The breeding season is approaching fast. Many top performance stallions are available in Europe which can make the selection process tricky. We know that the mare has a huge impact on the offspring, her mind, health and talent is very important. To help you through the process of selecting a suitable stallion for your mare we have interviewed the professional quarter and paint horse breeder Jeanne Olsen founder of Dream Performance Horses, located in Denmark.

How would you describe the successful process of finding the right stallion for my mare?

Finding & choosing a stallion for your mare is an exciting process and there are multiple steps you can take.

First, it’s a good idea to know what you’re aiming to breed.
Do you wish to breed an easy going horse for a novice rider or are you aiming for a high level show horse for an open rider?
This can help you in the process of selecting the right stallion for your mare.

Another great approach is to look for compensations.
Let’s say your mare has a weak lope, then it will be good to use a stallion with a strong lope and thereby increase your chances to breed an offspring with a stronger lope then its dam.
Or maybe your mare has a strong mind, then it’s ideal to use a good minded stallion.

Locking for compensation is never a guarantee for ”perfection”, it´s ideal to have both a great sire and dam.

Already proven matches is also fun to investigate and it can really step up your breeding program. Here you could even get support from a breeding agent, who would know a lot about proven crosses and can help you choose the best possible stallion for your mare.

You can also find a lot of useful information through the internet, but here you really need to invest at lot of time to fully understand the background, and therefore it can be good to consult with a breeding agent.

How important is the grand sire and grand dam?

I feel that a strong bloodline to back up your breeding is always good!

With that being said a few ”no name” horses has been extremely successful in the show pen and that’s wonderful. However I do feel that a strong pedigree will give you a much better indication of what you can expect for your future prospect, and personally I like a strong bloodline multiple generations back.

Would you suggest to meet the sire or previous offsprings before deciding which stallion to use?

For me I don’t need to meet the stallion or offsprings before choosing him for my breeding program. However, if that makes you more secure, I’m sure most stallion owners will be proud to show off their stallion. Just remember to book an appointment beforehand.

Going to horse shows to watch offsprings are also a great opportunity to dive deeper into the bloodlines.
Even social media can be your friend. On social media you should be able to find a lot of useful information about the stallion and his legacy, and it’s good to watch a video of the stallion or its offspring. Here I would look for movements, talent & conformation.

How can I prepare my mare for a successful breeding if she has not had any foals before?

There are many things you can do to prepare for a successful breeding season and it’s a big topic. But I will mention a few important steps here.

Regardless if your mare has had multiple foals or none, you need to prepare your mare in the same way.

A correct body management can really help your mare to take up and it’s known that a fit feeding condition is much better compared to a little over weight.

If your mare is going to be bred for its first time and you have difficulties to get your mare in foal with frozen semen, you can with success get your mare started with live cover. Next season you will most likely to be able to breed your mare with frozen semen.

How can I keep my mare healthy while carrying the foal?

It’s known that stress is really bad for reproduction, especially in the early stage. So make sure not to stress your mare when it’s in foal.
Also hard riding in the very early stage of pregnancy has shown to have a negative effect and in the worst case the mare can lose it’s foal.

Always take good care of your mare and make sure it’s fully covered with a specific breeding concentrate no later than 3 months before due date. And let your mare be out on the pasture for many hours every day, so she has a good basic condition – that will help her when foaling.

Quarter and paint horses are fast growing breeds, sometimes they tend to have a “finished” look already as foals. How can I raise the foal to be healthy for a long lasting life?

At Dream Performance Horses we invest highly in top quality feeding. Make sure to give a specific feeding concentrate for foals, yearlings & youngsters. If your foal or young horses starts to grow too fast, always consult with your vet.
Also having young horses out on pastures as much as possible – I will say 24/7 – that will help them build a strong body and hopefully get a long healthy life.

Jeanne wishes you the best of luck with your breeding!
You can find more information about Jeanne Olsens business here. If you want to find more useful information and learn more about breeding she offers online courses too.

Text: Linn Olersbacken Hellberg

Photo credit: Louise Buch Photography, Jeanne Olsen, Katja Jensen, Anna Archinger Photography.