„ Broodmare—mature female horse kept for breeding „ Stallion—mature male horse „ Jenny or jennet—female ass or donkey „ Jack—male ass or donkey Production Cycle of Horses While production operations exist for all equines, horses are by far the most common equines in production in the United States. Unlike cattle, horses are not bred for meat or milk production in the United States. Horses are bred primarily to continue bloodlines and to produce quality horses for specific uses, such as racing and showing, and to produce good stockhorses for ranch work or roughstock for rodeos. The production of horses begins through natural breeding or through artificial insemination of the mare. Depending on the breed, a mare will carry the foal for 335 to 370 days. Larger horse breeds have a longer gestation than smaller or pony breeds. Most producers calculate foaling dates at an average of 342 days. Foaling is the term for the process of giving birth in all equine animals, Figure 10-21. A foal will nurse for 3–6 months before being weaned. The continued growth, training, and development of an individual horse will depend heavily on the intended use for the horse. Did You Know? The term stud is often misused to describe a mature male horse. The word stud is actually used to identify the place a stallion is kept for breeding. For example, if you had a stallion and were using him for breeding purposes, your farm or ranch would be the place the stallion was at stud. jessicakirsh/Shutterstock.com Figure 10-20. The equine industry in the United States is a lucrative industry. Major events like the Kentucky Derby draw thousands of spectators and contribute to the more than $100 billion the equine industry helps generate each year. 540 Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.