What is Horse Breeding?

Horse breeding is selecting specific horses for their particular traits and mating them with the hopes of producing a favorable offspring. Horse breeding has been done for thousands of years and for a variety of reasons. Modern technology has allowed for even more manipulation in the reproduction of horses.

History

The first evidence of planned, organized and documented horse breeding goes back to 1300 A.D. and was conducted by the Bedouin who bred Arabian horses. However, evidence suggests that horse breeding, albeit in a much casual manner, goes back thousands of years before that.

Why People Breed Horses

People sometimes breed horses for very simple reasons; they want more horses.  The horses’ particular traits and characteristics may not be very important. People who want horses for a particular reason like racing, showing, riding or performing may need specific traits in their horse.  A person who wants a show horse would undoubtedly be more interested in the bloodline and aesthetics of horse. While a person who wants a race horse would be more interested in the performance of the horse and the traits desired while breeding would correlate with the horse’s intended use.

Modern Technology and Horse Breeding

When horse breeding first began, breeders were dependent on what they could observe with their eyes to classify a horses traits. Now, DNA testing allows breeders to know even more about a particular breed and individual horses.

Modern technology has also allowed breeders to use surrogate horses to carry the foal of another horse. This is extremely beneficial. It allows an owner to have full use of their horse without downtime while their horse is in foal (pregnant).  Artificial insemination as greatly improved with today's technology and also advanced the business of horse breeding.