How to Choose the Right Stallion for Your Mare
- Broken O Barrel Horses & Equine Transportation
- Aug 4
- 6 min read
Quick Answer:
To choose the right stallion for your mare, start by defining your breeding goal and calculating all costs beyond the stud fee, including veterinary care, shipping, and mare management. Evaluate stallions for conformation, pedigree, temperament, and producing record to match your mare and your performance goals. Proven sires like Hanky Panky Perks and Skippys French Toast from Broken O Barrel Horses produce athletic, trainable, and family‑safe foals that give you the best chance for success in the arena and at home.
Full Guide:
Breeding your mare for the first time can be overwhelming. Many first‑time breeders jump into stallion shopping without realizing how many details matter or how expensive mistakes can become. The flashy stud on Facebook might not produce the foal you want, and the lowest advertised stud fee is rarely the true cost of breeding.
If your goal is to produce a competitive barrel horse, the stakes are even higher. A poor stallion choice can result in a foal with conformation flaws, an unpredictable temperament, or limited performance potential. Many mare owners also underestimate hidden costs like shipping, mare care, or repeat breeding attempts.
The good news is that with the right knowledge and a plan, you can make a confident stallion choice that fits your goals, budget, and mare. At Broken O Barrel Horses, we’ve guided many first‑time mare owners through the process of breeding foals that grow into competitive, family‑safe barrel and roping horses. Our stallions are proven producers of horses that can win checks and stay safe for kids and amateurs, giving you confidence from booking to foaling.
Our professionals at Broken O Barrel Horses and Equine Transportation will walk you through the factors that matter most, the red flags to avoid, and how to set your future foal up for success.
Step 1: Define Your Breeding Goal
Before looking at stallions, be honest about your purpose.
Are you pursuing a 1D or futurity‑level barrel horse with NFR aspirations?
Do you want a solid, consistent 2D‑3D competitor to win checks locally or regionally?
Are you aiming for a family‑friendly horse that can handle barrels, roping, or casual riding safely?
Your goal determines the type of stallion you should pursue, how much you can justify spending, and how you evaluate the pedigree, conformation, and temperament of both the mare and stallion.
Step 2: Budget Beyond the Stud Fee
Many first‑time breeders are caught off guard by the true cost of breeding. Stud fees are only part of the expense.
Expect to budget for:
Stud or booking fee
Chute fee (if separate)
Semen shipping or mare transportation
Veterinary costs (ultrasounds, synchronization, hormone treatments)
Additional cover or shipment fees if the mare does not settle
Mare care during pregnancy and foaling
Foaling supervision or insurance
Post‑foaling veterinary checks for mare and foal
A realistic plan often adds 30 to 50 percent above the advertised stud fee, especially if shipping cooled semen or if the mare requires additional veterinary attention. It gets even more expensive if you’re planning on ICSI.
Step 3: Evaluate Conformation, Pedigree, and Temperament
Conformation
A stallion’s conformation directly impacts soundness and performance potential in the offspring. Look for:
Balanced hip and shoulder
Straight, clean legs with good bone
Strong topline and correct angles
Athletic build, suitable for barrel racing
Video evaluations, photos, and in‑person inspections can help identify faults before committing.
Pedigree
You can indeed “ride the papers.” Proven barrel racing bloodlines increase the odds of producing a foal with speed and agility. Consider:
Are both sides of the pedigree producing competitive offspring?
Are there known performance sires like Dash For Perks, Sun Frost, or PC Frenchmans Hayday?
Does the mare’s bloodline complement the stallion’s strengths (and vice versa), or will you double up on weaknesses?
Temperament
Even a fast horse is only as good as its brain. Choose stallions known for producing trainable, level‑headed foals. This is especially important if the horse is destined for a family or amateur rider.
Step 4: Watch for Red Flags
Avoid stallions or breeding programs that show:
Poor communication or evasive answers from the stallion owner
Lack of videos, conformation photos, or foal records
Unclear or hidden fees for chute, shipping, or vet work
High stud fees without proven performance or producing record
Missing genetic testing or known conformation flaws likely to pass to foals
A trustworthy breeding program will provide clear contracts, test results, fertility stats, and foal performance history.
Step 5: Proven Stallions That Solve These Problems
If you want to stack the odds in your favor, start with stallions that consistently produce sound, sane, and competitive foals.
Hanky Panky Perks
An own son of Letta Hank Do It and out of a Dash For Perks producing mare
Produces foals with explosive speed and athleticism
Well‑mannered and passes on a trainable disposition
Suitable for futurity hopefuls but sane enough for family riders
Hanky Panky Perks carries the sought‑after Letta Hank Do It x Dash For Perks cross, producing foals with explosive speed, proven athleticism, and a trainable, family‑friendly mind. His offspring are built to compete at the top levels and still be a joy to ride at home.
If you want a foal that’s born to compete and easy to handle, book your mare to Hanky Panky Perks.
Skippys French Toast
An own son of PC Frenchmans Hayday, out of Skippy Cheyenne
Produces 1D money‑earners and consistent 2D‑3D horses
Known for color, correctness, and an amateur‑friendly mindset
Excellent choice for multi‑purpose prospects like barrels and roping
Skippys French Toast is an own son of PC Frenchmans Hayday, out of the proven producing and saddle-winning mare Skippy Cheyenne, and he consistently sires foals with speed, correctness, and a level‑headed mind. His offspring are the kind of horses that can clock in the 1D, pull checks in local jackpots, and still be safe enough for the whole family to ride.
Book your mare to Skippys French Toast today!
Both stallions are 5‑panel N/N, offer live foal guarantees, and are backed by a breeding program that communicates clearly and supports mare owners throughout the process.
Step 6: Prepare for the Entire Breeding Journey
Booking the stallion is just the beginning. Success depends on planning for:
Heat cycle tracking and timing of insemination
Pregnancy checks at 14, 30, and 60 days
Nutrition and veterinary care during gestation
Foaling supervision and post‑foal evaluations
Record‑keeping for expenses and breeding history
Horses We’ve Produced and Sold
At Broken O Barrel Horses, we believe the best proof of a stallion’s value is in the horses already on the ground. Over the years, we’ve produced and sold foals that are now winning checks in barrel racing and roping, while still being safe and enjoyable for the entire family.
Many of our graduates are:
When you breed to Hanky Panky Perks or Skippys French Toast, you’re not just buying a stud fee, you’re investing in a proven program with a track record of producing athletic, family‑friendly horses that hold their value.
If you want to skip the cost and hassle of breeding, start with a winning prospect instead. Our future performance and breeding prospects are athletic, trainable, and bred from the same proven lines as our stallions.
Final Takeaways
Start with a clear goal for your foal’s purpose and your level of competition.
Budget realistically for every step, not just the stud fee.
Evaluate stallions for conformation, pedigree, and temperament, not just looks or price.
Avoid programs that are vague, unproven, or unprofessional.
Choose proven stallions like Hanky Panky Perks or Skippys French Toast to increase your chance of producing a competitive and trainable foal.
Breeding a mare is a significant investment, but with careful planning and the right stallion, you set yourself up for years of success in the alleyway and the arena.
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