How To Treat A Breeding Stallion
By — — Posted in Racing Horse Health
Owning and effectively managing a breeding stallion is a big job that needs to be handled correctly. Many of these magnificent creatures can be quite highly strung and need to be treated with care and respect. This why it’s so important to look after them properly all year round and not just think about them when it’s breeding season.
If a breeding stallion isn’t cared for correctly, it can easily have some major problems when it comes time to pair him with a mare. He could turn aggressive or go the complete opposite direction and show no interest in mating whatsoever. Treat him well and you are far more likely to see success each year.
It’s Starts With Diet
What you feed your breeding stallion is essential. Many people believe that you need to feed them more during mating season than you would throughout the rest of the year. It’s possible that they expend a little bit more energy and need to see that topped up in diet. However, the science shows that their requirements are so similar throughout the year that it’s best to not up their food intake during mating season as a matter of course.
Instead, you should have a program for monitoring your stallion’s body condition and adapt or modify their diet based on what you see in front of you. It’s quite common to see an overweight stallion during mating season, and this is not appealing to buyers and mare owners. If you want to increase anything in their diet during mating season, look for food rich with vitamin A as that is good for the time period.
The Impact Of Exercise And Housing
A healthy, virile stallion needs proper exercise and stimulation in its life. Horses generally love to be out in the open and free to graze and move about. This is part of their natural lifestyle. If you are able to provide this type of living and exercise, you are far more likely to have a fertile breeding stallion that will perform when you need him to.
Always create an exercise plan that is tailored to your stallion’s personality. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to keeping fit and healthy. Your aim should always be to maintain an overall level of fitness that is needed for regular visits to the breeding shed during the on season. This means the regime should be the same throughout the year and not just focused on the build up to mating season.
Free exercise in a paddock all day, every day is great if you have the space and the weather allows for it. However, this is not always possible. You should schedule a turn-out session once a day at least, and other forced exercise options up to six times a week. This can include going on outrides, lunging sessions, or using a jog cart. Try not to go over a slow canter for the most part because you aren’t training for a race but rather general wellness.
About Doreen Cohen
