There are specific concerns when dealing with an intact senior horse (stallion). Generally, if an aged stallion is going to be bred, then his genetics will have shown him to be valuable earlier in life. However, the stallion might not have any experience with breeding or semen collection.

Dr. Maria Schnobrich is a reproduction specialist at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Kentucky. In this video, she talks to us about working with senior stallions.

(Editor’s note: The content of this video is the expert’s approach to the topic. Please consult with your practitioner if you have questions.)

Stallion Evaluation

In order to determine the stallion’s libido and ability to produce sperm, the owner should bring him to a reproduction clinic for testing. Schnobrich said that might include a physical exam of the stallion as well as examination of his reproductive system. Veterinarians would collect the stallion using a dummy mount in order to evaluate his sperm motility.

If the stallion was bred in previous years, Schnobrich said you will have information on his fertility (his ability to get mares in foal). If he hasn’t been bred or there are no records, Schnobrich said those are questions that need to be answered.

Breeding Soundness Exam

A stallion’s breeding soundness exam usually involves two semen collections. They are done about an hour apart. Veterinarians will look at total number of sperm, morphology, motility, and how long sperm last over several days under cooled conditions.

“That will give us some idea of his sperm parameters,” she said. “It doesn’t tell us about fertility. But, it might tell us how well he might do in a cooled/shipped breeding program.”

Novice Stallion

If a stallion has never bred before, owners and veterinarians should consider the following questions:

  • Is he actually interested in the mares?
  • Does he have good libido?
  • Does he have arthritis?
  • Are there things that that are going to be problematic for him in a breeding program?
  • How do we make that program maximize his fertility and comfort?

“In older horses, we might need to increase exercise to get his muscles and entire physique primed,” said Schnobrich.

“In certain situations as stallions get older, they may have a decrease in testosterone,” she continued. “We may need to house him with mares or do other things to increase his endogenous testosterone secretion.”

She said if you have an intact stallion, as he gets older you are always going to need to monitor his testes for any evidence of tumors or neoplasia. “In stallions as they get older or if they are cryptorchid (one testicle not descended into the scrotum), they are at risk for cancers,” Schnobrich noted. “If you are not going to be using him in a breeding program, it might be wise to have him castrated.”

Stallion Age

Is a stallion ever too old to breed? It’s variable based on the individual. “There are some stallions that maintain excellent fertility as they age,” Schnobrich said. “Through feed supplements, increased exercise, and housing changes you can optimize or increase his testosterone secretion. You can have stallions into their mid 20s in a successful breeding program.”

Advanced Reproductive Techniques

As seminal quality decreases, there are things veterinarians can do to improve conception. Those include deep-horn insemination in the mare and centrifuging semen. That can concentrate viable sperm and improve longevity and viability.

For older stallions or stallions with poor semen quality, there are ways to optimize breeding techniques to improve the likelihood of conception. “This might include having the mare ovulate close to the time of breeding and insemination of the sperm close to the oviduct so the sperm can bypass the uterus,” she explained.

Overall Stallion Health

Schnobrich emphasized the importance of doing a lameness exam and an overall health exam as well as an endocrine exam. PPID and metabolic syndrome (endocrine issues) can adversely affect a stallion’s fertility, she noted.

“It’s important to make sure your stallion is as healthy as he can be so that his reproductive efficiency is maximized,” she concluded.

Further Content

Sign up for My Senior Horse’s FREE newsletter to get the latest information about equids 15 years and older delivered straight to your inbox!