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Filly- female horse that is under 4 years old
Mare- female horse that is 4 years and older
Stallion or stud- Male horse that had not been casterated
Gelding- male horse that has been casterated
Foal- baby horse that is under a year old
Yearling- foal that has just turned a year old

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The first couple of weeks in spring marks the breeding season for horses
Horses are seasonal breeders so they tend to be breed during the longer days of the year
A horse is pregnant for about 11 months or 340 days.
When horses are become pregnant during the spring this allows them to give birth when the temperatures are starting to warm up and there is forage growing.

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Female horses can be picky when it comes to breeding( if you are doing this natural) the females will actually form a bond with the stallion that is going to be breeding the herd
The females ovarian follicles will start to secrete estrogen and when days start to get longer females will go into heat or start their estrus cycle.
Mares are also seasonally polyestrous. this means that they will go into heat multiple times during the spring and summer.
Females reach maturity around 12-15 months of age
The typical cycle for a female is about 5-6 days. this will go on every 3 weeks until she cycle is done.

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Some signs when the female is in heat
1. Raising her tail
2. Squating
3. Urinating frequently
4. Swollen vulva with mucus discharge
5. Winking
All these signs are when a stallion is present

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When a female attracts a male, their courtship starts.
This includes all the normal signs as nuzzling and smelling with some nipping and nickers toward each other

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The males will give signs when they are interested in a female by
1. put there head in the air with their upper lip out this is called the flehmen response
2. sniffing the urine from the specific female to see if she is ready

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Once the male is attracted and the female is ready we can now breed her
The best way to naturally breed horses is by tying up the mare so she cannot get away and putting a halter and a long lead rope on the stud.
This allows us to control the stud when he mounts the female.
This process can take some time and multiple attempts.

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Study Showing the Social Act between a Stud and the Mare he chooses

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Study Showing the Social Act between a Stud and the Mare he chooses

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A study was done to with two stallions that were introduced to a group of mares and their foals. The study showed that the younger stud was more interested in the mares that where closer to his age and more genetically related. The older stud was more interested in mating with the older mares.
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2011/705790/

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http://equimed.com/health-centers/reproductive-care/sexual-maturity-in-stallions-and-mares-what-you-need-to-know