Each year, from late winter through the heart of summer, French studs enter their most intense period: the breeding season. This is when breeders select the stallion who will sire next year’s foal. Calendar, breeding methods, stud fees, stallion selection and official procedures: here is everything you need to understand about the stallion breeding season.
When does the breeding season take place?
In France, the breeding season generally runs from mid-February to mid-July. This calendar is not arbitrary: the mare is an animal whose reproduction is governed by daylight. Her regular oestrus naturally returns in spring, when days lengthen.
Above all, breeders aim for births early in the calendar year. A mare’s gestation lasts approximately 11 months (330 to 345 days): a covering in March produces a foal in the following February. Since a horse’s official age is calculated from 1 January, a foal born early in the year is more developed than competitors of the same age group when young horse classes come around. Hence the rush for early coverings.
A foal due in 2026? Its official name must begin with a Q. Find inspiration with our naming tool.
The reference post puts it simply: “June is here and the breeding season continues.” In June, many stallions remain available, often through artificial insemination, for mares still not in foal.
Stallion breeding methods
Two main families exist: natural covering and artificial insemination (AI), which is now far more common in sport.
- Covering in hand: the stallion and mare are held by professionals during breeding. Controlled and safe, this is the most common natural covering at studs.
- Loose covering: the stallion covers the mare in a field or paddock without human intervention. Reserved for certain breeding operations (hardy horses, ponies).
- Fresh artificial insemination (FAI): semen is used within hours of collection, on site or nearby.
- Chilled artificial insemination (CAI): semen is packaged and sent within 24 to 48 hours. This is the flagship option of the season: it gives access to a stallion anywhere in the country without moving the mare. On stud maps, the notation CAI marks these “deliverable” stallions.
- Frozen artificial insemination (FAI): semen is preserved at very low temperature, sometimes for years. It provides access to foreign or deceased stallions, but fertility can be trickier to manage.
- Embryo transfer: the embryo from a sport mare is transferred to a recipient mare, allowing the sport mare to continue competing.
How much does breeding cost? Understanding TF and FP
A breeding fee is almost always quoted as “TF + FP”, two essential abbreviations:
- TF (Technical Fees): amount paid in advance for technical service (semen collection, packaging, shipment, monitoring). It is due regardless of outcome.
- FP (Foal Premium): amount paid only if a live foal is born and stands up. This is the “results-based” part, which protects the breeder.
Differences are substantial depending on the stallion’s reputation. As a guide, from the Normandy stud maps for the 2026 season:
- Mojito de Talma (Haras de Talma): TF + 450 euros FP, available by CAI.
- Chardonnay 79 (Haras de Saint-Lô): TF + 1,600 euros FP.
- Mylord Carthago, flagship showjumping stallion: TF + 3,000 euros FP.
For top international stallions, the FP component can climb far higher. All these prices are quoted excluding VAT, and you must add the mare’s veterinary costs (ultrasound monitoring, hormones, stud keep).
How to choose your stallion?
Choosing a stallion means choosing half the future foal’s genetic heritage. Breeders rely on several criteria:
- Performance indices: the SJI (showjumping index), DI (dressage index) or EVI (eventing index) measure the stallion’s level and his offspring’s ability.
- Pedigree: maternal and paternal lines, consistency of offspring.
- Type and conformation: the frame, to complement the mare’s to correct her faults.
- Fertility and availability: the stallion’s conception rate and, most importantly, availability by CAI if the mare stays at home.
- Coherence with your goal: showjumping, dressage, eventing, leisure or type breeding.
Administrative procedures (SIRE and IFCE)
Equine reproduction is regulated. A few essential steps:
- The stallion must be registered with SIRE and, depending on the stud book targeted, approved as a breeding animal.
- After breeding, the breeder receives and keeps the breeding certificate (or attestation), an essential document for registering the foal.
- At birth, birth notification to IFCE, then foal identification (microchip, markings recorded by a veterinary surgeon) within legal timeframes.
These formalities determine the foal’s registration at a stud book (Selle Français, Anglo-Arab, etc.) and thus its future value.
The studs’ role during the season
During the season, studs become true breeding stations: they house stallions “in service”, organise collections, dispatch semen throughout France and sometimes accommodate mares on keep. Normandy, the birthplace of French sport horse breeding, concentrates a substantial portion of these operations, from the Haras de Saint-Lô to specialist private studs. Consulting their stallion catalogues and maps has become the breeder’s first reflex come spring.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mare’s gestation period?
Approximately 11 months (330 to 345 days). This explains the breeding season calendar: for a foal born early in the year, the mare must be bred in spring of the previous year.
What do TF and FP mean in a breeding fee?
TF (Technical Fees) is the part paid upfront for the service. FP (Foal Premium) is only due if a live foal is born. The total cost thus depends on the outcome.
What is CAI?
Chilled artificial insemination: the stallion’s semen is shipped within 24 to 48 hours, allowing a mare to be bred without moving her, even if the stallion is at the other end of the country.
Can I breed my mare whilst continuing to compete?
Yes, through embryo transfer: the embryo is transferred to a recipient mare, and your sport mare returns to competition.
Also read: all horse breeds · at what age can a horse begin breeding?
In summary
The stallion breeding season, from February to July, is the key event in breeding. Between methods (covering in hand, CAI, frozen AI, embryo transfer), fees (TF + FP) and genetic choices, each decision shapes tomorrow’s foal. The right move: compare stallion catalogues, check CAI availability and plan your SIRE procedures before season end.
