Ron Friedman, M.S., D.V.M.
Diplomate American College of Theriogenologists

(Presented at the SW Washington Horse Symposium, Nov. 8, 1997)

Breeding season is just around the corner and it is a good idea to prepare your stallion for the upcoming season. Some health concerns and recommendations are prudent for all stallions regardless of their experience in the breeding shed while other practices are relative to their breeding history. Experienced stallions need to be reintroduced to their breeding routine while the "freshman" has to learn a completely new set of rules and behave in a way which was often discouraged or disciplined previously.

HEALTH CONCERNS
The health concerns of any stallion need to be addressed before the breeding season so as not to interrupt the routine once the breeding shed is opened. Vaccinations should be given 60 days before the breeding season so if any reaction to the vaccine occurs sperm production (spermatogenesis) has time to recuperate. Spermatogenesis in the stallion takes 60 days and high fever from any cause can damage it. Any dental care should be attended to before the season and a regular de-worming program is essential. Some serious systemic diseases such as equine viral arteritis (EVA) and equine infectious anemia can be transmitted through fresh, chilled, or frozen semen. A current coggins test and EVA testing are a must if international shipments are anticipated. Freshman stallions should have thorough physical exams and medical histories reviewed. Previously administered anabolic or body building steroids may cause some problems in the breeding shed.

EXERCISE
Regular exercise and turn-out is very important for stallions not only for their physical condition but their minds as well. Some farms continue to breeze race horses on a small racetrack throughout their breeding lives. A stallion ending an athletic career and beginning a breeding one should be allowed to wind down gradually from frequent strenuous exercise. The physical condition of a stallion should be considered and overweight or underweight individuals should have their diet and workout schedules adjusted accordingly. Breeding is hard work for the stallion and they should be watched closely during the season for unwanted weight loss or soreness due to arthritis. A stallion dismounting because of a painful back or hock is not uncommon and these discomforts should be attended to without delay.

TRAINING TO BREED
It is a good idea to allow the stallion to become comfortable in the breeding shed before it opens for business. Allow him to explore and mark the area in a relaxed manner, if possible without a lead rope. With a freshman stallion, make sure the first mare he mounts is calm, mature, and very receptive. If you know she has a clean culture allow him to live cover her without washing either of them. Keep things calm and quiet because a timid stallion may be frightened or troubled by this new turmoil.

Training a stallion to breed is often a simple job but care must be taken not to allow an aggressive stallion excessive leeway nor frighten the timid individual. It is a good idea to have a seasoned stallion handler working with a stallion because inappropriate, often excessive, discipline is probably the most common mistake made by the novice handler. Allow ample time before the season begins to study the stallion’s character and learn to anticipate his actions. Let him act like a stallion by vocalizing, snorting, prancing etc but don’t allow him to walk over you or charge a mare or phantom.

Handle the stallion lead with plenty of slack in it; you want to be able to get his attention with a flick of the wrist…. if it becomes a tug of war you need to reevaluate your approach. Don’t allow the stallion to mount before he’s ready but conversely don’t hold him back when he is. In other words, be prepared to allow him to breed when he's ready, not when you are.

If your stallion is in an ai program, introduce him to the phantom as soon as possible. Phantom mares are of great utility in the entire semen collection procedure and it’s usually simple to train a stallion to use one. The general idea is to have a mare in heat on the opposite side of the phantom and when he jumps on the phantom in an attempt to reach the mare, collect him with the artificial vagina.

BREEDING SOUNDNESS EXAMS
Breeding soundness exams are recommended on all stallions before the season begins. Semen evaluations provide a baseline should a problem develop. This point of reference can be critical in illuminating a problem before you find out the hard way, during mare ultrasound exams. This is unfortunately the way a problem is usually discovered in stallions who breed by live cover as their semen is routinely not examined at each breeding. Some farms overcome this problem of live cover by retrieving a small dismount semen sample and routinely examining it for motility and concentration .The breeding soundness exam will allow you to decide on a reasonable book for the season. If low sperm numbers, concentration, or motility are discovered, mare and stallion management can be adjusted for better results. A breeding soundness exam is especially important for a popular stallion in an artificial insemination (ai) shipped semen program. The individual’s sperm can be evaluated for its ability to be chilled and shipped and how many inseminations may be expected from each semen collection.

WASHING
Washing a stallion prior to breeding is a routine in most breeding sheds, it is important not to wash excessively. Very convincing research has shown that washing the stallion’s sheath and penis regularly with soap can cause disease rather than prevent it! A mild non-detergent soap may be used very sparingly the first time (make sure to rinse well) prior to breeding but afterwards use water without any soap. Try to make the washing procedure a pleasant experience for the stallion -- warm water and a gentle manner are essential. Thoroughly dry the stallion with a clean towel.

MANAGEMENT HINTS
Some stallions become distracted or less interested in breeding as the season progresses. There are many techniques you can use to stimulate his desire to breed mares. Teasing him to either his favorite mare works for some, other stallions require different mares, while other stallions respond to teasing for longer intervals. Some stallions are extremely aroused by mares being led away while others prefer to see them led towards them. Individual preferences between mares and stallions should be recognized and utilized; they definitely have personal favorites. Sometimes the reluctance to breed is caused by back, hock, or other discomfort as mentioned previously; observe your stallion carefully and try to detect these discomforts before they interfere.

Managing a stallion is usually not a difficult job. It requires very careful observation and attention to the stallion and a fair amount of patience and caution. The most common mistake made by handlers is excessive force at inappropriate times. Stallion’s actions are often easy to anticipate and if this is done with a gentle hand it is almost always more effective and successful.