Book Review

by Sue Wingate

Modern Horse Breeding
by Susan McBane
Published by Swan Hill Press (an imprint of Airlife Publishing Ltd)
Price: £19.95

If I were in the fortunate position of having a quality mare that I would like to begin breeding from I would regard this book as indispensable. Even though I am not currently in such a situation I still found it rewarding reading, probably because its author, Susan McBane, has approached the subject from every conceivable angle and obviously has a great depth of knowledge regarding the behaviour of horses. This is not surprising since she co-founded The Equine Behaviour Forum with another well-known figure in this field, the late Dr Moyra Williams.

The book is a quality product with many drawings and black and white photographs, which serve admirably to illustrate their point. It is also broken down into two sections: Part I, Veterinary Considerations and Part II, Practical Aspects. Unlike many books covering what is after all a scientific subject, this book has been written specifically with the average horse owner in mind and is easy to read and absorb. I found much of the information quite fascinating. Susan McBane refers to the work of an American enthusiast, Robert M Miller, who devised a system of imprint training. This involves handling the foal in a ritualised way before it even rises to its feet after its birth. In less than one hour the new foal can be desensitised to being tacked up, shod, and having all sensitive parts of its body being touched - even to being clipped!

Once your mare has successfully given birth you are faced with a whole new set of challenges and this is where the second part of the book comes in, dealing with such topics as worming and pasture management, deformities and handling the youngster. The author also addresses such matters as the choice of foundation stock and of the stallion, what to expect when your mare goes to a stud to be covered etc. - not to mention the practicalities of the actual birth.

This book is timeless in its approach and having read it I now feel quietly confident that I could approach the possibility of breeding my own youngster with a degree of confidence that I certainly did not have before! In its way this book could become a 'bible' for anyone interested in breeding horses. Strongly recommended.