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When preparing for reproduction, partners are carefully selected. A mare under two years old does not allow a male. The phase of sexual activity of the filly falls on the age of three.
In stallions, maturity is noted at one and a half years: they are capable of covering mares. But they advise not to rush - early intercourse of horses provokes a lag in the development of the horse.
Breeding horses in the wild
When living in their natural environment, horses are mated with the arrival of the spring season until mid-summer. As a rule, the herd is 12 mares, as well as 1 male. In the herd, there is certainly an alpha mare - the leader among the female representatives. Manages the rest, is responsible for the grazing area. When breeding horses, the alpha mare is preferred by the leader.
Herd of horses
Compared to females, he is constantly ready for intercourse. Mating occurs several times a day. Often, the horse covers mares that are not ready to reproduce. In this situation, fertilization will not occur, however, it provokes estrus in advance.
The stallion determines the female's readiness for coitus, therefore he hovers around her:
- sniffs the genitals;
- slightly pinches the horse by the neck.
Mares also give signs of readiness for insemination:
- raise the tail slightly;
- tilt their head slightly to the ground;
- spreading the hind limbs, exposing the vulva;
- squeal softly.
In addition, vaginal discharge attracts stallions despite removal. Young females, that for the first time feel the need for mating, 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 breed in the wild.
Human supervised mating
Horses happen in different ways. The most famous methods include manual, as well as mowing, coupled with cooking, which are similar to the wild. A person observes and corrects processes. How horses mate in captivity when mares are in heat.
They make suitable pairs, establish the qualities that the offspring require. The careful selection of females for mating determines the characteristics of the offspring. The mare is selected to match the manufacturer or a little more powerful.
Human supervised mating
The main thing is that it does not differ in small stature and fragility in relation to a horse, for example, a heavyweight or a heavy draft. If the plan is a purebred breed, mixing thoroughbred horses of the same species is prohibited. The male must necessarily correspond to the breed that they are trying to breed. For breeding for a tribe, females are suitable from this connection to confirmation of pedigree. The repetition of the operation 8 times with a normal mare guarantees a clean litter.
Manual method
Belongs to the generally established methods of horse breeding. Fit for stall keeping of animals. Manual mating of horses ends in fact in 95% of cases with conception and obtaining excellent offspring.
Manual method
A couple is prepared ahead of time, introduced, and provides an opportunity for sniffing close to one. The manipulation is carried out in a quiet little paddock.The ovulating mare is placed in a comfortable position with a slightly raised rear. 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 is carried out. How long do horses mate? Copulation takes 12-16 seconds, sometimes up to 25.
Cooking method
With herd keeping, cooking mating of horses is in demand. The breeding horse is put into a group of 3 to 7 mares. The fenced-in area, the peace and quiet on the territory predetermine how horses mate.
Cooking method
The horse sets up the hunt for the mares and fertilizes them. After the copulation procedure, the horses are released back into the herd.
Mowing method
The common mating of horses in the herd. Then the females are divided into shoals, which include one stallion and 25 mares. The male is in the group during the mating season. Fertility reaches 100%.
Artificial insemination
In large farms and stud farms, artificial insemination is used. Injection of semen to the mare is carried out by inseminators. Animals are selected as standard. Advantages of admission:
- effective use of male sperm: 1 dose for insemination of 20 mares, 500 - per season;
- preventing the depletion of the seed stallion;
- preservation of the sperm bank;
- avoidance of infection.
Preparing for mating
If horses are planned to be mated, additional feeding is included in the diet in 1.5-2 months, but the animals are not fed. Before horses mate, the female reproductive organs are examined and the sperm of the stallions are monitored. Collect information about the male pedigree and inherited diseases.
The diet additionally includes feeding
Do not forget about grooming, which also includes cutting both the horse's body and the mane and tail.
When grooming horses, the following requirements are adhered to:
- Avoid leash - animals are afraid.
- Use a horse chumbura, holding it during the procedure.
- Cut in the daytime. The days in winter are short, and the process can take 3 hours.
- They check the tools: the machine, the edge of the blades. A cordless machine is preferable, which is responsible for freedom of movement and comfort.
- Overalls are suitable for the livestock breeder, which provides convenience during the work.
- For the horse to get 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. Removes adhered hair. Check the heating mechanism.
- The uniformity of the pressure and the length of the pass ensures a uniform cut.
- If you want to leave the uncut area under the saddle, mark the place with chalk in advance.
- The sheared fur is systematically swept away from the horse.
- If clipped in the armpit, the horse's leg is raised to tighten the skin, making it easier to trim the coat.
- 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 - on the right and vice versa).
Signs of sexual prey in horses
During estrus, in mares, mucous discharge comes out of the vagina, and frequent urination is observed. A yellowish mucus of a viscous density is characteristic of the entire period of estrus. But in the middle of the cycle, the consistency is watery and transparent. In the female, the vulva swells, the muscles contract and the penis is exposed.
Adult mares become nervous and agitated, laugh continuously and do not hide their interest in males.Young growth, on the contrary, calms down and calms down.
When the male approaches, the mare assumes a posture as if she wants to empty herself and urinates a little. This signals a complete readiness for mating mares.
Hunting for 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 reproductive dysfunction.
If an inexperienced stallion or other reasons are to blame for the non-fertilization of the female, horses repeat repeated attempts at mating.
A young horse can fertilize 25 mares, a mature stallion - 2 times more.
When the insemination is successful, the mare cannot tolerate the stallion nearby. Ignores the male for a month.
Mating of horses is appreciated for the preservation of the population of the species, for the reproduction of thoroughbred animals.
Interspecies crossbreeding of animals
When crossing horses, animals of different breeds happen. Application: the speed of changing the qualities of the breed, obtaining new types of animals.
In addition to normal breeding, horses are used to grow hybrids:
- zebroids;
- mules;
- mules.
Zebroids
When zebras are mated with horses, zebroids are obtained. A distinctive feature is that endurance is higher compared to horses. The property is appreciated in desert and mountainous areas. The bred cross has a horse body and a zebroid coloration, which makes the animal adorable. Indispensable in circus shows.
Zebroid
The color of the hybrid is a repetition of the mother's color. Paternal stripes appear on the limbs and neck. For most of the born zebroids, weakness and underdevelopment are characteristic, they die after a couple of days.
The animal has an aggressive character, it is difficult to train. Zebroids are characterized by infertility. Animals are obtained only by crossing species.
Species characteristics:
- ability to work in difficult terrain;
- hybrids have no offspring;
- short stature.
Mules
When mating a donkey and a horse, a mule is brought out, which inherits the dimensions on the maternal side, from the father it gets good working capacity and low speed. The animal is prized for its endurance. The trump card is life expectancy, which is higher for a mule than for a horse.
Mule
The mule's exterior reflects the features of the male and female. Typical for mules:
- large head dimensions;
- elongation of the ears;
- thin-legged;
- narrow hooves;
- massive neck;
- proportionality of the body;
- muscle strength.
Animals of various colors are used for hybridization. The mule's coloration is influenced by the mother. When the female is spotted, the mule inherits the piebald color. Horse breed significantly affects mule size and constitution. The shape of the head, legs and ears is transmitted from the father.
If mules are bred, sterile hybrids are obtained. This is due to the number of chromosomes: the mare has 64, the donkey has 62. To continue the race, a pair of chromosomes is required. The mule inherits 63 chromosomes, which interferes with reproduction.
Distinctive species characteristics:
- weight fluctuates in the range of 370-600 kg (due to the size of the female);
- increased efficiency;
- infertility of males;
- a variety of colors, the most common: bay, gray, black.
Loshaki
In contrast to mules, mules appear from mating horses with donkeys. The hybrid species is not widely spread due to low operating parameters. Small and hardy hinnies are not used in the agricultural sector, although horses and hybrids are still in demand today.
Loshak
In appearance, they resemble wild horses: large-headed, with a short mane and neck. The ears are longer than in horses, but shorter than in donkeys. Obtaining a mule is complicated by the donkey, which is afraid of admitting 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 is characterized by weakness due to the short gestation period of the donkey.
Species characteristics:
- decreased stamina of parents;
- height - at the withers up to 152 cm;
- resemblance to wild individuals;
- conception - 14%.
Breeding wild horses
In the wild, many types of horses live, which differ in color and weight, mane and height, 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);
- bramby (Australia).
At large, horses live in herds, which consist of a leader, mares and young animals. The leader is the protector of the mares in the herd. However, he is not a leader. The herd is headed by an experienced mare: she is looking for pastures, controls order.
Young stallions live in the herd for 3 years. Then they are driven out of the herd. They live separately in groups until they form a herd or take away other people's mares.
The life of horses is largely dependent 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 strongest males participate in courtship games, who fight for the mare. The mating season begins in April and ends in the second decade of June.
In North American and Asian territories, horse families are met: a male, a female, along with a calf. They live far from the herd on grassy plains, in small forests, steppes.
The mating of horses refers to a natural physiological process that is necessary for the reproduction of their own kind, the preservation of varieties. For horse breeding, this is a component of selection in order to breed and improve breeds.
