UNDERSTANDING ‘BLOOD PERCENTAGES’ IN SPORTHORSE BREEDING

What ‘60% blood’ actually means and why it matters Browse HorseTelex or any European Warmblood breeding site, and you will encounter descriptions like ‘this mare is 55% blood’ or ‘this stallion brings 42% blood to the cross.’ For many of us, these percentages seem mysterious - arbitrary numbers attached to expensive horses, but blood percentage…

BylizzieMay 20, 20260Comments

Ask HQ Breeding

ASKHQ: WHEN IS THE BEST AGE TO BREED A MARE?

ASKHQ: When is the best age to breed a mare? A: Most vets and breeding specialists recommend breeding a mare between four and twelve years of age. Why not younger? Physically, a mare reaches maturity around four years old. Breeding younger than this (two to three years) is possible but not advisable: her body is…

BylizzieMay 12, 20260Comments

Breeding Horse Health

THE FUTURE OF EQUINE BREEDING – GENETICS, DATA AND ETHICS

The next frontier of sporthorse breeding isn’t just about bloodlines; it’s about information. Across the world, breeders are increasingly using genetic testing, artificial insemination (AI), embryo transfer (ET), and data-driven analysis to predict, enhance, and preserve equine athletic potential. But as the science accelerates, so do the ethical questions that come with it. Artificial insemination, embryo…

BylizzieMay 10, 20260Comments

A young Ruconu appaloosa horse and its groom smartly dressed at a horse show

Horse Channel

SOFT STARTS

Bright futures with Ruconu Appaloosa Stud At Ruconu Appaloosa Stud, we believe every great sporthorse begins with a gentle start. Our foal training programme focuses on building confidence, trust, and understanding from day one, creating the solid foundation needed for a successful and fulfilling equestrian partnership. Foundations that last a lifetime Establishing the right foundation is…

BylizzieDecember 14, 20250Comments

Ask HQ

ASKHQ: BREEDING MARES

Q: When is the best age to breed a mare? A: Most vets and breeding specialists recommend breeding a mare between four and twelve years of age. Why not younger? Physically, a mare reaches maturity around four years old. Breeding younger than this (two to three years) is possible but not advisable: her body is…

BylizzieDecember 1, 20250Comments

Horse Channel

A SPOTLIGHT ON STALLIONS

Understanding their characteristics, behaviours and needs Stallions possess distinct characteristics, behaviours, and roles that distinguish them from mares and geldings. Here, we explore what makes a stallion a stallion, delving into his biological attributes and temperament and looking at effective strategies for managing and training these magnificent animals. What sets a stallion apart The primary characteristic…

BylizzieOctober 17, 20250Comments

Breeding

SO, YOU WANT TO BREED A FOAL?

The what, when, who and how of it all... Text: Amelia Campbell-Horne As we’re still in the heat of the breeding season, we thought we’d investigate exactly what goes into breeding a foal - from the moment the thought is conceived in your mind up until the bundle of joy graces you with his presence. To do…

BylizzieSeptember 1, 20250Comments

Horse Breed

BREEDS OF HOY: THE THOROUGHBRED

The Thoroughbred is one of the most iconic horse breeds in the world, revered for its speed, agility, and endurance. The breed originated in England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, when three foundation stallions—the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian, and the Byerley Turk—were imported and bred with native mares. This selective breeding…

BylizzieApril 5, 20250Comments

Horse Channel

GELDING OF THE MONTH (2023) – LORD CARLOS

Text: Georgia Harley This month's gelding is Raffles, more formally known as Lord Carlos. Lorraine McHugh purchased Lord Carlos from Laurence Mowatt. The Mowatt family of Willowbrook Stud bred Lord Carlos using their imported Holstein mare, Carla. Laurence Mowatt did all the initial schooling of Lord Carlos before Lorraine acquired him in December of 2019. Lord Carlos…

BylizzieMarch 1, 20250Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

2024 YHPS FINAL

This year’s YHPS Final came down to the wire, with a handful of the Series-leading horses missing out on titles that seemed almost guaranteed before the Final. However, this has often been the case as double clears are of such importance that riders have been known to ride ‘too’ carefully and make mistakes as a…

BylizzieNovember 14, 20240Comments

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