What the novice Horse Breeder should consider before Breeding - For any proud horse owner there comes a time when you want to mate your stallion or mare. This is an important decision. Be patient. Be prepared. You've taken a good look at your mare and believe that she is good mating material. Plus, you are rather fond of the idea of having a baby around. It is time to begin the long, but rewarding task of find a stud for your mare. While it may be a charming idea to let nature take its course and allow your mare to graze freely with the stud of your choice, it is always best, for the novice breeder, to seek professional advice beforehand and assistance during the mating.

Overo Lethal White Syndrome - What could be worse than having your mare give birth to a gorgeous, pure white foal, and to find out it is as good as dead. This is what has plagued the APHA industry for many years. Once the foal is born, it can take up to several hours or even a day before there are signs that something is wrong. For one, the foal will not pass any fecal matter. Abdominal cramping begins and the foal will start to colic. Basically, the foal has an un-relievable constipation. Rolling around only further worsens the situation by causing the foals intestines to twist, putting it in even more pain.

Back Yard Breeding - Doing more Harm than Good? - Everyone loves foals! And what could be better than having your own to imprint and train and whatnot, especially if this foal is out of your beloved mare. It is a warming thought to know that you will still have a part of your mare once she has expired. Unless you plan to keep that foal for the entire length of its life, careful thought should be put into breeding to ensure that if you ever do want/need to sell this horse, it has desirable features.