Many people look at the fees in stallion advertisements and think they can make money in the horse business. While it is possible, it's very unlikely Ol' Smokey in the barn is of the caliber to warrant the money and effort in standing.
First he must have something superior to bring to the genetic table. Not average, superior. There are thousands of average stallions out there...and while many *can* breed 40 or more mares during the year most don't. A beautiful horse that's a hazard to handle is not going to attract mares - nor will a beautifully bred horse who is shown to mare owners laced with burrs in his mane and 100 pounds underweight.
If he doesn't have a performance record himself and hasn't sired any foals you will need a top pedigree - and those aren't cheap. There are many grandsons of famous horses and expensive sires who have nothing other than that to warrant being bred.
Your stallion first must be brought to show condition - that means much time grooming, picking the best feeds, in good physical condition. He must have a clean, properly fitting halter and lead available for presentation. Safe fencing - no barbed wire - is essential for visiting mares. The stalls must be clean. Good lighting is needed - the best stallion in the breed will attract few mares if people can't see him.
You should have a safe breeding area lined up and enough experienced help to handle the breeding safely. Be prepared for difficult mares - that is often what new horses get. Many use breeding hobbles or other restraints to reduce the chances of being kicked.
If you are boarding mares on your property while breeding check into insurance coverage. Even in the best of places accidents happen. But some people have watched in frustration as the $1,800 mare increases in "value" dramatically when she is injured or killed. Have an agreement and spell things out - what vaccinations and if the mare needs to be cultured for infection. Remember - an infection passed to the stallion can wipe out a breeding season - then you have OTHER mare owners wondering at worst how their mare was infected or why she isn't pregnant.
Keeping a breeding stallion means fencing takes on a higher level of concern. A horse getting loose is a liability - a stallion getting loose can mean serious loss. Safety can't be stressed enough. Many breeding farms have two fences, with an alley between, for good reason. Keeping two, or even three, gates between the horse handling area and any roads is an investment that can save you a LOT of money. If a mare gets loose, or a horse runs through the gate - and you have a second gate closed at least she can't get onto the road.
Standing a stallion is not cheap - you need an advertising program, a good feeding program, a sound management program. You need to decide what to put in the contract and under what circumstances you will honor a return breeding should the mare not get pregnant. If the mare owner has a confirmed pregnant mare when she leaves later she's not bred - often your breeding year is gone and you must try again the following year. If you have a live foal guarantee, remember you do not get paid for that mare the following year. If the mare does not keep vaccinations current and the mare aborts from rhino will you honor the live foal guarantee? If you have a paint or appaloosa will you guarantee color - and if so what exactly constitutes color? You might be considering color enough to register - in which case minimal color is acceptable - the mare owner might have an entirely different picture in mind.
How much customer service are you willing to give? When mares visit for breeding do you have safe accommodations? If you're breeding artificially do you have a reliable experienced person to handle the breeding? If you're shipping semen do you have enough mares in heat to collect the stallion (and the equipment needed to collect and process the semen) on a few hours notice? Are you near enough an airport and able to drop everything and get the tank shipped to the mare owner within the day? Have you extensively tested the stallion's semen?
There is more to BREEDING than just producing a foal. Getting $200 because your stallion is nearby, with no regard to the mare or the offspring, is shortsighted.
