The first mating of horses. The horse mating process from A to Z: what do horse owners need to know? Methods of controlled mating

Mating is the most important natural function of animals for the reproduction of their own kind, necessary for the continued existence of the species. In horse breeding, this function is considered as an obligatory selective aspect necessary for the development and breeding of new breeds. If insemination is successful, the stallion's sperm should fertilize the mare's egg and create a new life. Currently, science has discovered the possibility of the following process: artificial insemination of mares. We will reveal the features of this method of insemination in our article.

The procedure begins in the spring and will continue until the first half of the year. There is only one male in the herd, and for one male there are ten females (no more than twelve), which is important for preserving the quality of the offspring. The leader protects the livestock, protects them from dangers, and marks the mares. One of them is the alpha female, she stands out from the rest, she guides the entire herd, selects pastures, and during mating it is the alpha female that is more popular among the males from among the rest. Often, a horse even marks females from his own herd.

Males of absolutely all artiodactyls are ready to mate at any time, while females are ready only during the “hunt”.

The process of natural insemination in horses can occur several times a day. In some cases, the stallion, under the influence of sexual instincts, seeks to cover the female, even if she is not ready for reproduction. In this case, insemination will be unsuccessful and early estrus will occur.

Males instinctively sense the proximity of the period of sexual heat in mares. During this period of time, the forerunners, stallions, follow the mares on their heels, as if caring for them: they bite their necks, sniff them. If estrus occurs and fertilization becomes feasible, the female raises her tail, sets her hind limbs wide, bends her chest slightly to the ground, opening her genitals for the male to see.

During estrus, a large amount of specific mucous secretions are released from the vagina, urination and “sparkling” are often acceptable. This brightly accentuated sexual scent attracts the male. Young females, feeling such an unusual natural dependence on sexual intimacy with a male for the first time, stop resisting and become quiet. The “hunt” can last from one to three days. In order to guarantee fertilization, it is generally accepted to breed a mare with a stallion the very next day after she goes into heat.

How does insemination occur?

During mating, the horse's penis becomes erect - this is a signal that the horse is ready for insemination.
The male jumps on top of the horse, covers it with his forelimbs and immediately enters, after which he fills the mare's vagina with his sperm.
Mating lasts from twelve to sixteen seconds (with the most optimistic combination of factors, fertilization then occurs).

In some cases, young males fail at their first attempts at coitus. Due to lack of experience, they can make various mistakes: they sit on the horse not from the back, but from the side, they are often too restless, and sometimes premature ejaculation occurs. However, they learn from their mistakes quite quickly, and on the next attempt the unlucky male will do everything right.

Preparing for mating

For reproduction, applicants with the appropriate characteristics are specially sought:

optimal performance;
good appearance;
thoroughbred;
high genetic indicators.

The characteristics of a stallion may be higher than those of a mare. A few months before the planned mating, nutritious and vitamin-rich food is included in the horses' menu, care for the horses becomes more serious, and a week before insemination, a full check of the semen and examination of the mare's genitals is carried out.

When animals are finally brought together, the methods of reproduction themselves are also different. The most popular methods are manual, boiling and jointing methods. However, they all have one thing in common: unlike artificial insemination, here you only observe and direct the reproduction process, and in principle the animals mate in an absolutely natural way.

Types of horse mating

Video - How to properly cover a horse

Artificial insemination

Artificial insemination (AI) is the forceful introduction by a person of a male’s seed into the female’s reproductive tract. These technologies are spreading in livestock farming (and in particular in horse breeding) as an effective replacement for natural mating.

Artificial insemination today is an important standardized tool for the implementation of breeding programs. The main actions for organizing the AI process in Russia are carried out primarily by specialized federal organizations for implementing measures for insemination of farm animals. However, if you are an individual and would like to learn more about the artificial insemination process, the rest of this article will provide advice on the topic, based on expert advice, so that your next artificial insemination project will be as successful as possible.

Finding the right mare

First of all, regardless of the age of the horse, it must be tested for reproductive fitness (regardless of its age). Initially, a strict check of the genitals is carried out, which is quite sufficient for young mares. During this process, a veterinarian checks her for the presence of malformations or dysfunction of the cervix.

The doctor should regularly conduct examinations of the uterus of mares, including material from the uterine cavity (cytological examination of the smear) of mares of all ages, while for older horses it is also important to carry out a biopsy of the uterus in combination with basic measures to identify and monitor any changes fertility.

Horses that have not yet given birth are a special risk group, especially if they are of advanced age. Their uterine lining, the endometrium, because they have not used it, deteriorates over time and their uterus can no longer dilate to the same extent as younger mares in heat. Although these mares can still be bred quite successfully, uterine treatment may be required. Therefore, they are usually highly undesirable targets for insemination with frozen sperm.

Find the right male

Ask stud owners about the stallion's fertility, asking for results from any tests on the quality of their semen. You should always find out what will happen if the mare does not get pregnant. Some stud farms, however, offer a kind of “stallion guarantee,” meaning they will refund the price of the stallion, or at least part of the price, if she is unable to produce a foal from him.

About a month before the start of mating, stallions are subjected to a veterinary and sanitary examination of the condition of the genital organs, and the semen is also checked several times in a row with a break of one day. The most important are the semen parameters obtained on the third day of the veterinary examination.

Standardized indicators when studying a stallion's semen are the initial sperm activity of at least five points, their concentration in one 1 milliliter of semen is 250 million (or more) when studied during the stallion's long rest period after mating, or 150 - 250 million sperm with constant checks of properties seed.

In the glucose-yolk space, sperm survival at temperatures up to +4˚C is 6-8 days.

With proper care and a combination of the right diet (including following the right diet) for the stallion, the properties of the semen and their fertilizing qualities automatically improve.

It is usually advised to provide males with a daily cage with one “day off” once a week. Secondary cages are allowed in rare cases. For young and more mature horses, the sexual load is reduced to 4-5 cages per week. The intervals between them should be observed at least within a full day, i.e. twenty four hours. You should not use a young horse as testing material.

Select the appropriate seed condition

There are pros and cons to each type of semen (fresh, refrigerated or frozen) that must be weighed against the reproductive abilities of your mare or stallion.

But not all stallions can provide frozen or chilled semen as material. In approximately 20% of bred stallions, its properties can simply prevent treatment at low temperatures. Although in some cases, special preparations can dilute and nourish the seminal fluid, thereby also improving its survival. However, if the stallion is included in this 20%, then most likely it should still be inseminated with fresh fluid.

If you want to deliver seed from one country to another, then you may also face problems. Different countries have different requirements for testing loaded semen for contagious equine metritis and other sexually transmitted diseases. Although most countries require breeders to label the stallion's health status and test its semen before shipment.

Select a method to obtain a seed

In horse breeding, there are various methods for obtaining seminal fluid:

Urethral. The most common is the urethral method of collecting material from a stallion, which involves the use of an artificial vagina, the design of which is a galvanized iron cylinder with a diameter of 13 centimeters with a pipe in the middle and a rubber sperm tank. The cylinder is tapered on one side, and in such a way that the other side ends in the form of another cylinder, smaller in diameter. The length of the second cylinder is 7.5 centimeters, the diameter is 8.7 centimeters, the neck is 4.5 centimeters, and the length of the entire unit is 54 centimeters. The rubber bladder is pulled along the length of the cylinder and secured using special fastening rings. The cylinder also has a pipe with a screw-off plug and an iron bracket. The sperm tank is attached to the cylinder using a clamp. Heated water is poured into the opening between the outer and inner walls of the sperm tank from special holes. This design of the sperm tank perfectly maintains temperature and pressure and prevents any problems associated with sudden changes in temperature conditions.
Vaginal. The essence of this method, which was previously used in horse breeding and was also known as the “sponge” method, is to use a sponge, which is first processed and then gradually inserted into the mare’s vagina during the heat period, after which mating is allowed. After ejaculation, the sponge is pulled out of the vagina, and the seed, which the male released during the process of reproduction and which was absorbed into the sponge, is squeezed out with a special press or simply with his hands. However, practical observation and experience have reliably shown that this technique has a number of significant disadvantages: the sponge, as an external body, can slow down the process of ejaculation, which helps to reduce sexual reflexes and can also affect the decrease in its overall volume; further, the technology for preparing material for a sponge is quite expensive and requires appropriate processing; at the same time, the number of sperm decreases, their activity, concentration and survival rate sharply deteriorate due to the fact that during compression of the sponge they are severely damaged; Also, a sponge inserted into the genital organ of an animal during estrus can absorb a large amount of mucus and secretions characteristic of this period, which has an extremely negative effect on the quality of the semen.

Methods of artificial insemination of a mare

When a mare is inseminated, the sperm descends into the uterus, that is, the seminal fluid actually flows into the uterine cavity. In modern practice, mainly two methods of introducing seminal fluid are used: the first is manual, and the second is visual. The ampoule method is also used when it comes to imported seed.

At manual method a catheter is required, as well as a medical syringe with a capacity of 30 to 50 milliliters, or an ampoule. A catheter is a tube made of thick, soft rubber with limited internal space. Its leading end tapers, and the rear end has a ring-shaped protrusion and an expanded channel opening through which it meets the needle part of the syringe. The catheter is inserted into the vagina manually. First, the cervix is determined with a finger, and then with this same finger the catheter moves further along the uterine canal, ten to twelve centimeters. A syringe with seminal fluid is attached to the catheter with a special coupling, after which it can be safely injected directly into the uterus through a tube. The proportion of diluted or undiluted sperm is thirty ml, while 35 to 40 milliliters are administered to horses of walking breeds, as well as horses during the first period after birth. In situations where the number of females exceeds the number of males, and the supply of seminal fluid is strictly limited, the dose of injected semen is reduced to twenty ml - this dose is considered the minimum permissible.
Visual method involves the use of a catheter made of glass or ebonite, about 50 centimeters long, honey. syringe, as well as a special mirror. A disinfected vaginal speculum must be inserted into the vagina and placed in such a way that the uterus is clearly visible during examination. Under visual inspection, the tube is directed into the fallopian canal. After this, a syringe is attached to the glass catheter. If in this situation you use an ebonite-type catheter, then it should be secured with a steel clamp with a syringe in advance.
Ampoule method used if imported sperm is used in artificial insemination. A glass ampoule with a capacity of thirty milliliters is intended to be a reservoir for transporting seminal fluid, and at the same time a device for its introduction into the mare’s uterus. To inseminate a mare, the cap is removed from the narrowed end of the ampoule, and instead of it, a rubber tube is put on, equipped with a filter consisting of a tube with an inclusion in which a piece of cotton wool is inserted. A rubber bulb is inserted into the open end of the tube in advance, with the help of which the sperm is squeezed out of the ampoule by air currents that are pushed out by the bulb. In your left hand you should hold the ampoule prepared for administration with a rubber tube put on, the open end up, from which the cap is removed. The right hand is inserted into the vestibule of the vagina, after which the ampoule is moved into it with the other hand so that it fits completely in the palm, and at the same time the opening of the ampoule can be closed with the index finger. After which the blunt end of the ampoule is directed with the right hand into the cervical canal. By moving the fingers of your right hand and at the same time moving the rubber tube with your left hand, pushing the ampoule into the cervix to an approximate depth of nine to ten centimeters. Then, slightly tilting the ampoule down, the syringe contracts, and the seminal fluid, under air pressure, bursts into the uterus. After this, the ampoule is returned. Before the first injected dose and after every third and fourth insemination, a semen sample must be taken from the catheter and sperm activity must be checked in the laboratory.

Undiluted sperm is consumed on average in about half an hour after collection. In cases where the AI process is delayed and is calculated over a longer period, the seed is certainly diluted.

It is very important to maintain absolute sterility during procedures to prevent the penetration of microorganisms into the sperm. During transitions between animals, good AI operators flambé the vaginal speculum or keep it in boiling water for three to four minutes. Rubber tubes and catheters are thoroughly wiped with cotton swabs soaked in 65-degree alcohol, or passed through boiled water.

If alcohol or alcohol-based liquids are used for disinfection, care must be taken to ensure that they do not get inside the tubes. If the insemination operator carries out any manual manipulations inside the horse’s vagina, then when changing animals, the operator’s hands should be wiped up to the shoulder with cotton wool soaked in rectified alcohol.

Video - Manual AI method

Estimation of sperm concentration

Seminal fluid is diluted three to five times during AI. Undiluted seed should be used no later than thirty minutes after receiving it. Sperm activity in thick semen stops after three to four hours. With the seed of one male, up to three hundred females can be artificially inseminated in one breeding season; about four horses can be inseminated from one equestrian ejaculation, and in a normal, diluted state - up to twenty at once. When insemination is used:

fresh sperm - undiluted (sperm activity is not less than five points, their concentration is not less than 150 million in 1 milliliter);
freshly collected sperm, which was diluted in a ratio of 1/3 (sperm activity is not less than five, concentration when diluted is not less than forty million 1 milliliter).

During AI, 20-30 milliliters of semen are injected into the uterus of each horse.

When preparing for reproduction, they carefully select partners. A mare does not allow a male until she is two years old. The filly's sexual activity phase occurs at three years of age.

In stallions, sexual maturity is noted at one and a half years: they are capable of mating mares. But they advise not to rush - early mating of horses provokes a lag in the development of the horse.

Reproduction of horses in the wild

When living in a natural environment, mating of horses occurs with the arrival of the spring season until mid-summer. As a rule, a herd consists of 12 mares, as well as 1 male. There is certainly an alpha mare in the herd - the leader among the female representatives. Manages the others, is responsible for the grazing area. When breeding horses, the alpha mare is preferred by the leader.

Herd of horses

In addition to guarding the herd, the stallion protects the mares. Marks horses from the herd.

Compared to females, it is constantly ready for intercourse. Mating occurs several times daily. Often the horse covers mares that are not ready to reproduce. In this situation, fertilization will not occur, but it provokes estrus in advance.

The stallion determines the female’s readiness for coitus, so he hangs around her:

sniffs the genitals;
lightly pinches the horse's neck.

Mares also give signs of readiness for insemination:

raise the tail slightly;
tilt their head slightly to the ground;
spread the hind limbs, exposing the vulva;
they squeal quietly.

In addition, vaginal discharge attracts stallions despite removal. Young females, who feel the need to mate for the first time, become quiet. The hunt lasts a maximum of 3 and a minimum of 1 day.
The mating of horses will happen in any case at the level of intuition, in order to preserve the species - this is how horses reproduce in the wild.

Mating under human supervision

Horses are made using various methods. The most well-known methods include manual, as well as shoaling, coupled with the cooking method, which are similar to the wild environment. A person observes and corrects processes. How horses mate in captivity when mares are in heat.

They make suitable pairs and establish the qualities that the offspring require. Careful selection of females for mating determines the characteristics of the offspring. The mare is selected to match the sire or be a little more powerful.

Mating under human supervision

The main thing is that she is not short in stature and frail in relation to a horse, for example, a heavyweight or draft horse. If the plan is a purebred breed, mixing thoroughbred horses of the same species is prohibited. The male necessarily corresponds to the breed that they are trying to breed. From this connection, females are suitable for breeding until their thoroughbred is confirmed. Repeating the operation 8 times with a regular mare guarantees a clean litter.

Manual method

Belongs to the generally established methods of horse breeding. Suitable for keeping animals in stalls. Manual mating of horses ends in fact in 95% of cases with conception and excellent offspring.

Manual method

The couple is prepared ahead of time, introduced, and given the opportunity to sniff each other closely. The manipulation is carried out in a quiet small pen. The ovulating mare is placed in a comfortable position with her hindquarters slightly raised. Hoof removal is carried out in advance. To prevent injury to the inseminating stallion, a breeding harness is used. The filly's tail is fixed and the genitals are washed.

When the horses are ready, natural mating takes place. How long do horses take to mate? Copulation takes 12-16 seconds, sometimes up to 25.

Attention! A foal mare bears offspring for 11 months. As a rule, one foal appears, in rare cases - two.

Cooking method

When keeping herds, the mating of horses is in demand. The breeding horse is launched into a group of 3 to 7 mares. The enclosed area and the peace and quiet of the area determine how horses intercourse.

Cooking method

The horse sets the mares into heat and impregnates them. After the copulation procedure, the horses are released back into the herd.

The jamb method

It is common practice for horses to mate in a herd. Then the females are divided into schools, which include one stallion and 25 mares. The male is in the group during the mating season. Fertility reaches 100%.

Artificial insemination

Large farms and stud farms use artificial insemination. The inseminators administer the semen to the mare. Animals are selected in a standard manner. Advantages of admission:

effective use of male sperm: 1 dose for insemination of 20 mares, 500 per season;
preventing seed stallion exhaustion;
sperm bank preservation;
avoiding infection.

Preparing for mating

If you plan to breed horses, additional feed is included in the diet 1.5-2 months in advance, but the animals are not overfed. Before horses mate, the female reproductive organs are examined and the stallions' sperm are monitored. Collect information about the male's pedigree and inherited diseases.

Additional food is included in the diet

Don’t forget about grooming, which also includes trimming both the horse’s body, mane and tail.

When grooming horses, adhere to the following requirements:

They avoid being tied - the animals are afraid.
Use a chumbur for the horse, holding it during the procedure.
Haircuts are given during the daytime. The days in winter are short, and the process can last for 3 hours.
They check the tools: the machine, the edge of the blades. A cordless machine is preferable, as it ensures freedom of movement and comfort.
The livestock breeder is suitable for overalls, which provide comfort during the work process.
To get the horse used to it, the switched-on device runs idle for a few seconds.
The lower part of the neck or shoulders is the beginning of grooming.
The blades are lubricated after 10 minutes. Remove stuck hair. Check the heating of the mechanism.
The uniformity of pressure and the length of the pass guarantee the uniformity of the cut cover.
If you want to leave the untrimmed area under the saddle, mark the area with chalk in advance.
They systematically sweep away the clipped fur from the horse.
When clipping in the armpit, the horse's leg is raised to tighten the skin, making it easier to clip the hair.
Before manipulation, it is recommended to bandage the tail to prevent hair from getting into the device.
It is more correct to trim the hind legs from the inside on the other side (left leg to right and vice versa).

On a note! Special care is required when grooming to prevent injury to the animal and worker.

Signs of heat in horses

During estrus in mares, mucous discharge comes out of the vagina, and frequent urination is observed. Yellowish mucus of viscous density is characteristic of the entire period of estrus. But in the middle of the cycle the consistency is watery and clear. The female experiences swelling of the vulva, muscle contraction and exposure of the genital organ.

Adult mares become nervous and excited, neigh continuously and do not hide their interest in males. The young animals, on the contrary, become quiet and calm down.

When the male approaches, the mare assumes a pose as if she wants to defecate and urinates a little. This signals that the mares are completely ready for mating.

Sexual heat in horses

The duration of the hunt is from 1 to 3 days, sometimes 5-13 days. Prolonged ovulation and unbridled lust of the mare are associated with dysfunction of the reproductive organs.

If an inexperienced stallion or other reasons are to blame for the failure to fertilize the female, the horses repeatedly attempt mating.

A young horse can impregnate 25 mares, a mature stallion - 2 times more.

When the insemination is successful, the mare does not tolerate a stallion nearby. Ignores the male for a month.

The copulation of horses is valued in preserving the population of the species and breeding purebred animals.

Interspecies crossing of animals

When horses are crossed, animals of different breeds are created. Application: rapid change of breed qualities, obtaining new types of animals.

In addition to regular breeding, horses are used for growing hybrids:

zebroids;
hinnies;
mules

Zebroids

When zebras mate with horses, they produce zebroids. A distinctive feature is that they have higher endurance compared to horses. The property is valued in desert and mountainous areas. The crossbred has a horse-like body and zebroid coloring, which makes the animal adorable. Indispensable in circus shows.

The color of the hybrid is a repetition of the maternal color. Paternal stripes appear on the limbs and neck. Most born zebroids are characterized by weakness and underdevelopment and die after a couple of days.

The animal has an aggressive character and is difficult to train. Zebroids are characterized by sterility. Animals are obtained only by crossing species.

Species characteristics:

ability to work in difficult to reach areas;
hybrids have no offspring;
short stature.

Mules

When a donkey and a horse mate, a mule is produced, which inherits its size from its mother's side and receives good performance and low speed from its father. The animal is valued for its endurance. The trump card is life expectancy, which is higher for a mule than for a horse.

The exterior of a mule reflects the features of a male and female. Typical for mules:

large head dimensions;
elongation of ears;
thin legs;
narrow hooves;
massive neck;
body proportionality;
muscle strength.

Animals of various colors are used for hybridization. The color of a mule is influenced by the mother. When the female mule is spotted, she inherits the piebald coat. The breed of horse significantly affects the size and constitution of the mule. The shape of the head, legs and ears is passed on from the father.

When mules are bred, they produce sterile hybrids. This is explained by the number of chromosomes: a mare has 64, a donkey has 62. In order for the race to continue, a paired chromosome set is required. The mule inherits 63 chromosomes, which interferes with reproduction.

Distinctive species characteristics:

weight ranges from 370-600 kg (determined by the size of the female);
increased performance;
male sterility;
variety of colors, the most common: bay, gray, black.

Hinnies

In contrast to mules, hinnies appear from the mating of horses and donkeys. The hybrid species is not widely distributed due to low operating parameters. Small and hardy horses are not used in the agricultural sector, although horses and hybrids are still in demand today.

In appearance they resemble wild horses: large-headed, with a short mane and neck. The length of the ears is longer than that of horses, but shorter than that of donkeys. Getting a hinny is complicated by the donkey, who is afraid of allowing a horse. Fertilization is rare: differences in the smaller number of chromosomes are allowed in the stallion, but not in the female. The born offspring are weak due to the donkey's short gestation period.

Characteristics of the type:

decreased parental endurance;
height – at the withers up to 152 cm;
resemblance to wild specimens;
conception – 14%.

Reproduction of wild horses

There are many types of horses living in the wild, which differ in color and weight, mane and height, and tail. Among them are:

Przewalski's horse (Orenburg steppes);
heku (reserves of Spain, Italy, Germany);
Camargue (Mediterranean);
tarpana (disappeared in 1814 in Prussia);
mustang (southern and northern regions of America);
Brumby (Australia).

In the wild, horses live in herds that consist of a leader, mares and young animals. The leader is the protector of mares in the herd. However, he is not a leader. The herd is headed by an experienced mare: she looks for pastures and controls order.

Young stallions live in a herd for 3 years. They are then expelled from the herd. They live separately in groups until they form a herd or take away other mares.

The life of horses largely depends on smells. The leader marks the mares so that the stranger does not cover. Females find foals by smell. A kind of mark for a mare and stallion when creating a family and for animals of different breeds.
The mating games involve the strongest males fighting for the mare. The mating season begins in April and ends in the second ten days of June.

In North American and Asian territories, horse families are found: a male, a female with a cub. They live far from the herd on grassy plains, small forests, and steppes.

The mating of horses refers to a natural physiological process that is necessary for the reproduction of their own kind and the preservation of varieties. For horse breeding, this is a component of selection to breed and improve breeds.

The mating process of horses is of great importance for horse breeding. In order to obtain purebred individuals with good characteristics, it is important to study the characteristics of sexual hunting in animals. Today we will talk in more detail about horse mating, how horses reproduce in nature and under human supervision, we will talk about preparing individuals of both sexes for mating and other nuances of this process.

In the natural environment, the mating process in horses begins closer to mid-spring and ends at the very beginning of summer. In a general herd there are usually two main stallions who perform the insemination function. There is also a dominant female, to whom the males pay special attention.

In the wild, instincts are responsible for such processes. Even before the first signs of heat in the mare, the stallion may feel similar changes. However, at such a moment, the female usually does not allow the male to approach her and he will have to make an effort to get her to respond to his advances. The stallion will also need to fight with other contenders.

Sometimes females independently show attention, spread their legs, lower their heads.

During the mating season, animals can have intercourse several times. This process increases the chances of fertilization of the egg. The period of sexual hunting is repeated every year at the same period of time.

The average length of a mare's pregnancy is 342-345 days, but the female may transition for several weeks or give birth prematurely. During herd mating, several females may go into estrus at any time. Stallions are ready to breed all year round. They impregnate the dominant mare first, and then the others.

Pros and cons of natural reproduction

The following advantages of free crossing are highlighted:

mating occurs naturally;
the stallion impregnates the female at the very peak of estrus, which significantly increases the chances of pregnancy;
strong and viable offspring are born;
several males are capable of massively fertilizing mares in one herd;
females allow only healthy stallions to approach them.

Disadvantages of natural fertilization:

the likelihood of crossing related individuals, which can result in weak offspring with a bad genotype;
a young stallion may suddenly move away from the female before ejaculation, which is why fertilization will not occur;
there is no mating between identical breeds of animals.

Puberty in horses occurs between 1.2-1.5 years. However, at such a time it is not recommended to breed animals, because the body is not yet ready to reproduce. With natural reproduction, it is impossible to control this process.

Signs of the start of heat in a mare

Hunting in animals is the period of egg maturation. This process lasts from 2 days to 2 weeks. In the absence of fertilization, estrus may repeat every month.

The beginning of a hunt is characterized by the following signs:

the mare shows anxiety in the presence of males;
the external genitalia swell and increase in size;
the mucous membranes of the vagina turn red;
mucus is released from the vagina;
the female experiences frequent urination or the urge to urinate;
the mare exhibits an attraction to any male animals;
in some cases, the female exhibits aggressive behavior.

However, not all individuals experience such precursors of sexual estrus. Therefore, on large horse breeding farms, the mare’s readiness for fertilization is demonstrated with the help of castrated males. Such a stallion is released into the herd, and if the female responds to his advances, then she is ready for fertilization.

Preparing individuals for mating

First, you should make sure that the female is in heat. Mating of thoroughbred horses is carried out only under human supervision. The male should not be overfed before mating - this is necessary so that he has the strength to fertilize.

The mare should not be too thin or fat. If necessary, this process should be adjusted.

Table 1. Preparing the mare for insemination

Illustration	Description
	The veterinarian examines the external condition of the animal.
	Then the external genital organs are examined and treatment is prescribed if necessary.
	The correct placement of the genital organs is measured.
	An ultrasound examination of the uterine cavity is performed.

Before starting the hunt, it is necessary to reduce any heavy loads on the female’s body. To bear healthy offspring, she must be in normal physical shape.

Control of the mating process

To obtain high-quality offspring with the characteristic characteristics of the breed, careful control of the mating process of horses is necessary. Experienced horse breeders independently select the best pairs for further reproduction.

Before starting sexual hunting, the following procedures should be carried out:

monitor animal hygiene so that dirt does not get on the genitals;
if necessary, introduce special supplements into the diet;
laboratory testing of the viability of male sperm.

When choosing a pair, you must consider the following features:

Good health. Only the best females and males with good health, without any external defects, are allowed to mate.
Height. The mare and stallion must match each other in height.

If there are genetic abnormalities in the fetus before the 4th month of pregnancy, its development stops. A process of spontaneous resorption occurs. Residual blood traces can be found on the mare's tail.

Mating methods

Table 2. Horse mating methods

Way	Description
Manual	In most cases, this method is successful and ends with the fertilization of the female. A couple of horses are allowed to each other in advance so that they can get used to it. The mare is then placed in a tight pen, the tail is fixed and the genitals are raised independently. The stallion is then released for insemination. The total duration of the process is no more than 30 seconds.
Varkovy	Used when keeping a whole herd of horses. One stallion is locked in a pen with several females who are in heat. It is important to create a calm environment for animals. The male inseminates all females independently.
Kosyachny	The herd is divided into several schools. A group of 25 mares is expected per stallion.

In small horse farms, the manual fertilization method is often used. To improve its effectiveness, you should follow these recommendations:

for mating, it is necessary to choose a quiet place so that the animals are not distracted by extraneous sounds;
the male is brought to the female, accompanied by two people, in order to better control his movements;
Horseshoes are removed from the stallion to avoid traumatic consequences;
In one day, a male can be seen no more than twice, with an interval of 10-12 hours.

Don't forget that every horse has its own temperament. Therefore, such character traits should be taken into account during mating. Upon completion of mating, the mares can be sent to the common herd, and the stallion needs to regain strength.

Artificial insemination

Artificial insemination of mares replaces the natural mating process and is carried out only under the supervision of a veterinarian. This method makes it possible to implement various breeding programs.

Basically, only young, healthy individuals are selected for such purposes. The risk group includes old and nulliparous mares. Sometimes before insemination, mares require treatment of the genitals.

The following types of sperm are used for artificial insemination:

Fresh. This biological material is of the highest quality and has a high degree of viability. However, fertilization with fresh sperm is only possible if the male and female are on the same farm.
Chilled. This material does not lose its properties for 24 hours. Usually sperm is delivered in special containers.
Frozen. Sperm is stored by freezing with liquid nitrogen. Biological material does not lose its properties for many years.

Not all male sperm are suitable for long-term freezing. Sometimes sperm die at low temperatures.

Artificial insemination of a mare involves the introduction of sperm into the uterine cavity. Currently, manual and visual methods are actively used. Ampoule fertilization is used only when transporting semen.

With the manual method, insemination is carried out using a catheter, which is inserted into the uterine cavity. To begin, the veterinarian will feel the cervix himself. And then a syringe with sperm is attached to the catheter.

The visual method involves inserting a special speculum into the mare's vagina, in which the cervix will be visible. Biological material is introduced using a glass catheter.

The ampoule method is used when imported frozen sperm is available. It is necessary to remove the cap from the ampoule and insert a special tube with a bulb, which will then be inserted into the uterus.

When performing this procedure, cleanliness must be observed. For these purposes, it is important to use sterile gloves and catheters. Reusable tubes will need to be pre-treated with alcohol or boiled. However, it is important to ensure that disinfectant solutions do not get inside the catheter.

Video – Horse Mating

Let's sum it up

Mating horses is a responsible process on which the quality of further offspring and the profitability of the farm depend. It is important to follow the recommendations of specialists during the period of sexual hunting and mating of individuals.

26 “A horse is much more generous than a person, gifted with instincts and feelings. A horse hears better than a cat, its sense of smell is finer than that of a dog, it is sensitive to the passage of time, to changes in weather... There is no animal equal to it on Earth” A. I. Kuprin

Mating horses is an integral part of horse breeding

Mating of horses is a natural physiological process of reproduction of their own kind, reproduction to preserve the species. Horse breeding considers this as an integral part of selection for breeding and improving breeds. During insemination, the male's sperm is ejected into the female's genitals. The egg is fertilized and a new life is born.

Natural reproduction

The reproduction process lasts from spring to mid-year. The herd consists of one horse and several mares, no more than 12, the number is regulated by nature for high-quality fertilization. The leader guards the herd, protects and covers the horses. One of them, the alpha mare, becomes the main one among the rest. She chooses places for grazing and leads the group. During the breeding process, it takes priority among other mares. Often the leader marks horses from his herd. Male individuals of all species of artiodactyls are always ready for coitus, females - only during the “hunting” period. Mating of horses occurs up to several times a day. Sometimes a horse, under the influence of sexual desire, tries to cover a mare that is not playing and is not ready to reproduce. There will be no fertilization, but premature estrus is provoked. In the wild, the mating of horses is controlled at the genetic level, preserving the species and ratio within populations.

Mares are ready for mating only during the heat period

Harbingers of the hunt

Stallions sense the approaching heat of mares. During this period of pre-estrus (proestrus), males court females, paying special attention to them: pinching the mare’s neck, sniffing the genitals. When estrus begins and fertilization becomes possible, the mare raises her tail, spreads her hind legs, bends slightly toward the ground, and her vulva opens. During estrus (extrusion), mucus is released from the vagina, frequent urination and “flickering” are possible. The smell released from the genitals attracts males. Young mares, feeling for the first time an unusual need for intimacy, become quiet. The hunting period lasts from 3 to 1 days. It is customary to cover a mare the day after the start of estrus to obtain the maximum guarantee of fertilization.

In case of failure, it is possible to repeat the mating if the mare is still “playing”.

Sensing the approach of the hunt, the stallion begins to care for the mare

Insemination process

During courtship, the penis tenses and emerges from the preputial opening. The horse jumps onto the mare, covers her with his front legs, and mounts her. The erect penis enters the mare's vagina and the ejaculation occurs. Coitus lasts from 12 to 16 seconds. Under good circumstances, fertilization occurs.

Young males sometimes fail. Because of their inexperience, they make a number of mistakes: they jump from the side rather than from behind, are often fussy, and allow early ejaculation. They learn and gain experience quickly. The next time the stallion covers the female quite easily.

Ovulation will resume if fertilization has not occurred. After the birth of the offspring, the mares will go into heat in 8-10 days.

Mating age

In preparation for reproduction, careful selection of partners plays an important role. Usually, until the age of two, a young filly does not allow the horse to approach on her own, and when the period of sexual activity begins, her age approaches three years.

Puberty in mares occurs in the third year of life

How to prepare for mating

For mating, candidates with good performance and appearance, distinguished by high thoroughbred and good heredity, are used. The female's performance may be lower than the male's. 4-6 weeks before the expected insemination, additional feed is introduced into the diet, improved care is provided, and a few days before it, the horse's sperm is checked and the reproductive organs of the mares are examined.

Selection of breeds

Horses for breeding are carefully selected. The data of future offspring depends on this. The female is chosen as tall as the breeder, or a little larger, but not small and fragile in comparison with him. To obtain a pure breed, it is prohibited to mix purebred animals of one species with another. The horse must be of the breed you are trying to get. Only mares from this connection are used for breeding until the breed is confirmed. By repeating the procedure with an ordinary horse eight times, you can say that you have obtained pure offspring. Healthy and beautiful parents with characteristics inherent in the breed are selected.

Mixing valuable breeds during mating is prohibited

What kind of mating happens?

When mating horses, different methods are used. The most common are the manual, cooking and joint methods. They are the same as in nature. Man is only an observer and corrector. The horses that are most suitable for each other are selected, the characteristics that the offspring should have are determined, and pairs are made.

In rural areas and small farms, manual mating is usually used because of its simplicity, low cost, and good results. Stallions impregnate mares with a high probability of conception (90-95%), with proper care they grow into beautiful, healthy offspring.

Use a quiet, not noisy place.
The mare should be positioned so that it is easily accessible, preferably with the rear slightly raised.
Remove horseshoes, if the filly is obstinate - use a breeding belt to protect the stallion

On the eve of the process of mating horses, you need to study their habits a little. Each of them has its own character. It is important that they like each other. Let them sniff, get comfortable, and feel safe.

The stallion and mare must get used to each other

Cooking mating and shoal mating are used in herds. Only the cooking takes place in the pen. The breeding horse remains with a group of mares (from three to seven). He independently chooses partners for mating.

After mating, the mares are brought into the herd, and the stallion gains strength for some time and joins the herd.

Mating differs in that a larger number of horses are selected for the herd (from twenty to twenty-five). The breeding horse stays with them in the pasture throughout the mating season. Horses are relatively free to choose. Fertility rate 90-95%.

Artificial insemination

Large farms and stud farms use artificial insemination. Insemination technicians inject diluted semen into the mare's vagina. The selection of horses occurs in a standard way. Advantages of this method.

The sperm of the stud horse is effectively used. Up to twenty horses are inseminated with one diluted dose, and up to five hundred per season.

The breeding male is not exhausted.
The collected sperm is frozen in liquid nitrogen, having previously been selected according to special parameters (high sperm motility and a certain concentration in a diluted state).
A sperm bank is maintained, allowing the genetic data of the most thoroughbred horses to be used for fertilization for a long time.
The infection is not transmitted.

Mating of horses is not only an important process of reproduction of the species, but also one of the main components in horse breeding for breeding purebred horses, improving existing ones and breeding new breeds. A huge knowledge base has been developed, using which one can achieve good results for the birth of healthy offspring.

Horse mating is a natural process that leads to the conception and reproduction of offspring, and therefore the preservation of the species. From the point of view of a horse breeder, the moment of mating is important, since it is an integral stage of selection, allowing the improvement of breeds and the development of new ones.

The process of controlled mating allows the development of new breeds.

The act of insemination itself involves the horse expelling sperm into the horse's genitals. The egg is fertilized and the embryo of the future baby is formed. Reproduction occurs from the first month of spring to mid-July. Horses are bred in warm premises even earlier - in February.

One herd consists of an adult stallion and a dozen mares. The limited number of females is justified: if there are more than the established number, the stallion will not have time to fertilize each one. Mating of wild horses takes place taking into account the same factors, and undomesticated stallions learn to independently calculate their strength as they grow.

The leader is obliged to cover the females and protect the herd. Among the remaining members of the group, an alpha mare is determined, which is responsible for choosing places for grazing and leading the group. She becomes the leader's priority partner. Often horses mark mares belonging to their herd.

By allowing horses to mate naturally, breeders take into account that horses are ready for contact at any time, and mares are ready for contact when the “hunt” comes. Mating of horses occurs more than once during the day. It is possible that the horse will also cover the mare who is not yet ripe for procreation. This sexual intercourse will not bring results and will result in premature estrus in the female.

The advantages of free mating

How do horses mate: with the help of artificial insemination (when the mare is kept on a leash and a horse is allowed to approach her) or free mating in the herd? The second one is more useful. Because then the stallion mounts at the moment when the female is really ready. The foaling rate in such circumstances is high, and the quality of foals, according to livestock specialists, is better.

In the wild, when individuals interact in a herd, they either move away from everyone else, or, on the contrary, find themselves surrounded by young animals who, without interfering, will observe the process (a kind of learning occurs). Mares for whom the time of hunting has not yet come, or, on the contrary, the time of foaling is already approaching, are also engaged in establishing relationships with the stallions they like, “agreeing” on the next time.

There is definitely contact, a kind of conversation; we can talk about establishing emotional ground before the horses mate in the herd.

The moment of “socialization” is important for young foals. Here, first of all, it means communicating with adults and observing their lives. At this moment, they remember the basic rules of behavior in the herd, ignorance of which can lead to them being beaten or expelled.

Horses are ready for contact at any time, and mares are ready when the “hunt” comes

Horse courtship takes a long time, since they must have a preliminary “agreement”, otherwise nothing will happen. At the same time, crossing horses under such conditions becomes inconvenient, since the process is difficult to control and takes a long time.

An experienced stallion (coaler) can understand by the smell of the mare whether it is time to cover her. This is important because the mare comes into heat in advance, 2-3 days before the due date. The stallion’s ability to take into account the timeliness of intercourse is also useful in that he covers a significant number of mares in the herd without wasting extra energy on it.

According to some livestock specialists, free mating can threaten the younger generation of foals with injury, but this is not the case. Free mating of horses makes adult horses less aggressive, and the cubs are not in danger. Adult animals teach young animals by example, which is useful for subsequent adaptation in the herd. Stallions raised outside the group do not undergo a course of “socialization”, and therefore are not suitable for the role of shoals. Their main mistake is that they begin to cover all females indiscriminately.

Methods of controlled mating

There are three options for ensuring the mare's foaling. At will, horse breeders resort to:

manual insemination method;
joint method;
Warm knitting.

Each of the above methods of reproduction has positive and negative aspects. For stalled horses, the option of manual insemination is more relevant, while the second and third methods are designed for horses kept in a herd.

Manual insemination

Using this method, the mare’s desire to begin mating is determined using a “probe”. It is understood that the female is held in one place and the stallion is carefully allowed to approach her. If the time for mating has not yet come, then she will begin to behave quite aggressively towards the male, kicking and biting.

If the result is the opposite, the mare is prepared for intercourse:

the tail is bandaged;
The external genitalia are washed with slightly heated water;
A special harness is put on the legs to prevent the mare from kicking.

A separate arena or open area is allocated for intercourse itself. To fertilize the female, the horse continues mounting until the ejaculation of sperm is completed. If the mating is not successful enough, the horse walks on the reins for a third of an hour and then the intercourse is repeated.

When the action is completed, the stallion is rubbed on the legs, croup and dorsum. Afterwards he retires to the stall. Reproducing in this way, the horse breeds no more than two females per day.

There are at least three options for ensuring a mare's foaling

The jamb method

Mating option for mares with the highest percentage of foals. One group of animals is divided into a number of subgroups - schools. For each school, a stallion is allocated, who breeds any mares of his choice. Even if it is just one horse, the horse breeder does not interfere.

Varkova knitting

The use of boiling mating, as well as jointing, is relevant if animals are kept in herd conditions. The horse breeder selects suitable mares and transfers them to a specially designated paddock. Then he looks for a stallion and sends him to the same pen until the breeding period is over. Afterwards the animals return to their original places.

Artificial insemination

It is typical for farms and stud farms to use this type of insemination, since heredity and breed are extremely important there. With artificial insemination, it is understood that livestock breeders take seminal fluid from the producer, determine its condition and quality, freeze it, and control the subsequent introduction of biomaterial into the mare’s vagina.

This method has certain advantages:

one valuable sire will be able to participate in the fertilization of a much larger number of mares;
there is no risk of spreading sexually transmitted infections;
obtaining offspring from a valuable producer does not depend on its location.

How to determine heat

An experienced stallion senses that the mare is approaching the moment of heat. In anticipation of intercourse, the horse shows the mare a lot of attention (expressed in light pinching in the neck and sniffing the genitals).

Stallions sense that mares are approaching heat

At the moment of the onset of estrus, the horse takes a specific position:

tail raised;
hind legs spread;
the body is slightly inclined towards the ground.

These “symptoms” are accompanied by the opening of the vulva, copious mucus discharge and frequent urination (“flickering”). A special smell emanates from the genitals.

Inexperienced fillies, feeling for the first time a previously unfamiliar need for intercourse, may suddenly subside. This should not be a cause for concern.

Other indicators of the onset of estrus include the following:

restlessness and agitation of the mare;
desire to actively communicate with other horses;
interest in a stallion;
swelling of the vulva, its periodic contraction, accompanied by the opening of the genital fissure;
at the beginning of the period and its end, a viscous yellowish substance is secreted from the genitals (at the middle stage of the hunt it is liquid and transparent).

The hunt can last 1-3 days. Successful breeding of horses is almost guaranteed if coating occurs on the second day after the start of estrus. If the next day the mare is still “playing”, then there is a point in breeding again.

Insemination act

The male's penis becomes tense and increases in size. The horse jumps on top of the mare, “hugging” her with his forelimbs, and performs mounting (insertion of an erect penis into the vagina followed by ejaculation). The coitus process does not exceed 12-16 seconds in duration. If everything goes well, the mare becomes pregnant.

Mares at least three years old and not suffering from physical illnesses are suitable for mating.

The hunt can last 1-3 days

How to properly prepare a stallion for mating

Feed your horses regularly and provide them with a complete diet, but in no case overfeed: obese animals are rarely able to reproduce healthy offspring.
Examine the stallion's genitals and perform a semen analysis.
Collect information about the origin of the male, find out whether he has hereditary diseases.

Pairing

This point concerns artificial mating and is important when breeding purebred offspring. If you are independently selecting a pair for a mare or stallion, please note that:

both partners should have a similar height, or they select a mare a little larger than the stallion (but not vice versa! a heavy draft horse and a small fragile horse is an unfortunate combination);
both individuals must meet established standards in behavior, external characteristics, and purebredness (horse breeders sometimes breed a thoroughbred stallion and an unpedigreed mare, but the result is no thoroughbred horses, so their offspring cannot be used for subsequent breeding);
for mating, a strong, hardy horse with high-quality characteristics is selected (for mares, such increased requirements are not necessary if the selection of the inseminator was carried out taking into account significant parameters).

Summary

Mating horses requires responsibility from livestock breeders and compliance with a number of rules. To get healthy offspring, you should not ignore them.