what a traumatic experience. It isn't typical of horses that are pasture bred but it sure shows the need for strong fences though!! Stallions kept apart can be quite aggressive and territorial which overcomes their sexual desire sometimes. This is the type of stallion that is not a good candidate for pasture breeding unless you want to train him with say a group of draft cross mares who are bigger and meaner than he is. And you don't mind him oh, breaking a leg or his privates! As noted above some horses are just antisocial!

But other stallions take to it like a duck to water. No problem. It all depends on the individuals involved (animal and human).

Pasture breeding is quite common with other breeds (read horses not worth millions or even hundreds of thousands) and a good manager knows his horses and probably is just as good at pinpointing the dates as most hand breeders. You can always put markers on your stallions or mares to show they have been mounted but unless they are on a thousand acres and everybody at the farm works dawn til dusk most people can observe when mares come in and out of heat.

[valerie]

I also pasture breed. My mares are out with the horse from about April 15th until about the end of June. During the off season, he is kept in a huge lot with an old companion mare or an old gelding. I know longer stand him to the public for this reason but my life is a lot simpler. He is happier and I have found that mares that I have purchased that were problem breeders seem to get in foal easier this way. My horse has never hurt any of the foals that are out with him, I foal all my mares in foaling paddocks with 3 sided sheds in them. He has had some lumps and scrapes but is really good with the mares and his attitude changed so much that I could not believe it. He was so rank at the track, his full brother is a mess to be around (from what I have heard) and in the begining when I was hand breeding him I thought he would be just like him but since I put him with the girls and a constant companion he almost acts like an old lead pony.

[soundfast]

My stallion pasture breeds and is with his mare 24/7 all year round. His first Thoroughbred mare was killed by a bad excuse for a vet when she had a problem delivering her foal. She thought my stallion was the most wonderful creature on earth. After she passed I did not get another mare till late that year and she was in foal already. He had my old mare until then. He had to win over the new mare which took about a day.They had acres to roam on after their initial meeting with her in a pen. He is a good father to the foal which is a filly. I have watched them breed. This years foal was unfortunately stillborn. My mare is an alpha type and they make a good pair. He frequently tells her how beautiful she is and kisses her. He makes sure she is ready before he mounts. The old mare got bred also last year but she is too old to have a foal. He would not harm a mare and he knows enough to be careful of himself and her. Handbreeding could be just as dangerous or more dangerous if the mare is not wearing "booties" to protect the stallion from kicks or breeding hobbles. Some stallions should be muzzled because they are prone to biting mares. One stallion I read about was euthanized after attacking a person who was leading him away from a mare. If my stallion were to have an outside mare I would prefer to hand breed and keep her away from the other horses. I wish the Jockey Club would allow AI which is safer for everybody.

[Shammy Davis]

I pasture breed. My only thought on this subject is that for the best results when pasture breeding the stallion must be in excellent health and physical condition prior to the introduction of the mares. Because the mares are normally in the pasture throughout the breeding season, if the stallion is ill or physically off, the productivity of the mares will be low. I am sure this is case with in-hand breeding also, but in a herd environment it is often difficult to tell if the stallion is off because he is not handled on a daily basis. We start legging up our stallion in late winter and we introduce the mares in March. Most foals arrive from late Feb. to late May which is good timing for us. As aside, I have never had problems with major injury in our pasture breeding program. The mares normally know how to handle themselves and so does our stallion. I more frightened about myself. There are times I wish I had 360 degree peripheral vision. Especially during feeding time.