Why Responsible Breeding Starts Long Before Conception
- Camilla Birkehorn, The Equestrian Collective
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Breeding is often viewed as a technical process that begins with selecting a stallion or consulting a veterinarian. In reality, responsible breeding starts much earlier, with preparation, planning, and informed decision-making.
For many horse owners, the idea of breeding begins with curiosity rather than commitment. A dream of having a foal, a desire to preserve certain qualities, or a quiet “what if” that grows over time.
Yet when curiosity turns into research, it’s common to feel unexpectedly insecure and perhaps overwhelmed. Not by a lack of information, but by the lack of meaningful guidance and accessible in-depth knowledge throughout the whole breeding process.
When I began exploring breeding myself, I was surprised by how shallow much of the available information felt. While there were countless articles covering basic concepts, very little went beyond what an engaged horse owner likely already knew. The few in-depth resources I did find focused primarily on the medical aspects of reproduction and pregnancy — important, but narrow in scope.
What seemed to be missing was practical, holistic guidance on how the breeding journey fits together as a whole.
What decisions matter at different stages, and how should I prepare not just medically, but emotionally and practically over time? Knowing what to do is difficult enough. Knowing when, why, and how it all connects multiplies the complexity.
When Information Exists, But Guidance Doesn’t
Many horse owners probably assume that if they feel uncertain about breeding, it’s because they haven’t researched enough. In reality, it’s often the opposite. Information is abundant, but it is basic and rarely structured.
Advice is often shared in fragments; nutrition, reproduction, stallion selection, foaling. Without explaining how these elements relate to one another over time. Without a clear overview, even well-researched owners can feel unprepared, simply because they don’t know where they are in the process or which decisions belong to which stage.
This lack of in-depth information and structure often leads to self-doubt. Questions like “What should I already have thought about by now?”, Or “Am I making the right decisions?”, are common. These questions often make aspiring breeders step back and decide not to breed. This doesn’t reflect a lack of care or capability, but a lack of a structured and connected process.
When Desire Meets Doubt
In conversations with horse owners over the years, one pattern appears again and again. Many would love to experience breeding their own foal, yet hesitate. They feel unsure of what to do and afraid of getting it wrong. We love our horses and would never forgive ourselves if we put them through unnecessary risks.
When guidance is basic and focuses only on isolated topics, fear tends to grow. When guidance is more detailed and focuses on the process as a whole, we feel more in control, and confidence will follow.
A Pre-Conception Framework
One of the most helpful shifts I experienced during my own breeding journey was realizing that most uncertainty arises before conception. Long before veterinary appointments or pregnancy checks, there are a number of foundational decisions that shape the entire process, yet they are rarely explained in a clear order.
Viewing breeding through a pre-conception decision framework helps bring clarity early on. Not every decision needs to be final, but understanding what to evaluate and when can significantly reduce stress and overwhelm. It provides confidence through control.
Before breeding begins, there are some key decision areas that need to be thoroughly addressed and evaluated.
Stage 1: Intent, Timing & Readiness
This first stage is about reflection rather than action. It involves considering the breeding goal, why breeding feels important, whether the timing is supportive for both horse and owner, and what level of commitment breeding will realistically require. Clarifying intent early helps anchor later decisions and prevents unnecessary pressure further down the line.
Stage 2: Understanding the Mare
When your breeding goal and intent are defined, the foundation is in place. Now, it makes sense to focus on the mare as an individual.
This stage involves reflecting on age, history, workload, conformation, temperament, and overall well-being, as well as how breeding will impact her physically and emotionally.
Objectively list strengths and weaknesses; that information will be crucial to have when choosing the stallion. The mare is more than 50% of the foal, so keeping her front and centre of the decision-making process from the very beginning will make a huge difference for the outcome.
Stage 3: Evaluating Prerequisites & Environment
Before any breeding plans move forward, it’s essential to assess whether the right conditions are in place to support both mare and foal. This includes access to a safe, suitable environment for pregnancy, foaling, and early development, as well as facilities that allow for appropriate supervision, handling, and weaning when needed.
This evaluation plays a critical role in ensuring welfare and reducing stress for everyone involved. If you can’t provide a suitable environment, you can board your mare with an experienced breeder who can help.
Stage 4: Choosing a Stallion (With Context)
Stallion selection is often treated as the starting point, but it is most effective when approached with context.
When earlier stages are clear, owners can consider which qualities matter most, how a stallion complements the mare beyond surface-level traits, and which questions are important to ask before becoming emotionally attached to a particular option.
This turns stallion selection into a thoughtful and rational decision rather than a pure emotional “falling in love” decision.
Stage 5: Financial & Practical Planning
Breeding is not only an emotional investment. It is also a financial and practical one.
Understanding the broader financial picture, potential costs, and logistical commitments before conception allows decisions to be made with clarity. Considering the unexpected at this stage creates space for flexibility later on.
Structure Changes Everything
When these pre-conception steps are approached in sequence, breeding stops feeling like a huge leap into the unknown. Instead, it becomes a series of manageable considerations, each building on the last.
Confidence doesn’t come from having all the answers. It comes from understanding the process, knowing which questions belong to which stage, what to do when, and allowing decisions to unfold with clarity rather than urgency.
A Thoughtful Beginning Matters
Responsible breeding rarely begins with certainty. It begins with curiosity, care, and preparation.
Feeling unsure at the beginning doesn’t mean you’re behind. It means you’re taking it seriously. And that preparation, long before conception, is what sets both horses and owners up for the best possible start.
After encountering this information and guidance gap repeatedly, both personally and through conversations with other horse owners, I created The Equestrian Collective to support those who are curious about breeding but want support, guidance, knowledge, and community through the breeding process and beyond.
Camilla Birkehorn
The Equestrian Collective
Camilla Birkehorn is the founder of The Equestrian Collective, a platform dedicated to supporting horse owners who are curious about breeding but unsure where to begin. Through structured guidance, in-depth resources, and a supportive community, she helps equestrians move from uncertainty to confidence throughout the breeding journey.
This article is from the February 2026 issue of Equine Business Magazine
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