Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses. Furthermore, modern breeding management and technologies can increase the rate of conception, a healthy pregnancy, and successful foaling.
Terminology The male parent of a horse, a stallion, is commonly known as its sire and the female parent, the mare, is called its dam. A "foal" is a newly born or very young horse of either sex, a "colt" is a young male horse, and a "filly" is a young female. Though many horse owners might breed their mare to a local stallion in order to produce a companion animal, most professional breeders use selective breeding to produce horses of a given type or breed. Usually a horse is considered "bred" where it is born, not where a mating takes place, though some breeds denote the country or state where conception took place as the origin of the foal. The "breeder", is the person who owned or leased the mare at the time of foaling. That individual may not have had anything to do with the mating of the mare. The term "half-brother" or "half-sister" usually only describes horses which have the same dam, but different sires, while horses with the same sire but different dams are said to be "by the same sire", with no sibling relationship is implied. "Full" (or "own") siblings have both the same dam and the same sire. The terms paternal half-sibling, and maternal half-sibling are also often used. Three-quarter siblings are horses out of the same dam, and are by sires that are either half-brothers (i.e. same dam) or who are by the same sire. Thoroughbreds and Arabians are also classified through the "distaff" or direct female line, known as their "family" or "tail-female" line, tracing back to their foundation bloodstock or the beginning of their respective stud books. The female line of descent always appears at the bottom of a tabulated pedigree and is therefore often known as the bottom line. In addition, the maternal grandfather of a horse has a special term: damsire. "Linebreeding" technically is the duplication of fourth-generation or more distant ancestors. However, the term is often used more loosely, describing horses with duplication of ancestors closer than the fourth generation. It also is sometimes used as a euphemism for inbreeding, a practice that is generally frowned upon by horse breeders, though used by some in an attempt to change certain traits.
Estrous cycle of the mare
Effects on the reproductive system during the estrous cycle Changes in hormone levels can have great effects on the physical characteristics of the reproductive organs of the mare, thereby preparing, or preventing, her from conceiving.
Uterus: increased levels of estrogen during estrus cause edema within the uterus, making it feel heavier, and the uterus loses its tone. This edema decreases following ovulation, and the muscular tone increases. High levels of progesterone do not cause edema within the uterus. The uterus becomes flaccid during anestrus. Cervix: the cervix starts to relax right before estrus occurs, with maximal relaxation around the time of ovulation. The secretions of the cervix increase. High progesterone levels (during diestrus) cause the cervix to close and become toned. Vagina: the portion of the vagina near the cervix becomes engorged with blood right before estrus. The vagina becomes relaxed and secretions increase. Vulva: relaxes right before estrus begins. Becomes dry, and closes more tightly, during diestrus.
Hormones involved in the estrous cycle, during foaling, and after birth The cycle is controlled by several hormones which regulate the estrous cycle, the mare's behavior, and the reproductive system of the mare. The cycle begins when the increased day length causes the pineal gland to reduce the levels of melatonin, thereby allowing the hypothalamus to secrete GnRH.
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