SMS is devoted to helping mare and stallion owners
with all their shipped semen needs.
BREEDING AREA SET UPS
This is the breeding area at our facility. The teasing chute is made out of 7 inch posts, 2 1/2 to 3 feet deep in road base (not concrete). The boards are 2 1/2 by 12". The wall is 4 1/2 feet tall and 7 feet long (left wall). The opening on the back is 7 feet, and the short wall in front is 4 feet. The right wall is only 6 feet.
Below
is where I position the mare for teasing. It gives me a solid wall
to
tease over and helps contain her. I don't like to put mares in a
small space like a wash rack, I feel it is too confining and you are
more likely to upset the mare. This keeps her from moving too far
away, but gives her some freedom. For stallions that need extra
stimulation, I can leave her in the chute, while we collect.
This gives you a better view of the chute. The wall on the left I
can cross tie a mare to the OUTSIDE, and then bring the stallion around
the backside and either live cover or collect off of a mare. I DO
NOT let a stallion mount a mare INSIDE the chute. The stallion
could get his leg over the wall or when he is on her, she could trap his
leg between herself and the wall.
This phantom was set up for one stallion, it wasn't set up for a stallion station or for training stallions. It is in an aisle way, but behind it is an intersect of two aisle ways, so it is pretty open. If front of the phantom is a big door to the outside, so if you were using a mare, you would have somewhere to go with her if you needed to get out of there quickly. If you are planning on training stallions, I like the breeding area to be as large as you can manage, so you have room to maneuver. But tighter spaces can work for trained stallions, that won't be needing a lot of work.
This is another indoor phantom. When this barn was being built some of the stalls were left out, to make room for this breeding area. Make sure you leave enough room to "escape" with the mare if you ever need to.
FOOTING
Decomposed Granite - is an excellent footing. It compacts well, doesn't create a lot of dust, and provides good traction for the stallions.
Road Base - Not as good as DG but can work. Make sure you wet it well and get it packed down well. You will most likely have to keep filling in holes. You cant see it in the photos but I have road base around mine, but grass has begun to grow up through it.
Sand, loose gravel, pea gravel - NO, NO, NO. Not a good choice. All three are loose and can get kicked up on the stallions penis, especially if it is wet from just being washed or even worse, lube, if he already tried to breed but you need to do it again. You can take all that sand and gravel right into the AV and have a very unhappy stallion.
Cement - I wouldn't choose cement but I know a lot of people like not having to fill in holes, and the cement is easier to keep clean. You will need to put mats completely around the phantom, as I have seen young horses pass out afterwards and slide off the phantom and land flat on the ground. This usually doesn't happen with experienced horses. You will want to use good mats, that have some give to them. The type we have around here are recycled rubber and very hard. When they get wet they just get slippery, which can make the stallion slip, while on the phantom. The softer mats let the horses hooves sink in and he shouldn't slip as much.
Rubber Mats - Mats can be placed on cement (see above) but also can be placed over dirt. When placing over any type of service, make sure the edges are flush. When a stallion dismounts off a phantom he scoots his feet, he doesn't always pick them up. You don't want his shoe catching on a mat, and make him stumble.
"How to
Train Your
Stallion to a Phantom"
$29.95 shipping included
This video will help you with the design of your breeding area, selecting a phantom, and training your stallion to collect off a phantom. By showing actual collections in different situations and by 8 different stallions, you will be able to determine what will work best for your breeding operation. We will then take you from start to finish while we train a stallion to a phantom.
(530) 710-5255
or
phantoms@smserc.com
Stallion Management Services
6905 Happy Valley Rd.
Anderson, CA 96007
