Horse Breeders

Find a reputable horse breeding facility

It's almost impossible to determine how many horse breeders exist in America, mostly because they vary in size and dedication. Some people breed horses for fun, while others make it a multi-million-dollar business. Neither approach is "right" or "wrong," but there are differences between large-scale and casual breeders.

Large-scale breeders usually take a more scientific view of breeding, selecting sires and mares based on genetic compatibility. They also tend do their insemination artificially to avoid harming either horse in the process.

Casual breeders often get into the business simply because they love horses. Though their processes aren't as precise or scientific, smaller breeding operations offer their horses lots of love and personal attention and often take extensive pains to match stallions with perfect mares and foals with the perfect families.

Quarter Horse Breeders

The Quarter Horse Director lists details about more than 4,500 breeders nationwide. Named for their speed at the distance of a quarter-mile, Quarter Horses can be bred for racing but are also frequently bred for ranch work. Interestingly enough, some of the most outstanding Quarter Horse sires in the history of the breed have actually come from thoroughbred stock.

Paint Horse Breeders

The American Paint Stock Horse Association has more than 250,000 horses registered and is one of the top three breed registries in the United States, in terms of number of foals listed each year.

Arabian Horse Breeders

Arabians are known for their fine bone structure, high-carried tail and arched neck. In the 1980s, Arabians were often bred as status symbols and were considered pieces of art. The market for purebred Arabians became over-saturated and, eventually, many breeders were forced out of business. Today, the industry has rebounded and Arabians are mostly used in America for pleasure riding, rather than "collecting."

Miniature Horse Breeders

Miniature horses have been around since the 1600s but became popular in America in the 20th century. In the 1970s, eager to cash in on a trend, extensive over-breeding of dwarf horses led to many foals with genetic diseases. Because of their intelligence and tiny size (some are no larger than a mid-sized dog), miniature horses are often bred to be "helper horses" for blind people.

Thoroughbred Horse Breeders

Because winning racehorses can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money, thoroughbred breeding is big business.