What mare owners should know about artificial insemination.

By Dr. Thomas R. Lenz

Today’s mare owner has more breeding options than ever before. One of the options is artificial insemination with cooled/shipped semen, making it possible to breed your mare to any stallion in the country, without her leaving your property.

Shipping cooled semen from the stud farm to the mare allows owners to control mare care and reduce transportation costs. Because the mare (and her foal) remains at home, there is less danger of injury or illness that might be encountered on a broodmare farm. In addition, mares in training or competition can be bred without interrupting their schedule.

The downside of using cooled/shipped semen is that it places much more responsibility on the mare owner. When your mare is sent to a broodmare farm, the farm accepts all responsibility for determining when she is in heat and getting her pregnant. Breeding with cooled/shipped semen is also more management-intensive for the mare owner than with on-site broodmare farm mating, because the mare owner is responsible for determining the precise day on which to breed.

Get AQHA’s FREE Artificial Insemination Fact Sheet for more information about this breeding option.

A few things to remember when considering artificial insemination for your mare:

• Book a stallion that has a proven record of providing semen that cools and ships well. Not all stallions do.

• Ask the stallion manager who will cover the cost of stallion collection and semen shipping.

• Read the breeding contract carefully to ensure that you understand your responsibilities as a mare owner and any guarantees being made by the breeder.

• Have a detailed reproductive examination done before breeding season to ensure that she is healthy and fit to breed.

• Visit with your veterinarian about the best method to monitor your mare for heat and the associated costs of monitoring her.

Learn more with AQHA’s detailed Artificial Insemination Fact Sheet. Share this FREE resource with your friends!