Horse Jobs – Breeding Manager
A career in breeding management is not one for the faint of heart. Aside from the decidedly lewd nature of the job itself, this field is as physically demanding as it is economically challenging. This is a position people often find themselves in without planning for it.
Not An Easy Job
Horse breeding requires managing excited & emboldened stallions all the way to cranky gestating mares. And understanding the complicated nature of reproductive cycles and pregnancy needs. Anyone in this position has to have a genuine love of the animal.
This is a postion which benefits from strict attention to detail, strength of character and an innate sense of dedication to animal rights.
Good business sense, practical horse knowledge and endless patience are a requirement for becoming a successful breeding manager.
Job Description
Breeding Management is an all-encompassing term for the individual responsible for planning, organizing, care, breeding, pregnancy and foaling duties. They may also employ a foreman or handler to help with work.
Responsibilities
- Handling stallions for breeding
- Observation & care of pregnant mares
- Development of feeding & supplementation schedule
- Semen collection & artificial insemination
- In small establishments – more hands on
- In large establishments – more management duties
- Firm understanding of marketing and business procedures
- Communication with different parts of the industry
Requirements
This is a rare position in that it can really be held by anyone, formal education is not always the best teacher in many cases.
Experience with horses, reproduction cycles and systems, handling strong-willed stallions are all invaluable for this position.
A degree in equine reproduction, equine science, agribusiness and schooling for remote reproduction can’t hurt either.
Resources
A few places to start if you are interested in a career as a breeding manager.
*Links open in a new window
Equine Reproduction
The Right Job For You?
If this isn’t your dream job, there is a long list of different careers that involve horses. Each one requiring a different skill set, schooling requirement and amount of contact with the animals.
Image from UC Davis
